We need an independent leader as our next Portland Police Commissioner
Jo Ann Hardesty
In 2010, 100% of people shot and killed by Portland Police were suffering from some type of mental health issues. In all six cases, police state the person killed did not follow their directions. People in crisis don't always follow directions, which is why some people call the police for help.
If you are Black, you are twice as likely to be stopped and searched by Portland Police and if Latino 1.7 times as likely to be stopped and searched by Portland Police. If you happen to be white, however, you are less likely to be stopped, less likely to be searched, but more likely to have drugs, weapons and other illegal substances.
In one extreme case, Portland Police alleged that Keaton Dupree Otis -- a 25 year old African American man (not gang member as later confirmed) -- within 25 seconds and with 3 officers shooting tasers into him was able to open his glove compartment, pull out a bag from his glove department, open the draw string, pull out a weapon, shoot officer Chris Burley which led to four Portland Police officers shooting him over 25 times. Another officer, Christopher Humphreys (who was involved in the death of James Chasse and shot a beanbag round at a 12-year-old girl), even went out on stress leave to avoid accountability and now is running unopposed for sheriff in Wheeler County.
The police are then cleared by other police during the internal review process and the grand jury process rubberstamps the police version of events. Having one District Attorney in Multnomah County for almost 30 years leads to an "insiders game" of injustice. In fact, you will notice Mike Schrunk's hand-picked replacement does not have an opponent in the race.
For Police Commissioner, however, we do have a choice. My choice is Eileen Brady. I want a Police Commissioner who will embrace public accountability, an open grand jury process, annual performance evaluations, etc. But more importantly I want a Police Commissioner who in June 2013 will take back the city's power to fire bad police officers. The City of Portland negotiated this away a long time ago, which is crazy. At the Urban League forum on Tuesday night, Eileen was the only candidate to specifically say she would keep the grand jury process open and transparent.
I don't want a Police Commissioner who will continue the status quo. I believe Eileen is that change agent. I have firsthand experience working with her during the development of health care reform legislation in 2007. Eileen is not afraid to convene diverse groups of smart people to assist her in developing policy that will benefit all.
She doesn't have to be the smartest person in the room to get results.
In every candidate forum, Eileen has consistenly called for an accountable police force. The Portland Police is on notice that they are not right 100% of the time. And when they are not, they will be held accountable.
That is the message I want my next Police Commissioner to send loud and clear.
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4:21 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Anyone interested in independence should watch this view with the candidates:
http://vimeo.com/40474660
5:25 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Anyone who thinks that WWeek's effort to look at the issue is realistic, is deluded. If they really wanted to address independence (and by that, they mean independence from financial contributors), they would have picked an issue for each candidate. Instead, it's the Nigel-hypothetic-fest.
So for Jefferson, the question should have been: Jefferson, the PAT has endorsed you; would you be willing to take a position against teachers? WWeek didn't do that, which is why the question is bogus.
7:33 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Except he has answered that question, and has reiterated those stands before, such as in last Friday's debate.
Eileen was asked how she had stood up to the powerful constituencies in Portland. She had no answer, and her response was to attack her opponents instead (badly).
11:41 a.m.
Apr 29, '12
if you mean the City Club debate, would you please provide something specific? which question? what was her attack? anyone can make vague charges, but that's the kind of politics your comments implies that you oppose. thanks.
(i work part-time for the Brady campaign but speak only for myself)
12:39 a.m.
Apr 29, '12
Chuck,
This is a response (which I rarely post ever) to every comment you make on this entire thread.
First some facts - I met personally with PPA President, Daryl Turner, prior to their endorsment process, to simply get the lay of the land on what the top concerns/issues were for PPA. He said (not in confidence or I wouldn't be posting it here) that he was telling every campaign that their TOP isssue - by far - was keeping grand jury testimony in Police shootings confidential again. He said in no uncertain terms that a candidate would NOT get their endorsement unless they agreed on that issue. I had never met Daryl, but he quickly earned my respect with his direct and clear communication. My impression is that the PPA are lucky to have him as their President.
