UPDATE: After this news update was posted, the City Council voted 3-2 on the emergency ordinance. Emergency ordinances require unanimous support for approval, so the document failed. It was then reconsidered by Council, with the emergency clause amended out to make it a regular ordinance. Regular ordinances require a first reading, which is what the September 4 consideration served as. They also require a second reading before a vote, which was scheduled for September 11. See the following news update (https://www.portland.gov/police-accountability/news/2024/9/10/tomorrow-city-council-vote-expected-oversight-system-city-code) for more information.
Dear Portlanders,
The Police Accountability Commission was a group of twenty community members that developed and proposed a new accountability system for Portland police, including a new oversight board and a new investigatory and disciplinary system, to the City Council in September 2023. This email is a new update on City follow-up related to the creation of a new police oversight system as outlined in the City Charter, Section 2-10.
TODAY, 2:45 PM: City Council considers Oversight System City Code
Today (September 4) during the City Council's afternoon session, the City Council will consider an ordinance to add new text to the City Code establishing the new police oversight system. The Council agenda has a time certain for this item at 2:45 PM, which means the item may start at or just after 2:45 PM.
More information on the agenda, including how to join in person at 1900 SW 4th Avenue or watch online (or participate either in person or on Zoom) is at https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda.
Agenda item 776 is an ordinance proposed by Mayor Wheeler. It is proposed as an Emergency Ordinance, which means that the City Council may adopt it today without a second reading.
Additional Context
On August 29, 2024, the US District Court presiding over United States v. City of Portland, which is the case that has the Settlement Agreement including several police-related actions that the City is required to take (including implementing the oversight board), held a Fairness Hearing on the City and United States Department of Justice's joint proposal for the oversight board. This included both changes to the Settlement Agreement and the proposed City Code. Once approved, the City has three weeks, under the Settlement Agreement, to approve the City Code.
During that Fairness Hearing, presiding judge Michael H. Simon approved the motion effective January 2, 2025. More on this may be found in media reports:
• https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/29/judge-approves-portland-police-oversight-plan-delays-2025/
• https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/08/a-required-police-ride-along-for-members-of-portlands-new-police-accountability-board-prompts-judge-to-promise-ill-come-too.html
• https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/08/portland-mayor-ted-wheeler-blasts-judge-for-delaying-new-police-oversight-board-short-sighted-and-high-handed.html
Additional information on the overall process remains live at : https://www.portland.gov/police-accountability
Thank you!