A Portland City Council hearing on proposed police accountability reforms—a vital issue, but also wonky and dense—erupted with a flood of emotion this afternoon after dozens of Occupy Portland protesters packed the council chambers to vent in front of Mayor Sam Adams and Police Chief Mike Reese about what’s been an increasingly aggressive police response to Occupy over the past several weeks.
Detailed discussion about the changes being explored—laid out in reports that rebuff all but a handful of community-driven proposals aimed at boosting civilian oversight—was quickly swallowed by the real-world manifestation of what police accountability means. It was the third such hearing, but it was by far the most intense. And it served as a perfect illustration of why, exactly, accountability and oversight are worth fighting for.
Justin James Bridges, a protester who remains in a wheelchair because of injuries suffered in the clearing of Chapman Square last month, was the first person to testify and set the tone when he held up his $22,000-plus hospital bill and said that he still lacks feeling in his right arm and leg. He kept on point, holding up his case (police say Bridges re-injured an old back injury) as an example of why misconduct cases need greater civilian oversight.
“Everybody has to be held accountable for their actions,” he said. And when Adams asked Bridges if he’d filed a complaint with the Independent Police Review office, he replied, “Yes I have.”
It was probably the most surreal hearing I’ve attended yet at city council. Adams repeatedly pleaded with speakers to relate their testimony to the accountability reports—an almost futile effort in the face of a stream of stories about cops poking and bashing people, or treating them roughly once in custody, or even making things tense just by showing up in riot gear. There were up-twinkles and even protocol-defying applause. The last speaker, in tears, was surrounded by a dozen or more occupiers who attempted to comfort and support her with the simple act of resting hands on her.
Her admonition to the mayor: “Please be nice to us.”
Only once did the hearing nearly overheat. Amanda Fritz was staying for the hearing to maintain quorum (Dan Saltzman and Randy Leonard were absent), even though it might cause her to miss a friend’s funeral. When Fritz warned she’d leave early if testimony didn’t stay on topic, and Adams threatened to end the meeting, one woman actually stood up and shouted “This is bullshit!”
Voices were raised, including Adams’ as he tried to keep order, and security guards swept in in case the room needed to be cleared. Eventually, a compromise emerged in which those who were willing to stay on topic would jump to the front of the line, and then, after they were finished, Fritz would leave and Adams and Nick Fish would stay and listen to everyone else.
They got an earful, along with Chief Reese and his internal affairs captain, Dave Famous.
One occupier said he watched officers swinging their batons overhead during Saturday’s failed clearout of Shemanski Park and said he was troubled that the city is rebuffing efforts to give new oversight powers to the Civilian Review Committee, which handles appeals of misconduct cases once the police bureau conducts its own investigations.
“I don’t understand how that’s independent,” the man said before looking at Adams and telling him, his voice quavering: “I think you owe us an apology for the police brutality in this city.”
An Occupy medic, Remi, also said he saw officers hitting people in the face and neck with batons on Saturday, including 15-year-old Walker Prettyman, who was photographed by the Oregonian and confirmed his injuries but said he wouldn’t file a complaint.
“We need to make sure that the actions taken be measured by the actions that are going on,” Remi said, saying cops had other means of clearing the park besides heavily armed riot cops.
Later, a woman held up her hand so the TV cameras filming the council meeting on public access cable could see the bruises she suffered from a baton on Saturday. A 16-year-old boy talked about having his arm twisted painfully when he was arrested at Jamison Square last month, with zip-ties fastened too tightly, even though he was trying to leave the park when officers arrested him.
And another man said his laptop was confiscated during the raid and that he was having a hard time getting it back. It had the last remaining footage of his young daughter, who died in January 2010, he said. The man, in tears at one point, was directed to Fish’s office, which told me that a laptop was among the items recovered Saturday in Shemanski, and that anyone else with lost items should call the cops’ property division at 503-823-2179.
