A veteran Portland police officer is suing a 76-year-old homeowner for $2 million, alleging he suffered career-ending injuries when he fell down her front steps during a welfare check.
Officer Bradley Jett claims the incident occurred on March 18, 2025, when a door handle at Rosemary Southwood's Southeast Portland home detached as he attempted to close and lock the door. The lawsuit states he lost his balance and fell approximately six concrete steps. Emergency personnel had already taken Southwood away prior to the fall.
According to the lawsuit, Jett sustained broken and dislocated fingers, as well as injuries to his head, arm, and shoulder. It also alleges he experienced reduced movement and grip strength in his hand and an aggravation of post-traumatic stress disorder developed during his law enforcement career. Jett, who has served with the Portland Police Bureau for 17 years, went on leave about six months after the fall, and his ability to return to policing remains uncertain, the suit claims.
Jett's lawsuit accuses Southwood of failing to maintain a safe entrance, contending the concrete staircase lacked handrails on either side, which he alleges violated Portland code requiring handrails on outdoor staircases with more than three steps.
Southwood reportedly installed black handrails on both sides of the staircase the following month as part of a broader renovation of the home. The lawsuit was filed Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
Jett's attorney, Kirk Mylander, told OregonLive that the workers' compensation system did not adequately cover the officer's losses, including lost earnings and non-economic damages. Mylander also cited a recent Oregon Supreme Court decision that he believes strengthens the prospects of injured police officers pursuing claims against third parties.
Police officers suing members of the public for injuries sustained while on duty is rare. An exception occurred in 2024 when a Portland officer sued the city and its insurer for $1 million after being run over by a suspect. That lawsuit was later dismissed.
Public payroll records indicate Jett earned a six-figure salary during his career, receiving $146,304 in the 2021-22 fiscal year. The specific circumstances that prompted the welfare check and the reason Southwood was taken to the hospital have not been disclosed.