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Kroeker's Korner 25: behind Portland's Headlines about the Chief of Police Since the last issue of the PPR, Portland's Chief Mark Kroeker has done some effective public relations work to counteract his image as a bigot and authoritarian. Looking Out for the Little People Kroeker's rapport with rank-and-file officers has yet to recover from his first act as Chiefforcing the cops to get military-style haircuts. Nevertheless, with contract negotiations between the City and the Police Association looming, Kroeker has made a proposal to give all patrol officers three-day weekends by extending shifts from eight to ten hours (Willamette Week, September 5). The Chief also wants to reinstate the practice of issuing cell phones to officers. City-funded cell phones were yanked from the Police in 1997, due to gross misuse of the devices for personal business. It remains to be seen whether such overtures will sweeten the bitter pill of the City's budget woes enough for the PPA to swallow. The Mayor has announced that the City will seek to eliminate several Bureau positions, as well as increasing the cost of health care borne by the rank-and-file.
Speaking Out Against Bias Crimes Responding to the rising tide of post-September 11 racism and xenophobia, Kroeker made strong statements to the local media: that bias and hate crimes were not to be tolerated; that people should not make assumptions about others based on race, religion, or national origin; and that the Bureau was encouraging Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent to contact them if they felt threatened (Portland Tribune September 25). We have to offer some praise to the Chief for making such statements so quickly and forcefully. However (you knew there would be a however, right?), these sentiments, no matter how sincere, cannot magically dispel the fear and mistrust many immigrants, refugees, and people of color have of the police. Kroeker's words cannot supplant the reality of racial profiling, brutality, and the misuse of lethal force that is all too often aimed at immigrants and people of color. While applauding the Chief's rhetoric, we continue to ask ourselves: can it erase the damage of the deadly police shooting of immigrant José Mejía Poot? (See article in this issue and PPR #24.) If Mejía's friends, family, or peers were the victims of a hate crime, would they call the very Police Bureau which murdered one of their own? Unfortunately, it seems that Kroeker is not asking these questions of himself.
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December, 2001
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Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#25 Table of Contents
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