A note: It's reallllly common for bureau directors to suggest cutting seemingly critical programs at this stage of budget szn. Bureaus often put beloved programs on the chopping block — making it city commissioners’ responsibility to find money elsewhere to patch up the gap and save political face.
Portland, a city of 635k under the ever-looming threat of a massive earthquake, has just 1 city employee solely dedicated to earthquake preparedness. But after the city’s annual budget planning process, that number may drop to zero.
Portland, a city of 635,000 that’s under the ever-looming threat of a massive earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone, has just one city employee solely dedicated to earthquake preparedness. B...
Portland, a city of 635k under the ever-looming threat of a massive earthquake, has just 1 city employee solely dedicated to earthquake preparedness. But after the city’s annual budget planning process, that number may drop to zero.
Portland, a city of 635,000 that’s under the ever-looming threat of a massive earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone, has just one city employee solely dedicated to earthquake preparedness. B...
The first episode OPB's newest weekly podcast, the Evergreen, hosted by the talented @jennchavez.bsky.socialwww.opb.org/article/2024...
If anything, it appears this trend is one of the reasons the city remains under DOJ oversight, a decade after being sued by the feds for problematic trends in officer use of force.
But experts say this pattern should be a red flag to the bureau regardless -- as history shows frequently use of low-level force increases the likelihood of officers using deadly force. (See: Derek Chauvin) That's already proven to be the case in Portland.
There may be valid reasons why they use low-level force more frequently than their peers, depending on shifts/assignments.
What I learned: Officers who use low-level force more often than their peers (for some, up to 10x above average annually) are up-to-date on training and relatively new hires.
Since I started following Portland's settlement w/ the DOJ, I've heard claims in court that the same officers use force at a higher rate than their peers, year after year. I waded through PPB's data to confirm that trend - and started asking questions:
Experts say data shows Portland police may be missing clear opportunities to intervene before an officer's pattern of force turns deadly.
Eugene Weekly forced to lay off entire staff, halt printing due to embezzlement that has left their finances "in shambles." Running (and printing!) an alt weekly in 2023 is a herculean task. Let's keep this incredible pub alive:
Dear Eugene Weekly Readers, Eugene Weekly is this town. We are who we are because we are the community’s paper, for better or for worse. We’ve sought to enlighten you. We’ve sought to enterta�...
This is the fourth person killed by a Portland police officer this year.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers saw the man leaving the store and attempted to arrest him in the parking lot. They say the man started to run away before a confrontation began.