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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2000)
Page A2 January 5, 2000 (Elje ^lortlanb ©bseruer i Police News/Vancouver H H H H H Kroeker attends first Chief Forum By THE SI A H Clinton Renominates Greenspan WASHINGTON(AP) Alan Greenspan, who has guided the nation's monetary policy since Ronald Reagan was president, w as nominated by President Clinton to serve a fourth term as chairman o f the Federal Reserve. Greenspan’s handling of monetary policy has w<on praise from Clinton administration officials, and analysts credit his handling o f interest rates with helping continue the nation’s unprecedented economic growth. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate but Greenspan, a Republican, is expected to have little trouble winning approval intheGOP-controlled Senate. Passenger Trains Collide in Norway OSLO, Norway (AP) - Two passenger trains with 96 people aboard collided, killing at least seven people, injuring dozens and sparking a fire that was hampering efforts to locate more victims. Almost four hours after the accident, one o f the trains still burned intensely. Police said they were afraid to even guess how many people died until they got a complete overv iew o f the passengers. At least one locomotive overturned and flames could be seen shooting out of the windows o f at least one passenger car. Officials said it was too early to say what caused the crash. Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker met with community leaders and residents this week at his first C hief's Forum, w hich is a bim onthly m eeting w ith com m unity representatives. At the meeting Monday, Kroeker said he wants Portland police officers to connect with residents throughout the city as a way to reduce crime. He also applauded the Portland Police Bureau for its work on New Year’s Eve during the city’s Millennium Celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square. One o f Kroeker's goals, he said, is for the Portland Police Bureau to be an organization o f "motivated tough cops with compassion, competence and character” that works with the latest technological tools and weapons, and is free o f corruption. Kroeker, a Los Angeles police veteran was sworn in December 17 as Portland’s 43rd police chief. He replaced former Portland Police C hief Charles Moose, who resigned in July to become chief in Montgomery County, Md. K roeker, a n a tiv e o f Dallas, Ore. W ho grew up in Africa, France and California as the son o f m issionary p a re n ts , re tire d in 1997 as one of Los A n g e le s ’ most w ell- r e s p e c te d and popular d e n u t v chiefs. Mark Kroeker Crimestoppers CrimeStoppers Vandal ism/Theft The Portland Police Bureau, in cooperation with Crime Stoppers, is asking for your help in identifying the person or persons responsible for a vandalism and theft. On Monday, December 20, 1999, at approximately 10:50 PM, the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division truck was parked at Southeast Peacock Lan€ and Stark Street, after members completed an evening , o f soliciting donations for the organization at the annual Christmas light display. At 7 o ’clock the next morning, the truck, a white Ford F-250, was found to have been broken into and vandalized. The truck was sprayed with green paint, and the drivers side door lock punched out. Two small wooden barrels containing donations collected the night before, were missing from inside. The dollar amount of the loss, including clean up and repairs, is estimated to be $ 1,000. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward o f up to $ 1,000 for information, reported toCrime Stoppers, which leads to an arrest in this case or any unsolved felony crime, and you need not give your name. Call Crime Stoppers at (503) 823- HELP. Russia Sets Early Closing drug houses an involved process Presidential Election m R k hard Ri< tou . E ast P r k u n c t C ommander LOR Tut P ortland O bserver MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s Federation Council, the upper house o f parliament, meets in special session to set the date for a presidential election, which Acting President Vladimir Putin will enter as a clear favorite. Yeltsin, 68, shocked the world when he announced his resignation on New Year’s Eve. A new president is due to be named at a pol 1 most likely to be held on March 26. Under the post-Soviet constitution, the election must be held within three months after a president steps down. Banks Find Problems Few WASHINGTON (A P)-A m ericans returned to work and businesses and government offices reopened without major computer problems. President Clinton’s Y2K adviser predicted a smooth transition for most o f the country but cautioned that some small retailers still could have difficulties because a few haven't “done the b u sin e ss e f f e c tiv e ly ." T h e S m all B usin ess Administration planned to monitor businesses for Y2K problems through 10 regional and 70 district offices. Y2K chief John Koskinen said the country’s round-the- clock Y2K center would soon begin scaling down operations, calling the smooth transition a “great gift" and worth the time and effort. Suspects Linked to Same Terror Group BURLINGTON, V t.