Business owners in Portland, Oregon pleaded with their Democratic Leaders to crackdown on crime this week; saying employees are simply too scared to work after being routinely threatened and assaulted.
“These business owners say they no longer feel safe as the level of violence rises,” said the anchors.
“They say it’s just too dangerous for employees to be working in Portland right now. They say they’re threatened and even assaulted regularly,” fired-back the local reporter.
“There are truly unbelievable scenes right outside our building. There are individuals walking down the street with machetes,” said one business owner.
“My crew members have been held-up and assaulted multiple times,” added another.
Watch the clip above.
PORTLAND SPIRALS: Entire Police ‘Rapid Response Team’ Disbands, Primary Role to Provide ‘Safety’
The Portland Police Department’s ‘Rapid Response Team’ -typically deployed to handle large crowds, riots, and demonstrations- disbanded this week as crime rates rise across the city.
“On June 16, 2021, Portland Police Bureau employees serving as members of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) left their voluntary positions and no longer comprise a team. Its members were sworn employees of the Portland Police who served on RRT in addition to their daily assignment in the Bureau. Despite no longer serving on RRT, they will continue in their regular assignments. There were approximately 50 employees serving as RRT members,” writes the Police Department.
Press Release: Portland Police Rapid Response Team Members Leave Team, Remain In Primary Roles As Employees
Link: https://t.co/UZ5C9xKkFZ pic.twitter.com/21VE4P7d5D— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 17, 2021
“The Rapid Response Team is an all-hazard incident response team that has received advanced specialized training to respond to incidents requiring higher levels of technical expertise including public order policing, natural or man-made disasters. The primary role has been to provide public safety at crowd events when there was a threat of harm to the community. All Rapid Response Team members are trained in advanced skills related to crowd management and crowd control including crowd psychology and behavior, team formations and movements, the use of enhanced personal protective equipment, use of force, de-escalation and arrests,” adds the statement.
Read the full press release here.