I think this whole thing is ridiculous.

The sole reason being, that cop would take a bullet for me or for my family.

If he wants to park like a dick for 10 minutes, let him. If I had parked like that, would this upstanding citizen have done the same to me? Should I start handing out citizen arrests for all the illegal parking I see around Portland as I do my job? Today alone I will find 25 people illegally parked in loading zones. And I don't care. It's how it works.

And poo-poo to anyone's "where does it end" argument. I have my doubts that cops that park like dicks to get take- out also give guns covered in pcp to infants.

Ugh...

This Eric Bryant sounds like a very reasonable fellow.

I honestly don't feel like this is a legitimate abuse of power. Now, if this officer has a history of complaints, internal investigations, etc., I can support prosecuting him, or at least following through on it.

But, I know enough about police work to realize that during the course of a work day, pretty much every officer is severely backed up in calls for service for the entire shift. It's like being on an assembly line... you're literally looking at three, four, five calls to respond to... and the faster the better.

And so, to cut down on the time spent walking to and from a restaurant gives you that much more time to be in a position to go to that report of a guy possibly beating up his girlfriend in the apartment next door, the person walking down the street trying car doors to see if anything is unlocked, the guy who calls 911 and says he's thinking of killing himself, etc etc.

And that's not even addressing immediate emergencies. I know it sounds manipulative to put it in this context, but if your door is getting kicked down... and this officer is getting his dinner in your immediate area... you might end up waiting for help as much longer as it takes him to run back to his legally parked patrol car...

I agree with Lyle. The whole society depends on the gentle bending of the laws that govern us, and I think this falls under that category. The logic of dismissing a case by case approach to the world lands us with bullshit laws like Measure 11. I'm not trying to be dramatic, I just think a person should pick their battles, and this is a lame battle to pick.

Oh good God! Grab your violins, toss the
rose peddles, sniff your nose in a hanky
and blather on about how "the cops will
take a bullet for all of us!"

PLEASE! Give it rest! Enuf of the spin!

You guys are right. Cops should be above the law. They definitely don't need to worry about setting a law abiding example. Heck, mere traffic violations don't cause any problems anyways.

It always warms my heart when I see a cop speed in my neighborhood. I love it when the run stop signs. It's the best when they block the sidewalk! Pedestrians get too much space in this city. Cops are just getting us some justice! Finally some sound reasoning in Portland. Police cars on the sidewalk should be their new motto.

Thanks to all the above the law cops out there. Pedestrians think they have a right to be able to see seen when they cross the street. Thanks for blocking the view by illegally parking. It shows those dumb carless walkers who's more important around here.

Stensgaard is known for thinking being a cop means that's he's the boss of the world and can boss people around.

He's done it before.

Listen, I appreciate what the police do. But that doesn't mean they should block important emergency parking spaces or be able to ignore laws that apply equally to us all.

If you honestly think a cop will take a bullet for a stranger or a stranger's family, you're grossly mis-informed.

With cops, it's Us v. Them. Civilians are part of Them, in case you were wondering. Innocent, or not.

Old Gregg, I don't quite agree with your assessment, but I do have some creamy Bailey's, so I like you.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone took just as much social outrage when Amendment 1, 4 8, and 11 are repeatedly violated by the City of Portland and sued in Fed Dist Ct? Let me see....illegal parking vs basic human rights. I keep forgetting that protecting property is still much more important than people (sorry, Dr. King) and pro bono bravery doesn't exist here in the city that works.

So Mr. Jilliams, is it ok for them to park in handicap spots as well? Accountability and principle in this case take precedence to assure that future issues do not escalate.
And I would have to disagree about them taking a bullet for me, they are not the secret service. They might provide support to protect me but, jumping in front of a bullet is not in their job description.

It is in the publics interest that these cases DO take place to remind officers that the public is watching and that they are role models.

It's only May, but this is now the front-runner for the "non-story of the year" award.

The stupidity is equally shared.

Police Officers take an oath to uphold the law and are expected to obey the law. (Including, parking laws, getting building permits and paying taxes)

When you take that oath, for better or worse, you also assume the responsibility to hold your self to a higher standard.

If you're a cop at a party and someone lights up a blunt, what do you do? Maybe you shouldn't even be there in the first place. Do you call it in and make a bust? Not likely. Best and wisest move is to just leave the party, and tell your supervisor about it.
This happens more often than anyone realizes.

At the same time, cops shouldn't be seen making illegal turns or speeding when they aren't en route to an emergency. Nor should they park illegally. Nor should an officer be seen eating a hamburger while driving a police car, nor be seen talking on a cell phone while operating a car. Simply it's just not a really great public image to foster.

In this case the officer was a bone head to park illegally. So suffer the consequences of being tagged by another bonehead.

If the issue of the parking was such an urgent one, why not just take a picture and call the PPB supervisor?

This is all such a waste of time on both parts

A cop gave me a ticket for driving in the HOV lane literally 30 feet before it turned back into a regular lane. If that's how it's going to be, then let it be that way for everyone.

As far as "taking a bullet" for average Joe, don't count on it. Tigard cops shot and killed a kid last year in front of his house for having an open pocket knife, presumably to keep from getting shived with a blade no longer than an inch and a half. If they were unwilling to take that risk, you really think they're going to take hot lead for you? Bottom line is some people might be willing to put their lives at risk for others, but being a cop hardly guarantees that.

"C-ho" - Get your facts straight, it was Washington County deputies who were involved in that shooting.

This Eric Bryant guy sounds like a big time a-hole. I hope he needs the cops some day to come save him and it takes them forever and he pays for it. What a douche bag!

Isn't parking in the city regulated by the city? It's doubtful the ORS applies and there is probably an exception to parking signs for city vehicles. Do some research nads.

Dear "No so concerned; citizen",

Do your own effing research before you open your pie-hole.

Cops taking a bullet..Yea right. No. 1, thats not their job.

No. 2, it always starts with small abuses of power and bending the law that slowly corrodes those who do possess more power than the average citizen. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

If people don't agree with what Eric Bryant did, instead of crying about it, why don't you get involved with the political system and have your congressmen pass laws that give police officers absolute power..you know, this is a Republic, and it is the people and its elected officials that make the law (those who think we have a Democracy, or suppose to be a Democracy is terribly wrong). "I pledge of allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America. To the REPUBLIC, for which it stands......"