PORTLAND, Or.–
Chief Bob Day: “Portland Must Be Better Than This
Chief Day is releasing a statement regarding a Councilor’s past comments about the Portland Police Bureau and public safety as a whole.
Published
September 16, 2026 3:43 pm
Recent reporting has surfaced past public statements from a current City Councilor expressing hatred for the men and women of the Police Bureau — describing these city employees as “monsters,” calling for their abolition, and stating a “pure hatred” for Portland Police. As a city, we pride ourselves on civility and inclusivity. We know words cause harm. Every Police Bureau member—sworn staff and professional staff—who reads them will perceive them as directed at them personally, because they were.
I’m not going to relitigate someone’s history on social media. But statements describing officers as fundamentally incompatible with a peaceful society and mocking them for cowardice are difficult to dismiss as youthful indiscretion. They reflect an agenda.
What concerns me is that this Councilor sits on an elected body that sets the Police Bureau’s budget, shapes its policy, and votes on the tools and staffing our personnel rely on to do the jobs safely. That profound responsibility requires a baseline of good faith: that the Bureau’s work will be judged on its merits rather than beginning with the predetermined conclusion that law enforcement should be dismantled.
That is why I have a responsibility to say that I no longer have confidence that this Councilor is evaluating the Police Bureau reasonably and objectively.
A sharp disagreement amongst city leaders is expected and appropriate. It can force us to examine our policies, improve our practices, and ultimately make PPB better. There is an important difference, however, between a Councilor who challenges police policy because they believe a particular policy is wrong and a Councilor who has repeatedly argued that police should not exist.
We would all like to live in a city with no crime, no violence and social systems capable of meeting every person’s needs before they reach a crisis. But that is not the city—or a world—we live in.
Every year, Portland Police Bureau members respond to more than 200,000 emergency calls for service from Portlanders who are in crisis, have been victimized, and are experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives. Our members show up professionally and compassionately, often putting their own safety at risk to help others and keep community safe.
I will continue to bring the work of the Portland Police Bureau before this Council. I will continue to engage in difficult conversations and accept legitimate criticism of the Bureau. But we cannot pretend these past statements don’t damage trust. And I will not ask the men and women of this Bureau to pretend otherwise.
###############
Additional Reaction from Portland Police Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2026 Contact: Sgt. Aaron Schmautz, PPA President aaron@ppavigil.org
Angela Orr, Communications angela@ppavigil.orgPortland Police Association Calls on Councilor Mitch Green to Resign
PPA President implores elected leaders to publicly repudiate Green’s statementsPORTLAND, OR— “Absolute monsters.” “Bastards.” “Infamously cowardly.”
Portland Councilor Mitch Green’s professed “pure hatred for the Portland police” is disqualifying, and shocking. But he didn’t stop there. His words celebrating violence against business owners and calling for destruction of private property demonstrate his deep, personal animus against first responders, their selfless work, and all of Portland.
When people say who they are, we must believe them. Deleting tweets won’t erase his reckless, destructive, and violent ideology. It’s more than just “not a good look,” as he said. His beliefs, expressed in his own words, are disqualifying for an elected official.
Any city employee, let alone a police officer, caught even muttering such virulent comments under their breath would be immediately met with swift and merciless condemnation and punishment. Our leaders must be held to this same higher standard.
Sgt. Aaron Schmautz, Portland Police Association President, said:
“Today, I am calling on all elected officials in Portland, Multnomah County, and across Oregon—especially those who actually care about the communities they serve—to show that hate and glorified violence have no place in our body politic. Publicly repudiate Councilor Green’s outrageous statements. Voters deserve to know that their leaders will not stand for hatred of any kind.
“Counselor Green must resign.”
A better future is possible in Portland when we aren’t being torn apart by toxic ideology and hate. Our first responders risk their lives for Portlanders every day. They deserve better. Portland deserves better.
