from The Oregonian, by Maxine Bernstein
A Multnomah County grand jury's review of James P. Chasse Jr.'s death in police custody will stretch into next week, prosecutors and police said.
The grand jury already has heard testimony from 29 witnesses over four days, starting Oct. 3.
Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk has asked Chasse's family attorney whether he wants to suggest any other witnesses to appear before the seven-member jury. To accommodate that, and the schedule of one grand juror, who will be unavailable for several days, authorities do not expect the grand jury to rule until Tuesday at the earliest.
According to police, Chasse's family attorney, Tom Steenson, has asked for one additional witness. Steenson declined comment Tuesday.
Chasse, a 42-year-old mentally ill man who suffered schizophrenia, died in police custody on Sept. 17.
Two Portland police officers and a Multnomah County deputy sheriff who noticed Chasse acting odd, and possibly urinating in the street, approached him, and he ran. They chased him and struggled to arrest him. Witnesses said police tackled Chasse to the ground, forcefully fell on top of him, and then kicked and punched him repeatedly.
Police said one officer pushed Chasse, causing him to stumble to the ground. They said he tried to bite an officer, and they struggled to handcuff him and take him into custody. At one point, an officer used a stun gun against Chasse's torso, police said.
Ambulance and Portland Fire Bureau medics responded to examine Chasse, who witnesses said appeared unconscious.
Medics found Chasse's vital signs normal, and police drove him to jail on accusations of resisting arrest and assaulting an officer. Once he was at the jail, nurses said he needed further medical attention. Police drove him to Portland Adventist Hospital, but he died on the way.
An autopsy showed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the chest sustained as police were trying to take him into custody, the state medical examiner said.
Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer said the Police Bureau has been patiently waiting for the grand jury's conclusion to provide details of its investigation.
"The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to share all of the factual information regarding this investigation. However, allowing Mr. Chasse's family to participate in the Grand Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire community," Sizer said in a prepared statement. "The Police Bureau stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as the Grand Jury completes its work."
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
No decision this week in case of man who died in custody
from KGW.com
There will be no decision this week from a Multnomah County grand jury on whether officers will be charged or any laws were broken in the case of a man who died in police custody.
Forty-two-year-old James Chasse died last month in a Portland patrol car on his way to the hospital after a scuffle with officers in Northwest Portland on September 17. His family said Chasse was mentally ill.
A decision was expected on Tuesday, but officials said that attorneys for the Chasse family wanted the jury to interview another witness in the case. One member of the grand jury will also be unavailable until next week, police said.
The grand jury will reconvene next week.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Rosie Sizer said:
"The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to share all of the factual information regarding this investigation. However, allowing Mr. Chasse’s family to participate in the Grand Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire community. The Police Bureau stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as the Grand Jury completes its work."
Police identified the officers involved Chasse’s custody as Sgt. Kyle Nice, 39, a 14-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau, officer Christopher Humphreys, 31, a seven-year veteran of the bureau and Dep. Brett Burton, 26, a two-year veteran with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. The grand jury began interviewing witnesses last week and wrapped up hearing testimony on Monday, officials said.
The cause of death was listed as accidental, from blunt force trauma to the chest, examiners said.
Chasse had 16 broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal bleeding, according to the state medical examiner's autopsy report that was later released by his family.
Chasse’s family and some witnesses said they believed police used excessive force.
Police and Portland’s Mayor promised thorough and quick investigations into the death, and also a review of police training and procedures, police said.
There will be no decision this week from a Multnomah County grand jury on whether officers will be charged or any laws were broken in the case of a man who died in police custody.
Forty-two-year-old James Chasse died last month in a Portland patrol car on his way to the hospital after a scuffle with officers in Northwest Portland on September 17. His family said Chasse was mentally ill.
A decision was expected on Tuesday, but officials said that attorneys for the Chasse family wanted the jury to interview another witness in the case. One member of the grand jury will also be unavailable until next week, police said.
The grand jury will reconvene next week.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Rosie Sizer said:
"The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to share all of the factual information regarding this investigation. However, allowing Mr. Chasse’s family to participate in the Grand Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire community. The Police Bureau stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as the Grand Jury completes its work."
