The Portland City Council has officially appointed 21 members and six alternates to its newly established police oversight board, a decision that comes more than four years after Portland voters overwhelmingly supported the initiative.
Among the notable members are Karly Edwards, who previously served as the chief of staff to former Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, a strong advocate for the initiative, and Terrence Hayes, a former City Council candidate. Hayes has both championed police accountability and faced personal tragedy with the loss of a family member in a police shooting. Both were appointed to one-year terms on the board.
The Community Board for Police Accountability is designed to encompass a diverse blend of backgrounds. Notably, at least four appointees have legal expertise, two work for Multnomah County, and one is a state employee. Additionally, two members previously served on the Police Accountability Commission, which played a pivotal role in designing this new oversight system. The board also includes a sports medicine physician, a social worker, and various community organizers.
One of the appointed alternates, Bob Weinstein, previously ran for City Council in 2024.
District representation is varied, with nine of the 21 members residing in City Council District 2, which covers North and Northeast Portland. Each of Portland’s four districts has at least one member represented on the board. To ensure staggered terms, members were appointed to one-, two-, and three-year terms, so that not all members will turnover at the same time, while future members will be appointed to three-year terms.
During the City Council session approving the board members, several appointees underscored the importance of establishing an accountable police force and a credible oversight system.
Hayes declared that he stands neither as a friend nor an adversary to the police, expressing his commitment to advocating for a community that often remains unheard in the discussions surrounding police accountability.
Fellow member Kyle Ashby shared his experiences living in Portland for almost 12 years, noting that he has witnessed both the best and worst aspects of policing. He recounted a personal story where he relied on police for support during a two-year ordeal involving a man struggling with mental illness who stalked his home. However, Ashby also highlighted a contrasting experience, where he shielded people from tear gas canisters used by Portland police during the 2020 social justice protests. He stated, “I want to create a credible process to address misconduct where it occurs.”
Another board member, Benedikt Springer, who works for the Oregon Public Utilities Commission, emphasized the necessity of establishing a system that garners trust from both the community and police officers alike.
In a public comment, Hardesty mentioned that she had expressed interest in joining the board but was not selected. She conveyed her belief that the appointed members possess the “right heart” and spirit necessary to form an oversight board deserving of the city. However, she also pointed out that none of the selected members have an extensive history of police accountability within Portland.
Next, the board members and alternates will undergo background and eligibility checks, accompanied by training to prepare them for their roles. They will collaborate with the Office of Community-based Police Accountability, which will be responsible for handling complaints against police officers.
This new office will feature professional administrators, investigators, mediators, and data analysts. Their primary role will include conducting initial investigations into allegations of police misconduct and presenting their findings to the board members, who will then review the materials and make final decisions on the cases. Incidents handled by the board will encompass police shootings, deaths occurring in police custody, and complaints regarding excessive force that results in injury.
The inaugural task for the new board will be to hire a director for the newly established Office of Community-based Police Accountability.
The complete list of members and alternates includes:
– Pete La Raus, District 4 resident, appointed to 1-year term
– Natisha Pratt, works in District 1, appointed to 1-year term
– Madeline Carroll, District 2 resident, appointed to 1-year term
– Karly Edwards, District 3 resident, appointed to 1-year term
– Trish Garner, District 2 resident, appointed to 1-year term
– Terrence Hayes, District 1 resident, appointed to 1-year term
– Corinne Frechette, District 4 resident, appointed to 1-year term
– Jesse Neilson, District 2 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Kyle Ashby, District 2 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Gillian Herrera, District 2 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Timothy Pitts, District 2 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Schuyler (Hugh) Halsey, District 2 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Shelley Maddox, District 2 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Benedikt Springer, District 3 resident, appointed to 2-year term
– Justice Brooks, District 4 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Ash Jimenez, District 1 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Tim O’Donnell, District 2 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Tida Lane-Howe, District 3 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Charlie Michelle-Westley, District 2 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Dina Ross, District 4 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Murtaza Batla, District 4 resident, appointed to 3-year term
– Erica (Atticus) Sommerfeld, District 2 resident, alternate
– Bob Weinstein, District 4 resident, alternate
– Todd Bateman, works in District 3, alternate
– Sara Citrenbaum, District 3 resident, alternate
– Jason Ashley, District 3 resident, alternate
– Harry Sheehan, District 2 resident, alternate
This new board marks a significant step in enhancing transparency and accountability within the Portland Police Bureau.
—Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221-4323, [email protected] or on X@zaeemshake.
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