August 30, 2003
Slim Details And Much Speculation On The Day After Kroeker's Resignation
Kroeker's resignation letter
Courtesy KATU
Since most news outlets are still simply running yesterday's stories, I'll go with a trio of pieces out of today's Oregonian for day-after coverage.
First up is the story referred to last night which pegs a former City Commissioner as the intermediary:
The 59-year-old chief, his supporters and even critics blasted the way Katz handled his ouster. While the mayor publicly and repeatedly voiced her support for the chief throughout the difficult week, city and law enforcement insiders said ex-City Commissioner Mike Lindberg relayed her ultimatum to Kroeker: Resign by 11 a.m. Tuesday, or she'd fire him.
Lindberg, describing himself as a personal adviser to the chief, acknowledged he met with Kroeker midweek. On Friday, Lindberg was reluctant to say what was discussed.
"I did get together with him this week," he said. "But the meetings that I have with him are just private meetings, and I don't feel like breaking confidences."
This article also reports on criticisms in the way in which Mayor Katz handled the resignation, upon which I've also commented here -- and which continues to make me wonder just what the Hell happened this week to make it all go down this way.
Which brings us to the second article, on the reactions of City Council:
Katz came in for criticism Friday over her indirect dealings with the chief. The mayor and Kroeker did not speak before his news conference Friday, an indication, Commissioner Erik Sten said, that "communication had broken down somewhere."
Disappointed Commissioner Randy Leonard said earlier this week that growing concerns about Kroeker must "come to a head." But he said Friday that he was disappointed in how Katz handled the matter, saying it would further demoralize the bureau and set back much needed structural changes.
I'm not too sure about that last part. Given the aforementioned "lightning rod" factor, clearing our Kroeker should open the door to Bureau progress -- if such progress is truly in the pipeline -- for all but the most vociferous of the Bureau's critics.
This second article also asserts that Katz's plan had been to allow Kroeker to step aside gracefully, opening the door for Derrick Foxworth to step into the position and begin to heal relations with the community. But on Friday, the Portland Tribune reported on the resignation rumors and things appear to have come to a head.
Meanwhile, today's Oregonian also offers a timeline of sorts on Kroeker's contentious tenure as Chief, which does little more than make the reader wonder just why he managed to last this long, and just what in the world could have sparked his rather ugly and abrupt departure yesterday.