The Oregon State Police has abandoned the city Portland after a decision by Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt to not pursue charges against Portland rioters.
The city of Portland, OR, has experienced civil unrest for more than 70 consecutive nights.
“The Oregon State Police is continually reassessing our resources and the needs of our partner agencies and, at this time, we are inclined to move those resources back to counties where prosecution of criminal conduct is still a priority,” Oregon State Police Captain Timothy Fox said in an emailed statement.
Schmidt said the prosecution of cases “relating solely to protest activities,” including interfering with police, disorderly conduct, or criminal trespass “have a weak nexus to further criminality,” during a press conference Wednesday.
He added that the city would do better to hear the rioters’ demands and not prosecute them.
“We recognize that we undermine public safety, not promote it, if we leverage the force of our criminal justice system against peaceful protesters who are demanding to be heard,” Schmidt said.