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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2013)
WWW . THESKANNER . COM O CTOBER 30, 2013 P ORTLAND , O REGON V OLUME XXXVI, N O . 4 25 CENTS For The Skanner news alerts Text "NEWS" to 503-715-0890 or scan this QR code C HALLENGING P EOPLE TO S HAPE A B ETTER F UTURE N OW Changes To Police Review HAPPY HALLOWEEN City Council delays auditor’s proposals for changes to IPR By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News PHOTO COURTESY UP P ortland City Council delayed a deci- sion on a string of proposals from the auditor’s office to make changes to the Independent Police Review Division. Constantin Severe, IPR director, intro- duced the new proposals, which include: giving the IPR the power to compel officers to answer their questions; expanding the citizens review committee from nine to 11 members; allowing the IPR to open cases; and releasing more information to the pub- lic when officers use force. “Our strategy is to implement the changes in the Department of Justice agreement that are most urgent,” Severe told city commis- sioners. In 2012, a DOJ investigation concluded that the Portland Police Bureau operated with a “pattern or practice” that violated the civil rights of people with mental illness. The blistering report also raised concerns about police relationships with communities of color. A long line of community organizations and citizens testified, most urging council members to go further in strengthening the IPR and the citizens review committee. “In no way do these recommendations address the depth and breadth of concern felt by citizens in our city,” said Michael Alexander testifying for the Urban League of Portland. Police chief Mike Reese introduced Capt. Dave Famous who showed graphs showing that police use of force and police com- plaints both have dropped considerably over the last 10 years. Lt. Jeff Bell from the police bureau’s internal affairs committee said he opposed the recommendations to allow the IPR to initiate investigations and to compel officer testimony. The system currently allows the IPR to have their questions answered, he said. Changes to the current system would Once again, local neighborhood children sixth grade and under are invited to trick-or-treat through the University of Portland residence halls for the students’ annual HALLoween night, Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5 – 7 p.m. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Picture identification is required at check in for adults, where everyone gets a wristband. Starting at 7 p.m. at Chiles Center there will be a University of Portland Women’s Volleyball Game, free for those wearing wrist bands. There will be a costume contest at halftime with prizes for best dressed. Access to the residence halls cannot be granted to those who do not have a picture ID. For more information call Residence Life at 503-943-7205 or write reslife@up.edu. Hales Hires New Policy Director Baruti Artharee’s replacement in City Hall is a Portland Police Officer Lisa Loving Of The Skanner News J efferson High School gradu- ate Deanna Wesson- Mitchell is Mayor Charlie Hales’ new hire as public safety policy director. Wesson-Mitchell, also a grad- uate of the prestigious George town Uni versity in Wash ington D.C., has served in varying roles as a Portland Police officer, most recently as recruitment coordinator. A resident of Portland who lives with her husband and kids See CHANGES on page 3 INDEX News ..............2,3,8-11 Opinion ..................4,5 A & E ......................6,7 Bids/Classifieds ........11 Food........................12 in the Lents neighborhood, Wes- son-Mitchell starts her new job Nov. 18 In appointing former policy advisor Baruti Artharee, Hales said the job involved improving relations between the bureau and the city. It’s unclear where that man- date lies now that the mayor has hired a police officer for the job. A City Council hearing about proposed changes to the Inde- pendent Police Review division last week lasted for hours and included horror stories from cit- izens calling for police account- ability; multiple mothers, including one City of Portland employee, wept as they recount- ed beatings dealt out to their young family members by police. “She is of, and from, the com- munity. She is of, and from, the bureau,” Mayor Hales said of Wesson-Mitchell on Monday. “She is focused on the goal of making this the best urban police departments in the coun- try. She’s exactly who we need See HIRE on page 3 Protestors Arrested Tuesday at Main Post Activists call attention to privatization of government jobs By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News S even protesters were arrested at the U.S. Post Office on SW Couch Street Tuesday, after an attempt to occupy the building. The protesters, with Portland Communi- ties and Postal Workers United, oppose cuts to the US Postal Service and outsourcing of union jobs to private corporations. The activists, mostly elderly, say they were beaten by a “rental cop” for refusing to leave the lobby and that there were smears of blood on the wall as they were carried out. They were charged with Criminal Tres- passing in the Second Degree. Blogging after the incident, one protestor described the group being attacked by a security guard who, protestors said, threw one man and knocked others around. Seven protesters were arrested at the same office in May, as they demanded a meeting with a local manager. “Postal mail handlers and processing clerks have lost their jobs in Salem as the work is contracted to the low-wage, non- See POSTAL on page 5
