Bend Police Chief Clarifies Role Amid Immigration Enforcement Concerns, Misinformation on Social Media

(Update: Adding video & comment from Police Chief Krantz)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – KTVZ News spoke to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz on Wednesday where he clarified Bend PD's role in ICE investigations in Central Oregon.

"We follow Oregon law, we follow our policies. It's just not our role. It's similar to we don't get involved in other federal investigations. We police and provide public safety services to our local community around 911 calls, calls for service, and what's happening here." Chief Krantz said.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz issued a statement Monday addressing concerns raised by recent social media posts falsely linking Bend Police officers to immigration enforcement activities.

Krantz emphasized that Bend Police officers are not involved in immigration enforcement, seeking to reassure the community following a series of misleading social media posts. The posts featured images of Bend Police detectives, identifying them as members of federal immigration enforcement, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We understand that the immigration enforcement that may be taking place in Bend is causing fear and stress for some members of our community,” Krantz said. “Bend Police officers are not engaged in this type of enforcement.”

The confusion reportedly stemmed from a photo taken on Monday, showing several Bend Police detectives walking along the Old Mill District trail as part of their Community Enhancement Program. The detectives were engaged in proactive, positive interactions with the public, but upon returning to their unmarked vehicles, they were incorrectly identified as ICE agents in the social media post.

Krantz clarified that many of the department's officers drive unmarked vehicles, which are essential for their investigative work. These vehicles are used to maintain safety and facilitate ongoing criminal investigations.

"Our officers or detectives not in uniform typically wear polo shirts or other clothing that clearly identifies them as members of the Bend Police Department,” Krantz explained. “Unfortunately, much of the information circulating on social media is not accurate, and that misinformation can increase fear within our community.”

The Bend Police Department’s role, Krantz reiterated, is focused on enforcing state law, not federal immigration policies. He further explained that Oregon law prohibits local law enforcement from assisting federal authorities with immigration enforcement unless there is a judicial warrant.

“Unless a judge has signed a warrant telling our officers to do something like arrest a person, we don’t get involved in civil immigration enforcement activities or incidents,” Krantz said.

Krantz urged the public to verify any concerning social media content before sharing it. He emphasized that spreading inaccurate information only increases fear and anxiety about immigration enforcement in the community.

Here is Chief Mike Krantz's statement:  

We understand that the immigration enforcement that may be taking place in Bend is causing fear and stress for some members of our community. Bend Police officers are not engaged in this type of enforcement.  

Recently, we have seen several social media posts featuring photos of Bend Police Department criminal detectives and their assigned vehicles out in the community, falsely identifying them as members of immigration enforcement. On Monday, several of our detectives were walking on the trail in the Old Mill as part of our Community Enhancement Program, proactively and positively interacting with members of our community. Upon return to their vehicle, they were photographed and incorrectly identified as members of ICE in a post on social media. Many of these officers drive unmarked police vehicles that facilitate the very critical investigative work they do every day in our community to keep us safe. Our officers or detectives not in uniform typically wear polo shirts or other clothing that clearly identifies them as members of the Bend Police Department. Please know that much of the information we are seeing on social media is not accurate and not verified and is fostering fear in our community.    

The Bend Police Department’s role is to enforce state law, not to enforce federal immigration rules. In Oregon, the law says local and state law enforcement can’t help federal authorities with immigration enforcement, unless there’s a judicial warrant – simply put, that means unless a judge has signed a warrant telling our officers to do something like arrest a person, we don’t get involved in civil immigration enforcement activities or incidents.   

Although we are unable to control what false information is posted on social media accounts, we do ask that if you see something concerning to you on social media, please verify the information prior to sharing or reposting it. That may help prevent more fear or anxiety than already exists in our community surrounding immigration enforcement.