Portland Police Shooting Incidents – archives
A quick search of The Oregonian’s archive shows dozens of incidents where local area law officers have had critical encounters with people with mental illness and addiction. As Portland's daily paper with available archives, we have list these stories only as a survey of the problem. Thanks to the writers, editors and publisher. All linked documents are pdf files - be patient with downloading.
Finished - Full Sites
What Happened to James Chasse
What Happened to Fouad Kaady
What Happened to Glenn Shipman
What Happened to Joyce Staudenmaier
Coming Soon
What Happened to Lukas Glenn
What Happened to James Jahar Perez
What Happened to Kendra James
What Happened to Jose Mejia Poot
Dickie Dow - killed by Portland Police, October 20, 1998
A NORTH PORTLAND MAN DIES AFTER POLICE RESPOND TO A FIGHT AND THE MAN HAS A MEDICAL PROBLEM - October 20, 1998
A 37-year-old man who scuffled with police Monday night died this morning in a Portland hospital. Richard Dickie Dow
THE PORTLAND POLICE BUREAU ACTS AFTER A MAN WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS DIES IN A HOSPITAL AFTER A STREET STRUGGLE TO SUBDUE HIM - October 21, 1998
Eight Portland police officers were placed on administrative leave Tuesday after a man with a history of mental illness died in their custody as they tried to restrain him in connection with a street fight.
POLICE TRAINING GIVES BASICS ON DEALING WITH MENTALLY ILL - October 22, 1998
Portland officers call on a special team when a situation becomes volatile Officers encounter a suspect who may be suffering from a mental illness.
ACCOUNTS OF MANS DEATH IN CUSTODY DONT AGREE - October 22, 1998
Contradicting Richard C. Dows family, Portland police say he behaved aggressively.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS PLAN TO LOOK INTO DOW CASE - October 23, 1998
The family of the man, who died in police custody, ask the Justice Department to evaluate whether civil rights violations occurred.
150 PEOPLE GATHER FOR DOW VIGIL - October 24, 1998
The candlelight service is in memory of a man who died after being restrained by police.
FINDINGS INDICATE MAN NOT BEATEN TO DEATH - October 24, 1998
Richard C. "Dickie" Dow died of positional asphyxia while in custody, the state medical examiner says Richard C. "Dickie" Dow, a mentally ill North Portland man who collapsed in police custody, died Tuesday from positional asphyxia, State Medical Examiner Larry Lewman said Friday.
STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER KNOWS CONDITION WELL - October 24, 1998
Positional asphyxia usually occurs when an overly excited person is restrained.
400 JOIN MARCH TO DEMAND AN END TO POLICE BRUTALITY - October 25, 1998
The four-mile trek ends with a rally at the Justice Center, where participants cheer calls to weed out those responsible.
POLICE THE PORTLAND POLICE - EDITORIAL - October 26, 1998
Federal authorities and the East County Major Crimes Team provide needed outside review in North Portland mans death.
PORTLAND POLICE WILL REVIEW CPR OFFICER TRAINING
THE BUREAU STOPPED PROVIDING REFRESHER COURSES IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION SOME YEARS AGO - October 27, 1998
The recent death of Richard C. Dickie Dow will prompt Portland police to review whether to bring back refresher CPR training for officers.
POLICE GAVE DOW CPR, INTERNAL REPORT SAYS - November 13, 1998
An inquiry says officers attempted to revive the mentally ill man after he stopped breathing, despite some witnesses' claims
GRAND JURY RETURNS NO INDICTMENT IN DEATH - November 14, 1998
The panel decides Portland police were not criminally culpable in the death of Richard C. Dickie Dow in their custody
ACCOUNTABILITY IN DOW CASE - PORTLAND POLICE BUREAU IS RIGHT TO REVIEW TRAINING, PROCEDURES EVEN THOUGH GRAND JURY CLEARED OFFICERS OF CRIMINAL WRONGDOING - EDITORIAL - November 15, 1998
The decision of a Multnomah County grand jury not to bring charges against Portland police officers involved in the Oct. 19 death of Portlander Richard Dickie Dow confirms what many people already believed.
