Saturday, June 13, 2009

Officer Joseph Edward Wild Charged with Harassment


A Portland Police officer charged with making harassing phone calls appeared in court Monday.

Portland Police Officer Joseph Edward Wild, 28, is accused of using his bureau-issued cell phone to make harassing phone calls to women.

According to a probable cause statement, Wild faces 41 counts of official misconduct and 19 counts of telephone harassment. Wild was arrested Friday.

At Wild's court appearance Monday, protesters who didn’t even know Officer Wild showed up to stand up for those who may have been victimized.

“I wouldn’t want to be in her (the victim’s) position. Whoever he was bothering and bugging, it’s not okay,“ said Marie Suttle.

The case is so sensitive that Portland police only told reporters that a woman has come forward to say Officer Wild was harassing her over the phone. But new documents released accuse Officer Wild of using his police cell phone to harass at least two women -- including an underage girl.

“Chief Sizer and the Portland Police Bureau will release as much information as possible in an effort to be fully transparent when the Bureau is able to do so,” spokeswoman Mary Wheat said.

No other officers were aware of the conduct, police said.

“Everyone I talked to at North Precinct remembers the man in the police car next to him going on calls for service and find it difficult that these allegations can be true, “Said Scott Westerman, spokesman with the Portland Police Association.

Wild was scheduled to be back in court Thursday morning, and more charges were possible in the case.

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http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/portland_police_officer_charge.html

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