Community police oversight panel to meet in undisclosed location with video feed for public
After halting recent meetings due to disruptions from the public, the city’s Community Oversight Advisory Board will gather Thursday night in an undisclosed location yet allow the session to be viewed on a video feed in the Portland Building.
The board was set up as part of the city’s settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to allow members of the community to monitor the progress of Portland police reforms.
The board’s chairwoman, Kathleen Saadat, resigned at the end of June, and the agenda for Thursday night’s meeting suggests members will discuss the board’s priorities and their “work moving forward.”
The board’s website and its agenda for the meeting simply states that members of the public “are invited to observe the meeting via video feed” in the Portland Building’s Room B. The meeting runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.
“The room will be set up to allow for public comment, per the agenda,” it says.
Deputy City Attorney Ellen Osoinach, who has worked with the board and Police Bureau regarding police oversight and reforms required under the federal settlement, referred questions to the Chicago-based academics who were hired to serve as chairs of the board and the city’s compliance officers, Dennis Rosenbaum and Amy Watson.
Watson said she and Rosenbaum made the decision and shared it with the board’s executive committee at its meeting last week.
“We felt it necessary to provide a safe environment that will allow the COAB to conduct its business while also providing an avenue for public participation,” Watson said.
She noted the board has had “significant disruptions” to the last few meetings.
“In fact, we have not been able to get through a full agenda since the April 28, 2016, meeting,” Watson said. The disruptions have prevented the board from getting its work done, and several members have expressed concern about their safety at meetings, she said.
Last month, the board couldn’t get through its agenda, due to the repeated shouting of insults and disruptions from some in attendance. They criticized Saadat for coming up with new restrictions that limited filming of the public sessions to a specific area of the room. Others complained that the board doesn’t represent the voices of the community, and another board member was harangued for failing to apologize to a regular attendee who videotapes the meetings after having referred to him as a skinhead on a Facebook post.
Board member Avel Gordly last month suggested the panel take a hiatus this summer to regroup and move past the “current dysfunction and disruptions.” But any such decision had to be made by the full board, U.S. Department of Justice lawyers advised.
On Tuesday, Gordly said she didn’t support the decision by Rosenbaum and Watson regarding the format for Thursday’s meeting.
“I will not support separate meeting arrangements that feed into, or perpetuate an us versus them or them versus us mentality,” Gordly said. “We can and must do better than that.”
Fellow board members Tom Steenson, Philip Wolfe and Myrlaviani Rivier, who sit on a board subcommittee on accountability, supported a motion Tuesday night, calling on the full board to meet in the same room as the public on Thursday.
“My current plan is to sit with you all” on Thursday night, Steenson told members of the public attending the board subcommittee meeting on accountability.
The board was created to monitor reforms outlined in an agreement that stemmed from a 2012 U.S. Justice Department investigation, which found Portland police engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force against people with mental illness or perceived to have mental illness. The investigation also found that stun gun use by officers was unjustified and excessive at times.
The board’s bylaws say the board shall meet at least two hours each month to assess the progress of the agreement. The settlement agreement is clear that all board meetings must be open to the public.
Dan Handelman, who leads the police watchdog group Portland Copwatch, said in an email that although the public video feed format for the meeting technically falls within state law, “it seems like a violation of the spirit of the purpose of having a community-based body to act as an intermediary between the public and the city/police bureau.”
He said he also thinks it’s a “disastrous decision” to make now that Saadat is no longer chairing the board, since it was largely her decisions to restrict where people videotaping the meeting could stand that led to much of the disruptions.
“The board has a chance now to show the community it is dedicated to open and welcoming meetings, but is going in the opposite direction,” Handelman said.
Eds note – the “Open Letter” and “List of Issues” below were circulated on July 4 to the Compliance Officer and Community Liaison and the Community Oversight Advisory Board.
Open Letter – July 4, 2016
We, the individuals named below, oppose the Compliance Officer and Community Liaison (COCL) hiring yet another local person to be the Chair of the Community Oversight Advisory Board (COAB). In the interest of self-governance and independence from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the City and the COCL, we are convinced after what has happened over the past year and a half that the Chair of the COAB needs to be a COAB member selected by a vote of the full COAB. To the extent the current Settlement Agreement requires the COCL to be the Chair of the COAB, the Settlement Agreement needs to be modified by the DOJ and the City to give the COAB the authority to select its own Chair from its members.
We believe this change in how the COAB operates is crucial to building community trust in the COAB and in allowing the COAB to successfully fulfill its responsibilities under the Settlement Agreement between the DOJ and the City.
