Then-Transit Division Cmdr. Donna Henderson's analysis of her officers' actions

8/9/2019 Then-Transit Division Cmdr. Donna Henderson's analysis of her officers' actions

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Bureau irf PoliceTon PoLter,MayorRosanne , Sizer,Chielof Police11115.!V. ZndAvenue.Portland, R97204' Phoner 03-823-0000, ax: 503-823-0342lntegrity. Compassion Accolntability. Respect. Ercellerce Seruice

DAlT:TO:

Augusl26,2008Captain oh.n ellisIntemal Affairs Division(ThroughChannels)CommandcrDonna Heiderso4NorthPrccinctFROM:

SUBJECT: IAD Findings 006-8-0016n-Custody eathSergeant yle Nicc#26853Offrcer Chris Humphreys#32784

I have eviewedhecaseiles romHomicide nd AD aswell as heTrainingDivision'sanalysis fthis in-custody eath. havealso.reviewedity Codc,ORSandBureau fPolicepolicy andprocddwes ndbased n thc isted nformationlre ollowing s nry analysis nd'findings:Releranl iryCodes:1.01.140 iol{ions - Penrlty.tt is urlawtul for anyDdson o violaleanyprcvision r rc fail tocomplywirb any e4uircmcnrofhisC.odc. ayperson violaiing any provision or failiag to comply wiih any reqnirementoI dris Code;unlcssprovision is orheruisemade heein, shEllupod corviction thercof, bepunishcdby a fine ofnot more'thaD$500,or by ini'.isonment for aperiod of no( rnorc tha! 6 moaths, or by bolh such ine and mlrisonmenr. However,no grealerpenalryshallbimposed han he penalty prescribedby the Orcgonstatur or ihe 'ts actor omission. Each suchpersonshatl beeuiltyofir sepante ffensc or eachaodcvrydaydurhgdy ponionof whichanyviotation fany pmvision fthisCodc is coInmiftn, oontinucd, or pcmitted by suchpcrsonand may bepunishedaccordingly. n additior 10 hepenalties erein bovc .ovid6d, nycondition aused rpe.mitiedo xist nviolarionofanyprovision flhis Codeis.apublicnuirancc ndnay be suMily abaten y thCjtyasaulhofized y thisCodd n addition, ropedr;hatlbe forfcited aid Cily license my bc suspetrded . revoted a! p.ovidd n this Code.3.20.1l0Dutl .sof fol i .e Force.The policc. orce oflhe CIy shallat all rimcs ofthe dal and night widin the bo ndarisotrhe Ciry lreselve thepub ic peace,prevcnt crime, arrest offerdes,-Fotect righls oflersons and propeny, grard tle public halt\presewe.rder, remove nuisances xisling h strEets, oads,public placs,and highways,reporr all Ieaksand orherdefccts in ]vaterpipesand scwers,aud sk*t lights lot buming to thepropraulborilies, providca propcr foroe a1every firc in order that therby h6 filmcn and qerty flay bepmteled,prorcct strang-s and rnvclcrs al rhesteamboalmd ship lddings and railmad stadons,ad geueBlly obey ard fiftrce alt ord;nancs of rheCitl CounciladdcrimiMl 13ws flhc SEteandofthe tinited Stltes.I4A.40.0J0 ndecDtErposurq It isllnlawfiil for anype6on o e{poseusorhergeniraliawhrtc napubticplaceor placevisiblc frcm aplblic plac, f lhe public place s open m availabie o pdsons of rhe oppositescr-

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;j-ue'Police nforfrarion tiner 503-423-4616, TY (6crhenrlnq imraircd): 03-823.a716Welsite: np://ww.lo.iandloliceburau..oh

