Azle Malinao-Alvarez Emerald
The Human Rights Commission’s neutral observer program has come under fire from protesters after last weekend’s rally.
Rally accounts
continued from page 1A
could.
“I think I was clearly identifi
able as a media person.”
Hausmann said she immediate
ly asked the officer standing di
rectly behind her to identify him
self, but he didn’t respond.
Hausmann said she is planning to
file a complaint against EPD via
the Human Rights Commission.
Johnson said that as of Wednes
day afternoon he had not heard of
any citizen filing complaints or
commendations via the EPD’s “Tell
Us About It” program, which is set
up to handle such public com
ments. Forms can be found on the
city’s Web site or at several local so
cial service agency locations. Citi
zens who feel uncomfortable or in
timidated to file complaints
through EPD can contact the HRC,
and that group will help explore all
of their options, including a face-to
face meeting with the alleged of
fending officer.
When asked what avenues a
citizen in Hausmann’s case has —
with no officer name — Johnson
said he recommends that the per
son make the complaint anyway.
There’s a possibility that the offi
cer can be identified through
videotape footage, if it is available
for that specific incident.
Johnson pointed out that the
city reports twice a year to the
HRC with numbers and results
from the “Tell Us About It” pro
gram. In 1999, Johnson said that
there were 42 allegations against
police officers, with 19 of those
sustained or upheld. Of that num
ber, one officer was terminated,
three were suspended and one
was demoted.
“For those who say nothing
happens, I want to say there are
facts to the contrary,” he said.
In another development relat
ing to the weekend, Greg Rikhoff
from the HRC has orchestrated a
public forum involving the com
mission’s neutral observers and
citizens who want to comment on
the weekend’s events. The forum
is scheduled for June 26 at 5:30
p.m., but the location has not yet
been determined.
“It’s really a response to so many
different people requesting the ob
servers’ notes and the observers’
observations,” Rikhoff said. "With
people from all over the spectrum
wanting the information, we
thought it would be easiest to just
get it out in one fell swoop. There’s
also been some question on the
part of the activist community, a
mistrust for the program and a mis
trust of the observers.
“This is a way for those people
who doubt them, that think the
message is getting mixed, [to] ac
tually have a chance to hear for
themselves,” he said.
Rikhoff said that in his opinion
the observer program is working
and listed several facts to back up
his belief.
“In terms of seriousness of the
injuries, the property crime, the
amount of tear gas used, the
amount of pepper spray used ... I
think we are absolutely making
progress,” he said. “If nothing
else, there are more people talking
about it and more people willing
to come out to these events and
not just these formal observers.”
Citizens who spoke out at the
county jail in disagreement with
police tactics certainly made their
voices heard. Susan Summerford,
an independent filmmaker, said
she was arrested while filming
Saturday night’s protest outside of
the jail and said a police officer hit
her in the head with a flashlight
before confiscating her camera.
“I’m a registered Republican,
and I just want to say that I think
[the police response] sucks,”
Summerford yelled before leaving
the podium.
Hill said his officers were put
into a tough situation, one with
few alternatives to what happened.
“I think overall we made the
best of a bad situation,” he said.
002965
To earn a 4*00
in Brewology
all you need to
know is
STEELHEAD.
n 9 Award-Winning Micro-Brews
□ Soups, Salads □ Bibs n Fresh Pizza
□ Sandwiches n Pastas n Burgers
□ Spirits n Home-Made Boolbeer
TAKE A BREW HOME IN STEELHEAD'S BOX O' BEER
Steelhead Brewing Company
199 Hast 5th Avenue Eogene, (IK Phone BSH-2739
Eugene, (IK - Burlingame, CA - Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, ( A - Irvine, CA
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
CLASSICAL MUSIC, OPERA,
BROADWAY, FILM SCORES &
TALKING BOOKS ON
COMPACT DISC
!4usiqu6 Gourmet
Catering to the
Discriminating Collector
CD’S FROM $3.95
,h2e07FiEfth5P,haAr:eBnrin9 343-9000
OPEN 7 DAYS Free Parking 3Z O?"
“37 years of Quality Service”
Mercedes • BMW • Volkswagen • Audi
German Auto Service
342-2912 • 2025 Franklin Blvd.
Eugene, Oregon, 97402
Get a higher score
anytime, anywhere.
Study this summer in one of our 160 centers or online!
Call our Eugene Center 345-4420 and ask about our “Summer Study Buddy Special" "
UPCOMING EUGENE CLASSES:
GREjinlVrd UPCOMING CORVALLIS CLASSES:
GMAT June 22nd GMAT June 24th
LSAT June 25th . LSAT June 24th
TOEFL July 17th GRE July 8th
P/SAT August 14th P/SAT July 15th
World Leader in Test Prep • kaptest.com
777777.
LOW
Student
Airfares
Europe • Africa • Asia • South America
More Than 100 Departure Cities!
Eurailpasses • Bus Passes • Study Abroad
student
► universe
•com
IT'S YOUR WORLD. EXPLORE IT.
www.StudentUniverse.com
800-272-9676
2
8