from Furious Nads
I have to come back to the Chasse death already because I need to come back to the officers involved.
In previous instances of officer-involved deaths, much discussion ensued from official corners about training of officers, and various re-examinations of that training inevitably followed. But we need to be clear on something now.
This isn't about training. It's about common sense, and common human decency.
These officers should not need training of any kind whatsoever to have known it might have been a good idea to actually tell the paramedics that James Chasse had been having trouble breathing.
These officers should not need training of any kind whatsoever to have thought that maybe their best and safest bet was to make sure James Chasse got to a hospital. Hell, that would have been the right course of action just from the standpoint of covering their own asses.
These officers should not need training of any kind whatsoever to have understood that no matter the circumstances, once they have someone in custody, their job is to protect and to serve that person, and that means thinking first of their health and well-being, not thinking first of getting that person to booking and moving on with their day.
This isn't about training. It's about being human.
Addendum: Briefly, to return to the apparent failure to inform paramedics of Chasse's observed condition prior to the paramedics' arrival. That alone should qualify this case for at least consideration of criminally negligent homicide, defined by ORS 163.145 as being "when, with criminal negligence, the person causes the death of another person".
ORS 161.085 defines "criminal negligence" as meaning "that a person fails to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will occur or that the circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to be aware of it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation."
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Chasse family attorney's statement
from KGW.com
STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY'S FOR JAMES CHASSE'S FAMILY
The family of James Chasse, Jr., believes it is in the public’s best interest at this time to have access to the information contained in the Medical Examiner’s report on Jim’s tragic death and is releasing the report for that reason.
The report is remarkable for several reasons. As set forth in the report: Jim was “of extremely thin build, weighing 145 pounds” and 5'9" tall. He was generally in good health. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his death.
The examination revealed no indication of any illicit drug use.
The examination revealed the following external injuries: multiple contusions and abrasions to his head, chest, abdomen, upper extremities, lower extremities, and back. The examination also revealed the following internal injuries, including: right ribs #3 through #8 are fractured in a comminuted fashion [crushed or splintered into numerous pieces], approximately 1- 1/2" right of the sternal edge; left ribs #3 through #8 are fractured in a comminuted fashion, approximately 1- 1/2" left of the sternal edge; the fractures of both right and left ribs perforate the serosa; left ribs #3 through #8 are fractured approximately 6" to 8" left of the sternal edge in the lateral chest wall; there is intense hemorrhage present associated with these fractures; the fractured ribs perforate the serosa and the adjacent muscular structures; posterior left ribs #3 through #12 are fractured approximately 1- 1/2" left of the left side of the spinal column; the inner cortex of the ribs is fractured in two spots and chips away from the bone on ribs #5, #6 and #7; the ribs are fractured in displaced fashion and perforate the overlying serosa, and they penetrate into the left lung for a distance of approximately 1/4"; and there is intense hemorrhage into the soft tissue and musculature of the posterior left chest wall due to the rib fracture. Right posterior ribs #3 through #6 are fractured approximately ½" from the right side of the spinal column.
This means no fewer than 12 ribs were crushed and splintered, both in front and in back, so severely that his lung was punctured and he suffered massive internal hemorrhaging.
The family is continuing to investigate the circumstances of Jim’s tragic death and appreciates the cooperation the public has been providing.
If you have any information regarding what happened to Jim, you are urged to contact either of the following: Tom Steenson, the family’s attorney, @ 503 / 221-1792 or e-mail: gillian@sstcr.com David Halloran, the family’s investigator, @ 503 / 256-4704 or e-mail: dhalloran@runningblue.com
STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY'S FOR JAMES CHASSE'S FAMILY
The family of James Chasse, Jr., believes it is in the public’s best interest at this time to have access to the information contained in the Medical Examiner’s report on Jim’s tragic death and is releasing the report for that reason.
The report is remarkable for several reasons. As set forth in the report: Jim was “of extremely thin build, weighing 145 pounds” and 5'9" tall. He was generally in good health. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his death.
The examination revealed no indication of any illicit drug use.
The examination revealed the following external injuries: multiple contusions and abrasions to his head, chest, abdomen, upper extremities, lower extremities, and back. The examination also revealed the following internal injuries, including: right ribs #3 through #8 are fractured in a comminuted fashion [crushed or splintered into numerous pieces], approximately 1- 1/2" right of the sternal edge; left ribs #3 through #8 are fractured in a comminuted fashion, approximately 1- 1/2" left of the sternal edge; the fractures of both right and left ribs perforate the serosa; left ribs #3 through #8 are fractured approximately 6" to 8" left of the sternal edge in the lateral chest wall; there is intense hemorrhage present associated with these fractures; the fractured ribs perforate the serosa and the adjacent muscular structures; posterior left ribs #3 through #12 are fractured approximately 1- 1/2" left of the left side of the spinal column; the inner cortex of the ribs is fractured in two spots and chips away from the bone on ribs #5, #6 and #7; the ribs are fractured in displaced fashion and perforate the overlying serosa, and they penetrate into the left lung for a distance of approximately 1/4"; and there is intense hemorrhage into the soft tissue and musculature of the posterior left chest wall due to the rib fracture. Right posterior ribs #3 through #6 are fractured approximately ½" from the right side of the spinal column.