When Eileen interviewed for their endorsement she told the PPA interview panel that she didn't agree with them on grand juries, but she would always play it straight with them when they disagree. She said this knowing she would likely never get their support.
Jefferson twice has been asked in public what his position is on grand jury testimony in police shootings since he was endorsed by the PPA. Twice he has equivocated, so it's not hard to connect the dots.
Jefferson, you, Vardavas, Giles, Bunster - the crew who seem to never work and spend far too much time on blogs - have spent the entire campaign casting aspersions on Smith's opponents and making straw man arguments about supposed deals that were made in order to get the endorsment of various organizations who chose someone over Jefferson.
In this case, no aspersions need to be cast.
There's absolutely NO DOUBT in my mind that if the PPA had endorsed Eileen you, in particular, would be on this blog day after day attacking Eileen with the viciousness, vitriol and character assasination you are well known for.
So witnessing your tortured logic to square the PPA decision to support Jefferson with your own is amusing to say the least.
8:57 a.m.
Apr 29, '12
I think everyone knows this, but just so it is on the record: Jon Isaacs is a strategist for Eileen Brady's campaign,
5:25 p.m.
Apr 29, '12
I really dislike primary elections where we are choosing between good people with good policies because the differences are more subtle decisions about personality, leadership, and expected performance. As a result we too often end up making personal attacks about the other candidate and their supporters.
Jon, I think your comments about your opponents went too far and you should find a way to make it up to people who should be your friends and supporters in other campaigns.
12:42 a.m.
Apr 30, '12
I will remember this choice of yours for a long time.
4:27 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Don't think it's wise to open all grand jury transcripts in a blanket change. They're secret for a reason. Some may be worthwhile to open, others may contain embarrassing or dangerous information about one or more parties, that should not/need not become public.
I also don't think the "power to fire bad police officers" can change, at the very least until the current contract runs out. The current situation with Frashour is worth challenging, but legally speaking there's little chance it will be overturned. And it's not like you can put "City has power to fire bad officers" in there and have it mean anything. Certainly publicizing grand jury transcripts won't change that, either. What WILL help is having a Commissioner attend the negotiations...which is Jefferson Smith's idea, one backed by the PPA.
It's also concerning that Brady supported the idea of a forceful takeover of Chapman Sq after one week (as did Hales)--certainly not a move with the rights of "the people" in mind--and who has had some bad personal encounters with the police. Change is needed, but it can't come unilaterally and confrontationally.
10:35 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Exactly. Sometimes there are really good reasons why grand jury transcripts should remain sealed. That's why you can't have a blanket change on them - it's much better looked at on a case by case basis.
11:55 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Mark & Jenni --
Just so we're clear here, no one is calling for all grand jury transcripts to be made public.
The item under discussion in the mayor's race is whether grand jury transcripts in fatal police shootings should be public.
As the Mercury notes:
Personally, I haven't heard Jefferson's reasoning for wanting to keep investigations of police shooting fatalities secret.
In general, I'm for transparency - especially when we're talking about the sorts of investigations that have typically been swept under the rug. But I'm open to changing my mind. Would love to hear the argument in favor of keeping secret the grand jury transcripts in police shooting fatalities.
Full disclosure: My firm built Eileen Brady's campaign website. I speak only for myself.
1:15 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
I know that. And sometimes there are reasons for keeping them secret. It's not likely to be the case all of the time, but if you change it so that it is always open you don't give yourself the ability to not have some of them secret. That's why I think it should be a case by case basis.
What if the situation involves a bunch of undercover officers, for instance, and much of what is discussed covers an operation that is still in use? Heck, even if the operation is no longer used, it could put the lives of all those undercover officers in danger. If the rule was that they were always open, all those details would be made public.
9:53 a.m.
Apr 29, '12
"If the rule was that they were always open, all those details would be made public."
Presumably, the rule could include keeping IDs of undercover agents secret.
We're talking about the general rule - public or secret - not narrow exceptions to protect the lives of our police officers.
