A police chief in Oregon thinks black people are animals.
That's what two of former Clatskanie Police Chief Marvin Hoover's own officers claim in a complaint filed in July. Hoover -- who resigned last week after a month on administrative leave -- is accused of acting like a monkey to imitate a black suspect and saying, "That's what they deserve."
In the complaint first obtained by KOIN, Officer D. Alex Stone said he joined two other officers to discuss a suspect's comments with Hoover. Stone said the black suspect threatened to file discrimination lawsuits against the department.
"I relayed several of the arrestee’s remarks such as, 'When you look at me, my black skin and my nappy hair, all you see is an animal,'" Stone said in the incident report. "Chief Hoover interrupted me and said, 'That’s what she is.'"
Hoover then allegedly "beat his chest like Tarzan" and made monkey sounds. Stone said he was uncomfortable but continued with his report. The report claims Hoover again interrupted the cop, saying, "That's what they deserve," and got on one knee to sing, "In a land of cotton, old times they're not forgotten, look away, look away, Dixie."
Another officer in the room, Zack Gibson, corroborated Stone's claims, saying Hoover “started making sounds like a monkey and beating his chest while dancing around the floor pretending to be a monkey.”
"I have never been in a work environment where a manager, especially an executive officer, is openly racist," Stone said.
Hoover was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 6, two weeks after the complaint was filed, according to KOIN. Last week, he stepped down, leaving locals to wonder whether an investigation is still taking place.
The police department, city council and Clatskanie Mayor Diane Pohl forwarded all calls to the city manager, who did not respond to requests for comment from The Huffington Post. On Friday, Pohl published a letter to the editor in The Chief, hailing Hoover for his service to the community.
Columbia County District Attorney Steve Atchison told HuffPost that his office isn't investigating the incident specifically, but noted that Hoover's reputation could come into question during any cases he testified in -- including an upcoming murder trial.
Meanwhile, Stone is reportedly getting threats for filing the complaint.
"I’ve already faced a lot of retaliation, my wife’s been forced off the road twice," he told KOIN. “I’ve had people in the community yelling the N-word at me.”
