Jake Thomas of the Portland Observer interviews Jeri Sundvall-Williams about the Columbia River Crossing and environmental justice in north and northeast Portland.
He also talked to Loretta Smith, a field representative for Oregon Senator Ron Wyden who is running for a seat on the Multnomah County Commission.
Produced by Johnathan Little of Urban Vibe.
The Portland Police Bureau has released the following statement with more details on the shooting:
On Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at 6:21 p.m., Portland Police Officers James Defrain and Ryan Foote, both 6-year veterans and currently assigned to the Hotspot Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), attempted to stop a vehicle for traffic infractions in the area of N.E. Grand and Holladay. The Officers activated their overhead lights, but the vehicle continued without stopping. The officers used their lights, siren and airhorn in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not pull over. Eventually, the driver pulled the vehicle over to the curb on N.E. 6th Avenue, near Halsey.
As the officers approached the vehicle, the subject shouted profanities at the officers and was not complying with directions. Additional officers arrived and witnessed the subject reaching over toward the passenger area of the vehicle. A taser was deployed, but did not stop the subject’s movements. Another taser was deployed, and again, did not have any effect on the subject’s movements.
At some point, the subject pulled out a gun, shots were fired, and Officer Christopher Burley, a 5-year veteran assigned to HEAT, fell to the ground. HEAT Officers Cody Berne, a 5-year veteran, Andrew Polas, a 6-year veteran and Jim Defrain returned fire at the subject. Other Officers grabbed Officer Burley, took him to safety, and transported him to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in a police car. Emergency Medical Service was also dispatched to the scene to assist the subject.
Officers attempted to determine if the suspect was still a threat. A less lethal beanbag impact weapon was deployed. Officers immediately formed a team and approached the subject. They removed him from the vehicle and the subject began receiving medical assistance, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officer Christopher Burley was shot once in both legs and is expected to make a full recovery.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy today on the deceased subject, and will confirm his identity and notify next of kin.
Portland Police are asking anyone who was in the area or has any information about this incident, to contact Detective Mark Slater at (503) 823-9319 or Detective Erik Kammerer at (503) 823-0762. This is an ongoing investigation.
It also included links to the police computer-assisted dispatches here and here.
The Police Bureau has also provided a link of the press conference earlier today that we were unable to make it to.
Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com
State Senator Mark Hass, a Bearverton Democrat and sponsor of Oregon’s landmark “Rooney Rule” bill said that he had no contact with Portland City Council candidate Jesse Cornett regarding the legislation when it was being considered during a 2009 legislative session.
Cornett has claimed that his behind-the-scenes work helped get the bill to final passage.
The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee, which Hass chairs, after being overwhelmingly passed by the House. There, he said, that the more committee members talked about it, the more they liked the bill, and the issue shifted from whether or not to pass it to what modifications might be needed.
Hass said that he has no recollection of Cornett testifying on the bill’s behalf, or communicating with him on the issue.
The bill passed the Oregon Senate, with almost every member voting for it.
Here’s a video of the Senate passing the bill:
Portland Observer web editor and news reporter interviews Dvija Michale Bertish of the Rosemere Neighborhood Association of Vancouver, Wash. about regional environmental justice issues. They also discussed a landmark court case the association was involved with that could alter how the Environmental Protection Agency handles civil rights complaints.
Jake Thomas of the Portland Observer talks to Rahmiel Mitchell of whatshappeningpdx.com, and the key organizer behind Ecopalooza.
Minority communities have long suffered disparities in income, education, and health.
As these communities age, the ailments they disproportionately suffer from will be exacerbated, putting new strains on the nation’s health care system.
Fred Miller, the director of OHSU’s African American Dementia and Aging Project, discussed with the Portland Observer’s Jake Thomas the challenges we face as minorities age.
Matt Davis has diligently monitored City Hall for the last several years working as a reporter, and later as new editor for the Portland Mercury.
Last week, he announced that he was leaving his position at the alternative weekly to try his hand in New Orleans.
Davis discussed with Thomas some of his more notable stories. He also spilled his guts on what he really thinks about Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioner Randy Leonard, and the passive-aggressive style of “The City that Works.”
