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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1986)
ty o f Oregon 97403 g ... Volume XVI, Number 31 PORTLAND OBSERVER m June 11. 1986 TwoSections «M Dellums Criticizes U.S. Domestic Policies Congressman Ronald V. Drllums. Democrat from California on Gramm- Rudman legislation — "mindless, compassionless and an approach to the budget that lacks totally aeeounlahility .” I’hoto Richard J. Brown "The I' S Cwisernment lias ahan tinned its policy ol caring tor the poor, the elderly, children, and providing quality education and health care lor the needy " "V n de r the Reagan Adminis traiton. the United States has taken the policy o f more guns and less huttei These statements were made by I S Representative Ronald V IX IIunis. I) California IX'llums was in Portland as the keyn ole speaker at the closing ol a three day Region \ Bias ks in ( iosernmenl i B it II training conference at the Marriott Hotel IX'llums asked the crowd ol Nil), "w h a t do you think ol a nation whose priorities are the production ot nuclear weapons, instead ol providing prog rams Io tight hunger, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment " "N ational sec untv means not only military expendi ture." said IX IIum " I t must he- ex panded to include the economic well being, the intellectual well being ot our people " IXIIunis has represented California's Xth Congressional District, comprised ot pans ot Contra Costa ( ounly and Alameda Counts in the I asl Bay area, since his initial election to the I S House ol Representatives in 1970 In the 99th Congress he continues to serve as chair ol the House \im ed Services Committee on M ilitary Installations and Facilities and as a senior member ol its Research and IX’ velopment Sub committee In 1979 he was lirsl elected I hair ol the House Committee ot the District ol Columbia \s such. lie bee .line the first memlx't ol the House Class ol 197() to tx' elected ( hair ot a tii'l committee in the I S House ol Repic ntutives IX'llums said under Reagan ad ministration, this nation ias expert enced the biggest m ilitaiy build up in time of peace in history I e said such a build up is dangerous and unnecessary IX'llums said. I have been in the C S Congress lor in seals and each year I have bean lieaiing the Russian- are coming "They haven't come yet. because thev know it they attack the I' S . there w ill be an all out nuclear holocaust IX'llums said that the present ad ministration in .Islington is spending more to I iik I a home lor the M \ missile than Io lind homes lor the m illions ol homeless in America IX'llums also reminded the predomi nalelv Black audience about the misery afflicting millions ol Blacks living in poverty " A s I speak to you tonight there arv 10 m illion Black* living in poverty. 47 percent ol all Black chil dren live in a state ot poverty. more than hall ot all Black families headed bv women live in poverty.” IXIIunis said since Reagan took o f fice m 19X0, the number ol Blacks at tending college has decreased from 49 percent to 2X percent IX'llums urged the audience Io join in developing a new national set ol "human priorities I he C a lifo rn ia Congressman criticized tlx- Gramm Rudman B ill which calls tor automatic across the table budget cuts lor programs in trim mine the federal budget IX'llums cal led the Gramm Rudman B ill "mindless compassionless and an approach to live budget that lacks total accountability Il Gramm Rudman goes into effect in fiscal year |9X7, it w ill bring chaos beyond our ability Io comprehend D ellum s compared the Gramm Rudman approach to a computer How can you make a computer ac countable," he asked the crowd I he objective ol the Region \ BIG Conlercnce is to implement national objectives in the most ellc'ctive and el tic lent manner These objectives are • I o be an advocate ot equal opportun its lor Blac ks In Government • Io eliminate practices ol racism against Blacks In Government • To promote professionalism aiming Blacks In Government • Io enhance the promotion ol ethnic pnde and six to economic. civic and cultural programs and fellowship which w ill serve to hind Blacks to gether • Io develop programs and training that enhances the sense ol well being lor Blacks In Government • Io establish a mechanism lor the compilation, synthesis, disseinina lion and coordination and mlorma lion lor Blacks In Government, thereby continually upgrading com m unications among Black • employees .x loss government. with the objective ol attaining strength through shared knowledge and or ganizalion.il unity • Io provide a non partisan platform on major issues ol lex.al and national significance so that our members mav heller know and express their individual minds on matters which may a ile d them I he' Region \ Conference was hosted by the Columbia River Chapter ol Blacks In Government I’articijvanls came Irom Idaho. Washington. Alaska and ( iregon Harrington’s Conflicts With Bureau Was Inevitable Jn Jerr\ G a rn ti homier Portland Police Chiet Penny I Harrington s conflicts with the Police Bureau and the Police Union were inevitable Irom the first day Mavor Bud ( lark appointed her Io that position back in January ol 19X5 I here were several reasons why the ton iei ( 'fuel experienced difficulties in running the Bureau She inherited a Bureau that was sexist, racist unac countable to public scrutiny, lacking disciplux*. and years behind in organi zational efficiency The Bureau also has been rixked with scandals involv trig officers committing criminal and racist acts It was not surprising that Hat nngton's management