Officer in beanbag shooting reinstated

shallowend said on November 30, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Hmmm. It appears that He may have followed policy, and that Saltzman was merely disturbed.

tracer2009 said on November 30, 2009 at 3:49 PM

"Beanbag Cop"??? Who's writing this stuff... a middle school journalism class?

salz7 said on November 30, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Interesting policy I guess cops don't carry batons anymore, but have to use weapons to subdue their foes, even a 12 year old. Next we will hear that Humphrey's feared for his life or the other officers life. The guys a thug;get him off the street.

whatryouserious said on November 30, 2009 at 4:28 PM

Glad to see the "beanbag cop" title's been adjusted. Amazing how media outlets can add to the hysteria and snap judgements so many are eager to drop, yet with a stroke of a key they can correct their error, meanwhile, those on target still get vilianized, labeled, etc, will little consideration. When this is all said and done and Humphreys is found to have acted within policy and according to training, then what? You've insulted him and shrug it off as journalism. Classy.

sweetlou said on November 30, 2009 at 4:36 PM

As we learned from the tragedy in Washington, cops are contantly under seige. Beanbag rounds are a fine alternative when anyone - no matter their age - assaults an officer. Maybe (doubtful) she learned a lesson. The officer should be given a raise and a free pass the next time someone assaults him.

rodbender said on November 30, 2009 at 5:00 PM

This girl got exactly what was coming to her. She was not even seriously hurt, for crying out loud. This was not some innocent little girl, skipping through the forest with a basket for grandma. This was a violent, gang-banging hoodlum with no respect for authority. She hit a cop. Therefore, she got a taste of her own medicine. Humphreys also did not use excessive force with James Chasse. If you are stupid enough to fight with an officer, then you need to be beat down until you stop. It's a simple rule to remember. Yes, there are some bad cops. But I don't think Humphreys is one of them.

lakerhter said on November 30, 2009 at 5:07 PM

If people would raise there children to have respect for others this probable would have happened. I know that some parents do all they can and still have unruly kids but more often then not its because the parents aren't doing there job.

lakerhter said on November 30, 2009 at 5:09 PM

If "parents" would start doing there job this would probable not have happened! I know some do all they can and still have kids who are unruly but more often then not its because the parents don't so there job and raise there kids to have morals and respect!!!!

weimerj said on November 30, 2009 at 5:20 PM

Beanbag a 12yo girl. Police officers are supposed to be trained to take down an assailant if they find themselves without a weapon. I have seen psychotic teens taken to the floor in one swoop by one person. Why were all those police officers unable to do that with this girl? Just because police officers have weapons they should not be allowed to use them on unarmed children. To me that's cowardly. Why did this officer not have the training to handle this child without his weapon?

howard_b said on November 30, 2009 at 5:25 PM

The facts: A) This was a 12-year old girl who was already partially subdued by two offices. Her size and disposition have been constantly exaggerated, but the fact remains that three competent officers should be able to subdue one unarmed 12-year-old girl without resorting to using weapons. B) Beanbag rounds are considered 'less-than-lethal', not 'non-lethal'. When used under their recommended range of approximately 30 feet, they become significantly less 'less-than-lethal'. The weapon should not have been discharged. Check out what they actually do to people, at recommended range: http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_rescue_and_disaster_medicine/volume_5_number_1_36/article_printable/medical_aspects_of_less_lethal_weapons.html. C) The last time the police union publicly rallied in this manner to support their own was back in the early 80's, when two officers were fired for leaving dead possums in front of a black-owned business. Great track record.

wtfhead said on November 30, 2009 at 6:12 PM

he was reinstated and he shoulda been...poor little girl outta be in jail..nuff said

wtfhead said on November 30, 2009 at 6:31 PM

he should be reinstated and the princess should be in jail...nuff said

augustmoon said on November 30, 2009 at 6:58 PM

Rosie has buckled here, obviously due to union pressure, Bean bag, tazer, gun shot or whatever; 12 years old is pretty young to be taken down in this manner. I understand the pressures and life threatening ordeals that officers undergo with each and every incident. The line between force and arrest must be very delicate. What a tragedy for all.

arinum said on November 30, 2009 at 7:02 PM

Yay! This just reinforces The Portland police to be thugs. Nice!

topazgirl said on November 30, 2009 at 7:19 PM

Shallowend:...This does not reinforce a decision that this followed Police Policy to me! This is political pressure at its most typical!! I wonder if ALL the Police Officers do indeed agree with reinstating Humphreys, or if many of them just know the "penalties" from other officers for voicing opinions to the contrary!! I hope Humphreys remains a "desk cop" forever, and NEVER sees active street patrol again....

benaround said on November 30, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Sorry to see those who are supposed to be leaders and decision makers cave in to the union. You can bet drinks are on the house at every police groopie tavern in town tonight.