This means no fewer than 12 ribs were crushed and splintered, both in front and in back, so severely that his lung was punctured and he suffered massive internal hemorrhaging.
The family is continuing to investigate the circumstances of Jim’s tragic death and appreciates the cooperation the public has been providing.
If you have any information regarding what happened to Jim, you are urged to contact either of the following: Tom Steenson, the family’s attorney, @ 503 / 221-1792 or e-mail: gillian@sstcr.com David Halloran, the family’s investigator, @ 503 / 256-4704 or e-mail: dhalloran@runningblue.com
From "accident" to "tragedy"
from Jack Bogadanski's Blog
Today's the day that a Multnomah County grand jury will hear the story of the death of "Jim Jim" Chasse, an unarmed, mentally ill man, at the hands of Portland police on September 17. In theory, criminal charges could be brought against the officers involved in the killing, but let's face it, given the history of how these things go in the Rose City (and we get at least a couple of them every year, it seems), the odds against an indictment are 1,000,000 to 1.
Already the only guy who would be pushing for criminal charges, District Attorney Mike Schrunk, is using words that don't sound very prosecutorial. From yesterday, in LocalNewsDaily.com:
Catch that? It's not an "incident," not a "homicide," not an "event." Already it's a "tragedy." You can almost hear the justifications ready to roll out. Just as you could when the medical examiner called the death an "accident," despite the statements of the eyewitnesses who said the police needlessly brutalized Chasse.
I wonder if Schrunk's got another killer cop defender coming in as an expert witness, as he has in the past. I wonder if the original police story of why they chased Chasse down -- "strange behavior" and "possible public urination" -- will morph into something different.
Of course, we'll never hear most of what goes down today. Grand jury proceedings are secret, and although the eywitnesses will get their say, they won't be around when the police and the medical tech who let Chasse die get on the stand. You'll never hear their story in their own words. Defenders of the police in these cases always say, "Don't rush to judgment. Wait until all the facts are known." The problem is that they never are.
Barring the unthinkable -- an indictment -- the only way the officers will have to answer tough questions in public will be if the Chasse family sues the city and the case goes to trial. If the officers were in the wrong, the city will offer the family a big bucks settlement to go away quietly. It would be a great gift to the residents of Portland if they didn't.
We need to watch the mayor like a hawk on this one. Former police chief, commissioner in charge of the bureau -- even if no crime was committed, it appears that some fundamental principles of community policing were disregarded in this case, and he ought to have to answer to the public for that. Reporters Maxine Bernstein of the O and Jim Redden of the Trib can hold his feet to the fire -- if they dare.
Today's the day that a Multnomah County grand jury will hear the story of the death of "Jim Jim" Chasse, an unarmed, mentally ill man, at the hands of Portland police on September 17. In theory, criminal charges could be brought against the officers involved in the killing, but let's face it, given the history of how these things go in the Rose City (and we get at least a couple of them every year, it seems), the odds against an indictment are 1,000,000 to 1.
Already the only guy who would be pushing for criminal charges, District Attorney Mike Schrunk, is using words that don't sound very prosecutorial. From yesterday, in LocalNewsDaily.com:
He predicted that 12 to 15 witnesses could be called to testify, adding that his office had invited Chasse family attorney Tom Steenson to submit the names of anyone the family thought should testify.
“It’s a tragedy and we want to present all the facts to the grand jury,” said Schrunk.
Catch that? It's not an "incident," not a "homicide," not an "event." Already it's a "tragedy." You can almost hear the justifications ready to roll out. Just as you could when the medical examiner called the death an "accident," despite the statements of the eyewitnesses who said the police needlessly brutalized Chasse.
I wonder if Schrunk's got another killer cop defender coming in as an expert witness, as he has in the past. I wonder if the original police story of why they chased Chasse down -- "strange behavior" and "possible public urination" -- will morph into something different.
Of course, we'll never hear most of what goes down today. Grand jury proceedings are secret, and although the eywitnesses will get their say, they won't be around when the police and the medical tech who let Chasse die get on the stand. You'll never hear their story in their own words. Defenders of the police in these cases always say, "Don't rush to judgment. Wait until all the facts are known." The problem is that they never are.
Barring the unthinkable -- an indictment -- the only way the officers will have to answer tough questions in public will be if the Chasse family sues the city and the case goes to trial. If the officers were in the wrong, the city will offer the family a big bucks settlement to go away quietly. It would be a great gift to the residents of Portland if they didn't.
We need to watch the mayor like a hawk on this one. Former police chief, commissioner in charge of the bureau -- even if no crime was committed, it appears that some fundamental principles of community policing were disregarded in this case, and he ought to have to answer to the public for that. Reporters Maxine Bernstein of the O and Jim Redden of the Trib can hold his feet to the fire -- if they dare.
Sources Say - Nothing ruins a vacation quite like a cop-involved shooting
from Portland Tribune
Last week, when Mayor Tom Potter blamed his staff for not interrupting his vacation to notify him of the controversial death in custody of James Chasse Jr., it was déjà vu all over again.
