Police Chief Ousted for Antifa Conspiracy—and He’s Not Alone
By Pilar Melendez
A police chief in Washington state was replaced on Monday after spreading a conspiracy theory that antifa activists were planning to destroy the community, the latest in a slew of law enforcement officials disciplined or ousted for their conduct during nationwide protests against the killing of George Floyd.
Keith Rogers, now the former Snohomish police chief, referred to a May 31 demonstration, in which armed residents turned out to protect the city from supposed leftist looters, as a “festive” night of tailgating. He was reassigned amid public calls for his resignation. A spokesperson for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Daily Beast that Rogers was demoted, but will stay on as lieutenant with the sheriff’s office.
Rogers is among several law enforcement leaders to be punished for questionable, and sometimes downright ridiculous, handling of protests over the last two weeks. From New York to Oregon to Illinois, officials have pushed conspiracy theories, physically fought with protesters, attempted to infiltrate demonstrations, and used excessive force during a historic reckoning for police reform.
“At this moment in time, I believe reassigning Lt. Rogers is in the best interest of our community and our agency,” said Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney, whose office often contracts with the city for police services. “With over 25 years in law enforcement, I am looking forward to Lt. Rogers’ new opportunities for growth and leadership within the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.”
Rogers became the target of scathing criticism in the city of 10,000 after armed vigilantes swarmed the town on May 31 to protect it against a non-existent mob of antifa activists threatening to loot. According to the Everett Herald, the vigilante group included a man with a Confederate flag and several residents with patches of hate groups on tactical gear.
The previous day, hundreds of residents had staged a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in the city. Shortly after, police spread secondhand reports from a deleted social media post by an apparent anti-fascist group that suggested “opportunistic punks” were planning to descend on Snohomish “as a target to deploy mayhem and violence.”
“Antifa showed up in little groups, saw everyone was armed and waiting, and they decided to move on,” Republican State Rep. Robert Sutherland touted on Facebook, noting he had joined the May 31 conflict armed to defend the town against “antifa thugs.” “And a big shout out to the Snohomish City police who were there with us, shoulder to shoulder, helping to defend our little town.
Rogers told a Snohomish City Council meeting last week that the social media post had warned of “destructive protest” and listed a start time and detailed plan “to descend on the downtown corridor” of Snohomish—but the sheriff's office later said they had not confirmed any antifa presence. The accused leftist group denied responsibility for the post—and a chorus of citizens have stated that the town was instead overrun by armed right-wing vigilantes.
Rogers even went so far as to call the May 31 showdown a “festive” night of tailgating with “no really harsh terms of anything.” He and Mayor John Kartak have faced intense criticism—and calls for resignation—for allowing the armed crowd to intimidate residents this week, and insisting they somehow saved the city from looters.
“I can’t imagine someone could’ve said that with a straight face, because what I saw was the farthest from festive tailgating,” Terry Lippincott, the president of Snohomish Friends of the Library, told the Everett Herald after Rogers described the night as festive. “I saw intimidation. I saw people being afraid. I saw what looked like to me to be an absolute disaster waiting to happen.”
The next state over, in Oregon, Portland Police Chief Jami Resch resigned on Monday amid condemnation over the department’s handling of the ongoing protests. Just six months into her tenure, Resch announced she would step down after clashes between demonstrators and police. The protests, which began peacefully, delved into chaos Sunday evening after police used tear gas and sponge-tipped projectiles before arresting at least 20 residents.
“To say this was unexpected would be an understatement,” Chuck Lovell, the new chief, said at a Monday news conference. “I’m humbled. I’m going to listen. I’m going to care about the community, and I’m looking forward to this journey.”
more:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/snohomish-police-chief-keith-rogers-ousted-for-disastrous-antifa-conspiracy?via=newsletter&source=DDAfternoon
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