|
|
Site NavigationHomeAbout us People's Police Report Shootings & deaths Cool links Other Information Contact info Donate
|
Kroeker's Corner 29: Portland's Police Chief Learns Lessons at Home and Abroad Kroeker Picks Up Policing Tips in Israel and Mexico In January, Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker went to Israel for a four-day police conference on terrorism. The visit included meetings with Israeli police com-manders and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as well as memorial events for Israelis killed by Palestinians. (He had no meetings with Palestinians.) Kroeker praised Israeli use of surveillance cameras in public places, as well their tactics for increasing community involvement in police activity (Oregonian, January 24). The trip sparked anger in the local Arab/Muslim community and others opposed to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The flight to Israel, which cost a little over $900, was originally paid for by the City. After community outcry, Citizens Crime Commission, an affiliate of the Portland Business Alliance, picked up the tab. A couple of weeks later, Kroeker flew to Oaxaca, a city in southern Mexico, with seven Portland police officers and one sergeant. He told the Chief's Forum on March 3 that the 10-day Spanish immersion program was intended to "open up our police organization to understanding the Spanish-speaking community, the immigrant community, and increasingly those who are from Oaxaca who are right here in our midst." Jack Corbett, a PSU professor who helped organize the event, said the trip, which included residing with host families, will teach the officers what it's like being in a strange land so they can better empathize with Mexican immigrants who don't speak English or know U.S. laws (Oregonian, January 29). The Police Foundation, a private "grant funding" organization founded by Portland Tribune publisher Bob Pamplin, paid the estimated $2,000 per participant. This brings the private funds for these two events to nearly $19,000, which may indicate a trend toward police serving these groups' interests rather than the public's. Community Policing Examined Kroeker wrote in a January 14 Portland Tribune opinion piece that "community policing is here and it is vibrant." Though he doesn't clearly define community policing, he does say it includes "police listening to the needs of the communities." In agreement with Kroeker's assessment, North-Northwest and downtown business representatives said at an advisory meeting with Kroeker that their relationship with the police was good. This positive view is not shared by all. Richard Brown, who represents Northeast Portland, said the relationship between police and community members is "awful." And Latino community representative Carlos Rivera, said there has been progress but much more needs to be done.
|
May, 2003
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#29 Table of Contents
|