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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2017)
May 17, 2017 The Page 3 CAREERS EDUCATION INSIDE Week in Review This page Sponsored by: page 2 pages 8-9 O PINION M ETRO page 13 The former director of this former northeast Portland home for foster youth has been charged with the theft of over $800,000 of monies intended to support foster care services, children and families. The Rodney Avenue home was recently purchased by the neighborhood to keep it from being demolished. Foster Provider Charged Grand jury cites money laundering and theft A federal grand jury in Portland has charged Mary Holden Ayala, 56, a longtime resident of Portland, with theft of over $800,000, money laundering and filing false personal tax returns. Ayala served as the president and executive direc- tor of Give Us This Day, an Oregon state-licensed private foster care agency and residential program for hard-to-place foster youth, including youth of color, until its closing in September 2015. The indictment alleges that between 2009 and 2015, Ayala embezzled at least $800,000 in funds intended to support foster care services, children and Arts & ENTERTAINMENT C LASSIFIEDS C ALENDAR page 20 F OOD families. In addition to other crimes, the indictment also alleges that Ayala filed false personal income tax returns in tax years 2009 through 2014, and failed to file a personal tax return in 2015. FBI agents arrested Ayala last week in Holly Springs, Miss. She appeared before a magistrate judge and a separate detention hearing will be held later this week, officials said. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and un- til proven guilty. This case was investigated by the FBI, the De- partment of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. Police Chief Search Widens pages 10-17 pages 18 page 19 Community input sought in selection process Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced an online survey Mon- day for community input on the qualifications needed for a police chief to guide the Portland Police Bureau. The mayor also official- ly opened a recruitment process, launching a national search for a police chief that is expected to be completed this July, with a job of- fer coming thereafter. “The nature of police work in America is changing, and Portland deserves the chance to evaluate national talent in our efforts to create a 21st Century police force focused on building community trust, embracing diversity, and liv- ing up to the highest standards of transparency and accountability,” Wheeler said. Current Police Chief Mike Marshman, appointed to the job last year by former mayor Charlie Hales, has already been asked to re- apply for the position. But if he is to stay, Wheeler has said he will have to be committed to the reforms the mayor has been espousing. Marshman recently won the support of rank and file police of- ficers, but has also been criticized by Rev. T. Allen Bethel, a leader of the African American commu- nity and member of the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, for not working hard enough to imple- ment police reforms as a member of an oversight panel. Wheeler is asking people to spread the word about the on- line survey for community input which can be found online at port- landoregon.gov/omf/PoliceChief- Survey. “This national search gives our community the chance to address fundamental questions about the direction of policing in Portland. I am dedicated to receiving and acting upon input provided by the community throughout this pro- cess,” said Wheeler.