Ed Garren’s Weblog

Dear Mayor Adams and Commissioners:

I want to thank all of you for your tenacious and consistent commitment to improving the very broken relationship between Law Enforcement and our community.

I lived in Miami during the 1980 riots over the beating death of Arthur McDuffie and subsequent attempt by the police to cover up their actions.  The rioting lasted three days, and left millions in property damage and about 10 people died. I lived in Los Angeles during the riots that erupted over the beating of Rodney King.   That one cost billions and dozens of people were killed. In both situations, it was NOT the specific actions of police that prompted the rioting, but two acquittals of law enforcement personnel by all white juries.  It was the breakdown of the judicial system, that protected officers, not members of long abused communities, that prompted the civil unrest.

My fear is that we are be sitting on top of a similar powder keg here in Portland, which is why we must continue with this work of reforming a police department that appears to be out of control.  I echo the statement that was made that the rank and file in the department must embrace change in order for it to be effective.

There is significant anger in this community among members of many communities who have articulated that anger very clearly at the two hearings related to this ordinance.   I know from experience that if the anger is not addressed, it will emerge in very ugly ways that will significantly damage our city’s reputation.

Lastly, I want to clarify one other point.  At the February 18 meeting of the African American Alliance at the Red Cross, I was the person who publicly asked Commissioner Saltzman if he would commit to calling in the FBI to investigate the shooting of Aaron Campbell.  I reminded all present that if this shooting had occurred in any “southern” state, FBI participation would be mandatory as required by civil rights legislation that was passed in the 1960s and 1970s.  My specific request to Dan was that he not only call in the FBI on this incident, but that he draft policy requiring FBI inclusion in any similar incident in the future. At the time, he said he thought it was an interesting idea and would consider it.

I am pleased that he decided to follow through with the FBI inclusion on this one incident, and hope that policy will be drafted to set parameters for any future events (as a part of departmental oversight).  I would suggest that the language in the civil rights legislation would offer appropriate guidelines.

It is my belief that given the history of this region with regard to race, we must adopt many of the attitudes and civil rights policies and procedures that have been in place in the “south” for almost 4o years.  Clearly they have worked in that region, and I think an honest look at our history, our current issues, and the adoption of existing policies which have worked in other parts of the country is a better solution than offering one patch job at a time, each driven by the most recent crisis.

If this was any issue related to our material infrastructure, that is what we would do.

Regards,  Edward “Ed” Garren, MA, LMFT

Psychotherapy/Consulting