DOW'S FAMILY EXPRESSES CONCERNS - December 4, 1998
They plan to assemble at the site where the 37-year-old man collapsed in police custody
COMMITTEE ADVISES THAT POLICE UPDATE THEIR CPR TRAINING - April 30, 1999
The plan, made after a man died in custody, suggests refresher classes every other year
SOME POLICE CHANGES, CALLS FOR CHANGE - October 21, 1999
A year after Richard Dow's death, officers resume CPR refresher courses while the community lists demands.
PORTLAND LEARNING TO CALM CRISES - May 11, 2001
Mental health professionals teach communication skills to officers joining the Crisis Intervention Team
A GARDEN SITS WHERE A TROUBLED SON DIED IN 1998 - October 19, 2001
Seeds of solace: A community garden will be dedicated today in memory of Richard C. "Dickie" Dow, the 37-year-old mentally ill man who died in October 1998 after a struggle with Portland police.
COUNCIL OKS SETTLEMENT FOR IN-CUSTODY DEATH - January 3, 2002
The family of a mentally ill man whose death in 1998 helped spur more police training will get $380,000
REPORT FINDS GLARING DEFICIENCIES IN INQUIRIES INTO POLICE SHOOTINGS - August 26, 2003
Outside experts have found glaring deficiencies in Portland police investigations of officer shootings, shoddy review and record keeping, and faulty tactics that put police in unnecessary danger.
Patricia Sweany – Killed by Portland Police, December 1996
POLICE KILL WOMAN WHO SHOT PARAMEDIC - December 15, 1996
Patricia Sweany called 9-1-1 requesting help, then fired at one of her rescuers, hitting his key ring and bruising his hip
WOMAN POLICE SHOT `NOT RIGHT' - December 16, 1996
A Southeast Portland woman who was shot and killed by a police officer Saturday claimed that the FBI and CIA were after her, said a paramedic who survived being shot at by the woman.
TRAINING ARMS POLICE TO DEAL WITH DISABLED - December 18, 1996
Team members skilled in handling mentally disturbed persons face a race against the clock to get to a scene on time
Joyce Staudenmaier - Killed by a Clackamas County Sergeant, September 2004
CLACKAMAS COUNTY TRAINS OFFICERS ON DEALING WITH MENTALLY ILL - April 14, 2005
A dozen sheriff's deputies and 13 officers from other agencies form a Crisis Intervention team to better handle such cases
OFFICER KILLS MENTALLY ILL WOMAN - September 4, 2004
Responding to a call, a Clackamas County sheriff's sergeant shoots a woman after she allegedly lunged at him with a knife
Janet Smith – Killed by Gresham Police, August 1994
WOMAN SHOT IN FRED MEYER STORE - August 22, 1994
Officials say a Gresham police officer killed Janet Smith, 28, after spraying her with Mace didn't stop her oncoming attack with a knife
FAMILY QUESTIONS POLICE SHOOTING - August 23, 1994
Relatives say Janet Marilyn Smith, killed by Gresham police, was a small, scared, paranoid woman desperately looking for some help
`SHE BEGS FOR HELP, AND SHE ENDS UP DEAD' - August 23, 1994
By MARGIE BOULE. Mary Bradley heard the young woman in the Fred Meyer store before she saw her.
POLICE AND DEADLY FORCE: LOOKING FOR MIDDLE GROUND - August 26, 1994
Non-lethal weapons are emerging as an alternative in some confrontations, but problems of practicality and strategy still must be overcome
TRAINING ARMS POLICE TO DEAL WITH DISABLED - December 18, 1996
Team members skilled in handling mentally disturbed persons face a race against the clock to get to a scene on time
ALTERNATIVE TO LETHAL FORCE STEP RIGHT UP TO MEET THE SANDMAN – May 14, 1998
Gresham police say the sand-filled bags give them a safe weapon against people who won't respond to commands
Other Portland Police Shootings
JURY CLEARS POFTLAND OFFICER IN FATAL SHOOTING OF WOMAN - December 22, 1990
A county grand jury says the use of deadly force was justified after the woman picked up a gun.
2 FRIENDS OF GEORGE ARRESTED IN ROBBERY - December 18, 1991
Detectives arrested two companions of Johnny Lozano George on Tuesday in a robbery that occurred just 14 hours before George was shot and killed by a policeman.
A NEW APPROACH TO MENTALLY ILL - April 14, 2005
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office forms a team of deputies and officers trained in the best ways to handle the cases.
