Portland Police identifies officers in recent officer involved shooting, investigation is ongoing

Portland, OR. – Official Release: The Portland Police Bureau is identifying the officers involved in the shots fired incident in the Woodlawn Neighborhood on September 26, 2024.

Officer Brett Emmons, an 8-year veteran of PPB assigned to the Special Emergency Reaction Team
Officer Joshua Faris, a 23-year veteran of PPB assigned to the Special Emergency Reaction Team
Officer Matthew Wells, a 21-year veteran of PPB assigned to the Special Emergency Reaction Team

The officers remain on administrative leave as the investigation continues.

At the time of the shots fired incident, SERT members were assisting the Major Crimes Unit with the apprehension of Jesse James West. SERT members, who undergo special training, were asked to help get West into custody due to his suspected involvement in a series of robberies in which a firearm was used. Included among the cases was a robbery that happened earlier in the day on September 26. In this case, West was reportedly armed with an AR-style rifle, and he had access to a second firearm. While additional details cannot be released at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, PPB is releasing video of the shots fired incident as recorded on numerous officers’ body-worn cameras.

The video can be found here: 

The suspect shot in this incident was released from the hospital on October 7, 2024. He is identified as Jesse James West, 24. West was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on Attempted Murder I (two counts) and additional warrants.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 6:21p.m., Major Crimes Unit Detectives and members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) were attempting to arrest an adult male wanted for violent felonies involving a firearm.

When they approached the suspect in the 7000 block of Northeast 17th Avenue, there was an exchange of gunfire. Three PPB officers assigned to SERT discharged firearms and injured the suspect. The suspect was given trauma first aid by an on-scene SERT paramedic until EMS arrived to provide advanced care and the suspect was transported to the hospital by ambulance. He remains at the hospital under police guard. He is not being identified at this time.

Chief Bob Day also responded to the scene and he has briefed Mayor Wheeler’s staff and the City Attorney’s office on the investigation.

“As always I want to affirm the sanctity of life, and I recognize that any time police officers use deadly force in the course of their work, it understandably causes concern in our community,” said Chief Day. “Proactively investigating violent crime is essential to reduce crime and the fear of crime and I’m committed that the Police Bureau will conduct a thorough investigation.

As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident, including the initial response, resources requested, tactics used, and post shooting actions. The case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members, and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.