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B
H M M
PORTLAND OBSERMER
Volume XV, Number 28
May 8, 1985
250 Copy
Two Sections
u lr l » n a d a t
( <r *
rw xuA M t '•» . M r I M r
Stevenson inquest
by Lamia Duke
GRASSROOT NEWS. N.W —
Multnomah County’s first public in­
quest in a decade will be held Thurs­
day, Friday and Saturday as witnesses
and police participate in a forum to
gather information on what happened
April 20th, the night Tony Stevenson
died as the result of a sleeper hold
adminstered by a Portland police
officer.
Michael Schrunk, Multnomah
County District Attorney, will pre­
side over the inquest. Six jurors are
selected at random and jurors may be
excused if they are related to or had
been associated with the deceased, if
they witnessed the death or il they
are biased. Jurors will be selected
randomly from the list of registered
voters in Multnomah County.
Schrunk said since people of color
comprise only 9 percent o f the popu­
lation. then 9 out of KM) jurors se­
lected will be a person of color.
Chief Harrington said the possibil­
ities of a Black being on the inquest
jury or the grand jury is rather limited.
Schrunk cautioned that the scope
of an inquest is limited to identifying
the deceased person, when and where
he died, and the cause and manner of
death.
Also, the findings of an inquest arc
not admissible in a grand jury, civil or
criminal proceeding. After the in­
quest, jurors will answer these three
questions and the D A. will forward
the verdict to the Stale Medical Ex­
aminer’s office.
The inquest is taking place while
other inquiries and investigations are
being conducted. The U.S. Justice
Department will see if Stevenson's
civil rights were violated, a citizen s
committee will review the use of force
by the bureau and the police and vari­
ous media are also exploring different
angles.
"Out ol tnese uitierent investi­
gations, we will get as close as hu­
manly possible to the facts ol what
went on that night," Schrunk added
Harrington said the inquest and
the grand jury could return two dif­
ferent decisions It’s impact on
police/community relations will be
"terrible."
"N o one will ever know what
happened How can you lake the
same set of facts to two different
bodies and have two different an
swers? It will create a lot of distrust
in the community," Harrington
added.
More than JO people, including
eyewitnesses and the police, will par-
ticiate in the inquest.
Schrunk noted, " I t’s tragic what
happened to Mr. Stevenson. Out of it,
lessons will be learned. We are hear
ing from all segments of the city,
saying ‘Eel's solve this and move
forward'."
Nuclear free zone supported
police officers involved in the sale of controversial
T-shirt affair:
Mayor Clark fires tw o officers
by Lamia Duke
GRASSROOT NEWS, N.W. -
Saying it was a "relatively easy de­
cision," Mayor Bud Clark reiterated
the recommendation of his police
chief and terminated the two officers
who sold T-shirts reading, "D on't
Choke ’Em, Smoke 'Em "
"N o one with the level of judgment
displayed by these two officers should
remain on the force," Clark said at a
Tuesday afternoon press conference.
After conducting an eight-day in­
vestigation, Police Chief Penny Har-
nngton found the two police officers'
actions to be a gross violation of
established bureau policy.
"The men were on duty, they were
selling the shirts for profit on police
property and it was terrible judg­
ment," said Harrington.
At a Monday night neighborhood
meeting, Harrington had this to say
about the response from the police
union who plan to challenge the ter­
mination.
"I have to do what I believe is the
right thing. If the police union does
not support it, I still have to do the
right thing. If they want to take some
kind of action expressing their disap
proval with me. then I guess that's
what they have to do ," she added.
Calling the termination “ political,"
Stan Peters, president of the Police
Association, said the union would
appeal Clark's decision.
“ The slogan on the T-shirts was
not racist, but a reaction against the
temporary suspension of the carotid
(sleeper) hold." Peters said
I he Police Union was instrumental
in the reinstatement of the officers
involved in the opossum-tossing inci­
dent when police officers threw dead
opossums in front of a Black-owned
restaurant.
Officer Pantley, who claimed Stev­
enson hit him, was among the group
of officers who witnessed the inci­
dent. The next morning Pantley ad
hered to the code of silence when
asked it anyone knew about or wit
nessed the incident.
Harrington was asked if she be­
lieved the officers involved in the
opossum incident were disciplined
properly She hesitated and reluc­
tantly answered. “ N o."
Commissioner Kafoury announces wider
services: Youth, health care, drug programs
by Lamta Duke
GRASSROOT NEWS. N.W. -
Multnomah County Commissioner
Gretchen Kafoury announced recent
policy decisions which will augment,
supplement and create a variety of
human services for 1985-86
"Future revenue predictions are
not promising State aid may be re­
duced, federal revenue sharing cuts
are expected and there’s always the
threat of a successful property tax
limitation measure. But the county
still feels it is essential to begin these
new services and programs," Kafoury
added
Through a transfer of funds from
municipal services to county-wide
services, Multnomah County will pro­
vide alternative programs which will
expand youth care, prenatal services
and health care to the medically in­
digent By restructuring the county's
mullicare program, twice as many
individuals are expected to be served.
Commissioner Kafoury said the
highlight of this additional funding
was the expansion of alcohol and
drug treatment services for county
youth, adding. "Youth have been
drastically impacted by past budget
cuts. They have not been getting the
services they need.”