In 1992, police accidentally shot and killed 12-year-old Nathan Thomas while Potter was chief of police. Potter was on vacation and did not immediately return to town, claiming he did not learn about the incident for 11 days because his hotel in Mexico had no telephone.
But in 2004, while running for mayor, Potter told a different story to the Willamette Week, admitting the hotel did have a telephone – and blaming his staff for not calling him.
Last week, when Mayor Tom Potter blamed his staff for not interrupting his vacation to notify him of the controversial death in custody of James Chasse Jr., it was déjà vu all over again.
In 1992, police accidentally shot and killed 12-year-old Nathan Thomas while Potter was chief of police. Potter was on vacation and did not immediately return to town, claiming he did not learn about the incident for 11 days because his hotel in Mexico had no telephone.
But in 2004, while running for mayor, Potter told a different story to the Willamette Week, admitting the hotel did have a telephone – and blaming his staff for not calling him.
State police link ought to be broken
from the Portland Tribune
The role of a police officer and the job of a medical examiner ought to be independent functions. Yet Oregon’s unusual system of funding the state medical examiner’s office through the state police can blur that distinction.
The need for greater separation became apparent this week when state Medical Examiner Karen Gunson issued a finding that the death of James Chasse Jr. was an accident. The ruling has caused an uproar because the 42-year-old Chasse, who suffered from mental illness, apparently died from injuries inflicted by Portland police officers who were trying to subdue and arrest him.
Some people are questioning whether Gunson can be objective in the case. We aren’t prepared to say that Gunson’s findings were faulty. Nor do we question her credentials, integrity or professionalism.
But public perception is an important issue.
Citizens are wondering whether a medical examiner appointed by the superintendent of state police can truly be independent of police. Indeed, the vast majority of other states have different structures that provide for that independence. The models we prefer would place the state medical examiner’s office under the Oregon Supreme Court or a state health and medical commission.
Such a structure might not change the medical examiner’s rulings one iota, but it would remove any perceived conflict of interest when a medical examiner is called upon to investigate a matter involving a law-enforcement colleague.
The role of a police officer and the job of a medical examiner ought to be independent functions. Yet Oregon’s unusual system of funding the state medical examiner’s office through the state police can blur that distinction.
The need for greater separation became apparent this week when state Medical Examiner Karen Gunson issued a finding that the death of James Chasse Jr. was an accident. The ruling has caused an uproar because the 42-year-old Chasse, who suffered from mental illness, apparently died from injuries inflicted by Portland police officers who were trying to subdue and arrest him.
Some people are questioning whether Gunson can be objective in the case. We aren’t prepared to say that Gunson’s findings were faulty. Nor do we question her credentials, integrity or professionalism.
But public perception is an important issue.
Citizens are wondering whether a medical examiner appointed by the superintendent of state police can truly be independent of police. Indeed, the vast majority of other states have different structures that provide for that independence. The models we prefer would place the state medical examiner’s office under the Oregon Supreme Court or a state health and medical commission.
Such a structure might not change the medical examiner’s rulings one iota, but it would remove any perceived conflict of interest when a medical examiner is called upon to investigate a matter involving a law-enforcement colleague.
Update: District Attorney looks limp on death in custody
from the Portland Mercury
Since originally posting this at 1:30pm, District Attorney Mike Schrunk has responded to suggestions that the stage is set for letting off the officers involved in the Chasse death in custody case, refusing to rule out indictment of the officers involved on criminal charges. Maybe he doesn’t look so limp, after all. This is what he told the Mercury just now:
Original Post made at 1:30pm:
My prediction (you don’t need to be psychic to work here, but it helps): The cops involved in the death in custody of James Phillip Chasse, Jr. on September 17 are going to escape criminal liability.
District Attorney Mike Schrunk has delegated prosecution of the case to a deputy, Chris Mascal—and while it remains unclear how common it is to delegate high-profile cases in this way, Dan Handelman at Portland’s Copwatch says “it does seem unusual” —as though Schrunk is keen to distance himself from the case’s outcome.
Schrunk is now on record as calling the death “a tragedy”, but as commentators (including Bojack) are pointing out, such language, and now, Schrunk’s delegation, sets the stage for letting off the officers involved, amidst a round of public wailing about a lack of funding for the mentally ill. As Amy reported yesterday, Schrunk’s office is to meet with the Grand Jury today, with 15 witnesses expected to be called and the case expected to close out at the end of the week. Clearing the officers involved in Chasse’s death of criminal liability would still leave room for his family to pursue a civil suit against the officers, should they choose.
Will the officers be found criminally liable for Chasse’s death? Did they kill him? We’ll know, officially, by the end of the week. You can read an email from Schrunk, setting out his position, after the jump.
Since originally posting this at 1:30pm, District Attorney Mike Schrunk has responded to suggestions that the stage is set for letting off the officers involved in the Chasse death in custody case, refusing to rule out indictment of the officers involved on criminal charges. Maybe he doesn’t look so limp, after all. This is what he told the Mercury just now:
Christine Mascal has tried death penalty cases and we have a regular assignment of senior deputies qualified to handle the most severe cases. I’ve met Christine on this case numerous times.
If you’re saying describing the incident as a tragedy sets the stage for letting people off, you’re nuts. These things should not happen.