(A P)-Federal prosecutors linkeda Canadian woman and an Algerian man arrested at border entries in Vermont and Washington state to the same cell o f an Algerian militant organization. In court documents, prosecutors said Lucia Garofalo and Ahmed Ressam were members o f the Armed Islamic Group, which is as GIA. The GIA has been blamed fo some of the bloodiest attacks in A lgeria's civil war, bombings in France and an airplane hijacking. Prosecutors said the information came from a foreign government, which he did not identify. Also, a magistrate agreed to deny bail for Garofalo until her trial on immigration charges. H a r r is o n H ospitalized With Stab Wound LONDON (AP) - An intruder broke into George Harrison’s Oxfordshire mansion, stabbing the former Beatle in the chest and attacking his wife, authorities said. Harrison suffered a one-inch stab wound that was deep enough to penetrate his chest wall but missed any major organs, said Andrew Pengelly, medical directorof the Royal Berkshire Hospital. However. Harrison was transferred to Harefield Hospital, which has a special chest unit. O livia Harrison received only superficial injuries and was not hospitalized. East Precinct officers recently concluded their sixth drug, house mission this fall. The targeted suspected^ methamphetamine (meth) houses were between 1-205 and 148lh Avenue, between Southeast Stark Street and Southeast Harold Street, several houses in the Lents neighborhood, and some houses adjacent to Northeast 102nd Avenue. This mission resulted in 91 arrests and 118 cars being towed. Approximately 10 to 12 drug houses were confirmed and evidence was gathered that may lead to their closure. The continued goal o f these missions is to reduce the amount o f property crime occurring in East Precinct by closing as many active drug houses as possible. It has long been believed that in East Precinct a large number o f street criminals (thieves, burglars, car prowlers, etc.) are meth addicts, and commit property crimes to support their habits. They use the stolen merchandise to trade for illegal drugs. If a drug house in a neighborhood is closed, there are fewer reasons for illegal drug users to frequent and victimize that neighborhood. The illegal drug user lose their drug source and the “safe house” where they can hide and sell their stolen goods. Illegal drugs users typically don’t like the increased visibility and inconvenience o f having to locate a new source for their drugs and the possibility o f being “discovered” in a new neighborhood. Additionally, towing illegal drug users’ and sellers' cars because o f license suspensions, insurance problems, or other traffic-related offenses, reduces their mobility and sends a clear message o f intolerance. It is expected that some of the illegal drug users and sellers and will end up in jail, some will leave the area and the ones that remain will be less effective as drug sellers and thieves. This mission was started with a list o f suspected meth houses. The list was compiled with the assistance of' other precinct officers, crime prevention representatives and community members. The list was continuously updated as the mission progressed and new information, became avai lable. One sergeant and seven officers were- assigned to the mission. During the mission, one or two, officers would use undercover cars; the other officers; assigned would use marked police cars. There are two irrefutable traits o f “drug houses.” When( the drug dealer has meth, the house is active. When the- drug dealer does not have meth, the house is generally/ quiet. Not every meth house is active every day. At the beginning o f each shift, officers assigned to thisj mission would spread out and look for active houses. When an active house was located, the undercover carr would monitor the activity. The undercover officers; would then identi ty persons and cars leaving the location;; traffic stops were made at this point based on traffic; violations. Most o f the people leaving drug houses are illegal drug. users. They tend to have had their drivers licenses; suspended, drive uninsured vehicles or are the subject o f arrest warrants. During the missions, contact with , these subjects often resulted in arrests and frequently, vehicles were towed. Searching the subject after arrest sometimes resulted in the seizure o f drugs and weapons. Because the arrested person was observed leaving a specific location, these arrests also documented speci fic criminal acts which are defined as nuisance activities in the Chronic Nuisance Property Ordinance, ) The information was then provided to the Neighborhood ResponseTeam (NRT) officers, and property owners were contacted. In some cases, the property owner sent the MNMRMHMMM Former teacher wills 12 acres to City of Vancouver Land to become part o f Brush Prairie preserve CONTRIBUTED STORY eor T iie P ortland O bserver The Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Services recently finalized the acquisition o f approximately 12 acres o f property located adjacent to the existing 41 acre Lauretta Noreen Forest Preserve in the Brush Prairie area o f central Clark County. As a former teacher, Laura Minkler appreciated the education opportunities provided at the preserve and specified in her will that Clark County be an opportunity to exercise an option to purchase given property upon her passing. Following numerous public hearings held from 1989- 1992, a citizen-based Open Space Commission identified the area as important open space land. The area is one o f the 19 projects recommended by citizen committee for acquisition funding under the Conservation Futures Programs, approved by the Clark County Board o f Commissioners in January 1998. The property was purchased through these programs in concert with a matching grant from the Washington State Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, available through the W ashington W ildlife and Recreation Program. The preserve was originally established by an earlier donation of 12 acres by Minkler in memory ofher mother. Another area resident, Doris Troxel contributed 29 additional acres through the Trust for Public Lands. The preserve will continue to be conserved for its open space qualities and in support o f environmental and outdoor education and recreational opportunities it provides for area school children and residents. (Please see 'Policing' page 6) Just think: Your s is b rig h t, healt and headed I college one day love the direction your career has taken. 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