"The officers involved in this situation acted appropriately in defense of their lives as well as protecting the lives of innocent civilians," Portland Police Bureau President Daryl Turner writes in a communication to union members, obtained by the Mercury. "As the investigative process continues, more information will be released."
This morning's shooting played out shortly after 6 am. Police received 911 call from a man who said he'd been assaulted near SE 104th and Foster, a stretch of road that runs parallel to the Springwater. Two officers responded, and found the suspect on the recreational trail, according to Portland Police Sergeant Pete Simpson. Simpson says the man began swinging a "large crow bar" at close range, and that one of the officers tripped as he backed away. It's not clear which officer fired the fatal shot(s).
The incident marks the third officer-involved shooting for Portland police this year, and the third time in as many days members of local police agencies have fired their weapons at suspects. Yesterday, Simpson announced Milwaukie cops had killed an "uncooperative" motorist inside Portland city limits, after a brief car chase. And school resource officers shot at the 15-year-old Reynolds High School shooter on Tuesday, apparently injuring him before he took his own life in one of the school's bathrooms.
An autopsy for the man killed in today's shooting is scheduled for Friday morning, and police aren't yet releasing his name. As with any officer-involved shooting, it's under investigation.
Here's Turner's full message to his members:
June 12th, 2014
Today's incident is just another example of police officers encountering more violent offenders during routine incidents. The officers involved in this situation acted appropriately in defense of their lives as well as protecting the lives of innocent civilians.
As the investigative process continues, more information will be released. Today is a reminder of the dangerous nature of law enforcement as we serve and protect our neighborhoods and our communities.
Daryl Turner
President, Portland Police Association