It’s healthy that death in custody cases should go before a grand jury. Does that mean there’ll never be an indictment? No.
Original Post made at 1:30pm:
My prediction (you don’t need to be psychic to work here, but it helps): The cops involved in the death in custody of James Phillip Chasse, Jr. on September 17 are going to escape criminal liability.
District Attorney Mike Schrunk has delegated prosecution of the case to a deputy, Chris Mascal—and while it remains unclear how common it is to delegate high-profile cases in this way, Dan Handelman at Portland’s Copwatch says “it does seem unusual” —as though Schrunk is keen to distance himself from the case’s outcome.
Schrunk is now on record as calling the death “a tragedy”, but as commentators (including Bojack) are pointing out, such language, and now, Schrunk’s delegation, sets the stage for letting off the officers involved, amidst a round of public wailing about a lack of funding for the mentally ill. As Amy reported yesterday, Schrunk’s office is to meet with the Grand Jury today, with 15 witnesses expected to be called and the case expected to close out at the end of the week. Clearing the officers involved in Chasse’s death of criminal liability would still leave room for his family to pursue a civil suit against the officers, should they choose.
Will the officers be found criminally liable for Chasse’s death? Did they kill him? We’ll know, officially, by the end of the week. You can read an email from Schrunk, setting out his position, after the jump.
Thank you for your recent mail. The complete investigation into James Chasse's tragic death will be presented to the Multnomah County Grand Jury. I have spoken with his immediate family's attorney, Tom Steenson, and offered to have him or a representative of his office review the entire investigative file prior to the completion of the grand jury inquiry. I have also invited Mr. Steenson to forward the names of any witnesses or evidence he feels the grand jury should consider. The grand jury will focus on a narrow question: whether any person has criminal liability in Mr. Chasse's death. The answer to this question is not the same as to the one of whether the death was justified or whether anyone is or is not civilly liable in relation to that death. It is also not a decision as to whether appropriate procedures or resources are available for the mentally ill in circumstances such as these. In any event, should you have any further questions or comments please feel free to contact me again.
Very truly yours,
MICHAEL D. SCHRUNK
District Attorney
Autopsy shows fractured ribs led to Portland man's death
from Associated Press + KGW.com
A man who died in police custody suffered 16 broken ribs, including some that punctured a lung and caused massive internal bleeding, according to autopsy results released by his family.
James P. Chasse Jr., 42, died Sept. 17 after three officers struggled to arrest him in the Pearl District.
The state medical examiner's report also showed that Chasse suffered multiple bruises, contusions and abrasions to his head, chest and abdomen. Toxicology tests revealed no alcohol or drugs in his system.
According to police, officers spotted Chasse acting oddly as if he either were on drugs or had a mental disorder, and then possibly urinating in the street before they walked up to him. When he ran, they chased him.
Tom Steenson, the family's attorney, released the autopsy report because Chasse's family was disturbed by the extent of the injuries and is continuing its own independent investigation of his death. They highlighted that Chasse, who suffered from schizophrenia, had a slight build. He was 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds.
In addition, a deputy medical examiner's initial investigative report done the night of Chasse's death indicates that paramedics who first evaluated a handcuffed Chasse on the street said they were not told Chasse may have gone into respiratory arrest. They also said they were unaware officers had used a Taser on Chasse, the report said.
The paramedics said they found Chasse conscious and his vital signs in the normal range, and let the police officers decide whether to transport Chasse to a hospital, Dwayne Bigoni, the deputy medical examiner, wrote in the report.
Police then shackled Chasse's ankles together, tied his feet to his hands in a "hog-tie" and drove him to jail, accusing him of resisting arrest and interfering with police. There, jail nurses determined he needed further medical attention, and police drove Chasse to Portland Adventist Hospital. He died en route.
When Chasse's body arrived for autopsy, his left chest appeared "flattened," the report said.
The state medical examiner, Dr. Karen Gunson, cited blunt-force chest trauma as his cause of death and wrote that the injuries were caused "by another person or a fall."
Gunson ruled the death an accident, but Chasse's family, witnesses and a police watchdog group have questioned her ruling, and at least one state lawmaker has called for a public inquest into Chasse's death.
"Jim had a difficult life, and its end was horribly, horribly unjust," Mark Chasse said when eulogizing his older brother at a private service on Friday.
The family attorney released the full autopsy report on the first day the Multnomah County district attorney's office presented the case to a grand jury for review. The grand jury is expected to hear more testimony Wednesday and make a ruling on whether anyone is criminally liable in Chasse's death.
District Attorney Michael Schrunk said Tuesday the entire grand jury file would be turned over to Chasse's family upon conclusion of the review. But he cautioned that the grand jury's role is only to decide the narrow question of criminal liability.
A man who died in police custody suffered 16 broken ribs, including some that punctured a lung and caused massive internal bleeding, according to autopsy results released by his family.
James P. Chasse Jr., 42, died Sept. 17 after three officers struggled to arrest him in the Pearl District.
The state medical examiner's report also showed that Chasse suffered multiple bruises, contusions and abrasions to his head, chest and abdomen. Toxicology tests revealed no alcohol or drugs in his system.
According to police, officers spotted Chasse acting oddly as if he either were on drugs or had a mental disorder, and then possibly urinating in the street before they walked up to him. When he ran, they chased him.
