Portland
From enabling applicants to sign up on the spot to prioritizing officer wellness, Oregon’s largest police agency has reinvigorated its recruitment strategy
At least five agencies sent up to 325 federal officers a day to Portland from June through Sept. 30, 2020
Crowd control
The rioters broke windows, threw objects at police and talked about burning down the Justice Center
Officers had obscured their names and badge numbers while responding to protests citing safety and privacy concerns
The plan calls to hire back 25 retired police officers, buy bodycams and attract 200 more sworn officers
“We didn’t get here overnight,” said Chief Chuck Lovell. “We have been trending in this direction for some time”
The agreement will open the city to at least another three years of monitoring by the Justice Department
Portland has just one officer for every 827 residents, far fewer cops per capita than the authorized national average
The mayor wants to increase police staffing by 200 sworn officers and 100 unarmed public safety specialists over the next three years
The retire-rehire program is “the only way in the near term we can get officers on the force,” a city official said
The law allows police to issue citations, but data shows few people are seeking treatment
Three area law enforcement agencies are joining forces this weekend to enforce a new ordinance
Officers began concealing their names and badge numbers in June 2020, citing worries over officers’ privacy and safety
Portland PD has been struggling to keep up amid an acute staffing shortage
Respondents also called for more body cameras and unarmed crisis response teams
Police say that 18 dedicated homicide detectives aren’t enough
Portland PD had ended its retire-rehire program last year because it’s more expensive to bring back veteran officers
“We’re still trying to find the right recipe,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler
Citing new state guidance, a city official warned that requiring vaccinations among police could be illegal
Mayor Ted Wheeler defended the decision, but others were shocked that police did not intervene
Police Chief Chuck Lovell had said that police would not be getting in the middle of it but would instead keep an eye out for law-breakers
Police say the extra officers will provide a “high visibility presence” after a shooting last week killed one person and wounded six
Many officers haven’t shown interest because they’re unsure what will be expected of them, officials said
At first, the man appears to be talking with officers and medics before he suddenly advances
“It all boils down to these three concepts of being underfunded, understaffed and under-supported,” a Portland Police officer said
And when officers do stop drivers, they must explain that the motorist can deny a request to search the vehicle
Portland’s Rapid Response Team made headlines last week when, in an unprecedented move, its members all voted to resign
The team members voted to disband over a perceived lack of support from City Hall, a lieutenant said
Portland Police Association officials said the affronts had gone “too far”
The guide could, for example, call for an officer to attend classes or training, conduct a research project or perform community service
Marchers lit fireworks, set a dumpster fire and broke windows at multiple businesses