Eugene Civilian Review Board debates July 15 use-of-force findings; members split on adjudication

At its December meeting the Eugene Civilian Review Board (CRB) reviewed a July 15, 2023 Eugene Police Department (EPD) use-of-force incident in which Sergeant C struck a suspect repeatedly and delivered knee strikes while officers worked to restrain the person.

The board heard a case summary from staff investigator Rob (last name not specified in the transcript), which presented the incident timeline: officers responded to a disorderly-person call; the suspect exited an apartment about 26 minutes after officers arrived, ran, was taken to the ground and actively resisted. Sergeant C applied a series of closed-fist strikes and two knee strikes while other officers assisted with control and handcuffing, according to the internal materials reviewed by the CRB.

Why it matters: the auditor's office recommended that all three allegations'two counts of excessive force under policy 800.2 (strikes to the head and knee strikes to the head) and one professionalism allegation under policy 103.4.2'be sustained. EPD's chain of command and the chief concluded the same conduct was within department policy. The CRB members debated whether the totality of force used was reasonable and whether Sergeant C's conduct met the department's professionalism standard.

Board discuss…