Tom Steenson, the family's attorney, released the autopsy report because Chasse's family was disturbed by the extent of the injuries and is continuing its own independent investigation of his death. They highlighted that Chasse, who suffered from schizophrenia, had a slight build. He was 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds.
In addition, a deputy medical examiner's initial investigative report done the night of Chasse's death indicates that paramedics who first evaluated a handcuffed Chasse on the street said they were not told Chasse may have gone into respiratory arrest. They also said they were unaware officers had used a Taser on Chasse, the report said.
The paramedics said they found Chasse conscious and his vital signs in the normal range, and let the police officers decide whether to transport Chasse to a hospital, Dwayne Bigoni, the deputy medical examiner, wrote in the report.
Police then shackled Chasse's ankles together, tied his feet to his hands in a "hog-tie" and drove him to jail, accusing him of resisting arrest and interfering with police. There, jail nurses determined he needed further medical attention, and police drove Chasse to Portland Adventist Hospital. He died en route.
When Chasse's body arrived for autopsy, his left chest appeared "flattened," the report said.
The state medical examiner, Dr. Karen Gunson, cited blunt-force chest trauma as his cause of death and wrote that the injuries were caused "by another person or a fall."
Gunson ruled the death an accident, but Chasse's family, witnesses and a police watchdog group have questioned her ruling, and at least one state lawmaker has called for a public inquest into Chasse's death.
"Jim had a difficult life, and its end was horribly, horribly unjust," Mark Chasse said when eulogizing his older brother at a private service on Friday.
The family attorney released the full autopsy report on the first day the Multnomah County district attorney's office presented the case to a grand jury for review. The grand jury is expected to hear more testimony Wednesday and make a ruling on whether anyone is criminally liable in Chasse's death.
District Attorney Michael Schrunk said Tuesday the entire grand jury file would be turned over to Chasse's family upon conclusion of the review. But he cautioned that the grand jury's role is only to decide the narrow question of criminal liability.
Autopsy: No Drugs, Alcohol In Man Who Died In Police Custody
from KOIN.com
The family of James Chasse Jr. has released the autopsy report detailing Chasse's physical condition at the time of his death.
Attorneys for the family of the man who died Sept. 17 in police custody call the 21-page autopsy report remarkable. They say it sheds light into the excessive force used by officers.
Initially, reports indicated that Chasse's death may have been the result of illicit drugs, but toxicology tests later confirmed that no drugs or alcohol were found in his body.
The medical examiner's report lists Chasse's injuries, which include multiple broken ribs, which led to a punctured lung and other internal injuries. The official cause of death is accidental blunt-force trauma to the chest.
A grand jury is looking at evidence in the case and considering possible criminal charges for the officers involved.
The family of James Chasse Jr. has released the autopsy report detailing Chasse's physical condition at the time of his death.
Attorneys for the family of the man who died Sept. 17 in police custody call the 21-page autopsy report remarkable. They say it sheds light into the excessive force used by officers.
Initially, reports indicated that Chasse's death may have been the result of illicit drugs, but toxicology tests later confirmed that no drugs or alcohol were found in his body.
The medical examiner's report lists Chasse's injuries, which include multiple broken ribs, which led to a punctured lung and other internal injuries. The official cause of death is accidental blunt-force trauma to the chest.
A grand jury is looking at evidence in the case and considering possible criminal charges for the officers involved.
Monday, October 2, 2006
James Chasse - a poem
from the Portland Tribune
James Chasse - By Jay Thiemeyer
before
the callous disregard
before
the allegation
before the excess
before the kicks
before they sat on broke chest
before they stopped their car
before the man was even there!
Before the manslaughter
before the frieze of cops assembled
with paramedics who stood
all deciding over
the shackled Chasse
before terrorized curses
of a mad man
Jim-Jim defenseless before
the cops with their flack-jackets
before their badges took offense
before the Grand Jury
and before the prosecutor's skilled
orchestration of events
the man was not yet dead.
before the cops agreed
among themselves to be cops
before a man
before the question even came up
of what cops thought -
god knows what Jim-Jim said
much less what they heard -
or what they might be looking at:
less than nothing for them?
or worse, a target,
practice in the Pearl?
with a captive audience.
a show of force, zero-tolerance
for protected privilege
the Pearl assured they got
what they deserved and paid for.
Before the moment when they
might as well have thought
'a man is just a man'
and who is a brother's keeper?
or that bullying sadism has consequences
paid for by others
than those dead
before all that
whether indeed
'a man is just a man' or
that that is
all you need to know
in a civil society
and recognize the spoil of
thinking: "he was a homeless
blemish on the upscale;
he blasphened the Pearl.
He must have done something
to deserve what he got"
which seems to suffice for some
in their sacred scared gated world.
"Face it Jim-Jim -
though you're dead
perhaps you can hear me -
You got no rights, man
they disappear
for the likes of you.
you gave it up by being you,
even your Right to Life."
a blink and nod will never change
how fear responds with a gun
and a badge
to greater fear
the unknown madness
don't forget that, Jim-Jim
might do you some good some day
James Chasse - By Jay Thiemeyer
before
the callous disregard
before
the allegation
before the excess
before the kicks
before they sat on broke chest
before they stopped their car
before the man was even there!
