Nearly three years after Portlanders overwhelmingly voted to establish a new system to address police officer misconduct, the details of the new oversight body are coming into focus. A commission of 20 city-appointed volunteers tasked are with drafting this text and creating a transition plan from the current oversight system to the new body by 2025.
The system must be presented to the U.S. Department of Justice by November for approval, and it must match the requirements of the voter-approved measure. Since 2001, the Independent Police Review has been responsible for reviewing complaints from members of the public who believe an officer violated police bureau policies — allegations that include everything from officer profanity to unjustified use of force.
If an investigator with the Independent Police Review determines that an officer has violated policy. Their findings go to the police chief or police commissioner to determine if discipline is warranted. That discipline can be overturned by an arbitrator if the police union appeals. The person who filed the initial complaint can appeal to a volunteer review board, called the Citizen Review Committee. The Independent Police Review’s investigations are confidential and the oversight body plays no role in choosing consequences for officers who violate city policy. The lack of transparency has undermined accountability.
The 2020 social uprising due to the George Floyd public torture death at the hands of police officers to get the new measure overhauling the current system on the ballot. Measure 26-217, the proposal championed in City Hall by former Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, passed with 82% voter support in November 2020.
Long-time beloved activist JoAnn Bowman Hardesty made sure the proposal has teeth. The board has the power to investigate all deaths in custody, uses of deadly force, complaints of force causing injury, discrimination and violations of constitutional rights. Important for any board to exert power, this one has the authority to subpoena documents and compel statements from police officers during investigations. It will also discipline and fire officers.
The measure will replace the current Independent Police Review with a new city department to be led and informed by a city-appointed oversight board. This new board will answer many dreams of having a true body of citizens that will oversee police misconduct.
