How a city works...

[Lamplighter]

I hope Dwellars know that I am quite proud of Portland and Oregon.

BUT... in the 35+ years we have lived here, the big black spot is the Portland Police Dept.
Other cities (Denver, LA, New Orleans) have had their problems.
But PDX has a Police Union that is powerful and political.

Over the years, various liberal, moderate, and conservative Mayors have attempted to gain control
of the situation by appointments of the Police Chief, but have ultimately failed.
We've had a black man, a woman, a gay, young and older men...
appointed from within the PPD ranks, and a few outsiders from other parts of Oregon, and from out-of-state.

Each time as the Police Chief gained a modicum of control over the PPD,
the politics kicked in, and ultimately each Chief resigned or was forced out, primarily by actions of the Police Union.

Here is the latest episode...
Statesman Journal.com
4/12/12

Portland mayor won't reinstate fired officer

PORTLAND — Mayor Sam Adams said Thursday he won’t implement an arbitrator’s ruling
that a police officer fired after he shot an unarmed man in the back in 2010 should be reinstated
The city attorney thinks there are sufficient legal grounds to challenge
the reinstatement of Officer Ronald Frashour, Adams said in a statement.

Campbell was distraught over his brother’s death when he emerged
from a Portland apartment, with his back toward officers and his hands behind his head.
One officer fired six bean bag rounds at the man.
Campbell ran toward a parked car.
[Officer] Frashour fired a single rifle shot, killing Campbell.<snip>

Police training instructors testified at the arbitration hearings that
Frashour followed his training when he used deadly force against
25-year-old man Aaron Campbell on Jan. 29, 2010.

Police Chief Mike Reese has said it was unreasonable for Frashour to believe
that Campbell posed an “immediate threat” of death or serious injury.

The mayor said if the police union challenges his decision,
he’ll ask that the state Employment Relations Board expedite a decision.
The board is a state agency that resolves labor disputes
between union-represented workers and public and private employers.<snip>

The Portland Police Bureau is already under a Department of Justice
probe for its interactions with the mentally ill.
The Justice Department declined to investigate the bureau over Campbell’s shooting,
but the Campbell family agreed to settle a federal wrongful death suit
against the city for $1.2 million in February.

.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I hope Dwellars know that I am quite proud of Portland and Oregon.

BUT... in the 35+ years we have lived here, the big black spot is the Portland Police Dept.
Other cities (Denver, LA, New Orleans) have had their problems.
But PDX has a Police Union that is powerful and political.
<snip>

Portland citizens have been asking for this for longer than I can remember
... police accountability to the communuity

Portland Tribune
December 18. 2012

City, feds file agreement on police use-of-force issues

Portland city officials and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a proposed settlement
in federal court Monday that will change the way the Portland Police Bureau
handles cases involving people with mental illnesses.

The settlement addresses allegations listed in a civil action, also filed Monday by federal prosecutors,
that claims police have violated the constitutional rights of some people through the excessive use of force.
The civil case alleges that the police bureau “engages in a pattern or practice of
using excessive force on individuals with actual or perceived mental illness...<snip>

Once approved by a federal judge, the agreement will require changes in the police bureau’s policy,
training, supervisory oversight, community-based mental health services,
crisis intervention, employee information systems, officer
accountability and community engagement and oversight.

The agreement also calls for an independent compliance officer and community liaison,
responsible for maintaining data about the bureau’s use of force and reporting
his or her findings to the City Council, the federal justice department and the public.<snip>