August 2022
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Dear Portlanders,
The Police Accountability Commission continued its Fact-Finding Phase of work in July, holding briefings with key stakeholders as the full commission and sub-committees continued their work researching Portland's current police accountability system, research into other jurisdictions' practices, and proposals from subject matter experts, and developing agreements on each.
You can learn more about the Police Accountability Commission at www.portland.gov/police-accountability.
July Summary
In July, the Police Accountability Commission held six meetings. Three were meetings of the full commission, in which City Commissioners Carmen Rubio and Dan Ryan, Settlement Agreement amici the Mental Health Alliance and Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, and the Portland Police Association briefed the Commission. The Commission's meetings also included discussions in which commission members identified barriers to accountability in the current system, as well as best practices.
The Sub-Committee on Research met twice in July, presenting research notes from several additional jurisdictions (with ten total having detailed research notes by the end of the month) and developing a spreadsheet of identified practices and a structure for what a future Areas of Agreement on Best Practices, and Practices to Avoid, from Other Jurisdictions, could look like. Similar progress occurred on the other research area for the sub-committee, on Proposals to Consider, and to Avoid, from Subject Matter Experts.
Finally, the Sub-Committee on Community Engagement Events met once to continue discussions on consistent practices as well as continue planning Town Halls with up to eight different Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) as partners in this round; the sub-committee also continued to build their list for partner CBOs for future rounds of town halls.
Get Involved!
The PAC website includes a page with more information on how to get involved in the commission's work, including how to watch meetings, give public comment during meetings, and give written public comment to the PAC as well. Written public comment is circulated to the commission in advance of each meeting.
Thank you!