October 21, 2020
Page 9
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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.