The city of Portland is about to have a real problem on its hands.

The city has been awash in rioting for months, and now it has lost one of its best defensive measures against the rioting.

After a police officer was indicted regarding an incident from Aug 18, 2020, the entire riot squad has tendered its resignation.

The Incident

According to reports at the time, Officer Corey Budworth hit an activist/journalist with a baton while police were clearing rioters from the area.

At the time, it was the height of the George Floyd protests, where police saw violence in the streets every day of the week.

The police union stated that Officer Budworth “was forcefully knocked to the ground,” with the journalist, Teri Jacobs, also going to the ground.

The union continued, “Reasonably believing that she was getting back up to re-engage in her unlawful activities, Officer Budworth employed one last baton push to try to keep her on the ground, which accidentally struck Ms. Jacobs in the head.”

Jacobs’ attorney stated that the journalist “was brutally beaten in the head, neck, back, and face.”

With Officer Budworth now facing charges, roughly 50 members of the unit, all volunteers, have resigned from the squad (they will remain on the force serving their usual duties).

This leaves the city of Portland without a riot squad to respond to the violence that is ongoing in the city.

The Portland Police Association, in defending Budworth, stated, “Unfortunately, this decorated public servant has been caught in the crossfire of agenda-driven city leaders and a politicized criminal justice system.”

The city has agreed to pay Jacobs $50,000 to settle the civil suit against the city and now Budworth is awaiting trial in the “criminal” matter.

Source: New York Post