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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2017)
Page 4 July 19, 2017 A Step Back on 48-Hour Rule DA says agreement violates Oregon Law by Z aChary s enn t he P ortland o bserver The Portland Police Bureau’s controversial 48- hour rule, which was eliminated in negotiations with the city’s police union last year, is now back stronger than ever. The rule was a lightning rod for advocates fight- ing for reforms to bring more accountability to of- ficer-involved shootings because it gave officers a two-day buffer period during which they could not be interviewed by the police bureau’s Internal Af- fairs Department. Police shootings spur two separate investigations; the first of which is a criminal investigation to exam- ine if there was any illegal wrongdoing on the offi- cer’s behalf, and the second of which is an adminis- trative investigation which determines if the officer acted in violation of bureau policies. While the officer’s right to remain silent is ob- served in the criminal investigation, the police bu- reau can compel statements from them during the administrative investigation. The District Attorney’s office, along with the Or- egon Department of Justice, has now determined that police agencies cannot compel officers to make statements for administrative investigations while Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 criminal investigations are ongoing. Rod Underhill, the Multnomah County D.A., says that compelling an accused officer to make a statement could effectively immunize them from criminal prosecution. He cited a 1984 Oregon Supreme Court decision that effectively deter- mined that public employees gain transactional immunity by participating in administrative in- vestigations that occur concurrently with crimi- nal investigations. Under new city rules, which memos show have been observed since May, Portland Police officers are not compelled to give statements during an administrative interview until after the case has gone through the grand jury process. This could give officers several weeks before they are compelled to participate in an interview about their conduct both leading up and during a shooting. Constantin Severe, who serves as the chair of the Independent Police Review Board, says that this new policy effectively turns the defunct 48- hour rule into a 40-day rule. He argues that the changes will adversely affect the police bureau’s relationship with the community. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says that the city is evaluating its options following the policy change, and that he remains opposed to the 48- hour rule and the even longer potential waiting period. Making Amends C ontinued froM P age 3 name on Deady Hall. Matthew Deady, supported slavery before founding the UO in the 1800s but later changed his views. They de- cided to rename Dunn Hall. Libby Tower, Unthank’s daughter, said her father would be amused by having a building he didn’t design carry his name. But he would support the reasons for the name change. “I think it is really more the symbolism of what was Dunn Hall and making a correction for the right reason,” said Tower, 63. After his graduation with a degree in architecture, DeNorval Unthank Jr. stayed in Eugene. During his long career as an archi- tect, he designed buildings on the campus — including McKenzie Hall, the former law school — as Showdogs is a full service salon. We do baths, all over hair cuts, tooth brush- ing, nail trims, soft claws, flea treatments, mud baths, and ear cleaning. We also have health care and grooming products to keep your pet clean in between visits. Show Dogs Grooming Salon & Boutique 926 N. Lombard Portland, OR 97217 503-283-1177 Tuesday-Saturday 9am-7pm Monday 10am-4pm Yo dawg is gonna look like a show dawg and your kitty will be pretty. well as houses and other buildings around the city and the Northwest. “His fingerprints are all over Oregon,” said Eugene City Coun- cilor Greg Evans, who was a friend of Unthank Jr.’s. Other notable buildings de- signed by Unthank Jr. include the Lane County Public Service Building and Kennedy Middle School in Eugene, and Thurston High School in Springfield. He also taught architecture at UO while still working as a profes- sional architect. A naming committee, which included Evans, picked four fi- nalists earlier this year from 19 candidates who met renaming criteria for the former Dunn Hall. UO President Michael Schill then selected DeNorval Unthank Jr. in May; the UO Board of Trustees made it official in June.