Police captain suspended 80 hours without pay
A Portland police captain who nailed plaques in tribute to Nazi-era German soldiers to a tree on the east side of Rocky Butte Park was suspended Tuesday for 80 hours without pay and ordered to undergo tolerance training.
The sanctions against Mark Kruger was imposed by Chief Mike Reese Tuesday after a police investigation of a 10 year old incident that was was spurred by City Commissioner Dan Saltzman earlier this year when he was overseeing the police bureau.
Current Police Commissioner and Mayor Sam Adams signed on to the disciplinary action.
Kruger wrote a letter of apology to the chief, the police bureau, the city council and community members, saying his tribute was an expression of his interest in military history and that he regretted the misperception that a salute to a soldier from Nazi Germany could invoke.
He had removed the plastic plaques and given them to the city attorney’s office several years ago while facing lawsuits alleging excessive force during downtown anti-war protests.
