After a lengthy four-year wait since Portland voters approved a new police oversight board, the Portland City Council is on the verge of appointing its members during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening.
However, this anticipated decision has reopened discussions about differing perspectives on policing in the city.
Among the list of 21 volunteers and six alternates nominated for the Community Board for Police Accountability, which will take the place of the Independent Police Review and its Citizen Review Committee, some names are already familiar to local residents.
Karly Edwards, who previously served as the chief of staff to Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and was a key supporter of this initiative, stands out.
In contrast, Terrence Hayes, a former City Council candidate and a vocal advocate of police, has stirred debate regarding the suitability of board members with pro-police viewpoints.
The City Council has underscored the importance of board independence, which is a core principle of the new structure.
This initiative specifically prohibits law enforcement officials and their immediate relatives from serving, as well as individuals exhibiting a clear bias towards or against law enforcement.
Councilor Candace Avalos emphasized her intention to withhold support for candidates with a public stance that could compromise the perceived integrity of board selections, referencing Hayes.
However, Councilor Loretta Smith stood in defense of Hayes, highlighting the necessity of his perspective.
Smith argued, “I think we need his voice; we need his diversity and understanding of police, particularly from his standpoint as a father, as a Black man, and someone who was incarcerated.”
Hayes brings a unique background, having previously chaired the community committee overseeing a police unit focused on gun violence.
Moreover, he has personal ties to a tragic police incident, as his 17-year-old cousin, Quanice Hayes, was shot by police in 2017.
This painful experience, according to Hayes, initially fueled his skepticism towards law enforcement but ultimately compelled him to contribute positively to community-police relations.
Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney also expressed the importance of including diverse experiences on the board.
She argued that perspectives from individuals who have faced adverse interactions with police, as well as those who have had positive experiences, should be represented.
This reasoning led Pirtle-Guiney to support Hayes’s appointment, asserting that such diversity would strengthen the board.
Councilor Eric Zimmerman brought attention to the lack of concerns surrounding Edwards’s past endeavors to advocate for police accountability, juxtaposing it with the scrutiny surrounding Hayes.
He remarked, “We’ve got folks on both sides, and let’s be honest about it.”
Furthermore, the councilors will determine the length of terms for the appointed members, debating whether to issue one-, two-, or three-year terms.
Notably, concerns were raised regarding potentially granting longer terms to individuals who have previously run for office and may seek to run again in the future.
Other candidates under consideration for the board include Bob Weinstein, a previous City Council candidate; Charlie Michelle-Westley and Tim Pitts, who contributed to the Police Accountability Commission; and Corinne Frechette, who served as co-chair of a police advisory committee.
Out of approximately 120 applicants vying for the opportunity to serve on this board, successful appointees will be tasked with examining police shootings, deaths during police custody, and complaints of excessive force that result in injury.
The board will have the authority to recommend and impose disciplinary actions against officers, a responsibility that previously resided solely with the mayor and police chief.
Nevertheless, it is essential to note that the mayor will retain control over any investigations or disciplinary measures involving the police chief.
image source from：oregonlive
