Portland Police Officer Reassigned Amid Protest Incident Review
A Portland police officer has been reassigned while the Portland Police Bureau investigates a complaint related to the officer’s remarks during a recent protest, as confirmed by Police Chief Bob Day. The bureau became aware of a video circulating online that captured an interaction between the officer and community members at a demonstration. According to Chief Day, the officer is currently on other duties while the complaint undergoes review.
The video, reportedly recorded on Friday at 10:20 p.m., shows a tense exchange between demonstrators and an officer during a protest at the Portland ICE facility. The protest was in response to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7 in Minneapolis. Her death ignited nationwide protests against federal immigration enforcement, including in Portland.
In the video, a demonstrator confronts the officer, saying, “Renee Nicole Good, you would shoot her too.” The officer responds, “If she drove a car on me? Yes.” Another protester accuses the officer of only caring about their paycheck, prompting the officer to say, “I do like my paychecks.”
When a demonstrator mentions people being shot in the street, the officer appears to correct them, stating, “You mean criminals.” The demonstrator then calls the officer racist, to which the officer replies, “Sometimes criminals get shot.” The officer continues, “Sometimes criminals get shot if they threaten a cop, they get shot by law enforcement.” When asked if this applies when someone is doing nothing, the officer says, “No. When they're breaking the law.”
Another officer approaches and asks if the officer needs to be rotated out. The officer responds that he is fine.
This incident comes amid ongoing demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement in Portland. The protests have escalated following a recent event where Border Patrol agents shot two individuals during a traffic stop outside Adventist Health Portland. Both victims, who are suspected of having ties to a Venezuelan gang, are currently hospitalized in stable condition and in federal custody.
Chief Day emphasized the high tensions surrounding these events, stating, “Tensions are high at this time, and this is affecting all of us, including community members and Portland Police Bureau members. Our goal is to ensure that community trust is maintained and that members of the Bureau consistently represent the professional standards that everyone deserves.”
Mayor Keith Wilson expressed his full confidence in Chief Day and the police bureau as they continue to review the incident and determine next steps. He also referenced Good’s death during recent protests, calling it “tragic and preventable” and highlighting it as an example of chaos and violence caused by federal overreach.
“Like Renee, everyday Portlanders across the city have stood up to a reckless, escalatory federal government, and they need to know their local leaders and law enforcement are on their side,” Mayor Wilson said in a statement. His comments reflect the broader sentiment among community members who feel the need for support from local authorities in the face of federal actions.
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