The Portland Police Association, the union representing roughly 900 of the bureau’s officers, sergeants, detectives and 911 dispatchers, has elected a new president.
Officer Brian Hunzeker, a traffic officer who has been with the bureau since 2000, will take over from outgoing president Daryl Turner on Nov. 1.
Turner has been the PPA president for a decade and has been a lightning rod in a long, tense relationship between Portland police and the city’s residents.
This summer, as federal law enforcement officers stunned the city with their violent response to racial justice protesters, Turner stood out as one of the lone voices publicly calling for even greater federal involvement.
“Our city is under siege by rioters,” Turner told a crowd of reporters at a July press conference in front of the union’s North Portland headquarters. “Our elected officials have condoned the destruction and chaos of our city.”
With pressure mounting for extensive changes to policing in the city, Hunzeker will have his hands full in the coming months. Contract negotiations between the police union and the city are set to begin in January, and the union has pledged to challenge a proposed independent police oversight board if it is approved by voters in November.
Hunzeker did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.
A Facebook page that appears to belong Hunzeker shows the new union president has liked three pages supportive of President Donald Trump: one called “Donald Trump is my president”, which is described as “a community who believes in Trump’s America-First message,” a second called “Ex-NFL fans,” which describes itself as a conservative Pro-Trump page, and a third called “Donald J Trump News by WJ,” which says it “brings you all news Donald Trump.” Hunzeker also liked the pages for the Portland Police Association and The United Coalition of Public Safety.
A spokesperson for Mayor Ted Wheeler said the mayor is working to set up a meeting with Hunzeker.