Fired US police officer found dead in Washington

A US police officer has been found dead next to railroad tracks in Washington after he had stepped in front of a moving train, Portland Police Bureau says.

The body of Dane Reister, 43, who was expelled by Portland police in October 2013 over criminal charges for a 2011 shooting, was found near Sixth Street on the south side of the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks, according to a Portland Police Bureau memo issued Monday.

"Today I am sad to report that former Portland Police Officer Dane Reister was killed in Washougal, Washington, after he stepped in front of a moving train this morning,” Acting Portland Police Chief Donna Henderson said in a memo informing bureau members of Reister's sudden death.

Crew members of the "the local" train traveling from Camas to Washougal discovered the body, stopped the train and reversed to investigate, said Gus Melonas, a railroad spokesman.

“It appears the subject was struck by a train earlier,” Melonas said.

Local police and the Clark County coroner are investigating the incident.

According to Portland police, Reister had parked his truck on the train tracks, but Melonas said the truck was not "actually on the tracks'' when his body was spotted.

In October 2013, Reister was fired by former Portland Police Chief Mike Reese for what he called unsatisfactory performance by Reister when he mistakenly shot and critically wounded a man in Southwest Portland on June 30, 2011.

He was the first Portland officer ever to face criminal charges for using force while on duty. However, he pleaded not guilty to third- and fourth-degree assault charges.

In spring 2013, the city agreed to pay a record $2.3 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed by William Kyle Monroe, the man injured by Reister. The suit had called on the police department to fire Reister.

AT/AGB

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