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Commission to Design New Oversight System
Moves Forward
by Philip C.

The Police Accountability Commission (PAC) has been meeting to create a new Portland police oversight system to replace the current Independent Police Review (PPR #85). The Commission spent their first four months in an Organizational Phase by determining their values and goals, bylaws, agenda and scope, and community engagement framework.

In the next phase, the Work Phase, the Commission will identify the problems and benefits of our current oversight system, consider advice from experts and other cities, and, if appropriate, recommend City Charter changes to the Charter Commission. In this phase they will also work to outline the structure and details of the new Board along with their powers and duties, and develop a transition plan for the new system.

The City is giving the PAC 18 months to do their work and wishes to start the clock beginning at the Commission's first public meeting, December 9, 2021, rather than following the City Council Ordinance 190694 which specifies that the 18 month time-frame starts when the Court approves proposed amendments to the US Department of Justice Agreement (see the DOJ article in this issue). Judge Simon will hold a Fairness Hearing to review the proposed amendments on April 29th. The time-frame for the 20- person Commission may be overly optimistic given the complexity and enormity of the task. Paid, professional city officials and staff took 13 months from the time the ballot measure passed to the time of the first PAC meeting, while expecting the unpaid volunteer Commissioners to do all of the outreach, procedural, and substantive work on a brand-new and complex oversight system within 18 months.

PAC Commissioner Miekelo Cabbage resigned at the beginning of February. Eight weeks later, at the same time Council voted to clarify the Commission's start date, they appointed Alvin Joswick to fill that seat.

We want a police oversight system that protects our population from systemic problems in our police bureau including white supremacy, bigotry, sexism, ableism, other forms of discrimination, brutality, and misconduct. To make an oversight system that works for Portlanders, we need the City to invest in the success of the PAC by giving them a flexible time-frame, funding for support staff, funding for hiring outside legal counsel, being responsive to information requests, and quickly replacing any Commissioners who resign or are removed so quorum can be maintained.

Note: PCW member Dan Handelman is a member of the PAC.

May, 2022
Also in PPR #86

Portland Copwatch
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242
(503) 236-3065/ Incident Report Line (503) 321-5120
e-mail: copwatch@portlandcopwatch.org

Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.

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