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Fifth Column |
Portland police union claims Commissioner Hardesty violated her oath of office |
2020-07-30 |
[KATU] Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner is calling for an investigation into several comments recently made by City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty.Turner said Hardesty's accusations were false or lacked proof and that if she knew they were false when she said them, then she violated her oath of office by not performing her duties honestly. He said if she did not know they were false, then she still violated her oath of office by not performing her duties faithfully and ethically. In the email the Portland Police Association sent to Mayor Ted Wheeler and the other members of Portland City Council, Turner lists multiple quotes by Hardesty and states why he believes they are false. One quote from Hardesty was pulled from her interview with Marie Claire magazine. In it she said, "I believe Portland Police [Bureau] is lying about the damage—or starting the fires themselves—so that they have justification for attacking community members." The Portland Police Association says there are videos showing members of the public setting fires and there is no evidence that police started any of the fires during the past two months of protests. When challenged on this accusation, Hardesty said, "Using unfounded claims and misinformation is something no one in any position of power should do, and you deserve better... As a public servant I need to be careful making statements out of misinformation, and I take this to heart." Wheeler also questioned Hardesty's claims that Portland coppers were starting fires at the protests. He said he expects that if Hardesty, as fire commissioner, has knowledge that city employees have engaged in arson, that she will order an investigation be opened. KATU News contacted Hardesty's office Tuesday, but they said she would not be available for an interview. |
Posted by:Fred |