Pierce Brooks was retired as Chief of Police in Eugene when Nathan Thomas and Bryan French were both killed by Portland Police in January 1992. Brooks was hired by the City of Portland to provide a report on the incident.

Nathan Thomas was twelve. Bryan French crept into his home and held Nathan hostage. Police arrived, tried to negotiate with French, then shot and killed French and accidentally killed Nathan as well.

That report, linked below also includes summary reports to then Chief of Police Tom Potter and the Mayor, then Bud Clark, as well as responses to the report from various individuals and agencies. Brooks notably did not talk with family of Nathan Thomas.

Reading this in 2022, two immediate takeaways.

• Responding the report, Potter writes to Clark that between 1988 and 1992, in one-third of all officer involved shootings those shot were identified by police as suicidal. Sixty-six percent had consumed drugs or alcohol.
• Most – almost all of the recommendations for change from the PPB are largely to maintain the course and increase firepower and weapons training.

REPORT – “Tragedy on Hazelfern Place” (148 MB – 264 pages – 1994)