Before the manslaughter
before the frieze of cops assembled
with paramedics who stood
all deciding over
the shackled Chasse
before terrorized curses
of a mad man
Jim-Jim defenseless before
the cops with their flack-jackets
before their badges took offense
before the Grand Jury
and before the prosecutor's skilled
orchestration of events
the man was not yet dead.
before the cops agreed
among themselves to be cops
before a man
before the question even came up
of what cops thought -
god knows what Jim-Jim said
much less what they heard -
or what they might be looking at:
less than nothing for them?
or worse, a target,
practice in the Pearl?
with a captive audience.
a show of force, zero-tolerance
for protected privilege
the Pearl assured they got
what they deserved and paid for.
Before the moment when they
might as well have thought
'a man is just a man'
and who is a brother's keeper?
or that bullying sadism has consequences
paid for by others
than those dead
before all that
whether indeed
'a man is just a man' or
that that is
all you need to know
in a civil society
and recognize the spoil of
thinking: "he was a homeless
blemish on the upscale;
he blasphened the Pearl.
He must have done something
to deserve what he got"
which seems to suffice for some
in their sacred scared gated world.
"Face it Jim-Jim -
though you're dead
perhaps you can hear me -
You got no rights, man
they disappear
for the likes of you.
you gave it up by being you,
even your Right to Life."
a blink and nod will never change
how fear responds with a gun
and a badge
to greater fear
the unknown madness
don't forget that, Jim-Jim
might do you some good some day
Copwatch To Schrunk: Do It Right This Time
With a grand jury scheduled to consider the officer-involved death of James Chasse tomorrow, Portland Copwatch is urging the District Attorney to provide an "aggressive and thorough" presentation. What follows is the full text of the letter Copwatch sent to the D.A.
I've mentioned it before, but here's a quick refresher on the unethical manner in which the D.A. handled the officer-involved shooting of James Jahar Perez.
October 2, 2006
District Attorney Schrunk:
We are writing to you today to urge you to present an aggressive and thorough case before the grand jury convening tomorrow in the case of the police in-custody death of James Chasse Jr.
By the accounts we have read of this case, Mr. Chasse:
* was unarmed
* was not posing a threat of serious bodily injury or death to police or the public
* suffered from mental illness
* died as a result of his inability to breathe caused in part by blunt force trauma to the chest during the struggle with police
Those same accounts indicate that the police officers involved:
* kicked Mr. Chasse in the head (as noted in the Portland Police directive on deadly force, the use of body parts can constitute the use of deadly force)
* Tasered Mr. Chasse repeatedly (an October, 2005 training memorandum warned against multiple uses of the Taser in part because "Repeated, prolonged and/or continuous exposure on the subject to the TASER electrical discharge may cause strong muscle contractions. These muscle contractions, especially if probes are placed across the chest and diaphragm, may impede breathing and respiration.")
* lay Mr. Chasse on his chest and "hog-tied" him despite his difficulty in breathing
* made the determination to take Mr. Chasse to jail rather than the hospital.
All of the above indicates that even if the officers did not intend to kill Mr. Chasse, they should have known that their actions could cause his death. It seems reasonable that a jury could indict the officers for criminally negligent homicide.
Your office has come under great scrutiny over the past few years in other cases which involved unarmed civilians dying at the hands of the police. To our knowledge there has never been an indictment of an on-duty officer for excessive use of force in Portland. In the last high-profile case, of James Jahar Perez, your office accepted paid testimony from a biased "expert" on police shootings to speak of "action-reaction" theories, which probably swayed the outcome of that case.
Attorney General Hardy Myers, when looking at the issue of deaths in police custody in 2005, recommended that transcripts of grand juries in these cases be released publicly. The Oregon Senate passed a bill to allow that transparency to happen, but the bill never made it to the house floor.
We would like to thank you for apparently agreeing with the Police Assessment Resource Center, which has been studying shootings and deaths in custody by the Portland Police, who recommended that deaths in custody be treated with the same procedures as police shootings. We hope it is never a question whether a death in custody should be presented to a grand jury.
Many members of the public are aware that the District Attorney's office has a very close relationship with the police and is thus reluctant to bring charges. It seems to us that an aggressive and thorough presentation of the facts in this case might lead to an indictment and the end of speculation that your office has a serious conflict of interest when considering police shootings and deaths in custody.
Sincerely,
Dan Handelman
Portland Copwatch
I've mentioned it before, but here's a quick refresher on the unethical manner in which the D.A. handled the officer-involved shooting of James Jahar Perez.
Chasse grand jury to meet Tuesday
from Portland Tribune
A Multnomah County grand jury will meet Tuesday to consider bringing criminal charges against the Portland and Multnomah County police officers involved in the death of James Chasse Jr.
Chasse is the mentally ill man who died after being arrested by Portland police near the corner of Northwest 13th Avenue and Northwest Everett Street on Sept. 17. Oregon State Medical Examiner Karen Gunson conducted an autopsy and determined that Chasse died of “blunt force trauma to the chest,” ruling the death “accidental.”
