Langley is quoted in the Oregonian (June 3) as saying "If it happened again, I wouldn't serve him." In a statement on the Red and Black website (posted June 20), the event is given more context: "John's decision to ask Crooker to leave was not personal. On rare occasions, we ask individuals to leave because they are carrying weapons, wearing hateful or oPPRessive insignia, or making our space uncomfortable for survivors of abuse or violence. " The authors of that statement explain that "A police uniform (complete with Taser and a gun) is a powerful symbol of state repression, injustice, and violence."

Seigneur made conversation with Crooker, and posted about the event on her blog. Later, she wrote a piece for the Oregonian (June 15) which helped bring the story to national attention. In her May 22 post, Seigneur says she caught up with Crooker outside to tell him she "was sad to see what happened to him." She says also that she "live[s] in the suburbs where police are very much respected in the community."

Crooker offered Seigneur a ride-along, an offer she got "from police officers from various cities" as well, which she "intend[s] to take them up on," according to her editorial. Too bad there's no ride-along to understand the experience of the working class, of racial and gender minorities, of people in mental crisis, or of people experiencing homelessness and how the police effect their lives.

The Police "union" paper, the Rap Sheet, jokes in its July issue that winners of a contest will win a gift card to the Red and Black.

After many allegations of gay-bashing downtown (Portland Mercury, June 1), some activists in the queer community working through the Q Center decided to team up with Portland Police to begin a weekly foot patrol. The Q Center describes the "Q Patrol" in this way: "The patrols consist of no fewer than five people, who check in with a liaison police officer at the beginning and end of each shift and are also given a direct line to the police should they see any red flags."

However, the Mercury reported (July 15) that "the Q Center's decision to work hand-in- hand with police on the patrols has upset some queer activists." A non-PPB-affiliated patrol has not emerged, but the Mercury identified a few activists who refuse to participate because of police involvement.

Perhaps the difference in approaches-- working with the queer community to patrol "their" neighborhood, vs. a militarized presence in the black community-- has to do with the police perpetuating the old chestnut of "black on black violence," whereas the gay bashing is likely from outside the community. The contrast, therefore, raises the question of institutional racism.

Articles in the Oregonian (including May 3) reveal that William Traverso of Canby admitted to selling steroids to law enforcement agents, including "officers in the Portland area." Traverso admitted to helping former Canby police officer Jason Deason "acquire steroids and human growth hormone." As evidence, he shared a 2002 letter from Deason "on Canby Police stationery, placing a steroid order."

The federal investigation has so far led to the resignation of a Washington County dog handler, a West Linn officer, and Canby Chief Greg Kroeplin, as well as the questioning of Portland Police Sergeant Charles Brown (#11925), who lives in Canby.