disturbing the comfortable

I lived in Portland, OR, for some years. During that time there were several killings by police; as I remember, the cops were exonerated in every single one.

One of the most outrageous was a few years ago, when a marginally-Spanish-speaking Maya Indian, with emotional problems, was shot down while he was in a “mental health” facility. There were no cops on duty who had training in mental health interventions; nobody, in fact, who even spoke Spanish.

Now, a few weeks ago, a mentally disturbed man was busted by the Portland P.D., roughed up, and died. The EMTs who came on the scene swore up and down the man was fine when they arrived; in fact, he was so fine, he couldn’t sign off on a waver about going to the hospital. However, his chest was crushed. Why would the EMTs sign off on a dying man? Because the EMTs don’t want to get on the bad side of the police; they often need police officers to cover their backs, and if they ever ratted on the cops for abusing drunks or crazies, their lives would be exceedingly dangerous. You scratch my back, and I’ll cover your’s…

This whole business is a farce.

Grand jury finds no criminal wrongdoing in Oregon man's death
10/17/2006, 3:48 p.m. PT
The Associated Press
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1161125949156960.xml&storylist=orlocal

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A grand jury has cleared the police in the death of a 42-year-old man whose ribs were broken in 26 places when officers subdued him.

James Chasse, who suffered from schizophrenia, died Sept. 17.

Officers said they spotted Chasse on a Pearl District street and said he appeared to be on drugs or have a mental disorder. One thought Chasse may have been urinating in the street, police said.

Chasse ran when the police arrived, and a chase ensued.

Witnesses said officers knocked Chasse to the pavement. They said officers then landed on top of him, kicked him and placed a Taser gun to his torso.

A seven-member grand jury ruled unanimously Tuesday that it found no criminal wrongdoing.

An autopsy showed he had 26 breaks in 16 ribs, some of which punctured his left lung and caused massive internal bleeding. He also had multiple bruises and cuts on his head, chest and abdomen.

One of the 30 witnesses called was William Brady, a former state medical examiner who now has a pathology practice and often testifies on behalf of the defense. Chasse's family requested that he be called to testify.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.