September 23, 2015
Page 5
City Makes Progress on Police Reforms
But first
assessment has
many issues
remaining
O livia O livia
T he P ortland O bserver
The city of Portland has its
first report card on how it’s
doing in making progress on
police reforms in light of last
year’s settlement of a law-
suit over the way police deal
with people with mental ill-
ness and others, including
people of color.
The Department of Justice
met with the Albina Ministe-
rial Coalition for Justice and
Police Reform, as well as
Mayor Charlie Hales, Com-
missioner Amanda Fritz,
Auditor Mary Hull Cabal-
lero, and Police Chief Lar-
ry O’Dea last week to dis-
cuss the report, which will
be presented at the October
meeting of the Community
Oversight Advisory Board.
“The Portland Police Bu-
reau has been working hard
by
T. Allen Bethel
to implement the provisions
outlined in the Settlement
Agreement,” Chief O’Dea
said. “This report now gives
us the first feedback from
all of our efforts so far. I am
pleased that we are partially
compliant for a large part of
their recommendations.”
The Albina Ministerial
Coalition had a separate re-
sponse, noting that so many
issues remain.
“The city has made prog-
ress, but the community
needs to see more on some
key issues of accountability
and oversight,” said Dr. T.
Allen Bethel, co-chair of the
Albina Ministerial Alliance
Coalition.
The report notes that the
city has not yet acted on the
“48 hour rule,” a provision in
the Portland Police Associa-
tion’s Collective Bargaining
Agreement that provides for
48-hour advance notice be-
fore an officer is interviewed
in an investigation that could
lead to disciplinary action.
The justice group points
out how this practice departs
from national best policing
practices by not requiring
statements from officers in
a timely fashion. Another
point of contention is the re-
porting on when police use
deadly force.
“The recent case involv-
ing the tasering and beat-
ing of teenager Thai Gurule
demonstrates that this did
not happen,” a statement
from the coalition said. “The
community awaits account-
ability regarding that case,
specifically whether any of-
ficers will be held account-
able for their conduct.”
The full Justice Depart-
ment report can be read
at
justice.gov/usao-or/pr/
us-v-city-portland-compli-
ance-assessment-report.
Portland Renter Protections Proposed
Portland City Commissioner
Dan Saltzman has responded
to last week’s protest over sky-
rocking rents and an onslaught
of no-cause evictions this sum-
mer by proposing some renter
protections.
Saltzman wants to require
landlords to provide tenants
with a 90-day notice on no-
fault evictions, instead of the
current 30-day requirement,
and also a 90 day notice for
rent hikes of over 10 percent.
His proposal drew the support
of Mayor Charlie Hales.
“Our city is experiencing re-
cord low vacancy rates coupled
with record high rents, creating
the perfect storm of housing
uncertainty for many Portland
families,” Saltzman said.
Subscribe ! 503-288-0033
Fill Out & Send To:
Attn: Subscriptions, PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208
$45.00 for 3 months • $80.00 for 6 mo. • $125.00 for 1 year
(please include check with this subscription form)
Name:
Telephone:
Address:
or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com
Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer
Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com
The proposal fell short from
what the Community Alliance
of Tenants demanded: A one-
year moratorium on all evic-
tions and a 12-month notice for
rent hikes over 5 percent.
According to commercial
broker Marcus & Millichap, the
average Portland apartment is
now renting at a record-break-
ing $1,100 per month.
The Law Offices of
Patrick John Sweeney, P.C.
Patrick John Sweeney
Attorney at Law
1549 SE Ladd, Portland, Oregon
Portland:
Hillsoboro:
Facsimile:
(503) 244-2080
(503) 244-2081
(503) 244-2084
Email:Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com
Corner Stone Community Cogic
C hristian W omen C ouncil
Sixth Annual
Scholarship Benefit
Twelve Tribes Cuisine Festival
Saturday October 3, 2015
Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church
4927 NE 55th Ave.
Portland, Or 97218
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Get ready for fine dining at its’ best!
Italian • Oriental • Mexican • African •
American • Soul • Cajun • B-B-Q • Seafood
Southern • Vegetarian • Desert • Salads and more
Donation $12.00
10yrs. - Adults
9yrs. & under pay at door
$1.00 each year of age
This event supports the
Della Mae Johnson
Scholarship Foundation
For more information, please call 503 283-6312