Oregon House votes to shield identity of officer who fatally shot occupier

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon House has passed a bill to protect the identity of the officer who fatally shot refuge standoff spokesman Robert “LaVoy” Finicum in January.

The Oregonian reports representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve allowing a judge to bar for 90 days the disclosure of the name of an officer who uses deadly force. The bill heads to the Senate for consideration.

Oregon State Police requested the bill, saying they have received death threats against the officer who shot Finicum.

The 55-year-old rancher died after law enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Finicum was a leader of an armed group that took over the refuge to protest federal land restrictions and object to prison sentences of two local ranchers convicted of setting fires.

Some opponents of the bill say it could protect officers from public scrutiny.