Independent Investigation Exonerates Coos Bay Police Department of Wrongdoing, Sept. 18

City of Coos Bay release – While no formal complaint was filed, as a result of social media allegations of police misconduct during an August 8, 2020 mostly peaceful protest, the City of Coos Bay engaged an independent investigator to determine the validity of the accusations. Additionally, the city issued a call to the community to share details regarding the incident, providing direct contact to the independent investigator assigned by Local Government Personnel Services, a unit of the Lane Council of Governments which the city contracted with for investigative services. As communicated at the Coos Bay City Council meeting on September 15, 2020, the investigator Michael Hudgins of Salem, Oregon, communicated that he conducted the investigation, during which he was contacted directly by 29 individuals indicating knowledge of the alleged misconduct, with only six individuals agreeing to an interview. He also conducted interviews of six Coos Bay police officers and watched over eight hours of witness provided video footage. Based on his investigation, Mr. Hudgins determined there was no credible evidence to support the allegations police officers made offensive hand gestures during the protest. Additionally, allegations that a police officer was responsible for a pregnant woman falling to the ground were found to be unsubstantiated. Mr. Hudgins established that, while an officer interrupted a physical altercation between a group of protesters and a group of counter-protesters, actions taken were aimed at keeping the peace and all allegations were categorized unfounded, with the noted officer exonerated.