The first mic check of the day, however, waited until after the hearing finally ended. It was a call to come back next Thursday for the next hearing.
BRIDGES IS AN AWESOME MUSICIAN, YA KNOW? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A0iSX2tXgY
Yeah, he sounds like fucking Hootie on that.
The only reason that asshole Bridges is still in a wheelchair is he is hoping to steal money from us. Hire a ambulence chaser and fleet us as much as he can.
I bet he gets up outta that wheelchair just fine to get his weed at home. In fact, strap his guitar on him and put an audience out there and I bet he’d be doing Chuck Berry all over the stage.
What a bullshitter.
And, have you noticed how his story has changed over time? And how video fails to confirm much of his story?
HE IS A FRAUD.
Also, I think the cops by and large did a great job with what they were tasked to do, using the least amount of force needed to accomplish it. My hat remains off to them.
Children attempting to placate the children
frankieb has such a Justin James Bridges obsession.
Well, can’t stand people trying to abuse the system for their own profit – much like the 1%, right?
reid, you seem like a good guy. I feel sorry for you having to deal with yokels like Justin who I think detract from your message.
frankie you watched the video’s right he doesn’t seem to be faking pain to me maybe your just a sadist.
Frankieb, You are making very serious accusations against Bridges. Are you an eye witness? Are you a doctor? What real knowledge are your accusations based on?
I have been there and seen brutality by police against peaceful citizens with my own two eyes. I have myself narrowly escaped injury on multiple occasions.
He claimed the cops tried to break his fingers.
You know, I can easily break a large mans finger if I wanted, and I ain’t no big burly cop. If they wanted to bust his fingers, they’d be broken.
I’ve seen video from several angles of the alleged ‘beating’ and haven’t found anything in there that suggests what he claims. There was one angle, from a distance, that showed he MAY have gotten hit.
Haven’t seen any video at all to support him being choked or even dragged by his bandanna either.
Ready to go home so soon after getting to the hospital – so he can smoke weed? C’mon. Puh-leeze.
But still in a wheelchair?
Give me fucking break. He’s working the system. Much like that 1%
I ain’t blind.
Also, he was a cheerleader (HAHAHA) in Texas before coming here – and he was a cheerleader AFTER back surgery if I’m not mistaken.
So, all the sudden his leg and arm…?
Gimme a break.
He doesn’t want to work for a living. Thinks he found an out.
How the hell do you KNOW he “doesn’t want to work for a living”?
What did Justin James Bridges ever do to you?
He is gonna try to take our tax dollars, that is what.
The next “test” of the Portland Police Bureau will come soon – as I understand it, Occupy is trying to have as many people as possible show up for the December 12 “port shutdown”.
https://twitter.com/#!/psucarrierae/status…
‘#opdx aiming for zero arrests at the port shutdown for #D12. “Your insurance policy is bringing your friends & family” #OO #occupytheports’
I don’t think the occupiers are thinking clearly at all.
.M.E.D.I.A.B.L.A.C.K.O.U.T.
they didn’t let any press into the parks when the police booted Occupy. Seems like the same thing has happened in a lot of cities. otherwise frankiebankie, you’d probably find better coverage.
and let me guess… you think the people who got beat down by the cops the other night are faking it too, right?
I would think those blue collar Union 99%ers down there ain’t gonna appreciate this too much.
Whose bright idea was this anyway?
Was this voted on?
Media Blackout? You gotta be kidding me. The media has been all over this, and besides – every other person down there has a iphone.
Show me the ‘beat downs’. I’ve seen alot of questionable things in other cities (hello Oakland) but our police here did one heck of a job.
“I think you owe us an apology for the police brutality in this city.”
All of the OccuTards in the OccuFail movement owe the 99% an apology for highjacking the news, destroying the parks, costing Poorland over $2 million in expenses, making the city smell and pissing us off with your childish chants, slogans and twinkles..
Someone please revoke Andy’s portmanteau license.
