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Portland Police Chief Resigns Amid George Floyd Protests

Associated Press

   Portland's police chief resigned on Monday, just six months into her
   job, amid criticism of her department's handling of protests in
   Oregon's largest city. An African American lieutenant on the force
   replaced her.

   The shakeup came as police have been sharply criticized for using what
   has been called inappropriate force against some protesters as huge
   demonstrations continue in Portland.

   "To say this was unexpected would be an understatement," new Police
   Chief Chuck Lovell said at a news conference. "I'm humbled. I'm going
   to listen. I'm going to care about the community, and I'm looking
   forward to this journey."

   He and community leaders of color credited Jami Resch, a white woman,
   for stepping down as George Floyd protests roiled the city.

   Resch told the news conference that Lovell is "the exact right person
   at the exact right moment" to head the police department.

   Resch had replaced Danielle Outlaw, who was Portland's first African
   American female police chief and who became Philadelphia police
   commissioner in February.

   Resch said she suggested the shakeup to Mayor Ted Wheeler, who said he
   supported Lovell to lead the department as it moves through needed
   reforms.

   "We need Chief Lovell's leadership," Wheeler said at the news
   conference. "We must re-imagine reform and rebuild what public safety
   looks like."

   Lovell served as Outlaw's executive assistant. Under Resch, he led a
   new Community Services Division that included the Behavioral Health
   Unit, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The unit's mission, according
   to its web page, is to aid people in crisis resulting from mental
   illness and/or drug and alcohol addiction.

   Resch said she will stay with the department in a different role.

   Demonstrators held two peaceful George Floyd protests in Portland but a
   third one that lasted until the early hours of Monday resulted in at
   least 20 arrests, with some demonstrators throwing objects at police,
   who fired tear gas and sponge-tipped projectiles.

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