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The Rev. LeRoy Haynes, of the Albina Ministerial Alliance's Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, called Portland's settlement agreement with Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger "an insult to every freedom- and justice- loving citizen in the City of Portland.''

(Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian)

A coalition of community members released a statement Wednesday calling the city of Portland's settlement with Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger "an insult to every freedom and justice-loving citizen in the City of Portland.''

A protest against the Kruger settlement also is planned for 6 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

To settle Kruger's notice of intent to sue the city, the city last month agreed to pay Kruger $5,000, provide him with 80 hours of extra vacation time and erase two disciplinary actions from his record: an 80-hour suspension without pay that Kruger received in 2010 for his public tribute to five Nazi-era German soldiers at a Portland park sometime between 1999 and 2001, and a written reprimand he got this year for retaliating against a female lieutenant.

As part of the negotiated deal, Police Chief Mike Reese also wrote a complimentary letter to Kruger praising his work and how he's strengthened ties with immigrants.

In 2010, a police internal affairs investigation found Capt. Mark Kruger brought âdiscredit and disgrace upon the Bureauâ when he nailed âmemorial plaquesâ of five Nazi-era soldiers to a tree on Rocky Butte Park. The city recently erased the 80-hour suspension without pay that Kruger faced for the memorial plaques, to settle a tort claim he filed against the city.

Once the settlement was made public by The Oregonian last week, Mayor Charlie Hales sent an email to city commissioners, contending he was unaware of all the terms of the settlement and would consult with legal staff to see if the city could back out of it. He declined to release the email, but issued a statement calling the binding settlement a "distasteful decision'' for the good of the city. He said he was advised that the city could lose the case in court while conceding that community outrage was "right and just."

On Wednesday, the Albina Ministerial Alliance's Coalition for Justice and Police Reform issued its own statement, criticizing the city's agreement.

"This Settlement Agreement stemming from a legal claim against the city

filed by Captain Kruger in 2013 rewards him for actions that are

completely contrary to the vision of a diverse, accountable, just,

community oriented and transparent police bureau that is being sought by

Portland's citizens and the U.S. Department of Justice,'' the coalition wrote.

The coalition blasted Portland Police Chief Mike Reese and Hales, who serves as police commissioner, for signing the settlement.

"Their decision shows insensitivity to those who have been victims of the Third

Reich and their crimes against humanity as well as women who work in

male-dominated professions,'' the coalition wrote. "This is not the direction the citizens of Portland desire to be reflected in their Police Bureau and their city.''

The city's deal with Kruger settles the captain's legal claim against the city. Kruger had filed a notice of intent to sue the city in January 2013 over texts that police Director of Services Mike Kuykendall sent to Lt. Kristy Galvan characterizing Kruger as a Nazi sympathizer.

The Rev. LeRoy Haynes Jr., who chairs the coalition, pointed out that the Kruger settlement comes as the city has balked about appearing annually in front of a federal judge who seeks oversight over the pending U.S. Department of Justice agreement with the city, stemming from police use of excessive force against people suffering from mental illness.



"Let the Mayor and Chief of Police send the right message to the citizens

and every police officer that the past actions of Captain Kruger do not

represent the City of Roses, and let's support the Department of Justice

Proposed Settlement Agreement and Judge Michael Simon's annual review of

the Agreement to help insure police accountability, justice and reform,'' the coalition wrote.

--Maxine Bernstein