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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2000)
novembe/ 17.2000 » 25 "Iwant all Portlanders to know that now more than ever I am committed to bringing the police closer to the community as well as building deeper respect and understanding inside Gay leaders outline concerns the organization." and complaints — Portland Police Chief T op T en Mark Kroeker those speeches were insulting, hateful, divisive and totally inappropriate for a law enforcement officer to make,” the group wrote to him. Katz said Kroeker has repudiated his feelings and at least some of the statements on the recordings. Resignation called for inker rushed to the podium during Katz’s press conference when the mayor stepped out of the room after finishing her statement. She didn’t want to miss her opportunity to address the city— every news outlet was there and willing to listen. Tinker said she isn’t so distressed about Kroeker’s 10-year-old comments hut is upset about his response to the situation. “A good man doesn’t refuse to take responsibility about his words distributed throughout the world.” But Tinker and others are not just upset about Kroeker’s comments concerning gays and women. He also spoke in support of corporal punishment with children, even describing in detail how he used to paddle teen-agers with boat oars at a summer camp. Tinker said what Kroeker described in the tape titled “Family Discipline” would be consid ered illegal in the state of Oregon. “This cannot be explained by one’s religion.” Kroeker admitted speaking about the issue T of paddling teens with boat oars but insisted that he must have misspoken during the speech and that he personally never has used that form of discipline on any child. “I do believe he strives to be a good man,” Tinker conceded, “hut a good man doesn’t lie.” Although more than one group is asking for Kroeker to step down or to be fired, he has significant support in and outside the gay community. “You can’t hold people account able for what they said nine, 10, 15 years ago,” one woman said during the November meeting of the Sexual Minorities Round table, a joint venture between the Portland Police Bureau and the sexual minorities com munity advocating for increased communica tion and safety. After Katz’s announcement, Kroeker said he was pleased to retain the support of his boss. “I have spent many personal hours reflecting on the enormity of the current crisis,” he wrote in a statement. “I want all Portlanders to know that now more than ever I am committed to bringing the police closer to the community as well as building deeper respect and understand ing inside the organization." Caught in the middle T he Sexual Minorities Roundtable grappled with its role in the controversy during a he Police Chief Concerns Group, a consor tium of gay and lesbian leaders, wrote a two-page letter to Mayor Vera Katz asking for Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker’s resigna tion or dismissal. These are excerpts of their 10 concerns: packed meeting Nov. 14 at the Portland Police 1. Anti-gay bias: “Kroeker’s comments Bureau’s downtown headquarters. about homosexuality and AIDS made in 1989 Christopher Webster, a member of the group clearly reflect a profound bias.” for almost three years, said the gay and lesbian 2. Child abuse: “Kroeker’s comments about community deserves to meet face to face with disciplining children indicate that he toler Kroeker. He said he hoped the roundtable ates—and even encourages— violence against wouldn’t take sides in the controversy but children.” would be the neutral party that would encour 3. Submission of women: “His comments age communication. that women need to submit to thS authority of Another member, Elizabeth Allen, said she their husbands...reflect a deep belief that supported the two sides coming together for a women are not equal.” communitywide training session about how to 4 . Views were express as public policy: communicate. She wants both sides to be able “They were made at a public meeting of police to meet and act in a civil way. officers, and he was speaking as an officer of the Others who showed up spoke out about law.” accountability and expressed their distur 5. N o apology, no change: “Kroeker has bance concerning Kroeker’s comments. Some issued no statement saying his original asked to have the situation on the next meet views.. .were wrong and that he regrets them.” ing’s agenda so more discussion can take 6. H ate speech encourages hate crim es: place. “Kroeker’s original comments constitute Katz said Kroeker is committed to a “strong untruthful bias; these comments.. .encourage and sustained positive dialogue” with Portland’s crimes of violence against lesbian, gay, bi and citizens, although she admitted he will have to trans people.” rebuild trust with many of them. “He told me he 7. Bias not disclosed in hiring interviews: would rather help undo the damage, help me “If he had been forthcoming with this informa promote tolerance and acceptance of all people, tion, we do not believe he would have been than just walk away.” offered the job.” Katz expects Kroeker will “redouble his 8. D enial of responsibility affects job efforts to promote respect and acceptance of perform ance: “They impact the public per all Portlanders.” In addition, she said he will formance o f his job as chief of police.” work with Cascade AIDS Project, the state’s 9. U se o f force by police: “The new use of largest HIV/AIDS social service agency, to physical force is consistent with Kroeker’s help educate Oregonians that AIDS is not a view that ‘criminal justice should mirror fam “gay disease.” ily justice.’ ” “He agrees to take all this on with all his 10. Portland feels un safe: “Many lesbian, heart,” Katz said. gay, bi and trans people no longer feel safe in Portland. 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