138-2023

Report

Appoint Scott Latta and Derek Thompson and reappoint Celeste Carey to the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing

Accepted
Amended by Council

As Mayor and Police Commissioner, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments to the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP):

Appointment

Term Start Date

Unfinished Term Expires

Replaces

Scott LattaFebruary 15, 2023August 31, 2024Kevin Provost
Derek O. ThompsonFebruary 15, 2023August 31, 2024Zeenab Fowlk

I also request Council confirmation of the following extensions and reappointments to the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP):

Reappointment

Previous Term End

Reappointed / Extended Until

Celeste Carey

July 7, 2023

August 31, 2024

On behalf of the City, I thank the following former members for their service to the City as a member of the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP):

Former Member

First Date of Service

Last Date of Service

Zeenab Fowlk

December 16, 2020

December 16, 2022

Kevin ProvostAugust 3, 2022January 26, 2023
Anthony Barnes (youth)September 1, 2022October 19, 2022
Lauren Ceaser (youth)August 3, 2022October 5, 2022

The full membership of PCCEP, following this confirmation, is:

Member

Date of First Appointment

Current Term Ends

Ann Campbell

April 11, 2020

August 31, 2023

Gloria Canson

August 27, 2021

August 31, 2023

Nathan Castle

June 15, 2022

August 31, 2024

Celeste Carey

July 7, 2021

August 31, 2024

Scott LattaFebruary 15, 2023August 31, 2024
Leslie MartinezSeptember 1, 2022August 31, 2024
Tia Palafox

August 27, 2021

August 31, 2023

Ashley SchofieldSeptember 1, 2022August 31, 2024
Derek ThompsonFebruary 15, 2023August 31, 2024

Byron Vaughn

August 27, 2021

August 31, 2023

Robin WisnerAugust 3, 2022August 31, 2023

Respectfully submitted,

Ted Wheeler
Mayor

Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing Appointments

Scott Latta

Bio
Scott Latta is a resident of the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood and works by day as Editorial Director of a global relief NGO based in Washington, D.C. A Portland resident since 2015, he joined PCCEP in order to begin taking action on local issues that impact his neighbors and community after years spent working in international relief. He lives in Portland with his wife and 6-year-old daughter.

Statement of Interest
The reasons I joined PCCEP are to hold PPB accountable to its obligations, understand more deeply how our police interact with our most marginalized citizens, and to give voice to those citizens so that PPB will act more fairly, responsibly, and justly toward all.

Derek O. Thompson

Bio
Retired in 2011 as a Cosmetology Instructor in Washington State and Portland, Oregon

Two semesters of Community College in Portland, Oregon (2011-2013) Studied Business Mgmt

Founded HANDS of FAVOR, a local Community Service NPO ( 2013-2021) served as Board Chairman and President In this capacity I served four counties in Oregon and Washington, with 28 partnerships including local churches, public schools, Elderly Care Centers and Social Service Organizations working with the poor and under-served people including the Homeless communities.

The purpose was providing free haircuts and and grooming services to the disenfranchised people to add a sense of value and dignity into their otherwise less than desirable lives and lifestyles as a way to lift them up and motivate them to begin to pick up the pieces of their lives and hopefully become positive, productive citizens in their respective communities.

Currently involved in creating another NPO to address the social justice issues that plague our communities presently.

Adult Sunday School Teacher and Western Conference Director of Evangelism for AME Zion Church.

My passion lies in social justice for all and unity in our communities. I believe we can eliminate hate and injustice if we communicate and learn to love one another as human beings.

Statement of Interest
My purpose of becoming a PCCEP member is to be a voice for the voiceless My intent is to improve the relationship between Police and those in the community who are not heard by encouraging and facilitating open and honest dialogue between the two, because we all have to live on this planet together

Celeste Carey

Bio

Celeste worked for 13 years with the City of Portland as a Crime Prevention Coordinator with the former Office of Neighborhood Involvement, wherein she liaised with and organized community members, governmental agencies and service organizations to address livability and public safety issues. Celeste has expressed that she works with schools, faith organizations, police, Neighborhood District Attorneys, the OLCC, health and welfare agencies, affinity groups and others. During her career, she helped establish the City of Portland Civic Leadership and Diversity Partners program, co-founded The Restorative Listening Project on Gentrification, founded and served in ex-offender re-entry efforts, served on state and county health, housing and community development projects and organized numerous community-based safety efforts. Other employment includes coordinating the Albina Community Weed and Seed Program (a Department of Justice public safety and community development effort), AmeriCorps Member, print journalist, nursing and community health educator. Celeste was educated in in Communications, Journalism, and Nursing, and is currently employed as the interim CoManager of KBOO-FM Radio, here in Portland.


Statement of Interest: 
Celeste is motivated to serve on the PCCEP in part from her years of experience in organizing and in community-based information sharing. Celeste wants to continue elevating the voices of community members while on the PCCEP and is excited to contribute in any way she can.

Impact Statement

Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information

The Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing began its work in September 2018. It is tasked with monitoring the City’s compliance with the Settlement Agreement USDOJ v. City of Portland, and is itself a part of that agreement. It also works to ensure community input into police directive review and other issues, and reviews the Portland Police Bureau’s community engagement effort, racial equity plan, and more.

This report appoints three community members to serve on the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing. One of the new appointees will complete the unfinished terms of a former youth member of PCCEP, through August 31, 2023, and is eligible for reappointment at that time for future 1-year terms. The other two appointees will be appointed to complete an unfinished at-large term through August 31, 2024, and are eligible for reappointment at that time for future 1-year or 2-year terms. These appointments were made from the current pool of applicants for PCCEP, which consists of applications received in 2022-2023. Applications not included in this appointment will be kept on file and reviewed for upcoming appointments for up to one year.

This report also adjusts the end of the term of  one community member already serving on PCCEP, whose appointment ends mid-term, to continue serving through August 31, 2024, at which point she will also be eligible for reappointment.

Financial and Budgetary Impacts

There is no direct financial or budgetary impact related to this appointment.

Community Impacts and Community Involvement

  • All Portlanders may be impacted by the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing’s work.
  • Recommendations from PCCEP are presented to the Commissioner-in-charge of the Police Bureau, as well as the Chief of Police or designate, on a rolling basis. Community involvement is an important part of each of these processes.
  • PCCEP meetings are generally open to the public and PCCEP conducts community engagement as well to try and maximize Portlanders who have input into discussions in PCCEP’s areas of work.

100% Renewable Goal

Although it is incorporated into the sustainable procurement policy, this specific report does not impact the city’s use of energy or pursuit of the 100% renewable goal.

Agenda Items

138 Regular Agenda in February 15, 2023 Council Agenda

Confirmed As Amended

Motion to amend the report to remove Lila Riedel from the appointment and to add biographies and statements of interest for Scott Latta and Derek Thompson: Moved by Wheeler and seconded by Ryan. (Y-3)
  • Commissioner Carmen Rubio Absent
  • Commissioner Dan Ryan Yea
  • Commissioner Rene Gonzalez Absent
  • Commissioner Mingus Mapps Yea
  • Mayor Ted Wheeler Yea

Introduced by

Contact

Stephanie Howard

Mayor's Director of Community Safety

Requested Agenda Type

Regular

Date and Time Information

Requested Council Date
Time Requested
10 minutes