![[Portland
Copwatch - a project of Peace and Justice Works]](/cwletterhead2horiz.GIF)
|
|
Site NavigationHomeAbout us People's Police Report Shootings & deaths Cool links Other Information Contact info Donate
|
Quick Flashes PPR #18
Police and Mayor Vera Katz revamped their strategy to cut down on youth presence in downtown
in the form of tougher anti-cruising ordinances. The police are currently putting up roadblocks
along Southwest Broadway after 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
While police claim that the "majority of the people who have been involved in the issue are
extremely pleased" they seemed to have ignored those most affected by these ordinances.
During the spring break weekends alone youth received 368 tickets for cruising.
But there are always exceptionspolice have generally been letting drivers through that are planning
to spend money in restaurants or have other "legitimate travel needs." (Oregonian,
May 5). The effect of these ordinances are to treat youth like invisible persons. They are not
wanted in downtown if they do not have money to spend. Their input always seems to be ignored in
considering such discriminatory ordinances.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold the right of cops to search a
passenger's belongings "whenever there is reason to believe that there is contraband or
evidence of criminal wrongdoing hidden in the car."
The National Association of Police Officers (NAPO) executive director Robert Scully praises the
Supreme Court for "giving officers the tools they need to do their jobs" (Rap Sheet,
June 1999).
The ruling overturned a Wyoming court's decision which would have allowed police to search only
"containers" in the car belonging to the vehicle's driver.
In January, the Portland Police launched a program encouraging students to turn in their peers
suspected of drug or weapons possession. The "Crime Stoppers" program, enthusiastically backed
by Mayor Vera Katz, pays junior snitches up to $1000 to anonymously inform on classmates if
their information leads to an arrest or conviction. Critics, including Copwatch, point out that
providing monetary incentives to anonymous informers is a highly dangerous and irresponsible
way to enforce laws. Although we can all recall that high schools are notorious for adolescent
backbiting, elitism and often violent harrassment, the police assure the public that they can "tell in a
matter of minutes if someone reporting a crime is not truthful" (Oregonian, April 1) .
Johann Mathiesen, a member of the Southeast Portland "Brooklyn Action Corps" neighborhood
organization, claims that his son, a middle-school student, was falsely accussed of marijuana
possession by an anonymous student. Mathiesen and the Brooklyn Action Corps are considering a
vote to ask the school board to cancel the program.
In late June, Portland officer Douglas L. Oliver was cited by the Oregon State Police for reckless
driving, unlawful operation of an emergency vehicle, and fleeing and attempting to elude officers.
Oliver illegally used his police cruiser's emergency lights and sirens as he sped on Interstate 5 from
Portland to Lane County, where he was late for a court appearance. State Police officers tried to pull
Oliver over, but he would not comply. He has been transferred to a desk job and an Internal Affairs
investigation is pending (Oregonian, June 21).
Testing the mettle of Acting Chief Lynnae Berg, an internal investigation of police involved in
"Operation North Star," turned up 30 officers who "pocketed $165,000 in federal grant money
since June 1997" (Oregonian, August 6). North Star was the undercover drug sweep that the
Portland Police Bureau set up using a Bureau of justice Assistance grant.
Commander Robert Kauffman of Central precinct was demoted to Captain (of Tri-Met security),
and Sgts. Richard Barton and Bradford Bailey were suspended without pay.
The August 10 Oregonian reports that the Department of Justice is considering civil and
criminal charges against the officers, though ones who have cooperated with authorities might be
spared. The article also notes that the amount of the original grant was $300,000 -meaning the
fraud involved over half of the funds.
Acting Chief Berg was the Lieutenant in charge at a "knock and talk" at which officers reached over
a fence to gather information about a drug bust (see PPR # 14). Berg was allowed to sign
off on the officers' conduct despite the fact that she was present at the time and may have needed
investigation herself.
Eleven of the protestors arrested in December at a protest against the U.S. bombing of Iraq (see
PPR #16) were given a big boost of support by Judge
Michael Marcus. Marcus ruled that
the charges of "failure to disperse," which depended on a "lawful order" to leave the
demonstration, were not legitimate because the law allows officers to order people to disperse even
if they are not breaking any particular law. The police deciding that the protest itself was unlawful
violates the Oregon Constitution.
The August 6th ruling, which does not necessarily affect the eleven or more protesters who were
charged with other offenses, could change the way police do business in the future and further
uphold our rights to demonstrate.
|
![[People's Police Report]](/PPRHEADER.GIF)
August, 1999
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#18 Table of Contents
|