oregonpaul said on November 30, 2009 at 7:27 PM

YEA! He is reinstated and its about time. If you want to play tough, you should be able to take it. This 12 year old, WASNT ms. princess, she was a spoiled, selfish, disrespective little brat that needed to be taught a lesson. A lot of todays kids need to have a good attitude adjustment, Lord knows the parents cant do it. I doubt if those who think that the officer was wrong, shows any respect to those who protect your rights.

isa1isa2 said on November 30, 2009 at 7:32 PM

Many kids today have no respect for the law or Police Officers. Hopefully this girl will respect the law next time and for the rest of her life. I hope this incident gives her nightmares for years to come. Officer Humphreys was doing his JOB!

thedriza said on November 30, 2009 at 7:48 PM

She weighed a 160 pounds!

nwskeptic said on November 30, 2009 at 8:00 PM

She wasn't little Oregonpaul, she was adult size - my 12 year old is "little" - under 5 feet tall, and about 85 pounds. This girl was taller and heavier than my wife. She also was attacking an officer to boot. It wasn't that she wasn't complying with verbal commands (which she wasn't) but that she was attacking the officers.

corporatemom said on November 30, 2009 at 8:04 PM

(1) KGW - how come you have never reported that the girl's mother apologized to the police for her daughters horrible behavior???? (2) She is 23 but 5'4" and 160 lbs - she is much bigger than I am (3) Why was a 12 yr old out that late?? (4) By age 12 she is out late, hanging with gangs, theft, kicked off max, resisting arrest, hitting the police...... Bottom line - cops were right to do what they did. She was out of control.

trailerparkboy said on November 30, 2009 at 9:07 PM

I've worked with middle school and high schoolers for the last 20 years. I can say, without reservation, that it is unethical and unnecessary to shoot a bean bag round at a twelve year old. Yes, she appeared out of control, she was adult sized ( although puny compared to officer Humphrey), and she shouldn't have been out late...all relatively insignificant..she was an emotionally immature TWELVE YEAR OLD!!!! I deal with this stuff all the time and it would NEVER cross my mind to physically subdue a CHILD by shooting a bean bag at her. I respect the work that police officers do, but this borders on the absurd. And yes, I've broken up fights between people MUCH LARGER and angrier than the girl on the tape.

sherwoodmama said on November 30, 2009 at 10:43 PM

If one of these policemen hospitalized his own 12-yr-old daughter because she slapped him, he'd be in jail himself for abuse.

linda79 said on November 30, 2009 at 10:44 PM

Wow - talk about suckering to union pressure. This is all about politics and an overzealous cop. Shame on Sizer and Saltzman.

wolverine1 said on December 1, 2009 at 1:41 AM

corporatemom: They don't tell the whole picture or both sides of the story because that way it wouldn't sensationalize the story and feed the anti cop rhetoric! They haven't said a word about why it was done, or what alternatives were there. Also, shame on the Chief for not supporting Humphrey's... and explaining WHY he did what he did. What do you people propose they should have done? Punched her in the jaw? Let her go? Sing her a song to calm her down? There are a lot of factors that normal folks don't deal with that run through a cops mind when dealing with people like this mis-guided girl. Regardless, Police work can be ugly from the laymen's perspective. Not always passing out stickers to kids. There are real bad people that are dealt with nightly so that they don't make you or your family the next victim. To all you normal people that aren't automatically/inherently anti cop, thank you for your support.... It's very appreciated.

charlieharper said on December 1, 2009 at 3:35 AM

Good cops do not punish criminals. They subdue and arrest them with the minimum amount of force needed to do that safely. Good cops do this. Bad cops use shotguns on 12 year old girls and break 26 ribs on a mentally handicapped man who broke no laws. Bad cops do this.

veneficus said on December 1, 2009 at 5:25 AM

Let me see if I have the facts straight. 1.) This officer was just recently cleared of the "excessive use of force" against a mentally ill individual that died in police custody. 2.) This same officer then turns around and uses a firearm against an unarmed child that was already tackled to the ground by two other officers, with another officer standing nearby. 3.) The union stood behind this officer and rallied in his support. I have always had respect for the law, and for the men and women that enforce the law. I have also been through "use of force" training and firearm training with former police officers as instructors. Seeing the above facts, my respect for the police ends at the Portland city limits. Years ago, in California, I met a highway patrol officer who admitted to me that the reason he became a cop was because he wanted a job where he could carry a gun. Officer Humphreys appears to have the same misguided attitude.

