Portland Fire: Feds 'were not and will not ever' use stations for tactical operations

KPTV  . . . "To further clarify their role, Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who is also the city of Portland Fire Commissioner has “directed that no PF&R station will be used by law enforcement of any kind, to include Portland Police, for any tactical operations until further notice.”
"Previously, the Portland Police Rapid Response Team officers have used the fire stations for staging and deployment, according to the statement. This is no longer allowed.
"In response to PF&R new direction, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell issued the following statement:" . . .

Portland Fire Commissioner Bans Police From Staging At Fire Stations  "Portland, OR – Portland Fire and Rescue has banned all law enforcement agencies from using any of its 31 stations to prepare for tactical operations.
"The directive was given by Portland Fire Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who demanded on July 18 that Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler hand command of the city’s police force over to her if he wasn’t going to force officers to scale back their responses to the nightly riots that have been plaguing the city for nearly two months, Willamette Week reported.

“ 'Mayor Wheeler, if you can’t control the police, give me the Portland Police Bureau,” Hardesty declared in her letter to the mayor, according to Willamette Week.

“ 'You are putting our community in danger. You are putting my staff in danger. We need you to be better,” she wrote.

"Wheeler reject her request and opted to retain oversight of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).

“ 'I will continue to serve as police commissioner through this time of transformation,” Wheeler said in a statement on Monday, according to Willamette Week. “And I will continue to work with elected leaders from the county and the state to ensure that we are examining the criminal justice system as a whole.' ” . . .

Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner lashed out at City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty after she said she believes PPB officers started fires during protests in order to justify attacking.

. . . "Turner said he has invited elected officials to stand at the front during the protests and no one, including Hardesty, has accepted the invite." . . .

Here Ms. Hardesty shows the class that one does not expect from Democrats:

Portland commissioner apologizes after claiming police 'saboteurs' were starting fires, infiltrating crowds  "Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty on Wednesday alleged that police “saboteurs” and “provocateurs” are the ones starting fires after infiltrating crowds of demonstrators who’ve dominated the streets for more than 50 consecutive nights.

"But Hardesty later apologized after the unsubstantiated claim was quickly shot down by the city's police union.

" 'I want people to know that I do not believe there’s any protesters in Portland that are setting fires, that are creating crisis. I absolutely believe it’s police action, and they’re sending saboteurs and provocateurs into peaceful crowds so they justify their inhumane treatment of people who are standing up for their rights,” Hardesty said in an online briefing hosted by the Portland-based Western States Center.

"Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner slammed Hardesty’s “outlandish accusation,” demanding that she “immediately produce evidence.” He also said the city commissioner was guilty of hijacking the protests about racial justice in the wake of the death of George Floyd only to seize power." . . .