Too often, the secrecy of grand jury proceedings in fatal police shootings have led to broad community mistrust of the police.
Whether the outcome of the inquiry is that everything was done right, or there was officer misconduct, or procedure was followed but needs changing, those inquiries should be public.
4:52 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
As stated in my post the next Police Commissioner will have the responsibility to change the contract so that bad officers can be fired.
That is less than 6 months after they take office! I don't want the police commissioner concerned about losing portland police association support.
I like that my candidate will not have that barrier to climb because they know she will hold them accountable.
I want voters to know they have a real choice.
The same old same old--or real leadership--with Eileen Brady!
I respect your right to disagree.
8:55 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
JoAnn - if you have a specific charge to make about one of the candidates make it and back it up with facts. I don't think you can because I don't beleive there is a candidate in this race who would put the common good ahead of maintaining political support from the PPA. Do you have an actual charge to make or is this just a post from a politician playing political games with serious issues?
10:50 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Chuck- you are kidding me right. Since when were you appointed spokes person for the AMA Coalition for justice and Police Reform?
I haven't seen you at a meeting in almost two years!
Please don't pretend you are engaged in this issue and you represent the views of communities of color. I don't see you at any of the meetings that continue to happen all over this community!
Its not surprising you like Jefferson. It just doesn't make sense for you to present yourself as an expert in this matter.
11:45 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Sadly, I have to point out JoAnn dishonestly here. I did stop attending AMA meeting last year when I was moved to serve as the acting minister of a congregation in Salem. But I have been involved with police issues since first working with Burnside Community Council in 1987. I was one of the clergy who conducted the service for James Chase. And I helped get the US Dept of Justice to start there ongoing review of the police. JoAnn knows all this but has decided to put aside long, good working relationships to engage in dishonest politicking for Ms. Brady. I would hope Ms. Brady would condemn JoAnn for her comments here. For the record, in case anyone is confused, AMA has not endorsed in this race and JoAnn is not THE representative of communities of color in Portland. She should pretend otherwise.
11:49 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
She should not pretend otherwise, excuse me.
And I was glad to be at the AMA co-sponsored Civic Forum this week. Though my position in Salem ended last fall I've been slow to get back involved because of my mother's cancer and death earlier this month. But I'm glad to be fully involed now.
8:58 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Endorsements hardly mean that you can't hold someone accountable. Otherwise everyone would be in trouble in one area or another.
Jefferson has already been able to show that he can work with - and gain the support of - those he disagrees with. You can hold people accountable and disagree with them and still continue to have their support. You just have to be respectful and listen to all sides and you can still keep people's support even when you don't agree.
4:55 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Are you saying some other candidate faces that barrier? I'm not aware of any.
5:05 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
If endorsement by the police association is the only barrier to effective oversight of the police, isn't Hales just as qualified as Brady?
5:26 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
Oratory won't sway the PPB.
7:14 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
"If you are Black, you are twice as likely to be stopped and searched by Portland Police ..." makes me think you'd want to vote for the candidate Lew Fredrick endorses.
And yes, we have a nasty infestation in the PPB. But big talk like you can just stroll in and be the boss who hires and fires, as if this is a right to work structure, is a tale for children.
And with that, this article sounds like a reason to union bust, wrapped in the good banner of Blue.
10:29 p.m.
Apr 27, '12
I still can't still see why Brady is uniquely positioned to hold PPB accountable. Jesse Cornett, a strong critic of the PPB, and one whose best friend was killed by the Portland police is supporting Jefferson.
Further, is this piece suggesting that because the trade unions and other groups profiting from the CRC support Brady, she cannot be expected to hold anyone accountable for the "government run amok" project that is CRC?
10:26 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Thanks Jason.
Joanne with ample amounts of respect, I could not disagree with you more in your core argument. You really don't know Jefferson if you suggest he would be beholden to anyone because of support.
I won't assume the same of Eileen because we all know the PBA wants business as usual to continue.
10:52 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
I know Jefferson well. Nothing about this campaign has changed my opinion of him.
