City auditor takes ‘unusual’ step in Chasse case review

Agency hopes review of official findings doesn't interfere with federal lawsuit

By Kevin Harden

The Portland Tribune, Nov 5, 2009, Updated Nov 5, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

While city officials and the police union wrangle over possible suspensions for two officers involved in James Chasse Jr.’s 2006 death, city Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade is taking the unusual step of hiring an outside consultant to review police actions in the case.

Griffin-Valade said her office routinely hires consultants the review several police cases at one time as part of its Independent Police Review Division. But hiring a consultant to dig into just one case is unusual.

“It’s the right thing to do from our perspective,” Griffin-Valade said Tuesday. “We just feel that this particular case really cries out for more information for the public.”

Last week, the auditor’s office began looking for a consultant to handle the Chasse case review. Firms will submit proposals for the review by Nov. 18, with a consultant starting work in late January 2010.

Review of Chasse’s case could take several months and focus mainly on findings in official reports. Consultants won’t interview police officers involved in the arrest and they will not talk with witnesses, Griffin-Valade said.

“We are not re-investigating the case,” she said. “We are just doing an audit of the findings.”

Officers could be suspended

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