From the Oregonian, September 9, 2011
The Mental Health Association of Portland is concerned about the termination of Scott Westerman from the Portland Police Bureau because of his long and strident defense of the three police officers who beat and killed James Chasse on September 17, 2006.
This morning, Portland Police Chief Mike Reese notified Scott Westerman, the former police union president and sergeant who has been under investigation for two alleged road-rage encounters, that he’s fired, effective Monday.
Scott Westerman when President of the Portland Police Association
Westerman stepped down as president of the Portland Police Association in late April 2010 after an internal affairs investigation began into a woman’s complaint that Westerman got out of his car and berated her and her husband on two occasions two days apart in January 2010.
The woman who filed a complaint noted Westerman’s license-plate number and reported both incidents. Each time, Portland police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office ran the license number, it came back “unable to locate.”
Portland police internal affairs examined why a run of his plate number didn’t come back to Westerman’s car.
The bureau accused Westerman of violating Portland police directives on professional conduct, laws, rules and orders, truthfulness and courtesy.
“I have determined that Sergeant Westerman did violate the above directives and that termination of his employment is the appropriate level of discipline,” the chief wrote in a prepared statement.
Reese said he reviewed the internal affairs investigative documents and findings of the Performance Review Board, which ruled unanimously that Westerman violated the above directives and recommended termination, according to the chief’s statement.
Last year, Westerman, in an interview with The Oregonian, called it a “very bad coincidence” that he approached the same motorists. He said he was embarrassed by his actions, blamed personal matters for his inappropriate behavior and issued an apology.
Westerman Friday referred questions to the current union president, Officer Daryl Turner. Turner was in a union board meeting and could not be reached for comment.
READ – Police Bureau Fires Road Raging Scott Westerman, Portland Mercury, September 9, 2011
READ – Portland Police Sgt. Scott Westerman fired for 2010 road rage incidents, KOIN.com, September 9, 2011
READ – Police fire sergeant involved in 2010 road rage incidents, Portland Tribune, September 9, 2011
READ – Portland police sergeant fired for road rage, KGW.com, September 9, 2011
READ – Police union president resigns after admitting to ‘road rage’, from KATU.com, April 20, 2010
READ – Portland police union head Sgt. Scott Westerman under investigation for road rage incidents, Oregonian, April 9, 2010
Portland Police Bureau Fires Sergeant After Internal Investigation
Portland Police Bureau press release – 09/09/11
The following is a statement from Portland Police Bureau Chief Michael Reese regarding the termination of Sergeant Scott Westerman:
Today, I met with Sergeant Scott Westerman and informed him of my decision regarding policy violations and performance issues related to two incidents that occurred on January 28, 2010 and January 30, 2010. Mayor Sam Adams and I made the final decisions following the recent due process meeting involving Sergeant Westerman.
Sergeant Westerman was charged with violating Portland Police Directives 310.00 – Conduct, Professional, 315.00 – Laws, Rules and Orders, 310.50 – Truthfulness, 330.00 – Internal Affairs, Complaint Investigation Process, and Directive 310.40 – Courtesy. I have determined that Sergeant Westerman did violate the above directives and that termination of his employment is the appropriate level of discipline.
I arrived at this decision by carefully reviewing the Internal Affairs investigation of these incidents as well as the findings from the Performance Review Board, which concluded unanimously that Sergeant Westerman violated Bureau Directives and recommended termination as the appropriate level of discipline.
Sergeant Westerman, who has been with the Bureau 19 years, was most recently assigned to the Telephone Reporting Unit. He was then placed on administrative leave pending the final disciplinary decision.