style and overall leadership skills were attacked by members ol the Bureau before the lezak Commission Harrington was at templing Io relorni the Portland Police Bureau Six- was Irving to make the Bureau accountable to the public, to make individual otticers responsible tor their ac lions, . hr ! to put emphasis on education and prevention in addition to enforcement Such were not the goals ot some upper management personnel anil the Portland Police l mon I heir position to policing and crime lighting is to bust heads. Itxk ’em up. and throw away the key Furthermore, during Harrington s 22 seats on the- Bureau she was attacked, harrassc'd. and retaliated against tor ftl ing 42 civil rights complaints against the Bureau In 1975. she was a defen dant hi a suit along with the National Black Police Aswxialion against the now detuiRl I aw F.ntorcement Assis lance Xdminisiration(1 I A A) Ihe suit challenged the awarding ot federal lunds to police bureaus whowere guilty ot racial and sexual discrimination Such actions were bound Io make Har rington unpopular with the White male dominated police bureau As Har rington put it. "y o u can't do those things without getting some mud thrown at you Ot all the actions in which Har rington took as Chief, none angered those' in the Bureau more than the Chiet s attempts to discipline otticers w Ini engaged in behav lor detrimental to Ihe image ot tlx Bureau and her meet mg w ith citizens (especially Black eiti zensi to discuss legitimate issues re garding the police and the community For instance, when Harrington or dered Stan Peters to return to work after it was revealed that he was draw mg halt a patrolman's salary lor four years without pcrlorming any work, Peters stated that Harrington and her sister. Captain Roberta Webber, who is the Bureau's personnel Division Directoi. were retaliating against him When Portland Mayor Bud Clark, on the recommendation ol Chiet Har rington. tired the two otticers who sold the infamous "D o n 't Choke ’ Em. Smoke F.m I Shirt Peters claimed the two were "dismissed tor political reasons,” and that Harrington and Clark were "to o quick to follow re commendations made by leaders ol the Black community This was not the case When Har rington ordered Peters to work lot his city'spay check, she was only doing her job as a good administrator As lor Pel ers claims that Harnnglon and Clark were loo quick to follow the recoin mendations ol the Black comm unity, it was Peters way ot saying that the Chiel shouldn't listen to the legitimate com plaints ol Black Portlanders Harrington responded Io Peters crtti cism by saying " soiir - police want the Chiet to come out 100 percent tor the Police Bureau, saying that the Police Bureau is 100 percent right and you guys (the public) to get o ff their backs " "Y o u cannot always defend the Bureau " "W e are going to make mistakes, and I |ust don't think it ac complishes anything to take that stonewall approach and just tell Ihe community to go fly a kite Harrington Disagrees with Commission Findings bi Jrrry Garni r Former Portland Police Chiet Penny i. Harrington disagreed strongly with the findings ot the lezak Commission Report Harrington said that when the Commission was established, she was told that "its purpose was to determine •vhclher her reorganization o f the Drug and Vice Division had caused an in crease in narcotics activity in the city and to review the Internal Investigation ol Officer Bruce Gary Harrington ” I he lorm erChiel said her entire presen taiion before the Lczak Commission was geared to provide them information on the Drug and Vice reorganization "N ever, at any time, was I informed that this was to be a review o f my man agement style, my overall leadership skills, or my capabilities as Chief of Police " " I would have presented a much broader range ol information and witnesses it I had been informed that was the charge to Ihe Commission Harrington said tor that reason, she believes the report is flawed "There are so many inaccuracies in the report, it appears that the Commission over looked factual information that I pre sented and was unduly influenced hy emotional allegations by witnesses supplied hy the Police Union In addition to the factual inac curacies, there are major errors in the general finding " Harrington said allé galions accusing her o f tailing to con suit with commanders before making Such openness by Hartington made her a constant taiget by members ol the Bureau I his is because historically the Bureau (like most departments) oper ales in a "c u lt ol secrecy " I l l s this cult ol secrecy among Ihe police, which is the mam reason police administrators have trouble trying to control police behavior How can they control what their policemen do when if is so hard to lind out what thev do? Finally, Harrington's relations with Black citizens ot Portland was a strike against het "Relations between the Black community and the Police Bureau improved during Harrington's administration Her sensitivity to legitimate concerns o l the Black com munitv was one ol rtve reasons why she experienced conflicts with the Police U n io n ," said Robert Phillips Phillips is Director ol Multnomah County Al tim iative Action and Chairman ot the Greater Northeast Police Advisory Council Given the animosity directed at Har rington during her tenure with the Bureau, it was predictable that she would be a victim ot dirty politics, lies, and prosecution by officers in the Bureau who believe that a woman isn’t c apablc o f le.iding a pol ice department important dec isions. and tailing to plan and coordinate the training ot units