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You may have noticed Oregon’s Fire Marshal Jim Walker got removed this weekend by state cops and Gov Kate Brown
They implied the Fire Marshal was incompetent
In fact, it appears Walker was fired by the cops/Brown because he tried to save environmentalist George Atiyeh’s life
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They implied the Fire Marshal was incompetent
In fact, it appears Walker was fired by the cops/Brown because he tried to save environmentalist George Atiyeh’s life
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On Friday, Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton removed the Oregon Fire Marshal Jim Walker from his position
Strange, considering 1 million acres of Oregon land were on fire
And why did the OSP boss, and Governor Kate Brown, offer no reason for their punishment?
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Strange, considering 1 million acres of Oregon land were on fire
And why did the OSP boss, and Governor Kate Brown, offer no reason for their punishment?
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OR leaders Brown and Hampton refused multiple attempts to give the people any clarity,
but an anonymous source was willing to talk.
On Saturday, this source eagerly told Oregonian reporter Noelle Crombie a story implying Walker had “lost the faith” of the cops/governor.
3/ https://twitter.com/noellecrombie/status/1304867009453338625
but an anonymous source was willing to talk.
On Saturday, this source eagerly told Oregonian reporter Noelle Crombie a story implying Walker had “lost the faith” of the cops/governor.
3/ https://twitter.com/noellecrombie/status/1304867009453338625
As we noted at the time, the explanation for this massive decision to fire the Fire Marshal in a massive crisis rested on one anonymous source (a cop?), and... the head of the cops.
Later Saturday, OR Fire Marshal Jim Walker resigned from his demoted position.
Hmmmm.
4/ https://twitter.com/pdx_resistance/status/1304881320720363521
Later Saturday, OR Fire Marshal Jim Walker resigned from his demoted position.
Hmmmm.
4/ https://twitter.com/pdx_resistance/status/1304881320720363521
A Linn County Commissioner said the state response didn’t seem very coordinated. But, didn’t know if that was connected to the Fire Marshal’s removal by the cops.
The Governor and the cops refused to offer any clarity beyond the anonymous story.
Everyone got a nice mystery.
5/ https://twitter.com/pdx_resistance/status/1304965368423673856
The Governor and the cops refused to offer any clarity beyond the anonymous story.
Everyone got a nice mystery.
5/ https://twitter.com/pdx_resistance/status/1304965368423673856
By SUN morning, the story evolved.
Walker told his story to Claire Withycombe of the Statesman Journal.
The cops fired the Fire Marshal because he had tried to search for 5 people in the Santiam Canyon fire.
But didn’t.. ask permission properly?
6/ https://amp.statesmanjournal.com/amp/5779724002
Walker told his story to Claire Withycombe of the Statesman Journal.
The cops fired the Fire Marshal because he had tried to search for 5 people in the Santiam Canyon fire.
But didn’t.. ask permission properly?
6/ https://amp.statesmanjournal.com/amp/5779724002
Suddenly, OSP didn’t want to comment on personnel matters, after demoting a 40-yr fire serviceman during epic fires.
Walker’s letter said
"I can't in good faith work in a system that's non-supportive to what I see as needing to be provided to our firefighters on the ground.”
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Walker’s letter said
"I can't in good faith work in a system that's non-supportive to what I see as needing to be provided to our firefighters on the ground.”
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But this first story on Sunday didn’t get the whole picture.
Crombie followed up on the rumor from the anonymous source, and put out a story with Walker’s voice included.
Walker had gone searching... for Atiyeh, a family member of a firefighter.
8/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
Crombie followed up on the rumor from the anonymous source, and put out a story with Walker’s voice included.
Walker had gone searching... for Atiyeh, a family member of a firefighter.
8/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
Published Saturday:
“George Atiyeh, the reluctant icon of OR’s environmental movement for his central role in saving Opal Creek from clear-cutters, has gone missing after the Beachie Creek fire .. burned his house to the ground.”
9/ https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2020/09/opal-creek-icon-george-atiyeh-missing-in-beachie-creek-fire-zone.html
“George Atiyeh, the reluctant icon of OR’s environmental movement for his central role in saving Opal Creek from clear-cutters, has gone missing after the Beachie Creek fire .. burned his house to the ground.”
9/ https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2020/09/opal-creek-icon-george-atiyeh-missing-in-beachie-creek-fire-zone.html
So OR Fire Marshal Jim Walker risked his life trying to save George Atiyeh, as an act of commitment to Walker’s employee/Atiyeh’s relative.
And OSP cops REMOVED him because.. it was unclear if he “had authorization from incident commander Les Hallman”
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https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
And OSP cops REMOVED him because.. it was unclear if he “had authorization from incident commander Les Hallman”
10/
https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
To summarize...
OSP, who have violently attacked Portland protesters, publicly excoriated MultCo DA Mike Schmidt, and are now deputized as federal agents in Portland thanks to Kate Brown..
finally found a subordinate who needed punishment.
Walker had.. too much courage?
11/ https://twitter.com/deborahebloom/status/1300921259933401088
OSP, who have violently attacked Portland protesters, publicly excoriated MultCo DA Mike Schmidt, and are now deputized as federal agents in Portland thanks to Kate Brown..
finally found a subordinate who needed punishment.
Walker had.. too much courage?
11/ https://twitter.com/deborahebloom/status/1300921259933401088
OSP leadership - the people in charge of Oregon Fire Marshal’s Office - take opportunity to publicly rip new MultCo DA Mike Schmidt, elected w 77% vote.