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I lifld thrt the trootPursuii nitiatedby Officer Humphreysand he subsequent ushbyOfficer gqmphreysis IN IOLICY \vith a.DEBRIEFING.The crux ofthis casehingeson Officer Humphreysustification for chasingMr- Chasse.Training's aoalysisstateshat urinating in public is not a crimeand herefore s not a reason oinitiate a foot pursuitanddeploy he knock-down echnique.Even houghurinating in public is aclassB misdemearorndcrCiry Code14A.40.0301 gee hat t wouldbe egregiouso knocksomeoneo thegroundsimply becausohey werc urinating. I do notbelieve hat OfficerIlumphrcys chasedMr. Chasse imply because e urinated.Officer Humphrelshas workeddowntownmany imesandwhenworki[g downtown ouseg eop]e ritating.999lo fthe timeyolrconlacl hcpersonhatperson ays heyaresorry,lad to go,won't do t againand heywalkaway. Due to Mr. Chasse's chivior before and af1r s rvhatcauscdhis pafiicular evnt o bedifferent, it got theOfficar's attention.Officer Humpbreys easonably elieved hat a enmewascommitted 14A,40.030ndeeentExposurel a s unlawfulor anype*otlto eiposehk or hergenitalia while in apublic placeol place visiblefron apublic place, if thepublic place is openor aveilable to personsof the oppositesex)and because f.Mr. Cbasse's ehaviorOfficer.Humphreysbelieved hat Mr. Clra$se /as nvolved io somethingmore.. > Officers Huftphjeys and Burton observedMr. Ctasseprior ro the foot chasestifflggcdand rockingbackand orthandcaring backpack.> When Mr- Chasse bserved he officas, he irunediately walkedeastbound awayfromthe officers. OffrcerHumphr.eys'peroeptionwas hat Mr. Chassewas rying not fo attracta(enlion o hinrsef w hile esvingasquicklyashc codld o avoid hepolice.> Nine minutes ater as Officers Humlhreys :rnd Burton were eaving the areawhere hcywere cove.ing Sgt. Nice, they secMr. Chasseagain his time near ahee with his baik. towards thc officers and t appeared s f he was urinating n Futllic.Ciry CodeCrime(144.40.010ndecert Exposure: t js unlawfirl or anypcrson o expose is o.hergenitaliawhilc n apublicplaceor placcvisible rom apublicplace, frhe publicplacesopenor availableo persons f lhe opposite ex.)F Officer Humphreyswanted o talk to Mr. Chasse ecause e believedat the very leastMr. Chasse houldr't be waiking the streetsbecause e was eitherextremely drunkor ondru8..> Officer Humphreys otices hat Mr. Chasse entover by a tfee andhasa large vei spoton his panfs einforcing he belief t\at Mr. Chassd adbeenurioating n public_OfficrHumphrcys bserves r. Chasse ickup his backpackandbeginwalking,OfEcerBu.ton makes teir presence now to Mr. Chasse.> Mr. Chasseumshis rpper orso n astiffrnanncr ndmakcs irecteyecontactwithOfllcer Humphreys.F OfficerHumphrcys escribes ookbnMr. Chasse'sace s hatofsheer cnor, bccauseofthis look and theother bebaviorsdescribedOfEcbr Humpbreys eachedhe conclusionthat Mr. Chassemustbeaftaid of being caughtbecause eeither had a warmntt weaponsor drugson hirn.Analysis:OfficcrHumphrey's asa legal ight o sl,opMr. Chasseo investigare,rrest ndcirc forCityCode14A.40.030 ndOfficerHumpfuey's elieved ased n hisobservationsndh$interp.etationsofthose observationshat theaewas sorirethingmoregoingon with Mr. Chasse.Office6 usepretextstopsdaily and on maDyoccasions hosepretcxtstopsdcvelop nto