A TROUBLED LIFE UNRAVELS TO A VIOLENT, TRAGIC END - January 18, 1992
Bryan T. French was a lot of things to a lot of people. To his mother, he was a troubled boy whom she hoped would find his way. To his schoolmates, he was a troublemaker who provoked fights with his acid tongue.
BIZARRE BEHAVIOR PEPPERS RECORDS OF MAN SHOT BY POLICE - July 18, 1991
Bureau officials halted gun purchase; brother lashes out at reports in news
CLACKAMAS COUNTY TRAINS OFFICERS ON DEALING WITH MENTALLY ILL - April 14, 2005
A dozen sheriff's deputies and 13 officers from other agencies form a Crisis Intervention team to better handle such cases
EMOTIONAL, FAMILY PROBLEMS: HENRY HAD THEM ALL - April 19, 1991
Despite a girlfriend, a new job and his dream of joining the Army, a tortured young man can't envision a future
FAMILY DESCRIBES WOMAN SHOT BY SHERIFF AS CARING, TROUBLED - September 5, 2004
Recalling Joyce Staudenmaier's effort to live with schizophrenia, loved ones wonder if her death might have been averted
GUNMAN MAY NOT HAVE SHOT POLICE - April 15, 1991
The wounds received by two Portland policemen during the standoff might have come from their comrades
HOSTAGE RELIVES LONG ORDEAL WITH GUNMAN - April 15, 1991
The bank teller describes her captor as a confused kid who wanted police to end his life
HOSTAGE-TAKER: `I HOPE TO DIE' January 18, 1992
The man who held the knife to Nathan Thomas' throat left suicide notes and a violent past filled with confrontations with the law
JURY RULES SERGEANT WAS JUSTIFIED IN FATAL SHOOTING - September 29, 2004
Sgt. Paul Steigleder II is cleared in the death of Joyce Staudenmaier, a mentally ill woman who had a knife Clackamas County.
OFFICER KILLS MENTALLY ILL WOMAN - September 4, 2004
Responding to a call, a Clackamas County sheriff's sergeant shoots a woman after she allegedly lunged at him with a knife.
POLICE RETURN FIRE, SHOOT PORTLAND MAN - April 12, 1994
The man, who fired at least one shot from a revolver, was reported in serious condition in University Hospital
POLICE SHOOTINGS - January 17, 1992
Portland and Multnomah County authorities have shot and killed six persons in the past 13 months while investigating crimes. Each of the shootings was later termed justifiable by a grand jury
POLICE SHOOTINGS STIR QUERIES ABOUT POLICY - January 19, 1992
A little more than a year ago, two Portland policemen fired 22 rounds of ammunition at one suspect in one shooting incident. Last week, three policemen shot 16 times at a man holding a boy at knifepoint.
POTTER SAYS OFFICERS JUSTIFIED IN USING DEADLY FORCE - December 8, 1990
Portland Police Chief Tom Potter refused Friday to second-guess the actions of two police officers who fired 22 shots and killed a woman who apparently wanted to draw their fire in a tragic suicide scheme.
SATURDAY SHOOTING VICTIM SAID MENTALLY ILL, CONFUSED - April 16, 1991
Henry's family blames the social services for tragedy, but CSD claims he rejected agency help when he became 18.
SERGEANT IN SHOOTING IDENTIFIED - September 6, 2004
Paul Steigleder II, who fatally shot a mentally ill woman in Clackamas County, "was out of options," a spokesman says.
SHOOTING OF DRIVER NO. 5 FOR POLICE - June 2, 1991
Three suspects have died, and Portland officers blame the incidents on the type of criminals they are after.
SLAIN BOY'S PARENTS OK TERMS FOR DROPPING CLAIM - July 17, 1993
The move comes in exchange for an independent study into the accidental killing of Nathan Thomas by Portland police
WITNESSES RECALL FEAR IN MOMENTS BEFORE SHOOTING - October 29, 2004
The sheriff's office releases statements in the Sept. 3 killing of a mentally ill woman by a sergeant.
WOMAN SIGNALED DESIRE TO DIE - December 6, 1990
The person who fell to police gunfire in Portland had a history of mental problems and suicide attempts
MAN DIES OF GUNSHOT DURING FIGHT WITH POLICE - January 1, 1999
A "ferocious'' confrontation develops between the 44-year-old and officers checking a complaint at a downtown low-income hotel.