Police admit knocking Chasse down and using a Taser to subdue him during the arrest. Three witnesses have filed complaints with the city alleging the officers used excessive force, including kicking Chasse in the chest and head.
Present at the arrest were Portland police Sgt. Kyle Nice, 39; Portland officer Christopher Humphreys, 31; and Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Deputy Brett Burton, 26.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schrunk said the grand jury could meet for more than one day. He predicted that 12 to 15 witnesses could be called to testify, adding that his office had invited Chasse family attorney Tom Steenson to submit the names of anyone the family thought should testify.
“It’s a tragedy and we want to present all the facts to the grand jury,” said Schrunk.
On Monday morning, the grassroots police oversight group Portland Copwatch sent Schrunk a letter urging his office to make an “aggressive and thorough” presentation to the grand jury. According to the letter, the officers who arrested Chasse may have violated bureau policies on the use of deadly force during the arrest.
“It seems reasonable that a jury could indict the officers for criminally negligent homicide,” Copwatch activist Dan Handelman wrote in the letter.
Schrunk would not comment on the letter but said he has ruled out convening a public inquest on the incident after the grand jury finishes its work.
“A public inquest is helpful when the facts are in dispute, but this happened in front of witnesses,” said Schrunk.
A Multnomah County grand jury will meet Tuesday to consider bringing criminal charges against the Portland and Multnomah County police officers involved in the death of James Chasse Jr.
Chasse is the mentally ill man who died after being arrested by Portland police near the corner of Northwest 13th Avenue and Northwest Everett Street on Sept. 17. Oregon State Medical Examiner Karen Gunson conducted an autopsy and determined that Chasse died of “blunt force trauma to the chest,” ruling the death “accidental.”
Police admit knocking Chasse down and using a Taser to subdue him during the arrest. Three witnesses have filed complaints with the city alleging the officers used excessive force, including kicking Chasse in the chest and head.
Present at the arrest were Portland police Sgt. Kyle Nice, 39; Portland officer Christopher Humphreys, 31; and Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Deputy Brett Burton, 26.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schrunk said the grand jury could meet for more than one day. He predicted that 12 to 15 witnesses could be called to testify, adding that his office had invited Chasse family attorney Tom Steenson to submit the names of anyone the family thought should testify.
“It’s a tragedy and we want to present all the facts to the grand jury,” said Schrunk.
On Monday morning, the grassroots police oversight group Portland Copwatch sent Schrunk a letter urging his office to make an “aggressive and thorough” presentation to the grand jury. According to the letter, the officers who arrested Chasse may have violated bureau policies on the use of deadly force during the arrest.
“It seems reasonable that a jury could indict the officers for criminally negligent homicide,” Copwatch activist Dan Handelman wrote in the letter.
Schrunk would not comment on the letter but said he has ruled out convening a public inquest on the incident after the grand jury finishes its work.
“A public inquest is helpful when the facts are in dispute, but this happened in front of witnesses,” said Schrunk.
Sunday, October 1, 2006
From the Web Diary of Eva Lake
From Eva Lake's LoveLake
an artist, October 31 2006
Why the art world did not pick up on this story of an artist murdered is something I wonder about. The Mercury Blog, posted by Matt Davis, is the only one to really pick up on the artist that Jim Jim was (along with the first lead story in the O on Jim Jim with a real identity). Is the new guard here so still swept up in how the ‘biennial of 1999 changed everything’ and every biennial thereafter that they cannot see or consider the artist who came before their time or arrival?
What did we see in one drawing after another at the Affair and elsewhere amongst the new guard? ‘Bad drawing’ is almost celebrated and the more juvenile, the better.
I have nothing against this art, but I feel it is my duty to tell you who did it first here in PDX and who, in many ways, did it best: Jim Jim, with his spot-on yet childish scrawls, 'so deeply contrasted with his relatively sophisticated intellect' (Randy Moe’s words at the memorial) scattered throughout the Organ Organism (and I don’t need to tell you how cool fanzines are these days). What has changed here - outside of the fact that he did this in 1978? Is that uninteresting?
Memorial, October 28 2006
Last night the public memorial for Jim Jim was held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ downtown. KT Kincaid organized it. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I already know this. I never slept a wink after it, save to have one quick dream.
What was remarkable was the depth and articulance of everyone who came together, in their grief or in their love or in their agenda. Every time that I thought I would go, I had to stay. Every time I thought that perhaps: “This speaker will not have something to say to me” – the speaker did.
The recounts contrasted with family who knew a young man who loved to hike, to a group of friends who knew a young man who loved the Wipers. There was a notable shift when KT Kincaid went to the podium and I have to say, she was an incredible savant in her presentation of what punk was at that time, as a way of giving Jim Jim the right context.
I admired the tenacity of everyone, and those who say they will not give up, of those who say they will continue to love and of those who say they will ‘dog the police’. Those words were a moment, right there, coming from Jason Renaud. And as I came up to him, sort of nameless and full of wordless tears, others came up to me, strangers. It was like a circle of bearing witness.
In my dream red wine was spilled on a floor. I was at first worried about it, would it stain and how would I clean it up. Then I saw that I had two young children to worry over and I saw that they were fine. And that was what mattered. The spilled red wine was something I would figure out.
