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Entire Portland riot squad resigns after officer’s indictment

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Former Detroit police chief James Craig is ‘not surprised that police are resigning en masse in #Portland. He also says the crime surge in Chicago is due to a failed criminal justice system.

How has the resignation of the entire riot squad of the Portland Police Bureau affected the city’s response to protests and civil unrest?

The city of Portland, Oregon has been the site of ongoing civil unrest, with protests against police brutality and racial injustice taking place regularly over the past year. However, recent events have caused the entire riot squad of the Portland Police Bureau to resign after the indictment of one of their officers.

On June 16th, 2021, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Portland Police Officer Corey Budworth on a fourth-degree assault charge for his alleged use of excessive force during a protest in August 2020. The indictment came after a nine-month investigation into the incident, in which Budworth was accused of striking a protester in the head with his baton, causing them to suffer a laceration that required medical attention.

In response to the indictment, all 50 members of the Portland Police Bureau’s Rapid Response Team, also known as the riot squad, resigned from their volunteer positions. The unit is responsible for responding to protests and civil unrest in the city, and their resignation has left the bureau without a dedicated team to handle such situations.

The resignations have been met with mixed reactions from the community. Some have criticized the officers for abandoning their duties and leaving the city vulnerable during a time of heightened tension. Others have praised their decision to stand in solidarity with a fellow officer and push back against what they see as an unjust indictment.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler issued a statement in response to the resignations, saying that he was “disappointed” but that the city would continue to find ways to respond to any unrest that might occur. He also called for a review of the Portland Police Bureau’s crowd control tactics and policies.

This incident highlights the ongoing struggle between police officers and protesters in Portland and across the country. Calls for police reform and accountability have grown louder in recent years, but many officers feel that they are unfairly targeted and demonized. The resignation of the Portland riot squad is a stark reminder of the deep divisions that exist and the challenging work still to be done to bridge them.