Police identified the officers involved Chasse’s custody as Sgt. Kyle Nice, 39, a 14-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau, officer Christopher Humphreys, 31, a seven-year veteran of the bureau and Dep. Brett Burton, 26, a two-year veteran with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. The grand jury began interviewing witnesses last week and wrapped up hearing testimony on Monday, officials said.
The cause of death was listed as accidental, from blunt force trauma to the chest, examiners said.
Chasse had 16 broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal bleeding, according to the state medical examiner's autopsy report that was later released by his family.
Chasse’s family and some witnesses said they believed police used excessive force.
Police and Portland’s Mayor promised thorough and quick investigations into the death, and also a review of police training and procedures, police said.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Grand Jury Decision In Chasse Death Delayed
from OPB.org
The grand jury looking into the death of a Portland man in police custody last month won't deliver its decision until next week -- according to the Multnomah County District Attorney. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.
The panel is considering whether to hold sergeant Kyle Nice, officer Christopher Humphreys and sheriff's deputy Brett Burton criminally liable for the death of James Chasse.
The officers struggled with Chasse after he ran away from them. He suffered 26 broken or crushed bones. An autopsy found the mentally ill man had no drugs or alcohol in his system. He also wasn't carrying a weapon.
Police say the grand jury is delaying its decision because Chasse's family has asked an additional witness be called.
Police Chief Rosie Sizer says the bureau is disappointed by the delay because it is anxious to share all information from the investigation.
The Multnomah County DA has promised that the entire grand jury file will be turned over to Chasse's family after the panel has made its finding.
The grand jury looking into the death of a Portland man in police custody last month won't deliver its decision until next week -- according to the Multnomah County District Attorney. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.
The panel is considering whether to hold sergeant Kyle Nice, officer Christopher Humphreys and sheriff's deputy Brett Burton criminally liable for the death of James Chasse.
The officers struggled with Chasse after he ran away from them. He suffered 26 broken or crushed bones. An autopsy found the mentally ill man had no drugs or alcohol in his system. He also wasn't carrying a weapon.
Police say the grand jury is delaying its decision because Chasse's family has asked an additional witness be called.
Police Chief Rosie Sizer says the bureau is disappointed by the delay because it is anxious to share all information from the investigation.
The Multnomah County DA has promised that the entire grand jury file will be turned over to Chasse's family after the panel has made its finding.
Chasse time capsule
from the Portland Mercury
As the grand jury continues hearing testimony on the death in custody on September 17 of James Phillip Chasse, more of his friends are coming forward to tell the story of the man they knew as “Jim Jim”, “Jay”, and “J”—one of the youngest members of Portland’s early punk scene.
Chasse, it turns out, was the vocalist in The Possum Society, a band named after an incident in the early eighties when Portland Police allegedly threw a possum at a NE Portland restaurant in an act of racial provocation. Here he is, mentioned in the sleevenotes to this Pigface Records compilation, Flies Like Holidays (exact pressing date unknown):
Courtesy of Blogtown, you can listen to Chasse’s eccentric vocals on the track, “Crazy Cat Grows Big Feet” by clicking here. The portrait above is by local artist Randy Moe, who lent us the record and knew Chasse well—it will feature in Moe’s upcoming exhibition It’s a Sad Sad Sad Sad World which opens at the Chambers gallery (207 SW Pine) on October 19th.
If you knew Chasse and would like to get in touch, call on 503 294 0840, or email news@portlandmercury.com. There’s more sleeve art from the record after the jump….
As the grand jury continues hearing testimony on the death in custody on September 17 of James Phillip Chasse, more of his friends are coming forward to tell the story of the man they knew as “Jim Jim”, “Jay”, and “J”—one of the youngest members of Portland’s early punk scene.Chasse, it turns out, was the vocalist in The Possum Society, a band named after an incident in the early eighties when Portland Police allegedly threw a possum at a NE Portland restaurant in an act of racial provocation. Here he is, mentioned in the sleevenotes to this Pigface Records compilation, Flies Like Holidays (exact pressing date unknown):
Courtesy of Blogtown, you can listen to Chasse’s eccentric vocals on the track, “Crazy Cat Grows Big Feet” by clicking here. The portrait above is by local artist Randy Moe, who lent us the record and knew Chasse well—it will feature in Moe’s upcoming exhibition It’s a Sad Sad Sad Sad World which opens at the Chambers gallery (207 SW Pine) on October 19th.If you knew Chasse and would like to get in touch, call on 503 294 0840, or email news@portlandmercury.com. There’s more sleeve art from the record after the jump….
