ACTIVIST GROUP Oregon Action plans to present a petition to
Police Chief Rosie Sizer next Monday, May 19, signed by more
than 600 “concerned community members” who think the police bureau has
been too slow to take action on racial profiling. The
presentation of the petition will mark the two-year anniversary of the
first listening session between the community and the police—”and
yet no substantial action has been taken to date,” says the
group, in releasing the petition to the media. So far, Chief Sizer has
only presented “elements of a plan,” in March 2007, and the racial
profiling committee has been mired in controversy. Last month the
police union effectively took discussion of the issue back to square
one, hiring a Kansas consultant to tell the group no proof
racial profiling exists, after he looked at the numbers [“You Can’t
Prove It,” News, April 24]. Copies of the petition can be found at
blogtown.portlandmercury.com/news.
MD
***
CITY AUDITOR Gary Blackmer has appointed Portland
Deputy District Attorney Mary-Beth Baptista as new director of
the Independent Police Review division. The previous director,
Leslie Stevens, left in February to take a job within the police
bureau. Baptista has been a DA for seven years, and her appointment was
the result of a “national search,” according to Blackmer, who said
Baptista had experience “working with victims.” However, as a
prosecutor, Baptista is used to representing the police side in
court cases. In her most recent role, her “experience working with
victims” is limited to crime victims, whereas often, those filing
complaints against the police are alleged criminals themselves.
Nevertheless, court sources say Baptista’s reputation as a DA has been
fair, and blemish free. MD
***
JOIN US on Blogtown on election
night—Tuesday, May 20—as we bring you live
coverage of the evening’s election results. Also tune in to get the
candidates’ election night party plans, so you can join the likes of
Sho Dozono or Sam Adams—and maybe even Barack
Obama and Hillary Clinton—as they celebrate (or cry).
Finally, if you haven’t voted yet, ballots are due to the county
elections office (1040 SE Morrison) by 8 pm. Check portlandmercury.com for our
endorsements and a voting cheat sheet! AJR