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Now that Mayor Sam Adams has assumed the role of Police Commissioner, which of his existing bureau portfolios will he surrender or reassign so he can focus appropriate attention on this new responsibility?

In his statement, Mayor Sam Adams stated his intention to take a new, more proactive direction with the Police Bureau. To that end, what are the mayor's top three priorities for the bureau? How do these relate to the resources he has given the bureau in its FY2010-11 budget?

Finally, after the mayor's announcement, the Albina Ministerial Alliance expressed its displeasure at the lack of community engagement or involvement in the decision to appoint new Chief of Police Mike Reese. What steps will the mayor take to engage the entire community and reassure citizens that the Police Bureau's priorities align with the community's expectations?

posted 3 years ago
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What does the release of Grand Jury transcripts do if no one accepts responsibility much less gets held accountable? 

If a civilian had fired the fatal shots, he would have been taken into custody immediately and read his Miranda rights. Why is this not an appropriate procedure when dealing witha police officer involved in a shooting?

How do unarmed police in other countries manage to cope successfully with similar situations to the one that occurred Monday at Hoyt Arboretum yet sustain far fewer injuries and deaths to both civilians and cops than the Portland Police Association claims happen here?

Oregon law does not require police to carry firearms (except at Portland International Airport, where it is required by international treaties and federal law). What would happen if we did not allow cops to routinely carry firearms, but rather made it necessary for them to retrieve them from a locked compartment in their patrol vehicles with supervisor approval (a sort of two-key system)? 

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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Thanks for posing both of my questions to Chief Sizer. Although I was disappointed with her responses, I appreciated hearing answers from her directly.

Portland police officers are better paid than the average Portlander. They have stressful jobs, but considerably more job security and better benefits than most workers, especially when it comes to retirement security.

I am not prepared to applaud police for shooting fewer people or using force less frequently, particularly when the evidence suggests they use force too frequently. Interpreting noncompliance as a threat to officers suggests a propensity to overreact. Failure to curb this conduct suggests it is not only condoned but encouraged.

The chief's conclusion that a small minority of officers live in the city because they want to escape the stress of their jobs and avoid off-duty confrontations with citizens suggests they fear the people they police. Maybe they should. Both sides have ratcheted up their responses to one another in recent years, which is producing fewer and fewer opportunities for positive, constructive interactions.

When I tuned in, I was favorably impressed with Chief Sizer. After this interview, I am reconsidering that position. After hearing her spend most of the hour making excuses for her officers rather than confronting the very real issues affecting public confidence in her officers, I am more convinced than ever that Portland Police Bureau needs comprehensive reform. Sadly, I don't think Chief Sizer is still up to the job.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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I believe Chief Sizer has done a remarkable job of improving the responsiveness of the Portland Police Bureau during her tenure at the top. Nevertheless, she stills faces considerable resistance to reform within her organization at almost every level. As a Portland resident, I am concerned with the apparent disconnect between the values of police officers and those of the community they police.

The Portland Police Bureau's hiring process has been cited by some people within the agency as a bottleneck. Efforts to streamline the recruitment and vetting process while promoting diversity have emphasized efforts to weed out unsuitable candidates. What assurances can Chief Sizer or Commissioner Saltzman give that the bureau's hiring practices are attracting the "right" candidates as opposed to simply excluding the "wrong" candidates? How does the bureau's hiring process assess the values of candidates and align those with the bureau's values and those of Portland residents, especially as they relate to promoting justice as opposed to simply ensuring integrity and encouraging loyalty?

In the face of evidence that the values of many police officers are inconsistent with those of the communities they police, can Chief Sizer or Commissioner Saltzman advise what percentage of Portland officers live in the city? Do Chief Sizer or Commissioner Saltzman believe requiring officers (at least new hires) to live in the city would improve sensitivity to the concerns of city residents or encourage public accountability? If not, why not?

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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