Expanding Community Safety

I believe every Portlander deserves to feel safe in their home and on the street as they go about their daily lives. The problem is, many of us don’t feel safe right now. What is the best way to improve safety for all Portlanders?

As a Navy veteran, I know what it means to protect and serve. And I won’t rest until every Portlander feels confident that officers on the street demonstrate that same commitment. I took on a leadership role in order to reform our public safety system, address harms, and restore trust. More than any other person on the Council, I know in detail where the problems exist.  I will continue to move forward to reform the Police Bureau so that it serves everyone in the City of Portland. 

A cornerstone of community safety is trust. From ending gun violence and domestic violence, to reforming our crisis response infrastructure, I will work to ensure a sense of safety for our children and families here in Portland. This means having the right emergency response at the right time, and upholding high standards for accountability and community oversight. 

I believe there is a role for police in our community, but in a recent poll, almost 60% of Portland residents said they have a negative view of the Portland Police Bureau, and with good reason. Our Police Bureau is dysfunctional, and has been for years as evidenced by millions of taxpayer payouts for lawsuits related to police misconduct. In just the first 6 months of 2021, over $2.3 million was paid to 18 families. Almost 90% of Portlanders said they would support hiring more police officers IF there were true reforms in the Bureau  But first we need to fill the approximately 100 funded, yet vacant police positions. A KATU report recently revealed that less than half of police bureau employees are currently assigned to 911 response and patrol. I believe we need a better allocation to ensure the right response at the right time. I will continue to advocate for  hiring a more racially and culturally diverse police force, and shift more police to address Portlanders’ immediate needs while we work to fill the police bureau's nearly 100 open positions.

Jo Ann’s Record:

What We’ve Done Together So Far


 

  • Developed and championed the plan for the Portland Street Response team, which has proven in a short time to be a huge success in sending an appropriate response to people in crisis. In the Lents Neighborhood pilot area, this led to 22.5% reduction in police response on non-emergency welfare checks.  

  • Worked with our faith and community leaders at the height of the George Floyd demonstrations for racial justice, to develop the Police Reform measure, referred unanimously by city council, and which passed with 82% voter approval. 

  • Championed a new approach to the Portland Police contract that engaged the community more deeply, hired outside counsel, and provided transparency. This has resulted in a tentative agreement that includes the ability to expand Portland Street Response citywide and creates a clear, fair discipline guide to provide accountability for police misconduct.

Policy Priorities

How We Will Lead on Community Safety

  1. Expand Portland Street Response citywide to begin responding directly to appropriate 911 calls, relieving police to address more serious issues. Ensure the program provides living wage jobs. 

  2. Expand Portland Fire & Rescue’s proactive Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT), a pro-active community health program connecting 911 callers to resources like Primary Care Physicians and educating residents on resources like the Oregon Health Plan. This will increase access to care and reduce demands on 911 emergency calls.

  3. Take a systemic and data-driven approach to addressing gun violence. In the short-term we should be developing gun buy-back programs to get guns off the street, we should be educating people on proper gun storage, and supporting full investigations into shootings.

  4. Fully implement police reform and accountability measures including the Police Community Oversight Board, a new Civilian Training Dean, and the Truth & Reconciliation process, all of which will build back trust between police and community.