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April 11, 2018
Community in Shock
C ontinued froM P age 3
man, who they said was acting erratically.
Other bystanders and community members
said the opposite.
The incident sparked backlash among
civil rights advocates, including the group
PDX Resistance, who criticized the po-
lice’s actions on social media, and from the
American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon.
“Was there any attempt to de-escalate
the situation before officers open fire in-
side the homeless shelter full of innocent
bystanders? If not, why not?” wrote ACLU
of Oregon Executive Director David Rod-
gers. “We join many in the community by
calling for a prompt, thorough, and trans-
parent investigation into this shooting. The
public deserves to get a detailed account of
why this man was shot and what actions
Portland Police took to avoid yet another
fatal shooting.”
The officers involved in the shooting
were identified Tuesday. Interviews with
the police involved were underway, au-
thorities said.
City Team shelter Executive Director
Mike Giering told the Portland Observer
that they are “fully cooperating” with po-
lice on the investigation.
“We’re obviously saddened by the trag-
edy that took place Saturday night. And for
us it’s mostly difficult because we as an or-
ganization exist to assist and serve people
that are struggling with the issues of addic-
tion and homelessness and mental illness,”
Giering said.
He said Elifritz had not received ser-
vices from the shelter in the past.
Portland Police have been under scru-
tiny in recent years for their use of force
against mentally ill people. A 2012 Depart-
ment of Justice investigation found that the
bureau was using too much force against
those with mental illnesses. A report from
October by outside consultants Rosenbaum
& Associates noted a greater emphasis on
verbal de-escalation techniques should be
integrated into police training. They were
tasked with evaluating the bureau’s use of
force as part of the settlement agreement
from the 2012 investigation.
Police Chief Danielle Outlaw released a
statement Sunday afternoon acknowledg-
ing the officer-involved shooting and em-
phasizing that the police department will
keep the public informed of details as the
investigation unfolds.
“The Portland Police Bureau values hu-
man life and accepts the authority to use le-
thal force with great reverence,” said Chief
Outlaw. “I am aware a video was taken
of this incident by a community member
and that video was posted to the internet.
Please be reminded that deadly force in-
vestigations are extremely complex and
take time. The Police Bureau is committed
to transparency and will ensure the entire
investigation is released in a timely man-
ner that does not impact the integrity of the
investigation.”
Mayor Ted Wheeler also released a
statement Sunday night urging the public
to “allow investigators to do their work,
uncover the facts, and to report on their
findings.”
NAACP Strong
trict in north Portland, Modainé has been
committed to community service for the
past three decades in Portland, feeding the
homeless and building community.
Originally from St. Louis, Mo., the pas-
tor said he’s humbled to represent a civil
rights organization he views as an integral
part of African Americans’ fight for equali-
ty, justice and having a voice.
Among Modainé’s aspirations for
leading the organization are to strength-
en community ties, including those from
African American clergy; to garner sup-
port for African Americans who’ve been
displaced in housing by gentrification; to
tackle the systemic racism that impacts
people of color; and to increase efforts
in the black community to increase vot-
er registration, educational opportunities
and advocacy.
Modainé hopes the new location will
also increase the organization’s presence
in the black community and build branch
membership.
C ontinued froM f ront
“They would be pleased to see not
only a building with a space, but as much
space, and an easily accessible place that
you’ve gotten today. I’m so glad that it’s
not in somebody’s dining room like it was
throughout my childhood,” Rutherford re-
marked.
Modainé took over as president of the
Portland NAACP a month ago when for-
mer President Jo Ann Hardesty stepped
down to run for Portland City Council. As
the former vice president of the organiza-
tion, Modainé had been searching for a
physical office for the group when Lloyd
Center General Manager Bob Dye offered
a space in the shopping center on the sec-
ond floor, next to Marshall’s.
A pastor at Celebration Tabernacle
Church and restaurateur of Po Shines Café,
both centered in the historic Kenton dis-