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Police, Prosecutors Seek to Limit Access to Police Personnel Files During Trials

Portland Police Bureau says a current directive goes beyond federal requirements for evidence disclosure. Defense attorneys warn a change would allow cops to gatekeep which information about them gets released.
Avatar photo Abe Asher

After a landmark ruling earlier this year, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is proposing changes to a key directive that could determine whether criminal defendants have access to information that could potentially exonerate them in legal cases.  PPB Directive 0320.00 was initially implemented three years ago to guide how the Bureau reports information relevant to […]

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Accused Normandale Gunman Pleads Guilty on All Charges

Benjamin Smith will be sentenced on April 18.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Benjamin Smith, the man accused of fatally shooting one traffic volunteer and injuring four others during a racial justice march at Normandale Park, pleaded guilty on nine counts in Multnomah County court Wednesday. Kat Knapp, the wife of shooting victim June Knightly, said Smith’s plea was a small satisfaction during a press conference following the […]

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Black Portlanders File Civil Rights Lawsuit Against City and Legacy Emanuel Hospital Over 1970s Displacement

The plaintiffs allege the city and hospital conspired against their families due to the color of their skin.
Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

It’s been more than 50 years since hundreds of Black families were forcibly evicted from their North Portland homes to make space for Emanuel Hospital, now Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, under the guise of “urban renewal.” Now, those Portlanders and their descendants are seeking restitution from the city for undermining their families’ chance at creating […]

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Federal Judge Expresses Disappointment in City’s Ongoing Non-Compliance in PPB Settlement

“I was expecting greater transparency by now.” 
Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

The city of Portland and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) were back in federal court Wednesday morning to provide an update on the city’s ongoing attempts to comply with a 2014 settlement agreement with the DOJ.  The agreement was reached after a federal investigation in 2012 found that Portland police had a practice of […]

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A Lawsuit Against the City’s Camping Policy Has Been Tossed—For Now

Avatar photo Dirk VanderHart

A Multnomah County judge tossed a lawsuit against Mayor Charlie Hales’ months-old camping policies this morning, but that doesn’t mean the issue’s resolved. Instead, Judge Marilyn Litzenberger dismissed a case brought by the Portland Business Alliance (PBA), Central Eastside Industrial Council (CEIC), Overlook Neighborhood Association (OKNA), and other entities with an understanding another will be […]

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