She also highlighted additional
funding for prenatal services for low
income women, saying, "W e'll have
a system where any pregnant woman
can obtain care if needed ”
The focus on human services is a
departure from the county’s priorities
years ago when inner city residents
shouldered a double tax burden as
they paid for municipal services to
unincorporated Multnomah County
as well as City Municipal Services.
"It kind of balances things out,"
Kafoury noted.
Below aie a list and dollar amounts
reflecting the increase in human serv­
ices funding:
In c r M .a d H u m a n S arvlcaa Funding
f o r F Y 1 9 » 8 8
(M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty O a n a ra l Fundi
Youth Alcohol and
Drug Services
Prenatal Care 1800 women)
*
Children'Family
Mental Health
Teen Health Clinic/
Demonstration protect
Juvenile Services Commission
Services to S e n io rs ...........................
Multi Cere/Restructuring
Chronic Disease Prevention
250.000
300,000
130,000
50,000
100.000
80.000
180 000
122.000
Chris« Heponse Services
Burnside Ares
...........................
115.000
I Justice Services Funding)
Prostitution Alternatives
Council
Chad Support Enforcement/
0 A s Office
Close Street Supervision
Domestic Violence Services
Probation Counselors/ DUIt
Total
40 000
54.000
110,000
1,7.000
»4 000
»1 732 000
y y
by Robert Lothian
Mayor Bud ( lark said last Wednes­
day that he will introduce a nuclear
free zone ordinance to the City t oun-
ctl, possibly before July.
Clark’s statement came at the end of
a day of hearings on whether produc­
tion of nuclear weapons and com­
ponents should be limited or banned
within the city.
Nuclear free zone supporters specu
lated that the council might take a
straw vote, but voting was pul off un
til an ordinance is introduced.
The city attorney had drafted an
ordinance, yet none of the council
members were willing to sponsor
it. “ I couldn’t introduce il because I
didn't agree with the language,"
said Clark.
Last week’s hearing was a repeat of
one last fall.
Supporters who have been working
for a nuclear free zone for two years
appeared satisfied with Clark's prom­
ise to introduce an ordinance.
But earlier, some witnesses ex­
pressed impatience with the council.
“ We’d like them to finally take a
position,” said Jeff l.iddicoat, co­
director of the anti-nuclear group
New Clear Vision. "They’ve been
doing this for two years now,” he
said "They can run tapes of these
things.”
Other witnesses spoke of the nega
five effects of nuclear weapons pro­
duction on mental health, civil lib­
erties and children. Many school
children were present.
Dr. William Caldicott, formerly on
the staff of Harvard Medical School
and husband of Dr. Helen Caldicott,
the Australian anti-nuclear activist,
graphically described what a 20 mega­
ton nuclear bomb could do to Port­
land.
"Complete and utter destruction"
would occur within a 20-mile radius
and people "would literally disap­
pear. leaving shadows on the con­
crete,” he said.
Much of the testimony concerned
economic effects.
“ Not a single job would be lost" if
the ordinance was passed, said I iddi-
coat. "Economic conversaion" to
peace-time production could compen­
sate for lost revenues, he said.
But Don McClave, president of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce, dis­
agreed. Companies that do occasional
defense work would reconsider local
ing in Portland, and the city could
forget about Navy ship repair con­
tracts if the ordinance was passed, he
said.
City Council member» and supporter» listen to testimony by Rabbi
Emanuel Rose during Nuclear Frae Zone bearings
(Photo Richard J. Brown
“ The economy is very fragile. . it
needs to be encouraged," said Mc­
Clave.
Ed Cooley, president of Precision
Castparts Corp, in Milwaukie, said
his company makes metal castings,
"harmless in themselves," for the
nuclear-capable cruise missile.
If the ordinance was passed, said
Cooley, Precision Castparts, with
2,5«) employees and a payroll of $50
million, would reconsider Portland
expansion plans.
Cooley mentioned OECO t orpor
ation's recent move from Portland to
Milwaukie "Because of these things
they arc leaving Portland," he said
OECO makes parts for nuclear
weapons, say protesters who have
pKkettcd the company.
Clark took exception to the testi­
mony of one pro-nuclear free zone
witness. " I ’d like to think that I'm
sensitive to my children, and to my
constituents,” said the mayor
Minority Business Com. revived
The Portland Federal Executive
Board has reactivated the Minority
Business Opportunity Committee.
The Committee, under the chairman­
ship of Bill Doran. Corps of Engi
neers. will endeavor to assist Federal
contracting officers, minority busi­
nesses and prime contractors in the
field of contracting. Major events
planned for this fiscal year include
updating and distributing the Minor­
ity Business Directory, publishing the
"The Catalyst” newsletter, and spon­
soring workshops for federal con­
tracting officers, MBE’s and major
private sector contractors.
The Minority Business Opportun­
ity Committee is in the process of
preparing for publication the Minor­
ity Business Directory. This publica­
tion will include MBEs in the state of
Oregon and Southwest Washington.
It is hoped that busineses and Gov­
ernmental agencies will find the di­
rectory to be a useful tool in the iden­
tification of minority owned firms
that are capable of providing products
and/or services that they require.
The directory is being published based
on the currently available information
on minority owned businesses.