Wow the trolls are in high gear on merc blogtown…
People, let’s stay on topic here.
Thank you to Denis and the Merc for a very well done bit.
Nearly 20 posts here, and HALF of them belong to Frankeib! He really IS obsessed!
Sure, I’ll admit it. Have you notived a common theme to my obsessions though?
People using or preying on symapthy that are merely thieves.
Frankieb or AKA Dr. Mangala, you sound like a Lars Larson fascist and should be ashamed of yourself. Too bad Justin didn’t have some gold in his teeth to extract, right? It is void of all humanity to claim a man wounded by police is trying to steal money or manipulate the police accountability system with an IRV complaint. I hope he sues the PPD and I wish it could come right out of your paycheck or bank account. It is the fascist people like yourself in Portland that should move back to the East Coast or wherever the hell you came from and let civil progressive minded people govern the city. Frankieb, are you paid to blog here on the Mercury? Who pays you? You are always on here, do you not have something more productive to do rather than attacking people online with vile, hostile attacks?
Hey, DamosA
Would you say that frankieb is “diluted?”
Ha ha ha ha, you’re the best!
Graham + 1000
Graham, I wanna thank you for giving me a reason to quit smoking and sell my Ibanez. Sincerely. I am now 100% convinced that weed makes you retarded.
Frankieb is completely right this time. Bridges is a leech.
Frankieb is a good example of intellect divorced from heart. Doesn’t matter if you’re smart of stupid. Intellect divorced from heart is always dangerous. He wasn’t there and he’s just blowing it out his ass. I could easily break a person’s finger and I’m a 58 year-old woman. Not sure what kind of wimp Frankieb is. Best way to take away a person’s profession (ASL interpreter and musician) and stop them from spreading their message (via signing) is to break their fingers. This was a huge infringement on his constitutional rights.
We will attend next Thursday’s meeting in solidarity. The room will be packed and so will the hallways and so will the streets. Expect us.
Man… that frankieb is a fuggin’ troll. What rock did that guy come from under?
Granny, Heart divorced from Intellect is just as dangerous.
And I was down there checking out the protests… but I did not see the Justin Bridges incident, as I’m pretty sure you haven’t either.
But what I have seen from several differing videos doesn’t support what Bridges has claimed. Choked, dragged by his bandanna, etc.
I could be wrong – maybe there was just some sort of freakish accident of fate that caused him still – STILL – to be rolling around in a wheelchair, but I really doubt it.
The point about the fingers – have you got your glasses on granny and can read this right? – is that he claims the cops tried to break his fingers. Clearly, his fingers ain’t broke and even you as a saggy old granny can break a finger, right? Why couldn’t those burly cops do it then?
I don’t like the 1% abusing the system for financial gain as much as the next guy, but I sure as hell don’t like to see anyone of the 99% gaming the system either.
Hey Frankieb – I’d be happy to demonstrate the method in which one “tries” to break someone’s finger. It’s called “pain complaince” and it’s not just that kink your mother has.
Well, that makes sense.
But it still don’t explain him being in a wheelchair now, does it?
frankie… please tell me that you have not reproduced. The last thing we need in this world is children raised by truly disturbed individuals like yourself. Humanity and compassion. Please look these words up in a dictionary. Or get one of your reading friends to do it for you… if you have any friends.
Now, that’s no way to talk to your daddy, son.
But I’ll look them up if you promise to look up ‘scam artist’ and ‘cheat’.
uh…yeah, cops abuse power, people game the system, those looking for a fight with cops get it, whatever. What is this shit about, anyway? Occupying wall street sorta makes sense, but occupying Portland to bend over for cops doesn’t. Silly antics.
I’m the 16-year-old mentioned above, Benji B’Shalom. I would like to say for the record, in the interest of truth, that I was not attempting to leave the park, I believe that Theriault misinterpreted me saying “I did not resist arrest.”
Bridges should be beaten up by the cops every single day because of his stupid music alone.