Portland to forgive Police Captain's tribute to Nazi-era soldiers
Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger's past discipline to be erased -- including for tribute to Nazi-era soldiers -- under city settlement
To settle a legal claim, the city of Portland has agreed to pay $5,000 to Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger and erase two disciplinary actions from his personnel record: a suspension for his public tribute to five Nazi-era German soldiers at a city park and a reprimand for retaliating against a female lieutenant.
The steps are part of a negotiated settlement reached after Kruger, now in charge of the Drugs and Vice Division, filed a notice of his intent to sue the city in January 2013.
Kruger, through his attorney, argued that the city and the police bureau's Director of Services Mike Kuykendall slandered him in a series of text messages. Kuykendall repeatedly referred to Kruger as a Nazi in an exchange of texts with Lt. Kristy Galvan.
<snip>
Under the settlement, the 80 hours will be added as vacation pay to Kruger's vacation bank. The 2010 disciplinary letter, in which Reese had cited Kruger for bringing "discredit and disgrace upon the Bureau and the City,'' will be removed from Kruger's Police Bureau and human resources file.
Under the deal, the police chief also will provide a complimentary three-paragraph letter to Kruger, saying he's performed "above expectations'' in his work on the force and has strengthened ties with the community.
"I am writing to affirm that I consider you to be a competent and valuable member of the Portland Police Bureau. Your skills and talents as a Critical Incident Commander and ability to connect with the community are outstanding,'' the letter from Reese reads in part. "As well, your work with the immigrant community has strengthened our relationship with new Portlanders.''
<snip>
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/07/portland_police_capt_mark_krug.html
