Portland saw yet another demonstration ripple through the South Waterfront on Thursday evening, drawing the attention of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), which took steps to monitor the protest and maintain public order, resulting in two arrests for alleged harassment. The PPB's Incident Command Team, under the direction of a Crowd Management Incident Commander, tapped into the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and incorporated Dialogue Liaison Officers (DLOs), identified by their white shirts, aiming to bridge the gaps between officers and demonstrators.
During the protest and amidst the discord, officers reportedly intervened in multiple physical fights and arrested two individuals, William C. Napier, 43, of Portland, and Michael S. Stauffer, 47, of Trinidad, Colorado, who were subsequently booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center, this according to an official statement from the PPB; these arrests bring the cumulative tally related to ongoing protests in the area to 55. Still, PPB officials have been keen to emphasize their standing policy of non-engagement in immigration enforcement as articulated in PPB Directive 810.10.
The PPB also shared gratitude for the collaborative efforts of Portland Fire & Rescue and Oregon State Police in managing the event. Members of the public were encouraged to stay informed on public safety updates via the bureau's Events channel on X—formerly known as Twitter. Chief Day's recent communication with the community, which includes a frequently asked questions segment surrounding immigration, is made readily accessible to the public, offering a degree of transparency in these contentious times.
Looking ahead, the PPB has affirmed its commitment to continue monitoring protest activity while striking a balance between safeguarding constitutionally protected activity and deterring acts of illegality, the officers although present in larger groups at times for targeted arrests or collecting evidence for subsequent investigations, these are tactics employed to address specific crimes; the PPB adds, "just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, that does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later," further details on the PPB's Public Order teams and the bureau's approach to demonstrations can be explored through their official website.