Death of mentally ill man spurs Potter idea
from The Oregonian, by Anna Griffin
Mayor Tom Potter has talked about fighting homelessness and the causes behind it since he took office in 2004, but hopes the recent death of James Chasse Jr. in police custody will spur lasting changes in the way the city, county and the state handle people with mental illnesses and drug and alcohol addictions.
As soon as a Multnomah County grand jury releases its findings in Chasse's death --an announcement expected this morning --Potter plans to organize a committee of elected officials, mental health experts, police and advocates for the homeless. Their goal: to look for ways government can do a better job coordinating the often parallel efforts between psychiatrists and psychologists, doctors and nurses and police to prevent future tragedies.
"This is not just a Portland problem," said Potter, a retired police officer and former Portland police chief. "We need to look seriously at long-term solutions to tie together the good work that is already being done. From every indication, the system does not work well."
Chasse, 42, died of broad-based blunt force trauma to the chest Sept. 17 after a struggle with two Portland officers and a Multnomah County deputy sheriff. The officers first approached Chasse because they thought he was behaving oddly, as if he either were on drugs or had a mental disorder, and possibly urinating in the street, according to police. When he ran, they chased him.
Family members have said Chasse, who lived in a halfway house, had severe schizophrenia.
Chasse's death, Potter says, is not an isolated incident and not strictly a case of police officers overreacting, as some activists claim. Rather, he says, it's a sign that the entire state needs to rethink treatment opportunities for the mentally ill. He hopes his committee will include representatives from other cities and counties, state legislators and advocates from throughout Oregon. Ultimately, he'd like them to recommend a package of reforms to the Legislature.
Potter and his colleagues on the Portland City Council have made fighting homelessness and improving downtown safety priorities in recent months --two battles that can be tricky to balance. Downtown business leaders and tourism executives want police to get tough on panhandlers and vagrants in the central city. At the same time, many of the people who wander the streets --60 percent or more, Potter says --suffer from a mental illness or addiction. Locking them up or moving them to another part of town won't solve their problems and might make them worse.
"Since I'm responsible for Portland, I want to make sure that if there are inadequacies in training for our officers, that we fix them. At the same time, I know this is more than a police problem," Potter said. "We can't simply enforce our way out of this."
Potter says he doesn't have specific recommendations for his soon-to-be-formed committee, but wants to wait and hear what the experts say. But he does have one idea for ensuring that more people who need mental health care receive it: a day center, likely subsidized by the city, for homeless people. Right now, most downtown shelters close at 7 a.m.
He hopes to bring that idea to the City Council later this fall.
Mayor Tom Potter has talked about fighting homelessness and the causes behind it since he took office in 2004, but hopes the recent death of James Chasse Jr. in police custody will spur lasting changes in the way the city, county and the state handle people with mental illnesses and drug and alcohol addictions.
As soon as a Multnomah County grand jury releases its findings in Chasse's death --an announcement expected this morning --Potter plans to organize a committee of elected officials, mental health experts, police and advocates for the homeless. Their goal: to look for ways government can do a better job coordinating the often parallel efforts between psychiatrists and psychologists, doctors and nurses and police to prevent future tragedies.
"This is not just a Portland problem," said Potter, a retired police officer and former Portland police chief. "We need to look seriously at long-term solutions to tie together the good work that is already being done. From every indication, the system does not work well."
Chasse, 42, died of broad-based blunt force trauma to the chest Sept. 17 after a struggle with two Portland officers and a Multnomah County deputy sheriff. The officers first approached Chasse because they thought he was behaving oddly, as if he either were on drugs or had a mental disorder, and possibly urinating in the street, according to police. When he ran, they chased him.