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somethingmBch arger. do not believe anyonecouidhavepredicted he outcofte of this cha;nofevents.ln this caseOfficer {umphreyswas ragicallynconect n his nterpretationf Mr. Chasse'sb9havio.. ShouldOtrlcer Humphreyshave ealized he behaviorsMr. Chassewas exhibitingwerc behavio* froriosomeonewho wasseverelymentally ll asoppose o someonewho hadcrimillal intsnt? Even hetrainedprofessionalsAMR pararnedicswho arrived at thcsceneoevaluateMr. Chasic, assessedMr. Chasse's ondilionassomethingdue to toxicological ssues(drugs).We spend ensof tholsandsof dollarsandhundreds fhours on policeo{Iicers eachingtbemhow ostaysafe vhilgstill doing heirjobs: efensiveactics, hooting, rivingskills,PIT,.howto dealwith violent criminal behavior,how to coflducta tmffic stops, einforcinghowdangerousomestic ioience allsare,developingrobable ause, ecogniingreasonablesuspicion,pushing heenvelope,beproactive,anda lr.rltitude of other things. OfficerHurnphreys eceiveda two houl classon Menlal Health Awarenesseightmoothsbefoie hisincident. I do not believe a fwo hour class s enough o teachan omcer to differgntiateberweenSchizophrenia sychosisarid Drug psychosis.The following arc S;,npro DtsAssociatdWithDrug Abgse:

o Symploms fAnlieiy or Panico SymplomsofDepressiono Destructive houghts, eglings andbehaviorso Suicidalhoughs, eelings r bchaviorso Violent houghts,eelings ndbehavioro sEangs, izaneor psychotichoughls,celings ndbchaviors

These ympbrns realmost dentical o those larMr. Chasse xhibircd.ThcTransilPoliceDivision receivesa ttarrageofcomplaints aboutdre drug dealing hat happensaroundMAX.. Yearspdo!, TCRT (Undercover Team) \rascreatedand oneof iis missionswas o interdict inthe drug tsadeon dle Tnsit system.Ofiicet Humphrcyswas aq active memberofTCRT.Tmnsit became ery proactive n its attemptso eradicate rug dealing and using, aswell as othernuisancebehaviorsoil and around be system. Office. Ilumphrcys blieved that narcoticsplayeda part in Mr. Chasse's ehavior; t wasnotan uiueasonable elief. The complaints hat TRIMETrcceivesaswell as the complaints rom the Downtown Conidor all hinge,o! drug activity, eithorselling or usingand all of the abcnant behaviorshatgo with streetusage.

It is my opirion ihat Officer Humplueyshada lcgal right to stop and detainM!. Chasseor thcpui:posesf investigating 4A..40.030ndgivenwhatOfficerHumphreys bservedhatnight twasnot unrcasoDableor Officer Hunphieys lo believe hatMr. Chassewas nvolved oadditlonalllegalactivities.O{ficersHumphrep'pushofMr Chasse id not violateStateStahres,City Code or the Bureau's Directives. Use ofForce Directivc 101A,20Mehbers may usephysrcalforce only when heyrcasohablybelieve ! is necessa4)o:b- Ittwfully tal,eapeno into d-ttady, ake afi arresl or preve an escape.e.Accomplishsomeoffcial puryosethat is authorizedby law, byjudicial decreear ii performedin lhe reasonablex?rcise fthe metnber's llicialwwer, duwor funcrio,r.J$Eltt .:iir+ .l.i-ls.iir+ ::a -# '1,{ i i } *e. l;l E Er eL-t w\.*....r.,,+i F.* -L

