Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s plan to calm violence in Portland is falling apart after two neighboring sheriffs said they won’t supply personnel to help out, saying the answer isn’t more police but rather a get-tough policy of charging and prosecuting rioters.
Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett lamented the “lack of political support for public safety” in declining to send his deputies.
Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said the district attorney covering Portland needs to follow through on prosecuting agitators.
“The same offenders are arrested night after night, only to be released by the court and not charged with a crime by the DA’s office,” he said. “The next night they are back at it again, endangering the lives of law enforcement and the community all over again.”
Sheriff Roberts said the governor didn’t talk to him before she announced her plan to tap his department for personnel.
The sheriffs’ responses are a serious blow to Ms. Brown, a Democrat, who has struggled to get a handle on the mayhem that’s become a near-nightly occurrence in Portland.
On Saturday, a man associated with a pro-Trump organization was gunned down in the city. Police are reportedly investigating an antifa activist.
Ms. Brown, in multiple statements Sunday, blamed the pro-Trump supporters for creating a tense situation, and praised Black Lives Matter activists for their ongoing racial justice protests.
But she also released a plan calling for a surge in police. She said both Washington and Clackamas deputies would provide manpower to help the Portland Police Bureau, which has stretched to its limits dealing with regular riots from left-wing demonstrators.
Ms. Brown also said Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, whose jurisdiction covers Portland, agreed to pursue cases against serious criminals.
Mr. Schmidt in August announced a policy of refusing to press charges against people arrested for demonstrating or rioting unless police specifically found they engaged in violence. Those who refused to follow police dispersal orders, for example, had their cases dropped.
Sheriff Roberts said changing that approach is the key to regaining control of the mayhem.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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