Family members have said Chasse, who lived in a halfway house, had severe schizophrenia.
Chasse's death, Potter says, is not an isolated incident and not strictly a case of police officers overreacting, as some activists claim. Rather, he says, it's a sign that the entire state needs to rethink treatment opportunities for the mentally ill. He hopes his committee will include representatives from other cities and counties, state legislators and advocates from throughout Oregon. Ultimately, he'd like them to recommend a package of reforms to the Legislature.
Potter and his colleagues on the Portland City Council have made fighting homelessness and improving downtown safety priorities in recent months --two battles that can be tricky to balance. Downtown business leaders and tourism executives want police to get tough on panhandlers and vagrants in the central city. At the same time, many of the people who wander the streets --60 percent or more, Potter says --suffer from a mental illness or addiction. Locking them up or moving them to another part of town won't solve their problems and might make them worse.
"Since I'm responsible for Portland, I want to make sure that if there are inadequacies in training for our officers, that we fix them. At the same time, I know this is more than a police problem," Potter said. "We can't simply enforce our way out of this."
Potter says he doesn't have specific recommendations for his soon-to-be-formed committee, but wants to wait and hear what the experts say. But he does have one idea for ensuring that more people who need mental health care receive it: a day center, likely subsidized by the city, for homeless people. Right now, most downtown shelters close at 7 a.m.
He hopes to bring that idea to the City Council later this fall.
Decision expected in case of man who died in police custody
from KGW.com
A grand jury has wrapped up the investigation into the death of James Chasse, the man who died in police custody.
On Tuesday the jury was expected to announce if charges will be filed against the three police officers who arrested him.
Chasse died in the back of a patrol car last month after a confrontation with police in Northwest Portland, according to investigators.
Some witnesses who saw the arrest said officers used excessive force. An autopsy found Chasse suffered more than a dozen broken ribs and internal bleeding, according to the medical examiner's report.
The final witness testified on Monday.
Portland's police chief was expected to hold a news conference to discuss the grand jury's findings sometime early Tuesday afternoon.
A grand jury has wrapped up the investigation into the death of James Chasse, the man who died in police custody.
On Tuesday the jury was expected to announce if charges will be filed against the three police officers who arrested him.
Chasse died in the back of a patrol car last month after a confrontation with police in Northwest Portland, according to investigators.
Some witnesses who saw the arrest said officers used excessive force. An autopsy found Chasse suffered more than a dozen broken ribs and internal bleeding, according to the medical examiner's report.
The final witness testified on Monday.
Portland's police chief was expected to hold a news conference to discuss the grand jury's findings sometime early Tuesday afternoon.
Mayor proposes day center for mentally il
from KGW.com Portland Mayor Tom Potter said Tuesday that the James Chasse case points to the bigger problem of mentally ill people falling through the cracks.
Potter said perhaps police shouldn't be the ones handling them and that it was time to start curbing mental illness on Portland's streets.
Chasse died in police custody after a scuffle last month, a grand jury is now weighing charges against three officers.
Potter’s first idea was to open a day center for what he called under-served mentally ill people.
Right now about 60 percent of Portland's homeless are considered mentally ill, the mayor said.
Union Gospel Mission thinks it's even higher -- around 75-80 percent.
Potter said years of funding cuts in social services forced police into an inappropriate role.
“There's a lot of folks out there who need help who aren't getting that help and we need to find a means by which to make that happen because I don't think it's fair to the police to have them as the last resort for handling these folks,” he said.
Earlier this year Potter said he saw first-hand how great the need is when about 1,000 people packed the Memorial Coliseum seeking volunteer health services.. and job and housing advice.
Potter said besides the day center, he wanted to look for funding to for a permanent place.
Potter said perhaps police shouldn't be the ones handling them and that it was time to start curbing mental illness on Portland's streets.
Chasse died in police custody after a scuffle last month, a grand jury is now weighing charges against three officers.
Potter’s first idea was to open a day center for what he called under-served mentally ill people.
Right now about 60 percent of Portland's homeless are considered mentally ill, the mayor said.
Union Gospel Mission thinks it's even higher -- around 75-80 percent.
Potter said years of funding cuts in social services forced police into an inappropriate role.
