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National Police Accountability Week Feb 27- March 5, 1994

The week including March 3 (the day Rodney King was beaten by police in 1991) has been designated National Police Accountability Week. POPSG will be holding a SpeakOut and Concert for Police Accountability on Sunday afternoon, February 27, 1994 from 1-4 PM at the Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton (Portland). If you are interested in organizing, speaking, or singing, call 236-3065 or leave a message with Copwatch at 321-5120.

We will also be participating in a national action, proposing legislation for a database to track all deaths caused by police or occurring in police custody, and all police shootings. The rationale for this action is a new awareness of "gypsy cops": Police with bad employment histories in one area who leave or get fired, then get hired in a new jurisdiction with a clean slate.

POPSG will be organizing these events in cooperation with the Chicago-based National Coaliton On Police Accountability (N-COPA).

National Conference on Police Accountability Held in Dallas; Needs, Problems Universal

The National Coalition On Police Accountability held its third annual conference in Dallas, TX on November 19-21, 1993. Dan Handelman of POPSG attended to gather and share information with activists from all over the country. Parents and friends of those abused or killed by police were joined by "copwatchers," civil rights activists and civilian review board advocates from New Mexico, Mississippi, California, Wisconsin, Seattle, Chicago & Dallas.

The most moving testimony was made by a former prison guard from Mississippi who blew the whistle on abuses committed by her co-workers. She was turning a blind eye, saying "sorry," and mopping up wounds until the day she saw a prisoner give oral sex to a guard in exchange for a cigarette. It was too much for her. She found three co-workers who stepped forward with her. They soon found themselves out of jobs, harassed, and intimidated by other guards and police. At the conference, she shared how knowing so many people are out there struggling to do what is right gives her strength--an important message to anyone who feels frustrated in trying to confront police misconduct.

POPSG also learned that some review boards have the power to recommend a grand jury investigation in cases where they believe conduct was criminal. It should be noted that everybody presenting information at the conference, including a black Dallas police officer, was seeking to create a more just society by nurturing a fair but effective check on police power. The members of N-COPA, including POPSG, understand the difficult role people have asked police to fulfill in society.

One other noteworthy item: Vecinos United, the citizens group in Albequerque, used our proposal to help draft legislation which made it to committee in their state legislature. The bill empowers municipalities to create civilian review boards with independent investigators and subpoena powers. It has been tabled, but it is not dead.

For a list of other groups, you can contact us or write N-COPA, 333 Van Buren Ste. 1400, Chicago, IL 60606.

First Quarter, 1994
Also in PPR #1

Portland Copwatch
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242
(503) 236-3065/ Incident Report Line (503) 321-5120
e-mail: copwatch@portlandcopwatch.org

Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.

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