It's among the lesser-known reforms—outside law enforcement circles, at least—to emerge from the 2006 beating death of James Chasse Jr. by Portland cops. The next year, the Oregon Legislature approved Senate Bill 111, a law that required every county in the state to create a plan for how its various police agencies would investigate themselves when they use deadly force.

Multnomah County's plan was assembled by community advocates and officers from every major police force in the region, including the Portland Police Bureau. It took effect in 2008, and we've seen it at work in every single officer-involved death or use of force since then. The county plan is why every shooting has gone before a grand jury (with transcripts public, however, only for the past year). It's why officers involved in the shootings have to go on administrative leave and receive counseling. It's also why investigations must now include someone from an outside agency.

Those are good changes. But questions remain. Can we do better? Let's hope so. Efforts for stronger laws have been proposed, and then stymied (a good story by WW). And are cops—all of them, but really the problem ones—taking notice?

If you can make it out to Gresham tonight, the sheriff's office and others are going to talk more deeply about the county's plan at a public hearing. And they want you to bring any and all questions. Take 'em up on the offer. They'll also be showing a pair of training videos, one shown to Portland cops after the plan took effect, and another the county has assembled more recently.

KBOO's Lisa Loving last week had an hourlong show on the plan, which you should listen to right here. Click here for a PDF of the county's protocols.

The videos at tonight's hearing sound interesting, as Sam Sachs, an accountability advocate/activist (he wears both mantles) explained them to me.

The first has testimony from the wife of an officer involved in a shooting, but also from the mental health community and religious leaders, and even the parents of Nathan Thomas, a 12-year-old boy shot 20 years ago by trying to free him from a man who broke into his room. The second also has citizens talking about the waves made by police shootings, but then shows them going through virtual reality simulations of violent cop encounters.

"The goal is to make sure that the police officers walk away with the understanding of how this affects and impacts the community," says Sachs.

Here's where to go, and when:

Date: April 14, 2011
Time: 6 to 8 PM
Location: Multnomah County East Building, Sharron Kelly Conference Room, 600 NE 8th St., Gresham