At a press conference Aug. 13, at the scene of the Aug. 12 standoff between activists and U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, Bend City Councilor Barb Campbell told the crowd: “We absolutely will look into whether or not the Bend Police were aiding ICE agents,” during the Aug. 12 incident. Campbell mentioned “allegations that ICE agents were, for example, charging their phones in our police cars.”
We reviewed our own footage of the events of Aug. 12 and found video of an ICE official inside a Bend PD vehicle, alongside a Bend PD officer.
As Oregon’s sanctuary law states, no law enforcement agency in the state can use agency moneys, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting or apprehending people thought to be in violation of federal immigration law. We asked Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz for comment, who responded:
“After review of laws and policies I do not consider the charging of a phone or providing food and water, any sort of legal violation or policy violation. The persons in custody were already in custody, and we did not assist in those custodies. There is nothing preventative, legally or in policy, that would prohibit us from allowing someone to charge a phone or sit in a car during a static situation that did not involve the “use of agency moneys, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons who only violation of law is that they are persons of foreign citizenship present in the United States in violation of federal immigration law” (ORS 181A.820).
“This is the State law specific to immigration prohibition that we are held to, and our local policy reflects this. The two persons who were in custody had already been sought out and apprehended. Bend Police being on scene and allowing the use of a vehicle to sit in and to provide food or water to any federal employee and the persons that were being detained do not violate ORS or Bend’s policy.
“My goal is to ensure our police officers are able to provide basic human needs such as food and water, and to support communication abilities for the federal agents so they could report to their supervisors that they were safe. Additionally, I do believe it was in everyone’s best interest to have those federal employees to be able to communicate to their supervisors the dynamics of the activities and report that the event was peaceful,” Krantz wrote in an email Aug. 17.
A representative from the Rural Organizing Project—a group dedicated to “advocating for democracy in rural Oregon,” according to its Facebook page, told the Source that it is working with its legal team to address the issue of ICE using Bend PD resources on Aug. 12.
“After review of laws and policies I do not consider the charging of a phone or providing food and water, any sort of legal violation or policy violation.” – Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz
“Oregon’s sanctuary law is intended to protect the people of Oregon from ICE’s unlawful actions,” Emma Ronai-Durning, organizer for the ROP told the Source. “There is no doubt that the Bend Police Department’s actions supported the needless separation of two Bend families, not to mention a tear gassed assault on peaceful protesters.”
The Source spoke with several people at the protest who had been pepper sprayed by U.S. Border Patrol police who arrived on the scene late into the night. Another attendee, who asked to remain anonymous, also reported seeing clouds of what appeared to be tear gas billowing from the area where border patrol officers carried the two detainees after removing them from the ICE bus Wednesday night.
The Source has requested documentation of the interactions between Bend PD and officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before and after the Aug. 12 incident. We are still awaiting those records.
This article appears in Aug 12-19, 2020.
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Of course you did. Bend PD is corrupt as hell.
Federal law enforcement assist local police in cases of bank robbery, child abduction, examination of evidence and searches for persons suspected of crimes in Bend, against our citizens.
Any person who argues Bend Police should refuse to give food and water to Bend residents detained by Federal authorities, or refuse to allow Federal officers, while in our city, to charge cellphones, use a toilet, or other necessities is a person who doesn’t understand the importance to Bend residents of cooperation among law enforcement.
I went to the protest and as I got out of my car there were two Bend police officers. I approached them and I asked them what was going on to hear what their take was and they told me two criminals are being detained on buses and that protesters were here and not happy about it. I asked if it was a sweep by ICE and they said no, those two guys are felons. I asked them what constitutes a felon and they said “sexual offenders and murderers”, leading me to believe that was what those two guys were. I asked them if that was what those guys were and they said “We know they are felons and have warrants out for their arrest and that we needed to let ICE do their job”. I then walked over to the DA, John Hummel, asking if these guys were felons and if they were they sexual offenders or murders and told me no, not that he is aware of and that what the police officers just said is incorrect and they should not be leading people to believe that and went over to talk to the officers.
It just seemed to me that the BPD was sort of cooperating with ICE. Were they helping civilians charge their phones and giving them water? The police officers were very negative in their demeanor towards the two men being detained. I do think it odd that after Krantz is sworn in, it was just a couple of days before we have ICE in our community. I really think Bend needs to rethink this hire. I smell a rat.
