Demand Police Accountability: Difference between revisions

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{{Occupy Portland Event
{{Occupy Portland Event
| event name = Testify! Demand Civilian Oversight of the Police.
| event name = Make Civilian Oversight Part of Portland's Charter
| date = Wednesday, December 14, 2011
| date = Monday, January 9, 2012
| time =  2PM - 4PM
| time =  6PM - 8PM
| location = [[Portland City Hall]]
| location = [[Portland City Hall]]
| purpose =  
| purpose = '''Change Portland's Charter so The People have meaningful oversight over police conduct.'''
Last week [[Occupy Portland]] rocked City Hall, testifying about police misconduct.  


On Wednesday, [[City Council]] will again hear testimony about misuse of force. They want to hear specifically about 41 points raised by social justice advocates (see Changes to Portland's Civilian Oversight System at [[Portland Copwatch]] [http://PortlandCopwatch.org] ... soon to be updated ...).
[[Occupy Portland]] rocked City Hall, testifying about police misconduct when they didn't want to hear about it.  


Portland's [[Independent Police Review|"Independent" Police Review]] Division (IPR) was established in 2001 and given authority to conduct investigations separately from the Portland Police Bureau's Internal Affairs (IA) unit ... yet NO SUCH INVESTIGATION HAS EVER HAPPENED. In March, 2010, the IPR was given broader authority to review Internal Affairs investigations, but The People's 9-member [[Citizen Review Committee]] (CRC) was told to wait before they receive more power. A group of citizens, police, and city officials met for four months and, in December 2010, 'The Stakeholders' presented 41 recommendations for change to City Council.
At set times The People are asked whether to amend the city's governing constitution (charter). A Charter Review Commission (CRC) has been formed and some of your friends are on it. They want to hear from you about changes in the way Portland polices us. Changes this group proposes will be forwarded to an upcoming ballot so ''voters'' will decide whether they should be adopted. Unlike the recent work of the Stakeholder's Group, no one from [[City Council]] has any say on whether charter amendments go to voters.


On November 16, the [[City Auditor]] (who oversees IPR) proposed a meager SIX changes to the ordinance, only three of which in any way reflect community concerns. The [[Mayor]] and [[Chief]] put out a document essentially agreeing that the CRC, should not have any more power than what the Auditor proposes, claiming the CRC's role is simply to review the quality of police-led investigations.
After the Mayor tried to silence [[Occupy Portland]] testimony in [[City Council]], he's been wanting CRC to quit work even before proposing the utility board he's interested in. Some on the CRC would like to hear your proposals to strengthen independent, citizen oversight of the [[Portland  Police Bureau]]. Enshrining the office of the [[Citizen Review Committee]] (CRC*) in the City Charter would mean that the votes of only 3 city council members will no longer be sufficient to do away with that body.  


CRC's tagline is "community oversight of the [[Portland Police Bureau]]." It is not "oversight of the IPR and Internal Affairs." We need to demand more change. Ask for ALL 41 Stakeholder Report recommendations to be adopted. We need true civilian oversight, and if we don't get more meaningful change now, we may have to wait another 10 years for a chance.  
'''What ''are'' your ideas?''' Two ideas are gaining traction:
 
-The CRC should be provided legal representation other than the City Attorney, who has a responsibility to prevent the city from exposure to lawsuits: this duty conflicts with uncovering misconduct.
 
-Eliminate police horses. Perhaps we could get animal rights people to join those of us who were pushed about by these workhorses and into tear-gassers barricading the street. If the city was concerned by infestations in the Occupy Portland camp, then they will be incensed to learn about the rats down by the horse barn!
 
Bring words you think should go into the City Charter. Bring your friends. '''Bring us change!'''
 
For more information, contact [http://www.example.com Portland Copwatch].
 
'''-more-'''
 
Portland has spent nearly $7,000,000 to settle the top 25 lawsuits brought against it for police misconduct. The Police Bureau are under investigation by the nation's Department of Justice, looking for patterns and practices of civil rights abuses. Good governance requires the public now engage in overseeing this bureau's activity.
 
