Attorney General Merrick B. Garlandon praised Oregon’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies’ collaborations and efforts to increase public safety Friday morning.
Garland has been traveling around the country, stopping at every U.S. attorney’s office. He is nearing the end of his term as head of the U.S. Department of Justice, which coincided with his visit to Portland. In March 2021, he took the oath of office as the country’s attorney general.
Garland used data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association to support his 8-minute speech to Oregon’s U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight and nine other state law enforcement officials. The data showed that violent crime in Portland decreased by almost 8% between 2022 and 2023 and by 4% in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year.
He commended the federal arrests of narcotics traffickers, money launderers, and gang leaders in the district who sold fake oxycodone tablets laced with fentanyl, which resulted in overdose deaths. He also brought attention to Negasi Zuberi’s recent prosecution in a Medford federal court for double kidnapping.
He read from prepared remarks, “Your jobs are not easy.” They pose a threat. They are necessary. We appreciate all that you give up to protect the citizens of this state.
In order to help law enforcement agencies hire more officers, support multi-agency task forces, and collaborate with community partners to combat violent crime, drug trafficking, and enhance services for victims of domestic or sexual violence, the Justice Department has so far this year given Oregon more than $64 million in grants, he said.
Local officials from the FBI, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Homeland Security Investigations, and the sheriffs of Multnomah and Washington counties were seated at a table with Garland, who gave a brief speech in a conference room in Wight’s office. U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Kevin Sonoff said that Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg was invited but had a schedule conflict.
On Friday morning, Garland took a plane to Portland, where he was supposed to meet with the officials in private and field questions from U.S. Attorney’s Office personnel before returning to the airport.
After his initial pick, Matt Gaetz, retracted due to concerns about sex trafficking, President-elect Donald Trump stated last month that he would appoint former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head the Justice Department, relying on a longtime buddy.
As a new administration takes over, Wight is also anticipated to step down.President Joe Biden nominated Wight in June 2022, and the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination the following September.
— Maxine Bernstein writes about criminal justice and federal courts. You can contact her via [email protected], 503-221-8212, X@maxoregonian, or LinkedIn.
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