“There's a lot of folks out there who need help who aren't getting that help and we need to find a means by which to make that happen because I don't think it's fair to the police to have them as the last resort for handling these folks,” he said.
Earlier this year Potter said he saw first-hand how great the need is when about 1,000 people packed the Memorial Coliseum seeking volunteer health services.. and job and housing advice.
Potter said besides the day center, he wanted to look for funding to for a permanent place.
Death Investigation
from the Portland Police, a press release
STATEMENT FROM CHIEF ROSANNE SIZER REGARDING THE JAMES CHASSE, JR. GRAND JURY DELAY
“The Police Bureau has been informed by the District Attorney’s Office that the decision by the Grand Jury reviewing the in-custody death of Mr. James Chasse, Jr. will be delayed until next week. This delay is because Mr. Chasse’s family has asked that an additional witness be called and a member of the Grand Jury will be unavailable until next week.
The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to share all of the factual information regarding this investigation. However, allowing Mr. Chasse’s family to participate in the Grand Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire community.
The Police Bureau stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as the Grand Jury completes its work.”
PIO Contact Name: Brian Schmautz
Email Address: bschmautz@portlandpolice.org
Phone Number: 503-823-0010
Pager Number: 503-790-1779
STATEMENT FROM CHIEF ROSANNE SIZER REGARDING THE JAMES CHASSE, JR. GRAND JURY DELAY
“The Police Bureau has been informed by the District Attorney’s Office that the decision by the Grand Jury reviewing the in-custody death of Mr. James Chasse, Jr. will be delayed until next week. This delay is because Mr. Chasse’s family has asked that an additional witness be called and a member of the Grand Jury will be unavailable until next week.
The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to share all of the factual information regarding this investigation. However, allowing Mr. Chasse’s family to participate in the Grand Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire community.
The Police Bureau stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as the Grand Jury completes its work.”
PIO Contact Name: Brian Schmautz
Email Address: bschmautz@portlandpolice.org
Phone Number: 503-823-0010
Pager Number: 503-790-1779
“The Police Bureau is disappointed”
from the Portland MercuryThe official word from the Police Bureau, on the delay in the Chasse Grand Jury:
STATEMENT FROM CHIEF ROSANNE SIZER REGARDING THE JAMES CHASSE, JR. GRAND JURY DELAY
STATEMENT FROM CHIEF ROSANNE SIZER REGARDING THE JAMES CHASSE, JR. GRAND JURY DELAY
“The Police Bureau has been informed by the District Attorney’s Office that the decision by the Grand Jury reviewing the in-custody death of Mr. James Chasse, Jr. will be delayed until next week. This delay is because Mr. Chasse’s family has asked that an additional witness be called and a member of the Grand Jury will be unavailable until next week.
The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to share all of the factual information regarding this investigation. However, allowing Mr. Chasse’s family to participate in the Grand Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire community.
The Police Bureau stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as the Grand Jury completes its work.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Grand Jury Considers 'Criminal Liability' In Chasse Case
from OPB.org
A grand jury will continue to look into the death of James Chasse Monday. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, Chasse died shortly after being subdued by Portland Police.
Police say they saw Chasse acting oddly - as if he were on drugs or had a mental disorder. When they walked up to him, he ran off.
Officers say one of them pushed Chasse to the ground. Witnesses tell a different story, however, saying the three officers forcefully tackled Chasse and landed on top of him, repeatedly kicking and punching him.
An autopsy showed his chest had been 'flattened' and 26 bones broken. No alcohol or drugs were found in Chasse's system.
Police spokeswoman, Catherine Kent, says the grand jury will decide the narrow issue of 'criminal liability.'
Catherine Kent: "After the findings are released by the district attorney's office, Chief Sizer will hold a press conference."
Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer has asked for the public's patience during the grand jury proceedings. The panel is expected to issue its findings this week.
A grand jury will continue to look into the death of James Chasse Monday. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, Chasse died shortly after being subdued by Portland Police.
Police say they saw Chasse acting oddly - as if he were on drugs or had a mental disorder. When they walked up to him, he ran off.
