Oregon police chief compares black people to monkeys after discrimination complaint
In August, the chief of police in Clatskanie, Oregon, was asked by the city council to step down following claims that he compared African-Americans to monkeys.
In August, the chief of police in Clatskanie, Oregon, was asked by the city council to step down following claims that he compared African-Americans to monkeys.
According to documents obtained by KOIN 6, Police Chief Marvin Hoover “made monkey sounds and moved around the room with his hands under his armpits in an offensive manner” during a discussion about a resident who was African-American.
“As Chief Hoover was comparing African-Americans to monkeys, I began to become extremely uncomfortable,” Officer D. Alex Stone said in the complaint. “I have never been in a work environment where a manager, especially an executive officer, is openly racist.”
The racist remarks came when Stone was discussing a woman who was going to be filing against the city for discrimination.
“I relayed several of the arrestee’s remarks such as, ‘When you look at me, my black skin and my nappy hair, all you see is an animal,'” Officer Stone recalled in the incident report. “Chief Hoover interrupted me and said ‘That’s what she is.'”
Since coming forward with his story, Stone says he has been harassed by people, including fellow officers, who support Hoover.
“I’ve already faced a lot of retaliation, my wife’s been forced off the road twice,” Stone said. “I’ve had people in the community yelling the N-word at me.”
Since Hoover’s resignation, Clatskanie Mayor Diane Pohl has come out in support of the former police chief, saying he is “an honorable man and officer.” She also said in a letter to The Chief that “And so I say, thanks Chief Hoover for a job well done. You have this community’s gratitude, gratefulness and appreciation.”
