A former college security chief says he has no regrets — even after losing his job — now that the former student he helped identify has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer during a violent protest in Portland.
Gary Granger, who served as head of security at Reed College for 15 years, was terminated in 2025 after voluntarily assisting the FBI in identifying Robert Hoopes, a 2023 graduate. Hoopes admitted Wednesday in federal court that he assaulted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a June riot outside the agency’s Portland facility.
Hoopes’ guilty plea to aggravated assault of a federal employee with a dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury — a felony — marks a pivotal moment in a case that sparked controversy not only for the violence involved but also for the fallout it triggered on a quiet college campus.
NEW: Portland’s Reed College fired its head of security for NOT protecting a leftist rioter from an FBI probe.
The rioter just pleaded guilty. https://t.co/6UOk9aQtdX https://t.co/KEGQ5ZNii9
— Hudson Crozier 🇺🇸 (@Hudson_Crozier) February 19, 2026
According to court records and a Department of Justice statement, Hoopes hurled a rock that struck an ICE officer, leaving a scar above the officer’s eye. Authorities said he also used a stop sign as a “makeshift battering ram” against the building’s entrance and wore a gas mask to conceal his identity during the unrest. He now faces up to 20 years in prison, a potential fine, three years of supervised release, and more than $7,000 in restitution.
For Granger, the guilty plea confirms the decision that cost him his career.
“I was publicly cancelled and fired without severance for being ethical,” Granger said, reflecting on the ordeal. “I do [not] regret having acted in the interest of the victim and the community.”
Reed College removed Granger after he provided federal investigators with Hoopes’ name, address, and phone number without first requiring a warrant. The college objected to the voluntary disclosure, and a termination letter obtained by reporters indicated that his actions displeased individuals and entities “the College relies upon for funding.” The school has not publicly commented on the most recent developments.
The episode underscores a broader tension playing out across institutions nationwide: the balance between institutional policy, donor sensitivities, and cooperation with law enforcement in politically charged cases.
The Portland ICE facility has been a recurring flashpoint, particularly following President Donald Trump’s return to office. Demonstrations have led to dozens of arrests, and some individuals charged in protest-related cases have faced prior criminal allegations, according to previous reporting.
Granger, however, has framed his actions in simpler terms.
“Doing the right thing is seldom easy,” he said. “Hoopes’ actions harmed many people and the conviction does not undo the harm.”