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With hindsight I believg t is fair to sal thatbecause f Mr. Chasse's tateof mind any conractwith thepolice would haveprovokeda violent (fear)based eaction.Regardless f methodsusedto take Mr. Chasserto custody here would havebeena fight. Neither OJficerHumpbreysnoranyoneelse without the gift ofhindsight coutd havepredicted hatpushingMr. Chasse own tothe ground n order to terminatea foot pursuitwould be a p.ecipitatiogevent eading !o his death.With that said thereare thingswe aretrained o do thafcould havebeendonebetter. In tlissituationgoing oui on the air stating bey wouldbe contactinga subjectwould havemadeotherofficers in the areaawareand heoretically hey could have respondedooner o help in tliecustody. CornmudcationbetweenDeputy Burlon and OfTicerHumplueysprior to contacdngMr.Chasse ouldhavebeen ettei.I find that both Officer HumphrelT snd SergesntNice uscd casonableorceand were NPOLICYonce Mr. Chrssewason the ground o gethim underco[taol o take him intocusfody.Mr. Chasseh4d l4 factured dbs and 27 sparate l?ctures.TheMedical Bxaminbt KarenGunson isted Mr. Chasso's eathas accidentalwith the causeofdeathdue to broadbaseblunt' 'force trauma o the chest.Dr. Gunsonstaied n her opinion the broadbase ruuniacould not havcoccurred y officers ickingorpuncLingChasse. healsostatedharChasse'soneswcremorebrinle than averagedue n part to his poornutrition, Therewa$no evidenieofany officerjumpingon, sitlingon,or delivering nycrushing lows o Chassehatwould esult n $e broadbasrd rauma oundby Dr. Cunson.The arrest f Mr. Chasse as awful(14A.40.030ldegentBxposu,E.Once heo{ficers ried ogetMr. Chasse ndcrcontrol,Mr. Cbasseoughtviolently.Due o heactions f Mr. Chasseheofficcrs were in a positionto have o use orcc to gethim unde! conkol.Therewas uothing inany ol lhe information 10 ndicate hat any ofthe force wasout ofpolicy. O{Iicer HumphrcyshitMr. Chassewilh his forearmabda closed ist aftcr Ma. Chasse ttemptlgdo bite him. SergeantNice stated hat he used he nstepofhis boot trtciMr. Chasse's hestafterMr. Chasse itSergeant ice andhadCrabbedergeaotNice'sant eg n anattempto bjtehim agair. Mr.Chasse it SergcantNice in ttre dght calf and attempled o bite Oflicer Humphrcys-.Mr. Chassewas ased i/ith no effect. The Officers usedstrikes, kicks and le taser o overcomeaggressivephysicalresistance t closequartersall ofwhich vas *ithilr policy.I find that Ofiicer flnmphreys and SergeantNice cted appropriatcly nd rvcrc NPOLICY aftcr Mr. Chassewa$ akei into custody.Sergeant iceasked orMedicalCode3. Sergeanriice gave$e informatio! o radio iat they, had a subject whoappeared o be urconsciousandhad been ighting wilh thepolicc. Given tlutMr. Chasse asslill fighting t was casonableo havehim put n MaximumRestraint.Mcdicalhad clearedMr Chasse o be lakcn o jail. Ofhcer Humphreyshonitored Mr. Ctiasscall Lhewaylo Ihejai l .I find that Ofliccr Humphreysactedapproprialelyand was N POLICY \vhenaratrsportingMr. Chasseo PortlandAdvedtistThe medical stallat Lheijailstated hey wouldn't takeMr. Chasse ntil he hadbecn clearedby aDoctor. The ieasonwasnot because c looked as thoughhehad ntemal njuries but becausehe

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nuse observedtwitching ypc episodghis suspectdrug .!se trdshehaal concern boutpossiblenfection emighthavebecausefsoreson his body.Of6cerHumphreys atchedMr.Chasse fl theirway o thehospitalwhichwdsrcwhe caughthe actMr. Chasse adslumpedover, OIficerHumphreys adeagooddecisionogetolfoflhe freeway o checkMr. Chasse.The. did takeMr. Chasse ut ofthe car o startCPRand hatwould havebeen erydangerousfoi all ifthey had o do it on the Frceway.Code ambulaicewas nrmediately alled.Any recommendatidnsmighthavehadhaveakeady senoutlioeverywell in theTrainingDivision'secommendations.

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Then-Transit Division Cmdr. Donna Henderson's analysis of her officers' actions

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