Auditor Finds EPD Followed Policy During Jan. 30 Federal Building Response

Eugene’s independent police auditor concluded that the Eugene Police Department did not violate any laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, or procedures in its Jan. 30 response to an anti-ICE protest at the Eugene Federal Building, but classified the complaints as an “incident review” so EPD Internal Affairs can complete a full investigation monitored by the auditor’s office. Police Auditor Craig Renetzky said the office has not leveled any allegations of misconduct at this time.

The auditor’s preliminary review examined EPD body camera footage, drone footage, radio traffic, dispatch calls, external videos provided by the FBI, and evidence submitted by community members and the Eugene Police Department. Renetzky told KLCC the office is still awaiting complete surveillance videos from the federal building obtained via a federal public records request, and that those records “could change the review.”

The memo states the EPD declaration of an “active riot” at around 7:00 p.m. on Jan. 30 was “reasonable given the circumstances” after “numerous individuals” surrounded the federal building. The auditor reported that “evidence showed that there were federal staff inside that building with no safe way to egress from the building” and that “some windows were broken in various locations around the building adding to the alarm of those inside the location.”

Renetzky addressed use-of-force specifically in his public remarks: “Did they use any force, did they use any munitions? The overwhelming evidence was that they did not.” He added, “There was nothing that showed any use of force by the Eugene Police.” At the scene, photographs by Saj Sundaram show officers from Eugene and Springfield Mobile Response Teams standing between protesters and federal agents, with several holding batons and crowd control munitions; other images by Corey Hoffman show Department of Homeland Security officers at the south entrance on Jan. 31.

The auditor’s review is narrowly scoped to Eugene Police actions. Actions by Springfield Police and federal officers, including Department of Homeland Security personnel present that night, are outside the auditor’s current review. The Office of the Independent Police Auditor operates under Eugene Charter Section 15-A and Section 2.450 and reports to the Eugene City Council; the memo notes that no employee of the auditor’s office works for or has ever worked for EPD.

Procedurally, Renetzky wrote that classifying the matter as an “incident review” “ensures that a complete investigation and more thorough documentation will be completed by EPD internal affairs and monitored by the auditor’s office.” He also retained the authority to re-classify and proceed if misconduct is discovered. The office included a truncated public follow-up line in its statement: “We will follow-up with public [...]” Pending receipt of federal surveillance video and the final EPD Internal Affairs findings, the auditor’s preliminary conclusion stands but remains subject to revision.