A New (Old) Way of Policing

When I was younger, I thought policing was to be my career. Before I launched my career in the legislative process, I attended police academy and spent three years as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for Multnomah County. A few years later, my closest friend was killed by a police officer on my back porch.

At that time, the Portland police chief was Charles Moose, Phd. Dr. Moose had written his dissertation on community policing. His residence in the community was visible.  Simply defined, community policing is officers getting to know the community they serve in and people getting to know them. Community policing is a more proactive approach. It deters crime. Moose had replaced Tom Potter to become Chief.Tom Potter had ushered in the concept of community policing to Portland.

We started the process of losing community policing in 2000 when our revered former Mayor Vera Katz made what is surely viewed as the worst decision in her storied political career and hired a chief who turned (back?) the clock on progress. 

When we pivot our police back to community policing, we’re going to require them to conduct their job in a different way. This will take more time than simply responding to calls, which has become the norm. The police will tell you we need more officers on the force to do it right. We might. But until we have a potent and co-equal non-law enforcement response in our city, I do not believe that the actual number of police officers we need can be determined.

Since the George Floyd protests, nationwide the public’s relationship with the police has remained at an all time low, which makes expanding the ranks difficult. Fewer want the job and fewer want to see more police. I think we should judge Portland police officers on their own track record and the Portland Police Bureau on their collective actions. To that end, PPB remains under a federal settlement in a case related to a pattern and practice of excessive force against Portlanders with behavioral health issues. We still have work to do here.

If I am so honored to be elected to Portland City Council, I will use my role to encourage our Mayor to only hire a Police Chief with long-term dedication and a deep understanding of community policing. I will be a partner to ensure they have the support needed to implement our shared vision. And I will work closely with our first City Manager to ensure we have civilians for the wide array of other tasks that don’t require police.