(UPDATED) Portland Mayor: Police Chief, Adjutant Lieutenant Put on Leave

PORTLAND, OR – Portland Police Chief Mike Marshman and Adjutant Lieutenant Michael Leasure were put on administrative leave and reassigned to the Bureau’s Personnel Division (Human Resources), Portland officials announced Friday.

In the statement released by Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office shortly after 6 p.m. March 24, spokesman Michael Cox said the Independent Police Review is investigating but will not provide details now.

Mayor Ted Wheeler was told around 5 p.m. Thursday, Cox said, “and his office spent the day Friday working through administrative details related to this action.”

Assistant Chief Chris Davis has been appointed acting police chief, Cox said. Marshman had only been chief since June 2016, when he replaced former chief Larry O’dea.

Portland police officials Saturday released a statement from Marshman:

"The day I was sworn in as chief, I made a commitment to establishing internal legitimacy and restoring trust, both within our organization and with the community we serve. Part of that commitment is respecting the investigative processes we have in place to ensure accountability at all levels of the organization. These processes apply to me as much as they do to every member of the Bureau. Regardless of rank, everyone should be accountable and it starts with me.

"I look forward to the completion of this process and am committed to full transparency so that everyone has access to the facts. I'm very proud of the work Portland Police Bureau members do every day to keep our community safe and they continue to have my full support."

Over the past few months both Marshman and Wheeler have been subject to harsh criticisms for their respective roles in how Portland Police Bureau officers managed the many recent protests, with some even calling for their resignation.

A small group of protesters gathered outside Wheeler’s house as recently as yesterday afternoon, according to police.

This post was updated to include the March 25 statement from Marshman.

Photo Courtesy: City of Portland