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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2004)
Page A4 rt lattò ©bscrucr M aj, 12. 2 0 0 4 O pinion Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer Inquest Jury: Police Reforms Needed Portland Bureau can do better at training and minority recruitment t o r r’s 'S n note: o te : T h e follow f n i t n w i ing no E d d i ito The statement is from the inquest ju ry which heard three days o f public testimony in the March 28 police shooting death o f Jam es Jahar Perez, an unarmed African-Am eri can motorist: As members of a randomly se lected jury, we differ in gender, ethnicity and age. After hearing nearly 40 witnesses under oath, we write as one to state our observa tions about the death of James Jahar Perez. We do express our deepest sym pathy to both the Perez family and to the two police officers involved in this tragedy. The Perez family lost a loved one and has many iin:ancwz*r»»i1 unanswered nuoetinnc questions. Tk» The r>ffiz’_ offic ers did not come to their shift that night expecting this would happen. Now they must deal with psycho logical problems that can drive of ficers in their situation from the profession they intended to make a lifelong career. We hope theCity of Portland will ensure that the Perez family and the officers receive any help they may need to withstand the emotional toll they have suf fered. As to public policy, we realize we have no special expertise for draw ing conclusions. Nevertheless, al though our verdict was limited to four narrow questions and based upon the facts presented to us, we I'o r more info: u u w .kn ih d .o rg or call, 503-491-7435 Visual A rts Thcatre/M H C C Doors open 3 pm Broadcast 4-5 pin HOME GROWN LIVE MARY HOME COMPANION CALENDAR m-miod * »» »1 o a» w anted ♦ to /Apfar offer I'/sma som e F broader thoughts and observations in the hope that this regrettable incident may result in positive change. It seems to us, from the detailed information we received about the events that led to Mr. Perez’s death a. .. — ... involvement. police officers’ ability to articulate While again noting our lack o f racially neutral reasons for traffic specialized knowledge, wecanonly stops like this one. We think the wonder what the end result would officers in this case suspected that have been if tactics and training illegal drug activity was afoot. This called for the officers to back off suspicion was ultimately confirmed. and radio for support when Mr. Yet, they seemed surprisingly un able to directly state that suspicion. There is an understandable ten sion between a com m unity’s need for aggressive law enforcement - using technical traffic violations as a tool when necessary to ferret out suspected criminal activity - and the need for law-abiding members of a community to know they are not being targeted for improper rea sons. We understand from you, C hief Foxworth, that the Portland Police Bureau has a process to ex and from the general knowledge we Perezchose toclearly affirm his lack amine these kinds o f traffic stops have of the circumstances o f the o f cooperation by putting up his for racial neutrality. We further shooting o f Ms. Kendra James last tinted window. While not wishing understand there are active recruit year, that the Portland Police Bu to engage in second-guessing, we ment measures to draw officers from reau needs to make a fundamental firmly feel the need for the best afullspectrum ofPortlandcitizens. re-examination o f its tactics and minds to re-examine existing policy We urge that these efforts and the training for officers in traffic stops and the implementation o f policy results be shared with the public. o f uncooperative motorists - par through training. We also urge that consideration be ticularly those suspected o f drug We were concerned about the given to having an independently za I here is an understandable tension between a community's need for aggressive law enforcement... and the need for law-abiding members of a community to know they are not being targeted for improper reasons^ elected police commissioner. We learned a great deal about the risk police officers face and the training these men and women re ceive. The public at large should be similarly informed so that citizens may better understand the dynam ics o f policing a com munity made up o f all kinds of people. We encourage the Portland Po lice Bureau to follow up with ex perts, such as the ones we heard, to test the effects o f cultural differ ences on the reactions of both po lice officers and suspects in real life situations todetermine ifother kinds o f training are necessary. We also endorse C hief Foxw orth's planned expansion o f taser availability and training. Inclosing, we have learned much from our service on the inquest jury. We hope the Portland Police Bureau and the community will benefit as we have. Shonnet Brand; Donna Byrd; Samuel Hand; Sarah Jensen; Arsenio Medrano; Marcelino Perez Jr. APRIL 24TH 2OO4 EAST MEETS WEST—THE VOCAL STYLINGS FROM THE BAY AREA'S CATHI WALKUP AND NEW YORK VOCALISTS, JUDY SILVANO AND ANDREA WOLPER MAY 1ST 2004 THE BLACKNOTES—FUNKY & SOULFUL GREAT ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS. VERY DANCEABLE MUSIC & GREAT VOCAL HARMONIES JUNE 19TH 2004 TRICLOPS ORGAN TRIO—THIS TRIO IS COMPRISED OF DRUMMER/REINHARDT MELZ, KEYBOARDIST/ JOHN SANDERS & GU1TARIST/SCOTT PEMBERTON 89.1 JAZZ/BLUES/NPR NEWS Advertise with diversity in ‘We Will Build Public Trust E d ito r’s note: The fo llo w in g stressfu l and so m ew h at over- statement is fro m Portland Police whelmingexperience for them. This C h ief D errick Foxworth in re letter contained some observations sponse to issues raised in the letter that also represent some common by jurors in the Jam es Jahar Perez community concerns. inquest: I want to thank the inquest jurors for issuing this letter and for their commitment to the inquest process. They are community members who served on the first