Portland leaders hope sweeping $6 million plan stems historic shooting surge
Updated 6:28 PM;
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Portland’s mayor and commissioners Wednesday unanimously approved a $6 million plan they say is the best option to combat a dramatic rise in shootings and gun deaths that’s placed the city on track for a record number of homicides.
It also provides millions of new dollars to community organizations for anti-violence work and authorizes the addition of two dozen unarmed rangers to patrol parks and surrounding neighborhoods.
“The work in front of us is that of building a community safety system,” said Commissioner Dan Ryan before casting his vote in favor of the proposal he helped spearhead. “Now is the time to take some big steps and to be bold.”
The plan proposes the following:
• The Portland Police Bureau will internally realign resources to gain the patrol, analytic and investigative capacities PPB says it needs to combat gun violence.
• PPB will immediately add six additional assault investigative detectives and one sergeant to coordinate gun-related investigations working in partnership with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
• The city’s new community safety transition director will lead the development of the gun violence prevention response plans and the community safety plan.
• $1.4 million will go to Portland Parks and Recreation to expand the Park Ranger Program. This will add 24 ranger patrols to be unarmed goodwill presences from May through December 2021.
Reggie Moore
In a city ravaged by reckless driving and racial injustice, the sentencing this week in the death of community activist Ceasar Stinson sends the wrong message to leaders, residents and law enforcement.
Circuit Judge Michelle Havas added insult to tragedy by sentencing former sheriff s deputy Joel Streicher to six months in the House of Correction and two years of probation, which was what the district attorney recommended.
Streicher told police he didn t notice a red light at North 10th and West State streets when he drove into the intersection, killing the 47-year-old Stinson on Jan. 25, 2020. Streicher pleaded guilty in January of this year to homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. Video showed Streicher’s vehicle entered the intersection 11 seconds after the light had turned red.
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Council to vote on $6 million gun violence package Wednesday April 07 2021
No public testimony will be allowed on the ordinance to reducing shootings that was added to the agenda late Tuesday afternoon.
The City Council will vote on a nearly $6 million package to reduce gun violence in Portland with limited public feedback on Wednesday.
The package was added to the end of the April 7 agenda late Tuesday afternoon. No public testimony will be allowed, although written comments can be emailed to the council until the vote.
The package is in response to the surge in shootings and killing that began in the middle of last year. Among other things, it creates a dedicated seven-member team within the Portland Police Bureau to investigate cases using existing personnel. It will also provide millions in grants to community organization and allocate $1.4 million to Portland Parks & Recreation to hire 24 more park rangers.