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The department said officers who served in the protest response unit at the Portland Police Office resigned Thursday after one of its officers was indicted.
The department said in a statement that the officers “left their volunteer positions” in the rapid response team on June 16, and “no longer form a team.”
The agency said the team consists of about 50 employees. Officers were serving on the team in addition to their regular duties.
The ministry said the team’s primary role was to “provide public safety at crowd events when there is a threat to harm the community.”
Although not on the Rapid Response Team, the officers are still on duty in their regular duties.
The resignations came after Portland police officer Corey Bodworth was charged in connection with an alleged assault during a confrontation with protesters demonstrating against the killing of George Floyd last year.
Bodworth, who was a member of the response team, was charged with fourth-degree assault for allegedly hitting a woman on the head during a protest in August.
According to The Oregonian, the response team resigned because they did not feel the support of the city council and district attorneys after facing more than 100 consecutive nights of protest coverage.
Mayor Ted Wheeler (D), a Democrat, said in a statement that he acknowledged last year’s toll fell to police officers.
“I want to acknowledge the losses they and their families have had in the past year – they have worked long hours under difficult conditions,” Wheeler said. “I have personally heard from some of them today, and I appreciate their willingness to share their concerns about the conduct of so many public gatherings that have often been violent and destructive.”
Portland became a flashpoint of civil unrest after Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last May.
Last month, five people were arrested during a rally in memory of Floyd’s death after the demonstration turned devastating.
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