Facing criticism over the Portland Police Department’s handling of protests that erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Jami Resch — the chief of police — is stepping down from her position.
Resch, a white woman who had only served in the position for six months, will be replaced by Chuck Lovell — a black police lieutenant.
Resch called Lovell “the exact right person at the exact right moment.”
In a separate tweet, Resch addressed her resignation, “I have listened and our community and you have said show us change. PPB needs to be the leader in change. It starts with trust.”
“This change in leadership comes from my heart.Chuck Lovell has been dedicated to service his entire life. I am 100% confident in him and his leadership,” she added.
I have listened and our community and you have said show us change. PPB needs to be the leader in change. It starts with trust. This change in leadership comes from my heart.Chuck Lovell has been dedicated to service his entire life. I am 100% confident in him and his leadership.
— Jami Resch (@ChiefResch) June 8, 2020
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Lovell said, “To say this was unexpected would be an understatement.”
He added, “I’m humbled. I’m going to listen. I’m going to care about the community, and I’m looking forward to this journey.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) said, “We need Chief Lovell’s leadership.”
He added, “We must re-imagine reform and rebuild what public safety looks like.”
Watch the press conference below:
Resch’s resignation comes amid criticism of the department’s handling of protests and accusations of an inappropriate use of force by the police.
The ACLU blasted the department’s response to the protests as “excessively violent and dangerous.”
“The role of police is to facilitate, not disperse, peaceful protest,” the organization said in a statement.
“But in Portland for the last several years, the police consistently approach people gathered to protest against the police and white supremacy with intimidation and excessive force,” the statement continued.
Protesters peacefully gathered for days in Portland to protest police brutality. But at night, violence broke out as demonstrators hurled projectors at officers. In response, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty also slammed the department’s handling of the protests, “I’m incredibly troubled by the excessive force used nightly by PDX police since the protests began.”
“The videos and painful firsthand accounts of community members getting tear gassed and beaten by police for exercising their 1st Amendment rights should be concerning for us all,” she added.