The Oregonian
March 27, 2001
(Portland, OR) - As an internal Portland Police Bureau investigation proceeds into allegations that Special Emergency Reaction Team officers hazed new members, a community representative has called on the mayor to appoint outside investigators.
Norm Costa, a member of the Chief’s Forum and a co-chairman of the bureau’s sexual minority round table, said he did not think police could properly look into the allegations.
“You can’t investigate yourself,” Costa said. “We should have a civilian in there investigating this.”
Costa’s plea came days after Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker announced that he was temporarily deactivating the 28-member elite team of tactical officers while a group of police investigates the allegations of hazing and other “workplace improprieties.”
The bureau had said the investigation stemmed from an Equal Employment Opportunities complaint made to the chief.
The team, an elite group of highly trained officers who respond to hostage and sniper situations, is all men. The team’s only woman officer, who joined in 1999, resigned from the team early this year.
Officers in the bureau have been aware of so-called initiation rites in which new team members carry all team officers’ equipment, shave their heads at training retreats, wear women’s clothing or get their biceps tattooed with the team’s mascot, a bat.
Some police describe the activities as harmless and intended to promote camaraderie and a cohesive unit.
Costa said he is disturbed by such antics. He said the bureau should find ways to ensure officers respect diversity.
Mayor Vera Katz said she agreed with Kroeker’s response to pull together a team of investigators to address the complaint thoroughly and quickly.
“I support his investigative process,” Katz said. “I am confident that the approach and scope he has outlined will result in a thorough review, and that the team he has hand-picked will conduct the investigation with integrity.”
The bureau will call on the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police to respond, as needed, to Portland emergency situations in place of the team while the internal investigation continues.
The team’s only woman officer was reassigned to the telephone report unit Jan. 18. She now works at North Precinct. Her selection caused some acrimony in the bureau because she apparently was chosen over two men. When she joined the team, a supervisor reportedly emphasized to other team officers that he would not tolerate any harassment.
Kroeker would not identify who made the complaint.
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