An Oregon State Police officer received a paid leave pending an investigation after the video appeared to show that he refused to comply with the governor’s order that required masks inside restaurants and used an expletive when the manager asked him to. asked.
Oregon Live reported that an unidentified officer was placed on leave after the video of the incident at a cafeteria in Corvallis, Oregon, on Wednesday which showed that the officer and several others were not wearing masks inside the store.
Governor Brown has no authority to take our civil liberties. We will not wear masks, ”said the soldier, according to the assistant manager.
“F —, Kate Brown,” added the soldier, referring to Governor Kate Brown (D).
An Oregon State Police spokesman told Oregon Live that the agent who appeared to be speaking to the manager had been placed on administrative leave and was under investigation. All four officers are assigned to Oregon State University, according to the agency.
“The soldier involved was placed on administrative leave,” the spokesman said in a statement. “OSP is at the start of the investigation, but if it is determined to be true, we are completely disappointed and hope that our soldiers will follow the governor’s executive orders and be examples in the community.”
The department also addressed the incident in a public statement posted via Twitter by the agency’s superintendent, Travis Hampton, who said the officers involved brought “discredit” to police.
“This conduct is shameful and indefensible, especially in the wake of thousands of Oregon residents taking to the streets every day to legitimately demand police accountability,” wrote Hampton.
“Let me be clear, the Oregon State Police Officers are not above the law and this conduct is being addressed immediately. As the leader of the Oregon State Police, I would like to offer my apologies to the employees of the cafeteria and community. ” additional.
This conduct is shameful and indefensible, especially as thousands of Oregon residents take to the streets every day to legitimately demand police responsibility.
– Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) July 2, 2020
Let me be clear, the Oregon State Police are not above the law and this conduct is being addressed immediately. As the leader of the Oregon State Police, I would like to offer my apologies to the cafeteria employees and the community.
– Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) July 2, 2020
Brown added in his own statement that the officers’ actions were “inexcusable.”
“It is inexcusable that a few Oregon state soldiers yesterday ignored my requirement to cover their faces and ignored a request from a fellow Oregonian to follow the rule. The Oregon state police superintendent Hampton and I agreed that his actions and behaviors were absolutely unacceptable, “the governor tweeted.
It is inexcusable that some Oregon state soldiers yesterday ignored my face-covering requirement and ignored a request from a fellow Oregonian to follow the rule. The Oregon State Police Superintendent, Hampton, and I agreed that his actions and behaviors were absolutely unacceptable.
– Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) July 2, 2020
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