![[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
|
Bureau Keeps Gaslighting Training Advisory Council As the Training Advisory Council (TAC) keeps getting new Captains, Sergeants and Lieutenants to liaison with the Police Bureau, one thing has remained constant: the police keep saying TAC's requests for more meaningful use of force data can't be done. They continue to claim that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the entity reviewing Portland's compliance with a 2012 Settlement Agreement told them they can't change anything in the Reports. But the DOJ and the Compliance Officer Community Liaison have both said that's not accurate. They can add to the Reports, they just can't take stuff away. Considering the TAC is one of the friendlier advisory bodies to the PPB, it seems like a bad idea to keep declining to help. Lt. Mike Roberts, the Force Inspector, even laughed at the November TAC meeting when the issue came up again. While they're waiting for data that would show, for instance, how many incidents involve the same officer/officers starting at a low level of force and then escalating, they still hear the current reports, albeit continually truncated. Roberts presented the Q2 data in November which included, for the first time, force used at protest events, specifically against people protesting for Palestinian rights at Portland State University (PPR #93). Notably, the new Independent Court Monitor for the DOJ Agreement should be able to straighten out the dispute, but they have not yet started their work in earnest (see article). They confirmed at a different advisory meeting the week after TAC that none of them attended the Council's meeting. Also, the TAC had a similar back-and-forth with the Bureau about including demographic information on Portland's population in the reports, leading to at least one resignation (PPR #79) and a ridiculous disclaimer included in reports to this day about the population data not being relevant to the use of force statistics. On that note, the Q2 Report is difficult to follow regarding demographics. Portland Copwatch (PCW) has pushed for years to incorporate protest data with other more "routine" force, but now that it seems to have happened, there is an unintended consequence of many subjects of force at protests being listed as being of "unknown" race. The PPB uses so much force for crowd control they can't be bothered to remember who they were harming. The Q2 Report shows that out of 820 uses of force, at least 242 were at the protests: 189 "control against resistance," 20 "takedowns" and 33 baton pushes. Out of 339 people having force used on them 188 were at the protests. For the demographics, the PPB said 51 of the 52 "unknown" persons listed were at the protests. So, 51 of 188 is 27% of those at protests whose race wasn't identified. Pulling out those 51 people, the reported force on Black Portlanders in Q2 would be 18%, (not the 16% printed in the report), still a significantly lower number than average. (Note: At least three people attacked by police at the protests were Black, as they are listed as recipients of baton pushes.) Side note: the Report was not available for the community to read along with Lt. Roberts' presentation. Staff explained that it was sitting on the Chief's desk waiting for approval. The day after the TAC meeting, both the Q2 and Q3 data were published. The Q3 Report does not appear to have incidents of anti-protestor violence. It shows that 27% of those who had force used on them by Portland Police were Black, more in line with previous quarters. There was also an extensive presentation on how the Bureau is working to meet standards of an external agency's expectations so they can gain accreditation as a valid police force. It's not 100% clear what the details of the accreditation encompass, but it's now required by state law. However, the state actors want the police to be able to use force to "maintain order" so more likely than not the standards will not do much to change the results on the street. PPB has to prove it meets the criteria by the end of June 2025. It's not clear what would happen if they fail. The September meeting was shorter and less eventful, and for those attending remotely (like PCW), there was no audio available for the first 15 minutes. Patrick Alexander, the current TAC Chair, seems well intentioned to use the meeting time efficiently, but set aside 1/2 hour or more for Task Groups (aka committees) to meet. Traditionally, those meetings happen on other days and times, and none of the groups met, leading to early end times at both meetings. Since the Council only meets once every two months, it seems they should spend more meeting time discussing policies and recommendations to improve the Bureau.
|
![[People's Police Report]](/PPRHEADER.GIF)
January, 2025
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#94 Table of Contents
|