Theresa Mitchell’s full-length interview with Dan Handelman of Copwatch.
Two panels at the center of what city officials call the police accountability system in Portland are set to be merged without their approval.
In a murky process already drawing significant community outrage, Portland Police and the Portland City Attorney’s office are proposing to mix the Citizens’ Review Committee and Independent Police Review --- with significant changes.
At a town hall meeting Monday of this week, the idea was floated publically for the first time – apparently catching CRC and IPR staffers by surprise.
Major proposed changes include eliminating public hearings on appeals of police misconduct—which would instead be held in private before a review board made up mostly of police officials.
The City Attorney’s office says the proposed new process would QUOTE streamline the appeals and QUOTE “give complainants an earlier opportunity to talk to the decision maker.”
Attendees at the town hall meeting told the KBOO News that not one single speaker at the Monday meeting supported the proposal.
Leaders of the CRC testified that they were not consulted on the proposal and that it represents a fundamental lack of understanding about the purpose of an independent police review process.
The City Council will hold a formal hearing on the proposal Sept. 7.
- KBOO