Mayor Wheeler on Policing Protests: Mistakes Were Made, Policing Will "Improve"

One day after a series of Portland Police were criticized for their actions in making arrests at the "Not My Presidents Day" protest downtown, Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed support for the police bureau but said that things need to change.

"Inevitably, mistakes will be made," Wheeler said Tuesday. "It is my job as Police Commissioner to address them and make changes when necessary.

"This is one of those times."

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Thirteen people - seven adults and six minors - were arrested during the protests, which were centered in the area around Southwest Third Avenue and Madison Street, across from the federal building.

The police bureau said that no permit was obtained for the march or for road closures. As a result, the police say that while officers attempted to maintain order but needed from the bureau's Rapid Result Team officers.

"During the march, officers had limited deployments of pepper spray and less-than-lethal munitions in response to actions of some protesters," the bureau said in a release.

The ACLU's Oregon office described the events differently, charging that police handled protesters violently.

"The indiscriminate violence against Portlanders was shameful," they tweeted. "Most of these people (were) gathered on public property on the sidewalk when they were shoved down and arrested. On. The. Sidewalk.

"It's time for you to take action, Mayor Wheeler. End the violence against protesters. Stop the unnecessary use of crowd control weapons."

Wheeler did not place all the blame at the feet of the police bureau, saying that the protesters also need to change their tactics.

"We saw video of protesters in masks surrounding commuters in their vehicles brandishing sticks," Wheeler said. "That isn’t good for democracy."

Wheeler said that while "Portland is an amazing city...it also face daunting challenges" and that when President Trump was elected "some of those challenges were exacerbated."

And that, combined with new issues such as the order making it difficult for the residents of seven predominantly Muslim countries to visit the United States, has people protesting, Wheeler says.

Democracy can be messy, that’s a fact," he said. "But as of late, it’s been far too messy here in Portland."

As a result, Wheeler said that on Tuesday morning he met with Chief of Police Michael Marshman and thanked "rank and file officers for the hard work they do day in and day out."

He said that he also shared his concerns with the chief.

"I asked the Chief and his command staff to help create a more positive space for expression and emphasize tactics that deescalate tensions," Wheeler said.

“In the coming days the Chief and I will meet with concerned parties and members of the community to discuss how we can best reduce tensions moving forward. It is my expectation that policing in Portland will improve. I ran on a platform of police accountability and I intend to see it through."

Mug shots courtesy Portland Police

Wheeler picture courtesy City of Portland