Officers say one of them pushed Chasse to the ground. Witnesses tell a different story, however, saying the three officers forcefully tackled Chasse and landed on top of him, repeatedly kicking and punching him.
An autopsy showed his chest had been 'flattened' and 26 bones broken. No alcohol or drugs were found in Chasse's system.
Police spokeswoman, Catherine Kent, says the grand jury will decide the narrow issue of 'criminal liability.'
Catherine Kent: "After the findings are released by the district attorney's office, Chief Sizer will hold a press conference."
Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer has asked for the public's patience during the grand jury proceedings. The panel is expected to issue its findings this week.
Letter to Potter on James Chasse/Jim Jim Case
from Mary's Great Ideas
The Mental Health Organization of Portland which is closely tracking the James Chasse/Jim Jim case has some good suggestions, including writing a letter to Potter. Here's what I said in my letter to him.
October 8, 2006
Office of Mayor Tom Potter
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 340
Portland, Oregon 97204
Dear Mayor Potter:
I am writing you about the James Chasse case for three reasons: First, I knew him as Jim Jim when he was a young man. I was not close to him, but I knew him as a gentle, nutty young man. It is very difficult to know that he died so brutally and senselessly. Second, my father, now deceased, was schizophrenic. My father, like Jim Jim, did not want for family love and support. Nonetheless, because of his illness, he was at many times marginalized, lonely, and vulnerable. With our current system, it takes no stretch of my imagination to imagine him meeting Jim Jim’s fate, had he been at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. Finally, my vision for Portland is that we are caring and protective of our most vulnerable members. Jim Jim’s death on the streets by a police beating shows a far cry from this vision.
I have recently enjoyed positive interactions with Portland Police, specifically in the person of Officer Christensen, who is a liaison to our neighborhood association (Portsmouth). Having the understanding and support of a police officer when you are attempting to solve community problems is a wonderful thing, and I’m very glad to have experienced it. I see Officer Christensen’s work and style as a result of a kind of policing that you have personally championed in the past, the kind of approach that gives people confidence that police can be trusted with power, and that they are caring partners in seeking solutions.
I cannot rightly speculate on the motives, training, or temperament of the three grown men who beat to death a man who weighed less than I do; a man who, by all accounts, had committed no great offense, if any. But whatever their motives, Jim Jim’s death is a failure. It is the fatal failure of these individuals, who must be held accountable in order for us to believe that our system has integrity. And the fact that these individuals were allowed on the police force is a failure of the system itself, thus we must look for substantial changes to that system.
I look to you for leadership given your position and your background. I hope that the individuals who killed will be held responsible for their actions. I would also like to learn more about what the City of Portland is doing, and will do, to provide the training and resources to police officers who are trying to do their job, and what it is doing to ensure that individuals with a tendency to violence, anger, and frustration are not recruited or allowed to remain in the police force. I have read that you have formed a committee to research the issue of services for the mentally ill in Portland. Thoughtful research and analysis is a positive step, but it must be accompanied by action and commitment of resources. And your framing of the issue as one that goes beyond the police is accurate, but we must not lose sight of what actually killed Jim Jim: Certainly, the criminal justice system should not be the primary care-giver for our neighbors and friends who are mentally ill, but by the very nature of their work, police will often encounter people who are sick, vulnerable, confused, or otherwise not right in their heads, be it because of mental illness, stress, or intoxication. Their problems may not start with the police, but in this case and many others, it will end with them. Please do what you can to see that those ends are not final.
And as far as “cleaning up downtown” goes, I’d rather have piss in the streets than blood.
I thank you for your work for our City in the past, and look forward to your work in the future.
The Mental Health Organization of Portland which is closely tracking the James Chasse/Jim Jim case has some good suggestions, including writing a letter to Potter. Here's what I said in my letter to him.
October 8, 2006
Office of Mayor Tom Potter
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 340
Portland, Oregon 97204
Dear Mayor Potter:
I am writing you about the James Chasse case for three reasons: First, I knew him as Jim Jim when he was a young man. I was not close to him, but I knew him as a gentle, nutty young man. It is very difficult to know that he died so brutally and senselessly. Second, my father, now deceased, was schizophrenic. My father, like Jim Jim, did not want for family love and support. Nonetheless, because of his illness, he was at many times marginalized, lonely, and vulnerable. With our current system, it takes no stretch of my imagination to imagine him meeting Jim Jim’s fate, had he been at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. Finally, my vision for Portland is that we are caring and protective of our most vulnerable members. Jim Jim’s death on the streets by a police beating shows a far cry from this vision.