wolverine1 said on December 1, 2009 at 6:24 AM

charlieharper: You have no idea what you are talking about. That bean bag deployment was pretty much the minimum amount of force in that situation. Should they continue to get hit/clawed/kicked? They could have easily hit her back, knee strikes... they used good restraint. She got a bruised thigh, teeth are still in her mouth, jaw works fine.... veneficus: Seriously, watch the video again. There were only 2 officers there. Your respect is your prerogative. If you want to have an opinion, that opinion should be an educated one. Become a cop and then you can tell everyone how things should be or are. That goes for everyone else that is so quick to cry foul with regards to everything the police do.

davidj said on December 1, 2009 at 6:30 AM

Officer Humphries will forever be known as Beanbag. I'm sure the angry (and armed) mob demonstrating had no influence on this decision.

quietobserver said on December 1, 2009 at 6:45 AM

I am glad to see Officer Humphreys restored to a desk job. But it shows weakness on the part of Sizer, who initially wanted to suspend him. Her first reversal was backing down from the suspension order under pressure from Saltzman. She should have stood up for Humphreys then, keeping him on the desk regardless of what Saltzman did to her. In reversing herself AGAIN, she looks even weaker. If Saltzman was so concerned with doing what he felt was right, why reverse his position under pressure from the union? Someone at the top needs to develop a backbone. As for Officer Humprheys, I hope he can recover enough from the stress of all he's been through to come back to the street. You have my support, Chris, for what it's worth. On a side note, I'd wager we'll see a change of policy with regard to the range of beanbag deployment, which is really too bad. Why fix it if it ain't broke?

ragweed_fan said on December 1, 2009 at 7:44 AM

Good, we should be glad that we have one more officer on duty, keeping us safe. I am so sick of people defending this 12yr old dirtbag. Hopefully the treat her like an adult. After what the poor officer had to go through.. Maybe now we can focus on more important issues, like over ruling the judgement to change the name of 39th to Cesar Chavez. 37th. 38th, Cesar Chavez, yeah that's lame...

shallowend said on December 1, 2009 at 8:14 AM

There is a major problem with Government "managers" at all levels to fire first and then have to backpedal. If he was placed on Admin Leave "while the investigation progresses", that would have been fine. Instead, the chief and the doofus commish mad very prejudicial statements, placing themselves (and the tax payers!) in the cross hairs. Topaz - If they were sure of their ground (if they had completed an investigation first), they would not have had to concern themselves about political pressure from the union. They acted prematurely, and had to cover their aft ends after the fact.

nwskeptic said on December 1, 2009 at 8:19 AM

You don't have your facts straight veneficus - The Chase situation wasn't excessive force but not getting him to a hospital. Terrible he died but easier to judge from this side of it. The girl was not subdued, the beanbag did it. He shot at her thigh. If he shot at her face, then you might have something, but it was used to get her to comply with them, when nothing else was working. That's the part a lot of critics are missing, handcuffs work when the person complies and this wasn't the case here. If the police do something wrong they should be held accountable, but in these two situations that simply isn't the case.

sandyma said on December 1, 2009 at 8:27 AM

If my child had acted that way to a police officer I would hope he would shot her more than once with a beanbag. Maybe then she would learn a lesson! The Officer did the right thing and I am thankful for that. Maybe the next time I am on a MAX plateform at night I will feel a little safer now that kids now they can't get away with this type behavior.

newsflasher said on December 1, 2009 at 9:19 AM

well praise be God! somebody at City Hall has got some sense for a change. it is only right and proper--all things considered--that this dude be given a desk job to simply answer the phone so that WE THE PEEPS can call in and ask him why it is he's so nasty and why it is that he kicked James Chasse to death 3 years ago and kept his job. these are questions we have and perchance he can answer them....

katuismobetta said on December 1, 2009 at 9:45 AM

But what happened to little homegirl? Is she back running the streets already? Pregnant and heading for welfare soon I'm sure.

jrweber said on December 1, 2009 at 9:50 AM

Let's see. A no confidence vote means the Portland Police are unhappy with the administration. So since they're unhappy I expect they will be issuing their resignations. Then the administration can get rid of the union, and hire all non union officers. In doing so we can get rid of the calling in sick when your not, and all the other wasteful perks they enjoy. Maybe then we could run the Police Department like a service business instead of a babysitting service.

kpportlandnormal said on December 1, 2009 at 11:16 AM

I remember it taking 4 people (including myself) to hold my 5 year old son down in the emergency room for him to get a shot in his behind. Yes, it took four of us to do it because he was not going down without a fight. It does not matter the size of the person, if someone squirms, flails and throws kicks and punches, it can be very difficult to subdue them.

dos_centavos said on December 1, 2009 at 12:11 PM

You have a potential for a very ugly scene if, when attempting to subdue the 'little princess', some of the other party goers decide to jump in. The situation had to be brought under control quickly...and it was... Bad girl in custody...everone else goes home safe...it's a good day.