Hundreds of Portland police marched on City Hall yesterday in support of officer Chris Humphreys, reports The Oregonian. Union members accused Chief Rosie Sizer and Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman of political posturing by ordering Humphreys be placed on paid leave while the bureau investigates his Nov. 14 bean-bag shotgun shooting of a 12-year-old girl. It was the first time the local police union has taken to the streets in such a rally in 28 years.
A video camera caught Humphreys firing one beanbag round into the thigh of a 5- foot-7, 150-pound girl, after another officer had taken her to the ground and was struggling with her on a public transit train platform. The second officer had tried to take the girl into custody on a transit infraction when she took a swing at him.