I will say this too, as the election gets closer, I think we will see more and more sweeps happening in purple communities to create fear and I do think these orders are coming from way up high, like the stable genius and Barr up high. He is trying to use the platform and posture himself like the law and order man. Let’s look out for one another and help our fellow Latino community members.
I applaud the Intent of this article.
For once, a Media outlet is actually doing what reporters should do. Investigate and then educate honestly.
Inform the Public as to the legal differences between “sweeps” and arrests by federal warrant of wanted individuals for various and most often violent crimes – to include alleged war criminals in the US, both legally and illegally.
And become educated as to what legally local law enforcement can do in conjunction with ALL federal LE assistance wise, specifically ICE.
Bear in mind both Krantz and Sheriff Nelson rely on the city and County legal counsels, not themselves, for legal guidance in ALL matters.
So talking with these well paid attorneys is proper time spent research wise by the Source, as well.
Finally, such issues are not new. This and other questions have been well debated and ruled upon in Oregon for decades now. It’s called case law.
Don’t be shocked in the future when under-informed “activists” like the “peacekeepers” and others – to include counter-protesters – are arrested by local, state, or federal law enforcement and criminally charged.
As all such agencies are likewise educating themselves, as well. And communiities at large have had enough of non peaceful protests, phony “security” guards, damage and destruction paid to be repaired and cleaned up by the taxpayer, and chaos for the sake of itself.
“Sanctuary” laws will, one day, be deemed unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. Any State that nullifies Federal laws is acting against the Constitution. Oregon should fully enforce ALL State and Federal laws and cooperate with all Federal agencies.
Greg: We’re hoping the “well paid attorneys” about whom you’re speaking are working right now on looking at and responding to our records requests. For us, that’s where we’d like to see them spend their time at this moment.
If a subject is already detained for a crime and there is an INS hold they are just doing their jobs. From what I have read these subjects were not innocent law abiding citizens.
I applaud media for looking into this and educating us. I am happy that the law is being enforced and that those who choose to break it legally here or not are all held to the same standards
The photo in this article alleges that the “man wearing an ICE badge, on left” indeed is a federal ICE agent.
Doesn’t the “CE” visible in that picture (white block letters on a black background) look identical to the last two letters of the “POLICE” label (also white block letters on a black background) that is worn by local Bend police officers? The positioning, font and size is consistent with the “POLICE” label as well.
Is this the only evidence that this officer is actually from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement?
Doughpat: Zoom in on the badge. Also, as these were shot by a Source team member, we also have eyewitness perspective that this was an ICE guy.
Ms. Vulcan –
As you may know those at the City, County, and State who receive and administrate Public Records Requests are not lawyers. However, given the sensitive nature of such requests documents are often forwarded, or “passed by”, the appropriate well-paid attorney for the city, or the county, or the state.
They can and often do rule to release some information while offering other information requested is protected. Of course, such a rejection can be appealed. Often showing the release of the withheld information is in the best interests of the Public.
And even then – the decision can be made to withhold information and it then becomes a decision of whether or not to pursue the matter in court.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) system is, again as you know, far different. It can take multiple requests, appeals, and arguments to see a FOIA produce usable information. As often as not, depending upon the subject pursued, one’s FOIA can end up going nowhere.
As the mayor of Bend just issued a public statement which in part described and then praised Chief Krantz for his presence, expertise, and assistance to ensure all was done correctly during this bizarre escapade on behalf of two duly arrested / detained violent criminals (Domestic Violence is a crime of violence, as we know).
Here is recent example of ICE executing an international warrant on behalf of Law Enforcement in Costa Rica.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-removes-man-wanted-murder-costa-rica
It is suggested the “peacekeepers”, the local clergy, Bend’s mayor and city council, and a host of others educate themselves prior to taking actions or making statements that, after the facts become available, show them to be less than stellar in their actions and behavior.
Nicole: Perhaps you have access to higher resolution photos, but the one posted here is not nearly high enough resolution (even when brought up in a separate window) to allow details of the badge to be shown. BPD officers also have a similar badge in that location.
Happy to be proven wrong, but this is insufficient evidence to discern between ICE and BPD.
Awww snowflakes, they paint the bend pd badges on the side of our explorers duh, if you really want to feign ignorance… of course that isnt a bend badge, just like it isnt clear if both men actually had criminal records and state/city laws werent violated… the source seems to be getting lots of fake thanks for “educating people” while the same comments imply the hundreds at this protest are stupid, where is that coming from?
Doughpat: Try using the Command and + functions on your computer to zoom in on any photo and get closer to the part you want to see.
From the classic film “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8WbLU958L…