|
|
Site NavigationHomeAbout us People's Police Report Shootings & deaths Cool links Other Information Contact info Donate
|
UPDATES PPR #44 May 2008
Recent statistics seem to substantiate the perception of advocates for poor and homeless people that
the "Sit/Lie" Ordinance targets those populations and is the "move along" tool it apparently was
meant to be. The street roots blog (March 27) reported that since enforcement began in
August (PPR #43), 88 warnings and tickets were issued, and 69 of
those affected were
homeless or transient, while 10 had no address listed.
A February 14 Portland Mercury article reported that the ordinance has been targeting a
distinct group of homeless youth. The article further indicated that at the February 7 meeting of the
SAFE (Street Access For Everyone) oversight committee, an associate executive director of New
Avenues for Youth noted that 8 of the 10 citations to date were for persons younger than 26. Most
of the citations in question were written between noon and 2 pm, when New Avenues is closed.
Three individuals in their 20's were convicted and fined $347 (the maximum fine) for sitting
outside of the downtown RiteAid; a woman was cited who indicated her feet were swollen from
standing all day. Rather a sad note from a supposedly civilized society.
In April, advocates for the homeless provided training for Portland Patrol, Inc. (PPI, aka rent-a-cop)
officers, who patrol downtown streets on contract with the Portland Business Alliance (PBA) in
coordination with Portland Police. The training focused on issues of homelessness and how PPI
officers can effectively and humanely communicate with homeless individuals on the streets.
On February 15, the PBA submitted the Citizen Complaint Summary Report for the last quarter of
2007. The PBA received four complaints about security guards and there was one "self-initiated
review." Two complaints were investigated; one was about a different security company; and
two were pending as "the potential complainants had not responded to contacts." The self-
initiated complaint involved a person who allegedly was "very negative and hostile" and
using profanity when challenging a PPI officer's behavior. The officer made a "verbal
response" for which PPI Chief Executive John Hren reprimanded the officer. Roll call training
stressed the maintenance of "professional demeanor." Another complaint involved an
exclusion from a parking garage and "the manner in which the PPI officer had spoken" to
the complainant. The exclusion was lifted and the PPI officer was spoken to "and now better
understands PPI's expectations and how to address such incidents in the future."
Public Defender Takes Commissioner Leonard to Task on Drug-Free Zone Alternative
Plan
Commissioner Randy Leonard and Old Town/Chinatown officer Jeff Myers have instituted a plan
("Project 57") whereby Myers' "Dirty 30" list of suspects will be diverted from community court,
where drug cases are normally heard, into drug and/or mental health treatment. This scheme is to
replace the Drug Free Zones, which expired in September, 2007 (PPR #43). It involves
charging people with felonies instead of misdemeanors.
In the January 24 Portland Mercury, public defender Chris O'Connor said, "It's a sad
state of affairs when you force someone to commit a felony in order to get mental health or drug
treatment that should be available to them without it. Not to mention that the fundamental lesson of
the 20th century seems to me to be that we shouldn't put people's names on lists, and then target
them for special treatment." Portland Copwatch has noted previously that Myers, who stops
and questions people with no "reasonable suspicion," does not appear to know or understand that
there is a Fourth Amendment when he is patrolling his beat (also PPR #43).
Subsequently, O'Connor subpoenaed Leonard to appear in court to explain why his client wasn't
offered the drug treatment program after his arrest last year ( Mercury , February14).
O'Connor argued that everyone should be treated equally under the law, and that his client's
exception was unconstitutional. The case was to be heard on March 3, and Leonard, who stated that
O'Connor "may be trying to yank my chain," indicated he would appear. The man never
showed, so the trial may never happen.
|
May, 2008
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#44 Table of Contents
|