In crackdown on Portland protests, state troopers are back, 'deputized' as federal officers....

[Nevilledog]

In crackdown on Portland protests, state troopers are back, 'deputized' as federal officers. Why it matters.

https://news.yahoo.com/in-crackdown-on-portland-protests-state-troopers-are-back-deputized-as-federal-officers-why-it-matters-144802750.html

As unrest has continued into a fourth month in Portland, a detachment of Oregon state troopers specially deputized to act as federal law enforcement agents has been sent to the city to help keep order.

The move, first reported by freelance journalist Deborah Bloom, allows them to bring suspects to federal courts for arraignment and prosecution, circumventing local prosecutors who are seen by some law enforcement agencies as excessively lenient with demonstrators.

It comes as President Trump and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf are again considering deploying federal officers from various departments to Portland following escalating clashes among pro-Trump activists, armed militants and left-wing demonstrators, which turned deadly last weekend. But the initiative for deputizing state troopers didn’t come from the DHS or the White House — it appears instead to reflect frustration on the part of Oregon State Police with a policy issued last month by Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt on how to prosecute protest-related offenses.

An OSP spokesperson said: “OSP is not criticizing any officials and we respect the authority of the District Attorney, but to meet the Governor’s charge of bringing violence to an end we will use all lawful methods at our disposal.”

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