DA: 70-80 credible threats against OSP troopers who shot Finicum

The Oregon State Police troopers who shot and killed the former spokesman for the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, LaVoy Finicum, have received 70 to 80 credible threats, according to officials.

“(There have been) a collection of 70 or 80 very specific threats, including rewards offered by various militant groups for information leading to the killing of the police officers involved,” said Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris.

Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson told NewsChannel 21 he is saddened by the threats.

“They are women and men who are devoted to their profession, an honorable profession, and when they receive death threats, it really makes me sick to my stomach,” Nelson said Wednesday.

A measure proposed in the recent session of the Oregon Legislature would have let authorities ask a judge to order the names of police in officer-involved shootings withheld from the public for up to 90 days, if there were credible threats.

Although House Bill 4087 did not pass before the session ended, officials have still not released the names of the officers involved, nor have they given a timeline of when and if they might do so.

“I don’t have a timeline on that,” Nelson said. “Those officers have real threats against them. I believe strongly that it’s in the public’s interest to know which agency fired which shots. I don’t believe the identity of law enforcement (officers involved) is in the public’s interest, to the extent that their safety is.”

Officials said the details of the threats against the officers will be released. No timeline was given on when the names might be released.