Community Members Say Officer Bob Owings is a Hazard for Salem Residents

Salem-News.com made an effort to reach the chief of Salem Police for an interview. Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada says the chief declined the opportunity as there is an investigation into the officer's actions.

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(SALEM) - Salem Police Officer Bob Owings has a temper. We all saw the video last week of Owings tasering a young man with Asperger's Syndrome, it wasn't cool. Owings has been making a name for himself on the Salem downtown beat, the taser incident is just the latest bout of reported violence from this man who could potentially target anyone he doesn't like. (see: Tasering Taxpayers to Death in Salem)

Police are not supposed to operate with bias. They aren't supposed to express blatant prejudice toward, for example, Native American children.

Yet a quick search of his name on Google brings up this quote:

"When I see kids from Chemawa, I anticipate dealing with them drinking, drunk or sick," said Officer Bob Owings of the Salem Police Department, referring to encounters with students at the downtown transit mall.

One Salem resident recalls seeing Owings target a person downtown, who had apparently shoplifted from a local store.

"He came at this guy like gangbusters as he headed out into traffic, trying to escape an angry store clerk. The store clerk was putting everyone at risk by chasing the man, who appeared homeless, on a busy street. Then Owings showed up, and he literally picked up his police bicycle and hurled it at the man very hard. It missed, but it could have killed someone. Owings is out of control, plain and simple, and he has to go!"

Salem-News.com made an effort to reach the chief of Salem Police for an interview. Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada says the chief declined the opportunity as there is an investigation into the officer's actions. We made the point that it would be a good time for Police Chief Gerry Moore to take a stand and tell the community he does not approve of officers being so prone to violence toward our young people. It would have been good for the Chief to share his thoughts.