april 5. 2002»
mTTiTÏÏTRTïnews
ho Portland Police Bureau is inves
tigating an alleged assault on a
straight man by two off-duty offi
cers who might have targeted him
because he was perceived to he gay.
The cops, whose names are not being
released, have been placed on administrative
leave pending the outcome of the inquiry. One of
the men is a trainee, and the other has been on
the force for less than two years.
The incident occurred about 10 p.m. Jan. 24
in the area of Southwest 10th Avenue and
Washington Street. A witness said a gay-related
epithet was used during the altercation.
Investigators believe at least one other person,
described ¿is a slender white female in her 20s with
a long red ponytail, might have driven by the scene
in a dark pickup and stopped behind a taxicab.
“The woman was reported to have had some con
versation with the parties involved, indicating she
had a cell phone and was going to call the police,"
said Cmdr. James Ferraris, who is in charge of the
investigation and is anxious to interview her.
The detective said the men had been at
Stephanos, a club located at 1135 S.W. Wash
ington St., but he could not elaborate. He added
that the victim sought medical attention at a
hospital and is under a physician’s care.
“These are very sensitive investigations
because they involve employees, and we have an
obligation to seek the tnith," Ferraris said. “Our
integrity in terms of how the public views us...is
paramount, so we take great steps and great pains
to make sure that we cover all of the bases.”
Police Chief Mark Kroeker invited Just Out
and members of the Sexual Minorities Round
table to a meeting April 1 to discuss the inci
dent. He emphasized that the bureau is taking
the situation seriously.
PPB B lues
Cops investigated for possible anti-gay hate crime
by Jim R adosta
Kroeker said that three full-time detectives
are working long hours and that an FBI investi
gator and a U.S. attorney have been assigned to
the inquiry. “We want to make sure that no
piece of information is overlooked, and we’re
moving forward with a lot of fcKus and a lot of
energy on this case.”
The alleged assault was brought to the
bureau’s attention after the Independent Police
Review Division received an anonymous com
plaint. Kroeker hinted that supervisors might
have dragged their feet in initiating the inquiry.
“What is disturbing to me is that there was this
delay in actually getting the investigation started,”
he said. “We want to make perfectly clear what
happened at the initial time of this event, how was
our first response.. .how was the supervisory review
of the incident conducted and then— most impor
tantly, of course—what actually happened and
what is the nature of the assault.”
The case is the latest in a string of situations
that some say has caused a rift between the
bureau and the sexual minorities community.
Tension ran highest in October 2000, when
Kroeker was revealed to have made anti-gay
remarks about 10 years ago while addressing a
The alleged assault occurred just down the
group of Christian cops.
street from Stephano’s
He said he dtxisn’t think the comments could
have caused the two officers to presume that bias awareness training that covered trans issues as
is acceptable in Portland. He cited a number of well as his ongoing work with the roundtable.
“I’m confident that if anyone would pick up
outreach efforts he has initiated since the tape
any indication from my work here in Portland
recordings were discovered, including cultural
__________________ ,
that I have less than a respectful position and less
than a solid core value on this issue that they
would be 100 percent misperceiving,” Kroeker
said. “ In my heart I don’t believe that there is any
reason that anything could have been said to
give them any leeway at all to conduct them
selves in the manner in which they did.”
More recently the bureau has dealt with lesbian
officer Liani Reyna’s allegation that the Special
Emergency Response Team mistreated her because
of her gender and her sexual orientation. After an
11-month inquiry, investigators found no “prohib
ited discrimination" occurred and proposed disci
plinary action for 10 cops— including her.
Also, trans officer Damon Woodcock finally
settled a two-year job stress claim after a co-work
er vandalized his locker, causing him to fear for his
safety. He received $205,000 and agreed to resign.
“These cases.. .do offer the possibility of peo
ple having their confidence shaken,” Kroeker
said. “They also offer to us an opportunity...to
discuss this and have an understanding of where
we stand.”
Kroeker noted that the SERT investigation
and the Woodcock claim resulted from inci
dents that occurred before his arrival in Port
land. Regardless, he added, the important thing
is how the bureau handles the cases.
"We need {the sexual minorities community’s]
confidence in order to move forward and have a
good, solid level of understanding and then to
work just on problems that are universal to all
neighborhoods,” he said. “But in order to do
that...we have to generate a good level of com
munity approbation and support, and we can’t
lose that. ” j n
Anyone with information regarding this incident is
encouraged to call 503-823-0596.
pggPI i 7
___
$
ri
mm .
Beyond Borden
Fairly Traded Handcrafts and Organic Coffee
7780-B W Capitol Hwy.
In Multnomah Village
50j.244.1752
©Une jfaboríttó
OPEN TUESDAY SUNDAY
kyond iordm, tlx crafh nurfctting divmon
if Thf hrxktt Sxxty Inmiunnul. Inc,
« i wmbfr of tf* fair Irak Ffdtntion
A n y th in g an tiqu e fo r the home
7858 SW Capitol Highway
(503) 293-5034
-saw .« i
Silk»
& Runners
Handmade
* * i t (
■
Natural
Area Rugs
41 is |i
Ï
Collectible
^ & War Rugs
Floor
t t * j 5 T V P . 8 f S è l
Coverings b # ^ * 0 , 0
Wa» Hang-
Made in Afghanistan. Persia & Kazakhstan
East West Oriental Rugs (503) 293-4330
76-12 S.W. Capitol llwv.. Portland 97219
I
i
‘Ready Cool Stuß
Multnomah
Antiques
A fun collection
of Antiques,
G ifts A Home
Furnishings / ^
Le Meitour Gallery
t h e K id in d ll
u £ ...
•rv v
E
l
Furniture
Oak - Victorian - Country - Formal
Restored Period Lighting
Quilts - Art Pottery- Glass
Shelley - Costume Jewelry
Open
Tue-Sat
10-6
Sundays
11-5
7872 S W Capitol Hwy, Portland
7764 SW Capitol Hwy.
503-245-8283
503 / 2 * 6-6267
www.r«ally-cool-stuff .com
The only museum where you
get to take the treasures home.
7814 SW Capitol Hwy. Portland • 503/246-3631
wklmsUml cmtèt, ßl^ts, jttotlry A mH
7650 SW Capitol Hwy / 503.244.73*1
~www.zingofaHary.cofn*-
17