to prepare them tor changes was untrue Harrington said that when she was Chiet. she took several steps to ensure input to decisions "F o r the first time in the history o f the Portland Police Bureau, there arc employee input groups in every u n it." said Harrington Harrington also said that the lezak Commission tailed to show that her reorganization o f the Bureau's Drug and Vice Division caused an increase in I’tioto by Richard J. Brown Groups Organize to Support Penny by Hah l.alhian I wo ad hix groups have formed to oiganizc- support lor lormer police chiet Penny Harrington "Portland I hanks Penny," a group sjx'.irheailed by Speaker ol the Oregon House ot Represenlatives Vera Katz and Rep Margaret Carter, had tenta lively scheduled a public event lor the mortnng ol Saturday, June 21 The event has been endorsed by Ihe I rb.in I eague ot Portland and Feumen teal Ministries ot Oregon, and w ill "probably lake place in a church." but an exact lixation remains to be dec ided. said group spokeswoman Julie Wil liamson "W e were trying to think ol a way to let everyone tx involved who wants to say thanks." said Williamson, a Port land consultant " th e re are a lot ol people who leel that the things she was doing at ihe police department were right and that her policies were having some effect in how thecommun ity wants the deji.irtmenl Io change Meanwhile, another group. "People tor Penny," met at City Hall last Thursday to map out a campaign ol support The group discussed drafting a pres statement and holding a public rally. "Reviewing the review p n xe ss," and contacting national women's orgamza lions and Ihe television program " N t M inutes" "C le a rly, we need to pack City H a ll." said Beverly stem, former aide to C ity Com m issioner Margaret Strachuii Stem suggested that the group reserve a place on the agenda lor an upcoming City Council meeting Spokeswoman Mary /in k m said "People lor Penny" w ill coordinate its efforts w ith "Portland I hanks Penny " Het group may organize a public rally ot Us own later, howevei. /in k in said One woman present at the City Hall meeting expressed concern ahoul the need to move last before the issue lades " I he silence is de.itemng. she said Many women spoke ol a sense ol jiersonal lossatter Hartington resigned ’ 'Can't we |uvt gel together arid show soiir ' sup,xut tor h e r," said one wo drug trafficking in Portland "The Bureau's narcotics arrests are up 52 percent and some ot the biggest arrests in Ihe Bureau's history have been made in the past tew months " I h e question that needs to be answered is. to whom is the Chiet of Police accountable said Harrington '' Is tlx' Chiet accountable Io the Mayor and the citizens o f Portland or the Police Union and other individuals within the Police Bureau and the crimi nal justice system," Harrington said Many Black Portlanders whom the Observer contacted expressed sorrow in the resignation o f Hartington " A l though there were problems in her ad ministration, it was no more than loniR'r Chiefs " " I t appeared to me that the criticism against her was inten tional on the part ol the Police Union and some upper level managers within the Bureau," said Jean Vcssup Ves- sup is an investigator with the State ot Oregon C ivil Rights Division and Vice Chairman of the Police Internal Inves tigation Audit Committee < PIIAC) Vcssup gave the former Chief credit for opening up dialogue between the Police Bureau. Black citizens ol Port land, and City Hall Vcssup said by Harrington being a woman was also a main reason why she experienced dit licullies during her tenure as Chiet Robert Phillips. Chairman ol the Greater Northeast Police Vlvisory Council, said that Harrington was only Chiet to address the Council in its I I yeat history "Fortner Chiel Ron Still rclused to attend any ol our meetings "H e told iir ' that I r - d td n i believe in citizen involveiiR'til in police w o rk." said Phillips Phillips said that he hopes the new Chiel w ill continue Io tx- sensitive and responsible to the legitimate concerns ol the Black community " I think that the new Chiet must continue the dialogue with the Black com m unity. while al the same lime lead the Bureau " " In addition, he/she must re ceive lu ll support Irom the Mavot and city commissioners in charring out his/her tasks " ITnllips said Harrington didn't have lu ll support from the city government body Others acknowledged the d ilticu lly ol lighting the entrenched power ol conservative elements in the Police Bureau arxl union " I leel that the culprit in the whole thing is tjiolice union president) Stan Petcis." said Carmen ( hso. a program chairwoman with American Friends Service Comnnllee 'Something has got to be done to investigate that man "Sexist and racist" is how ( athy Siemens dcsinhcd Harrington s neat inent bv the Special Review Comniis sion ami by her subordinates in the Police Bureau The former ch ie fs troubles began, SietiR'iis said, wlivn she banned the sleeper hold and tired the o il leers who sold "IXin't Choke I 111, Smoke I i l l " I shirts Rank and tile otticers were unwilling to to lli w Harrington because she was a woman, and also beeause she w as w tiling to communicate w uh blue k leaders. Siemens said Mav DuBois. X ', who described her sell as an "o u trag e d w o m a n ." criticized Mavor ( lark " I think Clark threw her to the w olves." DuBois said I think hv stiould have stood up tor her "E ven the mafia shows lo y a lly ." said another woman People contemplating a move should think about find ing a good home for their money. ! • * man •• • c • », , "i ‘ *“ *•<** .A* «•* • . • J s /
