The police are asking for help from the public to locate a woman accused of an assault near the ICE building in Portland, Oregon. The incident occurred after a “dialogue liaison officer,” whose role is to “maintain a safe environment” for protesters, lost track of the woman.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the incident happened just before 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday. A dialogue liaison officer (DLO) was observing a “gathering” near the ICE facility in South Portland when a person reported an assault that had just occurred.
The DLO attempted to catch up with the woman, who was described as White, sporting a prominent septum piercing, wearing a black mask, and carrying a backpack. The officer aimed to talk to her to “understand her perspective,” as noted in a police news release.
The suspect, only identified as a young woman, is wanted in connection to an alleged assault near a Portland ICE building. (Portland Police Bureau)
According to the city’s website, DLOs were put in place to “build relationships with protesters” following the violent 2020 protests in Portland.
Officer Jessica Ruch, a notable DLO featured online, wrote in May 2025 about the role of liaison officers at protests. According to her description, they are there to “anticipate the needs of the group in creating or maintaining a safe space.”
Ruch admits on the site that she “grew up going to protests,” calling them “a celebration of community and values.”
Ruch mentioned, “We no longer have a riot squad; that’s an outdated approach. That term suggests all protesters share the same viewpoint,” she explained. “Instead, we have a rapid response team that handles crises like civil unrest or natural disasters efficiently. They act quickly when necessary but then step back. Our goal isn’t to be seen as adversaries.”
Reflecting on the period following George Floyd’s murder, Ruch expressed her greatest concern: the possibility of a vehicle being driven into a protest, “intentionally aiming at demonstrators.”
The Portland Police Bureau did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
