March 17. 2010
Il!' Jlortbniì» Qftbseruer
Page 3
IN S ID E
W o m en in H istory
H ealth
M atters
page 8-9
photo by J ake
T homas /T he P ortland O bserver
Longstanding issues with the Portland Police Bureau got an airing Sunday before the
Citizen Review Committee.
Police Reforms Gain Steam
New calls for
independent
oversight
by J ake
T homas
T he P ortland O bserver
tNTEDTAINMENT
page 10-13
HERE AT THE OSCARS
O pinion
page 14-15
WE APPRECIATE A N Y
FILM THAT DEPICTS
blacks as isnorant
PRIMITIVE. ILLITERATE
poor , dirty , lazy ,
CRIMINAL ABUSIVE
UNHEALTHY and last
BUT NOT LEAST VIOLENT
C lassifieds
EL
O bservador
F o o d
page 20
page 16-17
Portlanders concerned about
police accountability gave up their
Sunday afternoon to gather at a
forum at Portland State University
organized by the Citizen Review
Committee, a board that reviews
complaints regarding police offic­
ers.
The event was initially intended
to address the 2006 death o f James
Chasse, a mentally-ill man who was
beaten to death during an arrest
confrontation, but the forum took
on a broader range o f issues due to
recent events surrounding the po­
lice force.
In January, Aaron Campbell, a
distraught and unarmed man was
killed in another police confronta­
tion. His death has deepened re­
sentment and mistrust o f the police
among broad swaths o f the commu­
nity.
The meeting was also held just as
the city is gearing up for tense nego­
tiation with the police union, which
could address a host o f issues, in­
cluding officer accountability. Com­
missioner Randy Leonard and Au­
ditor La Vonne Griffin-Valade have
introduced an ordinance to be con­
sidered by City Council this week
that will strengthen independent
oversight o f the police.
The chair o f the nine-person
committee, Michael Bigham, opened
the meeting by acknowledging that a short period o f time, but when an
a considerable amount o f grief, fear, officer is charged with misconduct
confusion, and anger has welled up the process is much more drug out.
in the community following the
“There is no prompt accountabil­
death o f Campbell.
ity for any police bureau officer,” he
“Right now is a very difficult time said.
in our community,’’ he said.
O ’Connor also brought up the
Bingham noted that the CRC has point that many police officers don’t
limited powers, but said that the live in Portland, weakening their
committee would listen carefully to connection to the community they
peoples’ thoughts and do the abso­ serve.
lute most it could with what it had.
“It’s not just a question if people
“Remember we are here to listen feel that they’re members o f the
to you,’’ he said.
com m unity; th e y ’re not,” said
Joe Walsh began the citizen com­ O ’Connor.
ment period by faulting the bureau
He said that because so many
for quickly returning the officer who don’t live in Portland, they become
shot Campbell, Ronald Frashour, to more like an “occupying army.”
work while the outrage o f the inci­
David Cox, a resident o f north­
dent remained at a fever pitch. He east Portland, said that his interac­
said that the bureau should have tions with police have been largely
suspended him with pay.
positive.
“That would have been a won­
“However, obviously, I am a
derful message to send to the citi­ white middle-class, middle-aged
zens o f this city,” he said.
person. I was treated with respect,”
He also pointed out that the dis­ he said.
patch tapes o f the Campbell inci­
Dan Handelm an, o f Portland
dent, which were released to the Copwatch, pointed out that the In­
public, reveal that Campbell was dependent Police Review division,
shot with a beanbag gun, had a dog o f which the committee was a part,
released on him, and was ultimately is served by the city attorney, which
shot by the police.
also works for the Police Bureau. He
“Now when people listen to that said that this constitutes a conflict
and they read that in the newspaper o f interest.
they do not believe they own the
“You need your own attorney,”
police department. They are in fear Handelman told the committee.
o f the police department. That is a
Speaking on a number o f sub­
disaster,” he said.
jects, Handelman suggested that
Chris O ’Connor, a public defender the Police Bureau become the re­
who often handles cases with the sponsibility o f all o f City Council,
police, pointed out that the police not just one commissioner as it is
can quickly conduct an investiga­ currently. He also said that medical
tion when a crime has been commit­
continued
on page 17
ted, and defendants can get a trial in