Portland's [[Independent Police Review|"Independent" Police Review]] Division (IPR) was established in 2001 and given authority to conduct investigations separately from the Portland Police Bureau's Internal Affairs (IA) unit ... yet NO SUCH INVESTIGATION HAS EVER HAPPENED. In March, 2010, the IPR was given broader authority to review Internal Affairs investigations, but The People's 9-member [[Citizen Review Committee]] (CRC) was told to wait before they receive more power. A group of citizens, police, and city officials met for four months and, in December 2010, 'The Stakeholders' presented the least controversial 41 of over 150 total recommendations for change to City Council. One year later City Council met. Instead of empowering civilian oversight they may have actually ''reduced'' the ability of citizens to discover and correct police misconduct.
 
CRC's tagline is "'''community oversight of the police bureau'''." It is not "simply signing off on police reports about their own misconduct." We need to demand structured change. Once we get this document amended, we can begin work on the U.S. Constitution!
 
'''You can ''also'' testify by email or by phone at the link below.'''


| image = [[File:TestimonyMontage.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Occupy Portland in City Hall, 8 Dec 2011]]
| image = [[File:TestimonyMontage.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Occupy Portland in City Hall, 8 Dec 2011]]
| link to more info = http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2011/12/08/occupy-portland-packs-council-hearing-on-police-accountabilty
| link to more info = http://www.portlandonline.com/chartercommission/index.cfm?c=54346
| link to more info = http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2011/12/08/occupy-portland-packs-council-hearing-on-police-accountabilty
| categories = [[Category:Occupy Portland Events]] [[Category:Occupy Portland]]}}
 
| categories = [[Category:Protests]] [[Category:Occupy Portland Events]] [[Category:Occupy Portland]]}}

Latest revision as of 19:25, 29 December 2011

Make Civilian Oversight Part of Portland's Charter

Occupy Portland in City Hall, 8 Dec 2011
or return to the events page.

Purpose

Change Portland's Charter so The People have meaningful oversight over police conduct.

Occupy Portland rocked City Hall, testifying about police misconduct when they didn't want to hear about it.

At set times The People are asked whether to amend the city's governing constitution (charter). A Charter Review Commission (CRC) has been formed and some of your friends are on it. They want to hear from you about changes in the way Portland polices us. Changes this group proposes will be forwarded to an upcoming ballot so voters will decide whether they should be adopted. Unlike the recent work of the Stakeholder's Group, no one from City Council has any say on whether charter amendments go to voters.

After the Mayor tried to silence Occupy Portland testimony in City Council, he's been wanting CRC to quit work even before proposing the utility board he's interested in. Some on the CRC would like to hear your proposals to strengthen independent, citizen oversight of the Portland Police Bureau. Enshrining the office of the Citizen Review Committee (CRC*) in the City Charter would mean that the votes of only 3 city council members will no longer be sufficient to do away with that body.

What are your ideas? Two ideas are gaining traction:

-The CRC should be provided legal representation other than the City Attorney, who has a responsibility to prevent the city from exposure to lawsuits: this duty conflicts with uncovering misconduct.

-Eliminate police horses. Perhaps we could get animal rights people to join those of us who were pushed about by these workhorses and into tear-gassers barricading the street. If the city was concerned by infestations in the Occupy Portland camp, then they will be incensed to learn about the rats down by the horse barn!

Bring words you think should go into the City Charter. Bring your friends. Bring us change!

For more information, contact Portland Copwatch.

-more-

Portland has spent nearly $7,000,000 to settle the top 25 lawsuits brought against it for police misconduct. The Police Bureau are under investigation by the nation's Department of Justice, looking for patterns and practices of civil rights abuses. Good governance requires the public now engage in overseeing this bureau's activity.

Portland's "Independent" Police Review Division (IPR) was established in 2001 and given authority to conduct investigations separately from the Portland Police Bureau's Internal Affairs (IA) unit ... yet NO SUCH INVESTIGATION HAS EVER HAPPENED. In March, 2010, the IPR was given broader authority to review Internal Affairs investigations, but The People's 9-member Citizen Review Committee (CRC) was told to wait before they receive more power. A group of citizens, police, and city officials met for four months and, in December 2010, 'The Stakeholders' presented the least controversial 41 of over 150 total recommendations for change to City Council. One year later City Council met. Instead of empowering civilian oversight they may have actually reduced the ability of citizens to discover and correct police misconduct.

CRC's tagline is "community oversight of the police bureau." It is not "simply signing off on police reports about their own misconduct." We need to demand structured change. Once we get this document amended, we can begin work on the U.S. Constitution!

You can also testify by email or by phone at the link below.

more information