Portland, OR Addressing Racial Profiling

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 1/4/06

Source File: http://www.nwcrc.org/RPC%20Resolution%20final.htm

Text:

WHEREAS, the City of Portland is a thriving, diverse community that welcomes all nationalities, races, genders, and sexual orientations; and

WHEREAS, the City Council believes that any disparate treatment because of a person’s race, nationality, immigration status, gender, age, or sexual orientation is wrong; and

WHEREAS, the community counts on equal and fair treatment and protection from its police force and city leaders; and

WHEREAS, Portland Police Bureau stop data for 2005 show that African-Americans and Hispanic/Latinos are overrepresented in citywide stops compared to the overall Portland population; and

WHEREAS, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians are more likely to be searched during a traffic stop than whites; and

WHEREAS, data also indicates that when conducting searches, police officers are actually less likely to find illegal items (drugs, weapons, contraband) with African Americans, Latinos, or Asians than with whites; and

WHEREAS, the Portland Police Bureau is committed to serving all Portland residents and visitors with respect and professionalism, regardless of skin color, nationality, race, gender, age, or sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, the Portland Police Bureau is concerned about the vehicle stop data and is sensitive to the concerns and opinion of the community; and

WHEREAS, the Portland Police Bureau and City Council seek to partner with the community to improve communication and relationships in an effort to remove racially biased policing from the practices of Portland Police; and

WHEREAS, the community seeks to partner with the Portland Police and the Portland City Council to eradicate this;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Portland City Council establish the Racial Profiling Committee to monitor data collection, review internal policies, and work with the community for their input to elimination of racial profiling; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee shall include representatives of police, community organizations, advocacy groups, community corrections, the faith community, business community, and youth; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Committee shall be co-chaired by a member of a community organization and a member of the Portland Police Bureau; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Racial Profiling Committee will become a standing committee of the Human Relations Commission to provide for on-going support.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this committee will prepare a report to City Council once a year to recommend city-wide strategies to address racial profiling.