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Cops
Posted inNews

City Will Spend an Estimated $1.1 Million on Munitions, Shields, and Training For Police

Stockpiling weapons and the return of Portland’s crowd control team is reigniting dialog about how police respond to protests.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

As city bureaus are undergoing budget cuts to address a projected funding shortfall in the next budget cycle, the city of Portland will spend an estimated $1.1 million on shields, munitions, and training for police. In what was termed as an “emergency vote” on Wednesday, Portland City Council unanimously approved allocating additional funds to the […]

Posted inNews

Within Three Years, Five Portland Officers Shot Eight People

Watchdogs, legal groups say repeated deadly force incidents are alarming. Portland Police Bureau says it’s a byproduct of high-risk job assignments.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

As the city invests in multiple gun violence initiatives in an effort to drive down shooting and homicide rates, data shows a handful of the city’s own police officers have perpetuated gun violence on multiple occasions. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) data shows four officers involved in recent fatal shootings have each shot at members of […]

Posted inNews

As Crime and Murder Rates Drop in Portland, Mayor Wheeler Pushes a New Narrative

As the Rose City reports a recent decline in gun violence and violent crime, the mayor and police chief say the city is “on the right track.” Will it be enough to convince the naysayers?
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Portland’s mayor, police chief, and public safety leaders say they’re looking ahead with “continued optimism” amid the city’s overall reduction in crime. In 2023, overall homicides and shooting incidents were down across the city, compared with 2022. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) data shows homicides, non-injury shootings, and the number of homicide victims decreased by roughly […]

Posted inTop Stories 2023

The Biggest Portland Police News of 2023

Big police settlements, a new top cop, and whatever happened to oversight? All that and more in the biggest police stories of 2023!
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

This year was filled with major milestones and a few missteps from Portland police, who in October found themselves under new leadership. In 2023, the number of shootings by police was down from prior years, but efforts to form a new oversight system for reviewing uses of force and misconduct is already facing opposition from […]

Posted inNews

Update: Man Killed by Police in Mall 205 Target Parking Lot Identified as 33-Year-Old Tyrone Lee Johnson II

Police say they fired at a man who ran from them after trying to steal merchandise.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

January 30: This story has been updated to include the names of the officers involved. December 29: This story has been updated to identify the victim and clarify additional details. A man suspected of shoplifting from a Target store at Mall 205 was shot and killed by Portland police Wednesday afternoon. Police say East Precinct […]

Posted inPolice Oversight

City Council Approves Independent Monitor to Watch Over Cops

The monitor will determine if Portland Police remain compliant with the DOJ’s demands regarding the bureau’s excessive use of force.
Avatar photo Abe Asher

The Portland City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday afternoon to amend the city’s 2014 settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to select an independent monitor to oversee the city’s compliance with the settlement.  The amendments mark a milestone in the enforcement of the settlement: not only will the DOJ not be directly […]

Posted inTransportation

Traffic Cops are Back—But Advocates Still Want More Speed Cameras

Portland Police are bringing back the traffic enforcement team, but advocates point to traffic light cameras as the best way to slow drivers and reduce racial bias in policing.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Portland Police are bringing back the traffic enforcement team, but advocates point to traffic light cameras as the best way to slow drivers and reduce racial bias in policing.

Posted inNews

Gunshot Detection Companies Vie for Portland Contract and a Skeptical Public’s Approval

ShotSpotter and EAGL, both finalists for gunfire detection pilot program, presented their technology during a community forum—and drew a significant number of questions and concern.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Before Portland’s elected leaders decide on a vendor for a gunshot detection pilot program, the public heard from two companies vying for a city contract. The city plans to launch a year-long pilot program in neighborhoods with frequent gun violence.  During an April 25 community meeting held on Zoom, representatives with SoundThinking, the company formerly […]

Posted inNews

City Reaches Deal With Police Union Over Body Cameras

After more than a year-long stalemate, Portland Police will begin wearing cameras to record interactions.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

UPDATED: 9:43 a.m., April 21 Portland Police officers will soon begin wearing body cameras, following an agreement between the city and the Portland Police Association.  Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office announced the agreement late Thursday, calling it a “top priority.” “The City and the PPA have long agreed that body worn cameras are an important tool […]

Posted inCops

Auditor Finds Police Lack Data to Judge Effectiveness in Curbing Gun Violence

A follow-up report says the police bureau still has work to do to implement audit recommendations from 2018.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) still doesn’t track enough data to evaluate whether its gun violence intervention tactics are effective at measurably reducing gun violence, a report from the city auditor found.  The report, released Tuesday, is a follow-up to a larger audit published in 2018 that evaluated the PPB’s Gang Enforcement Team—a group that […]

Posted inCops

Portlanders Speak Out Against Gunshot Technology Pilot Program During Town Hall

It’s unclear how vocal opposition to the planned program will be weighed by city leaders.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Dozens of Portlanders spoke in opposition Wednesday to the city’s proposed plan to use gunshot detection technology to curb rising rates of gun violence in Portland. Despite an overwhelming negative reaction to the plan during a town hall event, a representative from Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office could not answer whether the city would use the […]

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