OPB News
Aaron Campbell Protest Sign - File Photo
Activists who oppose the rehiring of Ron Frashour as a Portland police officer say the city's police union agreement should be renegotiated to allow more discretion in the firing of officers.
Officer Frashour was fired for shooting Aaron Campbell in 2010. Campbell was unarmed and upset over the death of a family member.
The State Employment Relations Board has now ruled that Frashour must be rehired and given back pay.
At a protest rally, members of the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Police Reform said they agree the police union should have a right to negotiate good wages, safe working conditions and good health care. But, they said, the union contract with the city should give Portland's mayor and police chief more leeway to fire an officer.
Francisco Holman was at the rally to call for change.
"This country's built for justice. But I see no justice. Only tyranny," Holman said. "I don't understand how I have to keep coming here and worrying about my children being killed by the police."
The Portland Police Association's union contract is coming up for renewal next June.
