"Real police reform requires community-oriented, hard-working, evidence-based, and fair-minded staff. Portland has many police staff who meet and exceed these public service values. These are the kind of officers and public safety specialists I want to recruit, support, and promote.
Police reform also means calling out actions that fail to meet these standards of public service.
Portland Police Officer Brian Hunzeker accessed a confidential record, reproduced the information using his mobile phone, and sent it to a news media outlet without authorization. This reproduction and release of information to the media was a violation of policy.
As the investigation determined, Officer Hunzeker’s actions also amounted to retaliation against a democratically elected member of the City Council due to her criticisms of the police bureau. Officer Hunzeker’s actions harmed Commissioner Hardesty and harmed the community’s trust in the Police Bureau.
As Police Commissioner, on behalf of the bureau, I want to apologize to Commissioner Hardesty for Officer Hunzeker’s actions.
I support and have a great deal of respect for Chief Lovell and his work. We agreed on the gravity of these policy violations – but we disagreed on the level of discipline to impose.
Today, I have terminated Officer Hunzeker’s employment with Police Bureau."
Because the disciplinary process is not complete for all of the officers involved, the Mayor cannot comment on additional items.