Schmidt declined to prosecute hundreds of bogus, violent PPB arrests.
This pissed off OSP.
12/ https://www.koin.com/news/protests/multco-sheriff-to-da-dont-dismiss-riot-charges/
Schmidt declined to prosecute hundreds of bogus, violent PPB arrests.
This pissed off OSP.
12/ https://www.koin.com/news/protests/multco-sheriff-to-da-dont-dismiss-riot-charges/
Then, Kate Brown announces OSP is moving in to Portland in a Unified Law Enforcement Troop Surge. OSP would be deputized as FEDERAL AGENTS.
“to meet the Governor's charge of bringing violence to an end we will use all lawful methods at our disposal."
13/ https://www.koin.com/news/protests/oregon-state-police-troopers-federally-deputized-amid-renewed-portland-protest-response/
“to meet the Governor's charge of bringing violence to an end we will use all lawful methods at our disposal."
13/ https://www.koin.com/news/protests/oregon-state-police-troopers-federally-deputized-amid-renewed-portland-protest-response/
Here’s what Walker had to say about getting fired
“OSP leadership, I think, would have felt more comfortable if I was back at my office helping them to work through all of these incidents.. and I had chosen to spend my time with boots on the ground.”
14/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
“OSP leadership, I think, would have felt more comfortable if I was back at my office helping them to work through all of these incidents.. and I had chosen to spend my time with boots on the ground.”
14/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
OSP has lacked courage to comment on Jim Walker’s firing..
EXCEPT.. an anonymous source keeps talking:
“Walker lacked the skill and training to identify and investigate human remains at what amounts to a crime scene.”
A WILDFIRE IS A CRIME SCENE??
15/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
EXCEPT.. an anonymous source keeps talking:
“Walker lacked the skill and training to identify and investigate human remains at what amounts to a crime scene.”
A WILDFIRE IS A CRIME SCENE??
15/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
The excerpts below from Noelle Crombie’s Sunday article are full of anonymous sources offering rumors and smears on Jim Walker, that either contradict OSP statements, contradict each other, and/or sound literally like middle school.
In other words, standard OSP behavior?
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In other words, standard OSP behavior?
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So let’s go thru the rumors.
1 is that Walker’s performance concerned Hampton (sounds like the source knows Hampton.. is a cop) before the fire
So is Hampton, whose spokesman said Walker’s demotion “had nothing to do with his handling of the fires,” LYING?
OR THE SOURCE?
/17
1 is that Walker’s performance concerned Hampton (sounds like the source knows Hampton.. is a cop) before the fire
So is Hampton, whose spokesman said Walker’s demotion “had nothing to do with his handling of the fires,” LYING?
OR THE SOURCE?
/17
Crombie says “sources” referring to people with knowledge of OSP Top Cop Hampton, but then switches to “source” for the rest of the snitch report.
So cops (1, 2?) are hammering Walker over trivialities, while Governor Kate Brown and Superintendent Hampton say nothing. Ok.
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So cops (1, 2?) are hammering Walker over trivialities, while Governor Kate Brown and Superintendent Hampton say nothing. Ok.
/18
So which is it?
He got fired for bad performance, and OSP was lying?
Or for trying to save George Atiyeh from a massive fire without proper OSP crime scene forensic certification? ..without asking the right boss?
Guaranteed he’s not fired if he tried to save a cop!
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He got fired for bad performance, and OSP was lying?
Or for trying to save George Atiyeh from a massive fire without proper OSP crime scene forensic certification? ..without asking the right boss?
Guaranteed he’s not fired if he tried to save a cop!
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Is the Fire Marshal super important?
“The Fire Marshal merged with the Oregon State Police in 1993 and conducts education on prevention, and inspections and code enforcement, as well as preparedness and response activities.”
Important enough to fire Jim Walker, apparently.
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“The Fire Marshal merged with the Oregon State Police in 1993 and conducts education on prevention, and inspections and code enforcement, as well as preparedness and response activities.”
Important enough to fire Jim Walker, apparently.
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Walker’s bravery will even be investigated by cops at DPSST:
‘the agency will forward info about the circumstances surrounding Walker’s departure to the OR Dept of Public Safety Standards and Training “for certification review of his conduct.”’
21/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
‘the agency will forward info about the circumstances surrounding Walker’s departure to the OR Dept of Public Safety Standards and Training “for certification review of his conduct.”’
21/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/09/oregon-fire-marshal-resigned-under-investigation-for-entering-active-wildfire-zone.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true
But back to the rumors an anonymous friend of the cops is telling the journalist:
So apparently Walker, the state Fire Marshal, “misused his authority” by “entering a fire scene” on a personal mission (to help save his friend’s missing family member from a deadly fire).
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So apparently Walker, the state Fire Marshal, “misused his authority” by “entering a fire scene” on a personal mission (to help save his friend’s missing family member from a deadly fire).
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So if you beat up 50 protesters, or tear gas a neighborhood. That’s fine.
But if you - the Fire Marshal - drive into a fire to save a beloved man’s life, you will be demoted.. because you’re “out of cell range from your bosses”. Your bosses being.. of course, the cops.
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But if you - the Fire Marshal - drive into a fire to save a beloved man’s life, you will be demoted.. because you’re “out of cell range from your bosses”. Your bosses being.. of course, the cops.
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So many are suffering in these fires, in the smoke, in temporary shelter, in prisons. And many are working hard to fight the fires and bring needed supplies and help to people in need.
May we keep working together so all people can have their needs for safety and health met.
May we keep working together so all people can have their needs for safety and health met.
