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Nathan Thomas Report

Members of POPSG have been looking over "Tragedy on Hazelfern Place," the Nathan Thomas shooting report that was ordered in exchange for the McMurray-Thomas family not suing the City over Nathan's death. Following the release of the report, POPSG's Dan Handelman was quoted in the Willamette Week, in an article focused on the weaknesses of PIIAC (Portland's Police Internal Investigations Auditing Committee). The author did not include POPSG's main concerns, which were later printed in a letter to the editor.

Among those concerns are that the report recommends a full time investigator to look into police shooting incidents and other "extraordinary'" events. The city consulted with McMurray and Thomas, telling them they believed such incidents could be handled by existing police management personnel working together. The Thomases agreed, and the inspector position -- one of the main provisions of the long-awaited report -- was brushed aside before the rest of Portland had a chance to comment on it.

Since the new full-time staff position for PIIAC requires a background in investigation, the City could easily give that staff person the authority recommended to the inspector in the Thomas report. Furthermore, POPSG recommends that all of PIIAC (staff, citizen advisors, and City Council) should have deadly force incidents added into its scope. (Deadly force cases are handled by the homicide division, not Internal Investigations Division, and PIIAC's current oversight is limited to the IID).

Footnote: McMurray and Thomas have approved the Chief's Forum's effort to create a "Thomas Memorial Award" for citizens or police who defuse potentially volatile situations like the one in which they lost their son. In terms of public perception, this may be like giving out a "Bay of Pigs" award to marines who carry out successful military operations.

  [People's Police Report]

First Trimester, 1995
Also in PPR #5

• About Police Killed While on Duty
• Critical Mass
• Letter from Hooper Detox
• Correction Regarding PIIAC
• Mental Health Issues
• Nathan Thomas Report
• Public Policy/Legislation Watch
  • PPB as a Special Interest
  • Free Police Reports
  • "Safety Zone"
  • Multnomah Sheriff's Candidates
      and Accountability
  • Turning Asset Forfeiture Over to the People
• Rapping Back #5
  

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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