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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2020)
October 21, 2020 Page 9 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. O PINION Yes on Police Accountability Measure 26- 217 is a move towards justice r ev . d r . l e r oy h aynes Since 2003 with the killing of a Black un- armed female by a Port- land police officer and the attempt to cover up vital evidence by the Portland Police Bureau, the Albina Ministeri- al Alliance, one of the oldest active ministerial alliances in the city of Portland and its community extension, the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, made up of 25 com- munity organizations, has led the fight and advocacy for po- lice reform in Portland. The AMA coalition was the key leader in bringing the U.S. Department of Justice in to investigate and do a federal audit of the patterns and prac- tices of the Portland Police Bu- reau. This audit produced the fact-finding statement that the Portland Bureau was practicing “excessive and deadly force against persons with mental illness or perceived mental ill- ness.” Subsequently, a legal suit by was filed against the city and the AMA was given unprece- dented legal status in the case to represent the various com- munities impacted, giving it a legal platform to advocate for police reforms. In 2013 and 2014, this suit produced a “Settlement Agree- ment” calling for po- lice reform efforts in all areas of the Port- land Police Bureau. It is important to have this historical context to fully understand that the reform efforts to pro- duce transformative change in the Portland Bureau is an ongoing process that is unfin- ished in order to stop the kill- ing of Black and Brown and mentally-ill persons by police officers in Portland, as well as other unjust practices. Since 2003, the AMA Coa- lition for Justice and Reform and its parent body the Albina Ministerial Alliance demanded an Independent Citizen Review Board to do oversight of the Portland Police Bureau with the power to compel testimony from police officers as a means to hold officers accountable for their use of excessive and deadly force. The Justice Department in its fact-finding audit called the current oversight system in Portland a “Byzantine sys- tem” in other words a 5th cen- tury complex system, one that the average Citizen in no way could understand. I submit that the characterization still holds true. We have the Police Review (PR), an internal review by po- lice officers themselves with one community person meet- ing behind closed doors – never using the officer’s name. It has never recommended disciplin- ing an officer for using deadly force. We have the Independent Police Review that has made some improvement through the Settlement Agreement AMA Coalition fought for – but was never designed to hold police officers accountable. The current Independent Police Review panel does not have the power and authority to compel officer’s testimony – it must have a police officer commander to tell officers to answer questions in investi- gations. It also cannot han- dle deadly force cases against citizens – it can only review them after one year and make recommendations. IPR mem- bers can only set in on Police Review Meetings. They do not have the authority and power to discipline officers. They can only make recommendations. Now, remember that the greatest cry for police reform is the use deadly force against Black and Brown citizens, mentally ill and then the use of excessive force. Next, we have the Citizen Review Committee. Who pri- marily deal with citizen com- plaints in public hearings. This is the only time that citizens can speak publicly. But it even has less authority and power than IPR. It cannot always get information on cases. It can only make recommendations to the Chief of Police and the Mayor. Finally, we have a new body which is called Portland Com- munity Engagement, whose primary job is getting commu- nity participation with the goal of building community trust for Portland police. It too can make recommendations to the Mayor and Chief. In conclusion, we are in the midst of a social justice revolu- tion in our city and the nation. Theologically, we are in a Kai- ros moment when the hand of God is moving in history like the 1960s when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the Civil Rights Movement. Today’s social justice revo- lution will not go away in its demand for “police account- ability” and for the ending of the killing of Black, Brown and mentally ill people. The pro- posed new Independent Citizen Oversight Board to be voted on in the Nov. 3 General Election is a leap in police oversight to help get us there. Vote yes for police accountability. Dr. LeRoy Haynes is the senior pastor of Allen Temple Church in northeast Portland and a member of the Albina Ministerial Alliance for Justice and Police Reform. C LASSIFIEDS /B IDS SUB-BIDS REQUESTED New Road Ahead Project Oregon Humane Society Portland, OR Bids Due: November 17th, 2020 at 2:00 PM PST Lease Crutcher Lewis, LLC, serving as the General Contractor for the Oregon Humane Society’s New Road Ahead Project, is soliciting proposals from qualified bidders. The project is a campus expansion to Oregon Humane Society’s Existing Shelter on Columbia Blvd on the adjacent property. The project includes site development, and construction of two new buildings (Community Hospital and Behavioral Rehabilitation and Rescue Center) and light remodel of an existing third building (1411 Building). Contract Documents and the Invitation to Bid may be reviewed at the following locations: Online The entire Bid Package (including all project documents attached as exhibits) can be viewed via Lewis’ website and Building Connected Software at: www.lewisbuilds.com Click on “Bid Opportunities” under Portland. 550 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205 Dan.Callahan@lewisbuilds.com Lease Crutcher Lewis, LLC is committed to taking affirmative action to encourage and facilitate the participation of minority, women and emerging small business enterprises (M/W/ESBE) and encourages subcontractors to provide similar opportunities to their subcontractors/vendors.