Vigil, October 25 2006
This coming Friday evening there will be a vigil for Jim Jim. You can find out more details about the vigil and this entire case here.
The opening for Randy Moe’s It’s a Sad Sad Sad Sad World had a bit of this flavor. People I literally had not seen since 1980 came, all friends of Jim Jim. Some came from far away too. The family was there, as well as CopWatch.
From the tenor of phone calls coming at me in the days leading up to the reception, I wasn’t sure what to prepare for. But it all turned out just fine.
The verdict, October 18 2006
The verdict of the grand jury came back and they said that the killing of Jim Jim was ‘accidental’. I still can’t get this processed through my heart. How many broken bones did he suffer? – was it 16? Piercing into his lungs and other organs, all the results of beatings from the police? I could not really read the autopsy report. He bled out in their wagon.
When I first heard of all of this, I thought dear God, I hope he was high, high as hell on something, so that he would not have felt all of that. But Jim Jim, despite what the police said right from the start (- calling him “a drugged out street-person” - I talked to the major eye-witness for the jury, who saw the whole ‘chase’ – if you want to call it that, from start to finish), poor Jim Jim was stone cold sober when he went through all of that. Not even any pharmaceuticals for all of those they wish to silence.
Portrait, October 6 2006
The Portland Mercury took a picture of Randy Moe’s portrait of Jim Jim and slogged it, to be included in the upcoming show at Chambers, which opens the 19th. We are hoping to have some xeroxed copies to look at of The Organism, the magazine he produced back in 1978/79, at the exhibition.
an artist, October 31 2006
Why the art world did not pick up on this story of an artist murdered is something I wonder about. The Mercury Blog, posted by Matt Davis, is the only one to really pick up on the artist that Jim Jim was (along with the first lead story in the O on Jim Jim with a real identity). Is the new guard here so still swept up in how the ‘biennial of 1999 changed everything’ and every biennial thereafter that they cannot see or consider the artist who came before their time or arrival?
What did we see in one drawing after another at the Affair and elsewhere amongst the new guard? ‘Bad drawing’ is almost celebrated and the more juvenile, the better.
I have nothing against this art, but I feel it is my duty to tell you who did it first here in PDX and who, in many ways, did it best: Jim Jim, with his spot-on yet childish scrawls, 'so deeply contrasted with his relatively sophisticated intellect' (Randy Moe’s words at the memorial) scattered throughout the Organ Organism (and I don’t need to tell you how cool fanzines are these days). What has changed here - outside of the fact that he did this in 1978? Is that uninteresting?
Memorial, October 28 2006
Last night the public memorial for Jim Jim was held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ downtown. KT Kincaid organized it. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I already know this. I never slept a wink after it, save to have one quick dream.
What was remarkable was the depth and articulance of everyone who came together, in their grief or in their love or in their agenda. Every time that I thought I would go, I had to stay. Every time I thought that perhaps: “This speaker will not have something to say to me” – the speaker did.
The recounts contrasted with family who knew a young man who loved to hike, to a group of friends who knew a young man who loved the Wipers. There was a notable shift when KT Kincaid went to the podium and I have to say, she was an incredible savant in her presentation of what punk was at that time, as a way of giving Jim Jim the right context.
I admired the tenacity of everyone, and those who say they will not give up, of those who say they will continue to love and of those who say they will ‘dog the police’. Those words were a moment, right there, coming from Jason Renaud. And as I came up to him, sort of nameless and full of wordless tears, others came up to me, strangers. It was like a circle of bearing witness.
In my dream red wine was spilled on a floor. I was at first worried about it, would it stain and how would I clean it up. Then I saw that I had two young children to worry over and I saw that they were fine. And that was what mattered. The spilled red wine was something I would figure out.
Vigil, October 25 2006
This coming Friday evening there will be a vigil for Jim Jim. You can find out more details about the vigil and this entire case here.
The opening for Randy Moe’s It’s a Sad Sad Sad Sad World had a bit of this flavor. People I literally had not seen since 1980 came, all friends of Jim Jim. Some came from far away too. The family was there, as well as CopWatch.
From the tenor of phone calls coming at me in the days leading up to the reception, I wasn’t sure what to prepare for. But it all turned out just fine.
The verdict, October 18 2006
The verdict of the grand jury came back and they said that the killing of Jim Jim was ‘accidental’. I still can’t get this processed through my heart. How many broken bones did he suffer? – was it 16? Piercing into his lungs and other organs, all the results of beatings from the police? I could not really read the autopsy report. He bled out in their wagon.
When I first heard of all of this, I thought dear God, I hope he was high, high as hell on something, so that he would not have felt all of that. But Jim Jim, despite what the police said right from the start (- calling him “a drugged out street-person” - I talked to the major eye-witness for the jury, who saw the whole ‘chase’ – if you want to call it that, from start to finish), poor Jim Jim was stone cold sober when he went through all of that. Not even any pharmaceuticals for all of those they wish to silence.Portrait, October 6 2006
The Portland Mercury took a picture of Randy Moe’s portrait of Jim Jim and slogged it, to be included in the upcoming show at Chambers, which opens the 19th. We are hoping to have some xeroxed copies to look at of The Organism, the magazine he produced back in 1978/79, at the exhibition.
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