#US Marshals deputize Oregon state police to help quell Portland riots

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Portland police and Oregon State Patrol officers arrest a protester last month.
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Oregon state troopers have been deputized by the US Marshals Service to help local police quell riots in Portland, authorizing troopers to charge protesters under federal law, according to reports.

The move also gives the state cops law enforcement authority on federal property, including a government office building in the heart of Portland that was an early target for protesters after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that sparked the demonstrations, KGW-TV reported.

The decision to cross-deputize the troopers was made at the end of July when Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced that most federal troops stationed in the city would leave, but officials only announced the move this week, the outlet said.

“They are still Oregon State Police,” Charles Boyle, deputy communications director for the governor, told KGW. “Some OSP troopers were federally deputized earlier this summer in order to be able to even enter the Hatfield Courthouse during their assignment downtown.”

“They are committed to working with our community, the goal of protecting free speech, keeping the peace, and keeping people safe as they exercise their right to peaceful protest,” Boyle added.

The deputized troopers can make arrests that are prosecuted by Oregon US Attorney Billy Williams rather than Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt.

Schmidt said earlier this summer that he would not prosecute protesters for lesser offenses like interfering with police or ignoring police orders — saying the office’s resources are best used to maintain public safety.

“We continue to prioritize public safety resources in Multnomah County by focusing on the violent crimes occurring at protests and in our community, including the recent and alarming increase in gun violence this summer,” Brent Weisberg, a spokesman for Schmidt, told CNN.

It is not known if any of those lesser offenses have since been prosecuted by Williams’ office because officials did not release statistics.

Brown on Monday called for police from other departments in Oregon to reinforce cops in Portland in the wake of the fatal shooting of a supporter of President Trump by protesters over the weekend.

Portland has been plagued by violent clashes between police and protesters for nearly 100 days.