City Of West Linn Council Sends Letter Of Support For Investigations Into 2017 Police Incident

From the City of West Linn:

February 15, 2020

In a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the City Council of West Linn joins calls for an investigation of police conduct in the 2017 arrest of Michael Fesser.

The letter states, “As the representatives of the citizens of West Linn, we have an obligation to hold those within city government accountable, including ourselves.”

It goes on to say “We are committed to finding answers and join our community, state leaders, federal representatives, and our current Chief of Police in calling for a thorough outside review by the Department of Justice into the actions of the City of West Linn and the West Linn Police Department in this case.”

In the letter, the Council declares its commitment to transparency and cooperation throughout the investigation process.

It concludes, “It is our hope that by fully addressing the concerns of our community, we can begin to rebuild the trust that has been compromised by this case.”

The City has shared this letter with several Oregon officials including Governor Kate Brown, who called for investigations on February 12.

Additional communications from the City can be expected following the holiday weekend.

This press release was produced by the City of West Linn. The views expressed here are the author’s own.