Dismissing what he called the "ubiquitous critics" who will never be satisfied with what police do, Portland Police Chief Mike Reese this morning promoted controversial Leo Besner to sergeant.

Reese told the crowd assembled at the Portland Building this morning that he, as chief, has certainly experienced the critics the last week or so. It was a veiled reference to community members who have questioned Besner's promotion, concerned that he has cost the city more than $852,000 from tort claims and jury awards in the last seven years.

But the chief said he fully supported each of the officers promoted.

"To each of you, you would not be here if I did not have faith in your skills and abilities," Reese said.

The chief went on to quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Bobbie Jo Foster -- the sister of Raymond Gwerder, who was shot in the back and killed by Besner in 2005 -- wrote to the chief and mayor before the ceremony. She urged that Besner be passed over for promotion and questioned his fitness as an officer. Portland Copwatch, the Rev. Chuck Currie and Jessie Cornett, a former council candidate who was Gwerder's best friend, also questioned the promotion.

Cornett later in the day released a statement responding to Reese's comments.

"We hereby ask Mayor Adams to admonish Chief Reese for his combativeness and choosing to make a bad situation worsen," Cornett said.

Currie also took Reese to task. "The Portland Police Bureau does not stand apart or above the citizens of this great city," Currie said

. "We value the

service of those who risk much as members of the Bureau but many Portlanders

have deep concerns about the leadership of the bureau."

Reese earlier this week defended his decision, saying Besner scored well on a promotional written exam and oral interview, and has done exceptional work as an acting sergeant at North Precinct the last several months.

At this morning's ceremony, the chief promoted Chris Davis, Art Nakamura and David Meyer to lieutenant; Besner, Mike Leasure, Mark Friedman, Josh Goldschmidt and Cathe Kent to sergeant.

He urged each to treat everyone with respect, strive for excellence, be fair and compassionate and have the courage to do what is right.

Fellow officers tried to shield Besner from reporters, as he left the ceremony.

Asked if he had any comment, Besner politely said, "No thanks.''

Besner will be assigned as a sergeant at East Precinct.

Mayor Sam Adams blogged this morning about the controversial decision to promote Besner, saying it raised "policy questions" for him about how tort claims are tracked.

Adams wrote:

"As police commissioner, I am held accountable by the voters to lead efforts to keep the peace in Portland. A key decision I make is to hire and fire the police chief. Under the city charter I make the final decision on all discipline issues. Along with him and his team, the city council and the public, we set priorities and standards for the bureau's work. I am a hands-on police commissioner; I discuss most key issues with the police chief. But I hold the police chief accountable for the day-to-day management of the police bureau, including promotion decisions. For me, the most recent round of promotions has raised policy questions for me to answer regarding lawsuit/tort claims and how they relate to the forthcoming police officer annual performance evaluations."

Last year,

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Yet attorneys who obtain settlements or jury awards stemming from lawsuits against the same officers over and over questioned whether the city really is learning.

“We’re trying to identify any issues, areas of concern or corrective action that should take place,” said Mike Palmer, a civilian member of the police bureau who served at the time as its safety and risk officer. “We’re watching these claims from Day 1. We don’t want to wait until after a large settlement.”

Palmer is no longer with the bureau. Currently, retired Portland police Lt. Mike Hefley is a risk management officer in the bureau.

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Earlier story:

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