Residents demand change after EPD officer's racist remarks; chief defends response

Public commenters at the Eugene Police Commission meeting on May 1 urged the removal of Chief Chris Skinner after body‑worn footage showed a resigned Eugene Police Department officer using racist and abusive language.

"Chief Skinner, you need to resign," said Cameron Stringfield, who identified himself as a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and criticized the department's handling of the incident and past surveillance practices. Several other speakers, including Mark Calic and Jenny Eddie, echoed calls for accountability and said the released footage confirmed longstanding community concerns about EPD tactics and oversight.

"The community would like to see you resign because we need better leadership at EPD," Stringfield said during the public‑comment period.

Chief Skinner responded in the commission's report section that Martin Siller is no longer employed by the department and that the release of footage in discovery—described as a clerical error—prompted a broader internal review. "Martin Stiller is no no longer a part of the organization," Skinner said, adding that the department is reviewing body‑worn video linked to the case and referring videos that raise concerns to the independent auditor for classification.

Skinner said staff reviewed roughly the set of videos tied to the discovery case number (about 270 videos were mentioned in the discussion) to identify any other problematic recordings. "There are going to be a couple of allegations coming out of that," he said, and the auditor's office will participate in investigations.

Speakers raised additional concerns beyond the officer's remarks, including past uses of force, the use of chemical agents during protests, and the department's relationship with federal immigration enforcement. "The Eugene Police Department's continuous enthusiastic support for immigration enforcement activity in our city is directly connected to the systemic racism issues EPD claims to oppose," Ellie Bansick said.

Commissioners acknowledged the gravity of the footage while also noting the complexity of crowd‑management decisions on Jan. 30. Some commissioners described pride in officers' restraint during volatile scenes; others emphasized the need for stronger review and for the department to demonstrate accountability.

What happens next: Chief Skinner said investigations will continue with the auditor's office and that personnel processes require due process for employees under investigation. The commission heard public testimony and discussed oversight mechanisms; no formal vote on Chief Skinner's employment occurred during the meeting.

Provenance: The article draws on public comment and the chief's report presented to the commission, including Cameron Stringfield's remarks (public comment) and Chief Skinner's report to the commission explaining the resignation and ongoing review.