I have recently enjoyed positive interactions with Portland Police, specifically in the person of Officer Christensen, who is a liaison to our neighborhood association (Portsmouth). Having the understanding and support of a police officer when you are attempting to solve community problems is a wonderful thing, and I’m very glad to have experienced it. I see Officer Christensen’s work and style as a result of a kind of policing that you have personally championed in the past, the kind of approach that gives people confidence that police can be trusted with power, and that they are caring partners in seeking solutions.
I cannot rightly speculate on the motives, training, or temperament of the three grown men who beat to death a man who weighed less than I do; a man who, by all accounts, had committed no great offense, if any. But whatever their motives, Jim Jim’s death is a failure. It is the fatal failure of these individuals, who must be held accountable in order for us to believe that our system has integrity. And the fact that these individuals were allowed on the police force is a failure of the system itself, thus we must look for substantial changes to that system.
I look to you for leadership given your position and your background. I hope that the individuals who killed will be held responsible for their actions. I would also like to learn more about what the City of Portland is doing, and will do, to provide the training and resources to police officers who are trying to do their job, and what it is doing to ensure that individuals with a tendency to violence, anger, and frustration are not recruited or allowed to remain in the police force. I have read that you have formed a committee to research the issue of services for the mentally ill in Portland. Thoughtful research and analysis is a positive step, but it must be accompanied by action and commitment of resources. And your framing of the issue as one that goes beyond the police is accurate, but we must not lose sight of what actually killed Jim Jim: Certainly, the criminal justice system should not be the primary care-giver for our neighbors and friends who are mentally ill, but by the very nature of their work, police will often encounter people who are sick, vulnerable, confused, or otherwise not right in their heads, be it because of mental illness, stress, or intoxication. Their problems may not start with the police, but in this case and many others, it will end with them. Please do what you can to see that those ends are not final.
And as far as “cleaning up downtown” goes, I’d rather have piss in the streets than blood.
I thank you for your work for our City in the past, and look forward to your work in the future.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - 10/8/06
from The Oregonian
Chasse was no criminal
A man has died in Portland at the hands of those who are sworn to protect and serve him. A man with a chronic illness that, at times, may have compelled him to behave in a way that created suspicion with the police, has died because of blunt-force trauma to his chest.
How easily we forget that having a chronic mental illness is not against the law. It is not illegal to act in a bizarre manner. It is not mandated for individuals with mental illnesses to take medications.
The police chief and law enforcement officials are blaming the mental health system. James P. Chasse Jr. died needlessly Sept. 17. He was no criminal. He was no drug abuser. He was a man with a chronic, debilitating illness.
Shame on Portland police for not realizing the difference between a criminal and a man with a disability. Thank goodness that Chasse has involved family members who are willing to demand answers from police. Thank goodness they've retained an attorney.
Peace to his family, who must grieve the loss of a son and a brother.
AMY BURNETTE
Southeast Portland
Chasse was no criminal
A man has died in Portland at the hands of those who are sworn to protect and serve him. A man with a chronic illness that, at times, may have compelled him to behave in a way that created suspicion with the police, has died because of blunt-force trauma to his chest.
How easily we forget that having a chronic mental illness is not against the law. It is not illegal to act in a bizarre manner. It is not mandated for individuals with mental illnesses to take medications.
The police chief and law enforcement officials are blaming the mental health system. James P. Chasse Jr. died needlessly Sept. 17. He was no criminal. He was no drug abuser. He was a man with a chronic, debilitating illness.
Shame on Portland police for not realizing the difference between a criminal and a man with a disability. Thank goodness that Chasse has involved family members who are willing to demand answers from police. Thank goodness they've retained an attorney.
Peace to his family, who must grieve the loss of a son and a brother.
AMY BURNETTE
Southeast Portland
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