VOLUME 1 8
N
umber
4
D
ecember
P o rtla n d , O r e g o n
15, 2000
•
Sorry seems to be the hardest word
Kroeker apologizes but maintains his right to remain silent
by J onathan
P
ortland Police Chief Mark Kroeker apologized to the
gay and lesbian community for the first time since he
was confronted about his bias against gays that was
memorialized on audiotape more than a decade ago.
The apology came during a Dec. 11 community
forum sponsored by Just Out and the Sexual Minorities
Roundtable. “I am very sorry for the effect that my
words have had on this community,” Kroeker somberly
said in his opening statement.
To some, his apology meant a lot. “It was very good
to hear,” said Reserve Officer Bob Ball, one of only two
out gay men on the force.
But some quietly wondered why it took Kroeker so
long, almost two months, to issue an apology. Others
K ipp
thought his apology missed the point— his words falling
short of what needed to be said.
“You didn’t apologize for the actual words,” one
woman said to Kroeker as the forum neared its end.
"You only apologized for the effects of the words.”
Almost 200 people packed the Metropolitan
Community Church to meet with Kroeker. Outside the
sanctuary, a handful of fundamentalist Christian pick-
eters yelled in protest throughout the meeting.
“Kroeker is on his way to hell if he doesn’t return to
his Christian faith and stop supporting abominations to
God," said one demonstrator, holding a sign reading,
Continued on Page 9
Protesters encourage Kroeker to stick to his guns
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