Police and pastors work to keep churches a place of respect
About 25 Portland-area pastors gathered Tuesday at the north Portland precinct to take a stand against violence and adopt new guidelines for gang-related funerals in an effort to eliminate gang attire or the representation of gangs on the deceased or attendees.
“Pastors have an important message to send to the families in our community about the importance of responsibility for each family in preventing and discouraging gang involvement,” said the Portland Police Bureau in a news release.
The Gang Related Funeral Protocol, in addition to asking for the respect of youth and individuals by not wearing hats or gang related clothing in church, also requires that the lyrics of all songs played at the service are not in reference to gangs.
The protocol further requires family members of someone killed due to violence or gang-related activity to meet with the minister and the Portland Police Bureau’s crisis response team coordinator Officer Marci Jackson, before completing the arrangements for a funeral service.
The Police Bureau said it applauds the faith-based community for stepping up to the challenge to keep gang-related funerals in houses of worship non-violent and respectful.