On Sunday April 11, the Portland Observer launched the first episode of the Portland Observer Hour on Portland Community Media.
We already have the interview Commissioner Dan Saltzman did with PO web editor and news reporter Jake Thomas up on our website, but there’s two other segments we have ready to go.
Thomas also interviewed Charles Wilhoite, a commissioner with the Portland Development Commission, about plans to expand urban renewal into north and northeast Portland:
He also talked to local poet and Lincoln High School senior Anderson Duboise about a new book of poetry he has out:
Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com
This Sunday, City Commissioner Dan Saltzman granted the Portland Observer an interview on the maiden broadcast of “The Portland Observer Hour” on Portland Community Media.
We’ll have a video of the full video up soon, but in the meantime, here’s a couple highlights.
Last week, Sgt. Kyle Nice, an officer involved in the death of James Chasse, was involved in a road rage incident in Washington County.
On Friday, the Oregonian reported that Sgt. Scott Westerman, head of the police union, is under investigation for a similar incident.
When asked about the incidents, Saltzman had serious words.
“Well, let me say first of all, to me, it’s completely unacceptable, these incidents,” said Saltzman.
He also had some interesting remarks about Westerman, who lead a massive demonstration of the police union and held a vote of no confidence on Saltzman and Police Chief Rosie Sizer when Saltzman moved to suspend Christoper Humphreys, an officer also involved in the Chasse incident, after it was revealed he shot a 12-year-old girl with a beanbag gun during an altercation at a MAX stop. The union withheld the results of the vote after Saltzman backed down.
“Scott Westerman is also being reviewed. He’s a little bit different because he’s the head of the union right now. We’ll see how long that may last,” said Satlzman.
“I will consider discipline of him too,” Saltzman continued. “But we’re still completely the internal affairs investigation right now.”
“Well, I think at a minimum, I’m going to have both Sgt. Nice and Sgt. Westerman undergo some anger management counseling,” said Saltzman. “But that’s not really discipline. I mean that’s something to me that’s not discipline, that’s something based on what happened that needs to occur.”
When questioned what he would do if the union held another march, Saltzman had this to say:
“But, yeah, I mean they’re welcome to march. They’ve done that before, and that hasn’t changed my opinion on things or how I perceive things,” he said.
Saltzman also wants the upcoming contract negotiations with the police union to include a provision that allows for drug testing of officers involved in shootings. He also wants annual performance reviews of officers.
“What we may have to bargain for is what do we do with those reviews,” he added.
When asked about why the Mental Health Association of Portland wasn’t included in discussions to craft a set of recommendations geared toward better equipping police officers for encounters with the mentally ill, Saltzman said that Jason Renaud, one of its most outspoken members, flatly refused to participate.
The topic of racial profiling also came up. Saltzman didn’t deny it happens, but didn’t seem to think it’s something officers deliberately do. Instead, he seemed to suggest that everyone takes race into account in their day-to-day lives, whether they intend to or not. When asked if the police union’s denial that the phenomenon occurs in Portland was an obstacle, he had this to say:
“We don’t bargain over this. This is something we handle through policies and procedures that we have, the chief, I should say, has full ability to take into account,” said Saltzman. “I guess what I’m trying to say, is that part of it – biased-based policy, racial profiling- is endemic to everybody. I think that’s something we all have to work at overcoming.”
He also had this to say about the police union.
“I don’t always think the police union speaks for many of the views and opinions of rank and file officers, and I base that on my years of experience, especially in the last year and a half talking to many many officers,” said Saltzman.
He also added:
“I think there’s kind of disconnect. I think the union gets itself too rigid, and I don’t think it fully represents the views of all rank and file officers, including on points like whether racial profiling exists a not.”
Saltzman had so much more to say on issues ranging from making the force more diverse, his top-to-bottom overhaul of police procedures, and gang violence.
The Rev. Renee Ward talks about the legislative angle of the shooting of Aaron Campbell, a 25-year-old unarmed man who was shot by Portland police after a tense standoff. A grand jury cleared the officer who shot Campbell, Aaron Frashour, which has prompted some critics to call for reform of the state’s use of force laws. Ward talks about what lawmakers can do to make sure that police are held accountable in future incidents.