2:04 p.m.
Apr 30, '12
So you've always felt he was a sellout?
11:42 a.m.
Apr 28, '12
Portlanders - especially police - are particularly interested in grand jury transcripts being released in cases of police-shootings; reasons are well-documented by the media. The Mental Health Association of Portland has collected files of over 230 persons killed by Portland-area police officers since 1970. Those files are incomplete but show a very strong prevalence of persons impaired by mental illness or addiction. Our hypothesis is that almost all persons harmed by police are impaired. High numbers of minorities then indicate an absence of sobriety and sanity resources in those communities.
Jo Ann and I (and Dan Handleman and a couple of others) were the first to bust into a PPA contracts meeting. No political people were in the room - in fact no media was in the room until we whistled them up.
Police accountability is all about the PPA contract. You want to refute impunity? You need a strong police commissioner. None of the candidates have any experience here - all will need to draw on community support and consensus to provide civilian oversight. It's not a one person job.
Sam’s decision to keep Franshour off the PPB may be overturned but reasonable people will agree he’s done the right thing. The value of a politician is when they step into the fracas between what is LAW and what is RIGHT.
So who is the consensus builder? Who will put themselves in the middle of negotiations? Who will step into for the fight for what is RIGHT?
8:08 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Eileen Brady!
7:55 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
There are unions and there is the Portland Police Association. Anyone who believes this is about collective bargaining has their head in the sand.
The Police are supposedly well trained but continue to kill people who are suffering from mental health issues.
Do you believe that no Portland Police officer has ever done anything to deserve to be fired?
How is it possible that 100% of police officers in Portland are reinstated after being fired for cause?
I don't know of any profession where that is so. If the next mayor is not willing to stand up to the Portland Police Association, people will continue to die.
If this is union busting then count me in!
8:25 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
This is the worst kind of politics, JoAnn. To suggest these things of Jefferson is pathetic but this is what desperate campaigns do. Ms. Brady may have raised $1 million from downtown business leaders who want to cut mental health and human services - and she herself has talked about cutting off city housing vouchers - but it is clear all her money isn't helping her connect with voters. So they bring someone like you in to engage in the politics of personal distruction. Portland is a better city. We need reform, as Jefferson as said, but also reconciliation. How sad your campaign doesn't see that.
10:54 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Chuck- I done talking with you. Unlike you I am not beholden to anyone in this city.
If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.
11:14 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Aren't you the one leaving the kitchen here as a result of heat? Seems so.
2:25 p.m.
Apr 30, '12
No Mark. I said I was done with Chuck. I didn't say I was done with the conversation.
2:29 p.m.
Apr 30, '12
A minister-
11:13 p.m.
Apr 28, '12
Forgive me, but didn't you say once in your article ( ref "negotiation" as a way to get rid of bad cops) and once in your first response to me, that it IS functionally about collective bargaining?
Can you offer any specific evidence that would lead observers to conclude what you're asserting? Not ideas, but evidence of busting the status quo?
2:28 p.m.
Apr 30, '12
The current contract requires evaluations be part of a collective bargaining process.
If you have no ability to evaluate the effectiveness of your employees how do you correct bad behavior and prepare people for promotions?
Could you supervise over 800 employees without an annual evaluation? Most employers would not accept that. Why should the public?
10:22 a.m.
Apr 30, '12
I'm going to vote today and tune out.
The tenor of discussion on BO has left me quite disappointed. I know you all take this personally, but this City has some real work to do over the next four years, and the constant invective and personal attacks really don't make me very optimistic.
What happened to the "three good candidates to choose from" rhetoric of a few weeks ago? I guess it all goes out the window once the ballots hit the mails.
The candidates seem to be taking the higher road in the WWeek interviews and the debates. Too bad their supporters can't steer as well.
8:26 p.m.
Apr 30, '12
Polling, Paul? When non-candidate supporters are called out for for inattention, sloth, dishonesty, and are viciously attacked as being viscous attackers, I can plausibly conclude that someone's a bit worried. Just spitballing here....