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PDF: Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman's Recommendations

PDF: Portland Police Association's Statement

TIMELINE

Sept. 17, 2006: Providence Hospital medical staff members pronounce James Chasse deceased

Sept. 17, 2006: The investigation begins and the Portland Police Bureau begins officer involved-in-custody death procedures, as outlined in directives

Sept. 17, 2006: The Multnomah County district attorney is assigned to the case

Oct. 3, 2006: The grand jury begins hearing evidence

Oct. 17, 2006: The grand jury unanimously votes against criminal charges

Oct. 17, 2006: The police bureau releases information regarding the investigation at news conference and posts it on its Web site

Dec. 13, 2006: Administrative review process begins with Internal Affairs and Training

Dec. 20, 2006: Administrative review process planning meeting with Internal Affairs and Training

Feb. 8, 2007: The civil lawsuit is filed

May 22, 2007, to May 8, 2008: Internal Affairs detectives interview all known witnesses including the medical examiner, paramedics, witness and officers involved

Nov. 14, 2007: Internal Affairs detective interviews Sgt. Nice

Dec. 11, 2007: Internal Affairs detective interviews Officer Humphreys

Dec. 12, 2007: Notice of deposition given by plaintiff's attorney

Jan. 8, 2008: Officer Humphreys' deposition – the first deposition taken in case

Jan. 9, 2008: Officer Burton deposition

Jan. 10, 2008: Sgt. Nice deposition

May 8, 2008: Internal Affairs detective interviews Officer Burton (delay per Multnomah County Counsel's Office)

July 30, 2008: Administrative review process complete with Internal Affairs and Training

Sept. 5, 2008: Command-level review complete

Oct. 1 to Oct. 2, 2008: Use of force review board reviews the case

Oct. 11, 2008: Use of force review board provides recommendations to Chief Sizer

Oct. 29, 2008: The plaintiff's attorney in lawsuit releases video with enhanced audio of officer involved. Chief Sizer issues a statement and asks for the district attorney to review

May 5, 2009: District Attorney Schrunk declines to prosecute the case regarding enhanced video

May 13, 2009: The administrative process begins for enhanced video and allegations of untruthfulness

May 20, 2009: The last deposition in lawsuit conducted – there were more than 100 depositions in this case

June 20, 2009: The administrative investigation is complete. Allegations of untruthfulness is found to be "unproven"

Aug. 12, 2009: Command-level review complete

Sept. 16, 2009: Use of force review board reconvenes

Sept. 23, 2009: Chief Sizer releases information regarding use of force and review board's findings and allegations of untruthfulness

Police Union Criticizes Proposed Suspensions

Recommendation Follows Investigation Of 2006 Death

POSTED: 6:52 pm PST November 4, 2009

UPDATED: 7:05 pm PST November 4, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland police union lashed out Wednesday against a city commissioner for his recommendation that two officers be suspended without pay in the death of a mentally ill man.

Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman said he wants Sgt. Kyle Nice and Officer Christopher Humphreys suspended without pay for 80 hours each because they failed to get proper medical treatment for James Chasse.

Saltzman's proposal goes against Chief Rosie Sizer's recommendation that only Nice be suspended for not directing an ambulance to take Chasse to a hospital immediately after he was stunned by a Taser.

Chasse was arrested Sept. 17, 2006, following a foot chase that ended in a fall or a tackle. According to autopsy results, Chasse suffered more than a dozen broken ribs, including some that punctured a lung and caused massive internal bleeding.

"While I do not believe officer Humphreys or Sgt. Nice acted maliciously or with any intent to harm Mr. Chasse, I believe that their interactions with medical personnel fell short of the bureau's legitimate expectations," Saltzman said in a news release.

The police union retorted and said the recommendation is politically motivated.

"Officer Chris Humphreys and Sgt. Kyle Nice are being unfairly disciplined for purely political reasons. Commissioner Saltzman is unable to discipline medical crews or jail nurses, so he is taking aim at these officers for political posturing," said Sgt. Scott Westerman, president of the Portland Police Association, in a news release.

Sizer said the bureau has made several changes over the past three years because of this case, including extra training regarding mentally ill suspects.

Chasse's family settled a lawsuit with Multnomah County for $925,000. The family has also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit.

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