inquest in 20 years and I’m sure it was a very lattò (©bficrtu v or above national standards. W e acknow ledge that there have T here is a com m on tendency been reported cases o f racial pro to intertw ine racial profiling and filing that have occurred in some p re-tex t stops. T h ese are tw o police agencies in this country. separate subject m atters. Pre-text I cannot say that out o f the hun stops are w hen an o fficer m akes dreds o f thousands o f contacts a law ful stop o f a person in order Portland Police Officers make ev to investigate a potential crim e ery year, that racial profiling has unrelated to the stop. T his is a never occurred in Portland. How valuable tool for o fficers, w hich ever, racial profiling is not, and will is used to respond to crim inal not, be tolerated in the Portland activity or behavior in order to Police Bureau. If anyone feels they reduce crim e and im prove neigh- have been the subject o f racial pro- The Portland Police Bureau does not train, teach, endorse, support or condone any type o f racial profiling Call 5O3-288-ÍX733 ads@portlandob seiver.com **AII classes are free of charge! — Portland Police Chief Derrick Foxworth African American Health Coalition, Inc. Presents for your health, Wellness W ithin REACH Activity Calendar A e r o b ic s Mallory Ave. Christian Church Pilates Matt Dishman Hon, Wed, fn , 6-7am, Pierce • 5:30-6:20pm, Granville • 6:30-7:30pm, Nickerson Mon, 12:1 S-1:l5pm , Jenkins Humboldt Elementary Stretching/Body Sculpting Tue, Thu, 6-7pm, Keller (Class c o u n ts/ o f Matt Dishman) Low Impact Aerobics Daniel’s Memorial Church Tue, Thu, 7-8am, Lois Tue, 7:15-8:15pm, Granville W a lk in g G r o u p W ater Aerobics (Contact AAHC) Salvation Army Matt Dishman Sat, 12:30pm, Woods Matt Dishman Peninsula Park A f r ic a n D a n c e Weight, Mgnt./Condition ing U. of Portland Indoor Track Tue, Thu, 9 -1 Oam, Hasan Matt Dishman Sat, 10-1 lam, Addo Yoga Wild Oats Market Body Conditioning W ild Oats Market Tue, Thu, 7:3O-8:3Opm, O'Rourke Sal, 9 :30-10:30am, Nickerson Daniel's Hemorul Church. 1234 NE Killingsworth (12th 4 Killingsworth) Humboldt Elementary. 4915 N Gantenbem Malory Avenue O m a n Chutdi (Gym), 126 NE Alberta Matt Dishman. 77 NE Knott Peninsula Park. 700 N Portland Salvation Army, 532S N Williams U, of Portland Indoor Track, 500 N Willamette Wild Oats Market, 3535 NE 15th In regards to training, the Port land Police Bureau has always, and will continue toeonstantly develop and review its training, because we want to offer the best training to Portland Police Officers possible. As I said in the inquest, the Police Bureau has had considerable com munity input into our current poli cies and training, and now we will look at the best practices on a na tional level to ensure we are aligned R a c ia l and Ethnic A p proach«« to C om m u nity H o a lth Coniaci AAHC at 503-413-1150 or visit our web silt at wwwjahc-portfand orç filing, then I urge them to corn'- forward to the Independent Police Review Division with their com plaints. The Police Bureau will continue to look for ways to better com m uni cate and educate the public in why we do what we do. In doing so, this will create and enhance the public’s understanding and trust in their police. Jurors’ Concerns are Helpful E ditor ’s Note: The fo llo w in g statem ent is M a yo r Vera K a tz's answ er to the concerns o f ju ro rs in the Jam es Ja h a r Perez inquest: Thank you for your thoughtful letter o f M ay 5, regarding your im pressions and reco m m en d a tions developed as a result o f your service in the public inquest reg ard in g the d eath o f Jam es Jahar Perez. You certainly did not have to take this additional step after your ju ry du ties w ere d is charged. Your desire to be part o f a constructive dialogue around the issues raised exhibits a high degree o f civic responsibility. As you note in your letter, some o f y o u r s u g g e s tio n s a re , o f course, already being considered. We review on an ongoing basis how our already stringent police training can be im proved. The C ity is com m itted to recruiting officers from all segm ents o f our com m unity and we have review ed and the com m unity they patrol. C learly, the shooting deaths of K endra Jam es and Jam es Jahar Perez have raised questions that n eed to be a d d re sse d . C h ie f Foxw orth and I w elcom e those questions and we w elcom e the type o f thoughtful recom m enda tions you have developed. Y our com m ents regarding the scars left by this tragic incident reflect how seriously you u n d er took your duties. Thank you for your valuable service. The inquest, for all its lim ita tions, greatly inform ed our c o m m unity, not only about the case at hand, but also regarding such our com m itm ent to a com m unity issu es as p o lic e tra in in g and policing approach that em p h a policy. It w as very helpful and sizes the im portance o f personal has established a useful p rece rela tio n sh ip s betw een o fficers dent. The shooting deaths o f Kendra James and James Jahar Perez have raised questions that need to be addressed. , Advertise with diversity •'Must be 21 or older to participate. Please contact AAHC before showing up to the first class and for more information at 5O3-4I3-I85O or kdempsey@aahc-portland.org. Please receive approval from your doctor before beginning exercise class. A Prmjrnni ni Ihe Aftnan Anwr«an Hnnltfi Coni Imn. Inc Spontored by IN i Center» fcr O teen» Control and Prevention ¡COC) borhood livability. In regards to racial profiling, I w ant to e m p h asize the definition: It is the use o f race as the sole basis for ju stify in g traffic stops or oth er police action. T he P o rt land Police Bureau does not train, teach, endorse, support o r co n done any type o f racial profiling. This is a practice that contradicts o u r o rg an iz atio n al valu es and com m unity policing philosophy. in cl 1 P o r tla n h (©bserlu'v Call 503-288-0033 or email: ads@portlandobserver.com
