t ,X 0 2 *
COMMENTARY
in M \i<i ’i I) w Is
The IN publication for the OUT population
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown
Vol. 20 N o. 3
and
R enée L a C hance
D ecem ber 6, 2002
FEATURE
I K CATHOLIC CONSCIENCE: Amid the church’s
crisis and calumny, Portland's queer parishioners
put their faith in God before the Vatican
P 22
NEWS
NORTHWEST • AFL-C10 chapter battles for queer
rights on the job; project helps low-income and
homeless youth through the transition process;
lesbian pacifist was accused of sedition more
than 80 years ago for Portland protest; gay
globetrotter goes on an international adventure
pp 7 - 1 7
NATIONAL • Miss America preaches abstinence
PP 1 0 - 1 9
WORLD • Romantic temple discovered
PP 2 0 - 2 1
ARTS AND C U L T U R E
DANCE • Do see Do Jump!...now
P 32
A R T • Gay artist Mike Walsh presents
Bridges: Fragile Circle (Australian Series)
P 33
SPORTS • Team Oregon brings home gold
and a whole lot of stories from the Gay Games
p 35
DIVERSIONS • The HollyTones make your spirits
bright; Portland Gay Men’s Chorus returns
with another holiday winner and some beefcake
Santas; A Madrigal Feast in the Gorge
p 36
WHAT'S POPPIN'T • Two thumbs up for
Roger Dodger
P 37
THEATER • Portland Center Stage presents
an all-gay holiday double bill
p 39
COLUMNS
M S. BEHAVIOR • Hate the ex, love her kids;
sick of being a diesel dyke
P 31
LIVING DOT • Can your boyfriend make you
gay?
P 40
Mark Kroeker: Should we beat Mm with an oar?
Portland’s police chief takes another licking...but is he still ticking?
eaders of this paper know that in the past, often to their dis
may, I’ve been reluctant to join the endlessly growing cho
rus of dissent against Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker.
I was supportive of him through the taped “anti-gay”
remarks imbroglio. I gave the bureau the benefit of the
doubt about May Day and all the other assorted cases of “overly enthusi
astic” crowd control techniques. I’m also not afraid to say I think police
leadership should do whatever is needed to control the totally non
productive, anger-inducing behaviors of the monthly Critical Mass idiocy.
But now, finally, in the wake of the recent police awards snafu, I
realize it’s time for me to don my robe, warm up my singing voice and
join the choir. A t long last I agree it is time for a change in the top
leadership of the Portland Police Bureau.
I don’t say this because I now think Mark Kroeker is a bad person,
an evil man. I say this because I now feel Mark Kroeker has lost his pas
sion for his work, his vision for Portland and the needs of our city.
I think his flame went out when he lost the Los Angeles police chief
job. My concern is that “trickle-down” happens faster at the bureau
than at other corporations and that a degrading of ideals, standards and
behaviors can occur very quickly because of a perceived weakness or dis
interest in leadership.
W ithout an iota of proof, working only on a hunch, I suspect Kroek
er wasn’t even involved in the decision-making process as to which offi
cers received which award, commendation or medal at the recent cere
mony. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t know who would receive what
until he actually stood up to make the presentations. There are others
whose job is to make these decisions. There are commanders and cap
tains and lieutenants involved in this type of process.
Regardless of who, somewhere someone made a bad decision when it
was decided to commend the officers involved in the shooting death of
Jose Santos Victor Mejia Poot. W hen lives are saved and when procedure
results in positive results, then there can be celebration and recognition.
It does fall upon Kroeker, as top man at the bureau, to accept
responsibility for the awards whether or not he was involved in the
decision. And while he is taking the heat, he doesn’t even seem to be
sweating. H e’s got a weary and tired “oh what now” attitude. He’s
appears to be carrying the burden of martyrdom. His demeanor as evi
denced in news reports is bothersome. He just doesn’t seem to care.
A nd Portland very much deserves a police chief who cares. We
deserve one who cares a whole hell of a lot about our city and all its cit
izens. All races, all cultures, all identities. So I suggest Mark Kroeker
needs to kick back into high gear and act like a police chief with 35
years of experience, or he needs to pack it up and move on to wherever
his heart is— or might be.
I am neither unaware nor unappreciative of the stress and dangers
REFLECTIONS
faced daily by police officers. I neither envy nor want their job.
A few months ago I had the opportunity to participate in a “media
training” day put together by the bureau. It was quite an organized affair,
and the intent was precisely and clearly announced. We were there for
one day to walk in the shoes— and, unfortunately, that damn vest— of a
Portland police officer. As such, we would leave with a greater under
standing and sensitivity toward the actions and reactions of a cop.
Now, having been clearly told I was there to be manipulated and
molded, my naive thought process was that you can’t manipulate me if I
know this is your intent. I’ll simply strengthen my mind and shut you
down. I am woman. I am strong.
I was also wrong.
W hen the Portland Police Bureau decides it’s going to manipulate a
group of reporters, it goes about it in a very effective, very organized and
very damn interesting manner. They put us in those god-awful vests,
they gave us very real-looking guns for “simulations,” they gave us “sim-
m unition” (paint balls that leave very real bruises), then we all pretend
ed we were officers.
W ith only the sketchiest of training, we were sent in to partici
pate in role-playing exercises— exercises where you have to make
split-second judgments. Exercises th at were play for the media but
potentially everyday events to a real police officer in Portland. Exer
cises where loud, angry and abusive people have weapons; sometimes
you see the weapons, sometimes you d o n ’t. Exercises where som e
times you react w ith the wrong decision and respond in an inappro
priate and deadly manner.
Even when you know it’s a game, the fun stops really fast when you
realize you just shot and killed the wrong person. Suddenly it’s not a
game. Suddenly you understand. I only can begin to imagine how it
must feel actually to shoot someone. It’s got to be awful.
For police officers on the job it’s never an exercise and it’s never a
game. O n the other side of every door might well be a whacked-out per
son with a gun. This is certainly not what I want to face every day when
I go to work. I often don’t want to take a phone call, let alone a bullet.
Are there bad cops? O f course. There are bad cops just like there are
bad doctors, lawyers, mechanics, clerks and every other job imaginable.
W hich is why it’s all the more important that Portland’s top cop be fired
up with passion and zeal— because his or her leadership sets the tone,
the direction and the attitude of the entire department.
C hief Kroeker, your excuses have become tired, weak and overused.
Your inertia threatens the quality of all our lives. Portland needs power
ful leadership, not more excuses, not more platitudes.
So 1 ask you, sir, what are you going to do about this? I believe you
to be an honest man of integrity. I ask you now to do the right thing for
our city. Kick it up or kick back and retire. J H
¥ m
THE GOSPEL ACCOROING TO MARC • Marc and
Floyd at the movies
p41
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