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I broke the news last Thursday that major sit-lie backer Mike Kuykendall was leaving his job at the Portland Business Alliance to join the Portland Police Bureau as director of services.

Now police accountability critics the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) have their say on their hiring: it’s “a slap in the face.” The AMA just sent out a press release this afternoon saying that they had encouraged Chief Mike Reese to hire a person of color to the high-level position, since there are exactly zero people of color in commander jobs. Also, the Kuykendall and Reese play in a hilariously-named band together. This is from the AMA release:

Reese’s personal relationship with Kuykendall, which includes their membership in a band called “The Usual Suspects,” as well as Kuykendall’s background in the District Attorney’s office and at the Portland Business Alliance, gives the appearance of insider influence. “In the same way Mayor Adams selected Chief Reese without input from the community, Reese has now picked an Assistant in direct contradiction to input from the community, and without doing a broader search,” said Pastor T. Allen Bethel of the Coalition.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

6 replies on “Chief Reese Hired Bandmate for High-Level Job”

  2. Perhaps the finger needs to be pointed to the guy who took control of the Police Bureau and made Reese police chief.

    Although, if any blames Adams you are a Homophobe.

  6. Um…isn’t race-based hiring usually frowned upon? Probably by the AMA themselves, right? I guess it’s okay as long as it’s THEIR race being favored?

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