Sincerely,
Catherine Gardner, Avel Gordy, Jimi Johnson, Laquida Lanford, Mireaya Medina, Myrlaviani Rivier, Rochelle Silver, Tom Steenson, Philip Wolfe
List of issues for the COAB to consider regarding the operation of the COAB and the COCL:
1. Should the COAB be allowed to select its chair from its membership rather than being chaired by the COCL?
2. Should the COCL be replaced, in whole or in part, by a court-appointed monitor with duties and responsibilities similar to the court-appointed monitors for settlement agreements in cases brought by the DOJ against other cities such as in Seattle and New Orleans?
3. What paid staff and funding does the COAB need to fulfill its responsibilities under the Settlement Agreement?
4. Should members of the COAB receive stipends or at least receive reimbursement for mileage, parking and bus expenses?
5. Should the COAB have the authority to select and have access to private legal counsel, independent of the City Attorney’s Office, to give legal advice to the COAB on matters affecting the operation of the COAB and fulfilling its responsibilities under the Settlement Agreement?
6. What should be the criteria and process for selecting and appointing individuals to the COAB?
7. What should be the criteria and process for selecting and appointing individuals to the Executive Committee? Should there be a term limit on membership on the Executive Committee?
8. How many subcommittees, including the Executive Committee, should COAB members be allowed to serve on at one time?
Resignation letters from COAB members 2015-2016
Bud Feuless nominated by Human Rights Commission & the Portland Office of Disability
Cory Murphy nominated by – unknown
Alisha Moreland-Capuia – nominated by Mayor Charlie Hales
Emanuel Price nominated by Human Rights Commission
Ime Kerlee nominated by Albina Ministerial Alliance
Kristi Jamison – nominated by the Portland Office of Disability
Vanessa Gonzalez nominated by Human Rights Commission & the Portland Office of Disability
Paul Meyer – nominated by the Portland Police Bureau
Se-ah-dom Edmo nominated by Human Rights Commission
Sharon Maxwell nominated by Albina Ministerial Alliance
Sharon Meieran nominated by City Commissioner Steve Novick
Joshua Robinson nominated by Human Rights Commission & the Portland Office of Disability
Michael Cahana nominated by City Commissioner Dan Saltzman
Avel Gordly nominated by City Commissioner Nick Fish (coming 7/22/2016)
Mental illness no excuse for disruption of Portland police oversight meeting
Opinion editorial by Amy Watson, published in the Oregonian June 28, 2016
See – DOJ-driven PDX Police Oversight Begins To Collapse, June 15, 2016
Eds. note – Author Amy Watson co-manages the city contract for oversight of the settlement of US DOJ v. City of Portland, which seeks to develop trust and respect between people with mental illness and the police. COAB members Sharon Meieren, MD, and Ime Kersee, PhD, resigned from the police oversight committee during the week of June 27. In the prior week another committee member and board chair quit.
I am truly saddened by the recent disruptions at Community Oversight Advisory Board (COAB) meetings by a small group of angry people, some of whom identify as having lived experience of mental illness.
The purpose of the COAB is to provide community voice and oversight to the police reform process required by the settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the city of Portland. The agreement resulted from DOJ’s finding of a pattern of excessive force used against people with mental illnesses. The voice of people with mental illnesses and their families is critical to this process.
I have occupied many roles in the mental health and criminal justice arenas. Professionally, I have been a probation officer working on a specialist mental health team, a forensic social worker/mitigation specialist, a social work educator, and a researcher focusing on mental illness stigma and police response to mental health crises.
Currently, I am part of the compliance office and community liaison team monitoring the city’s compliance with the settlement agreement. Personally, I identify as a person with lived experience, a family member and an advocate. So it is from this perspective that I share my thoughts on the recent disruptions at COAB meetings and personal attacks on COAB members.
First, I must clarify that I do not know the mental health history of the individuals who have disrupted the meetings, only that some have shared that they live with mental illness. This small group claims to represent “the community,” and some have suggested that their disruptive and often verbally abusive behavior should be excused due to their mental health conditions.
Certainly, no one should be discriminated against simply because they live with a mental illness, and reasonable accommodations should be made to support people with psychiatric disabilities in fully participating in civic life. However, this does not justify repeatedly disrupting meetings to the point that no work can be done, name-calling and nasty personal attacks, and the drowning out of all other voices.
It is these negative actions that we have attempted to restrict from COAB meetings and not, as has been indicated, the perspectives of people critical of the police and the reform process.
To assume that people with mental illnesses are never in control of their behavior, and thus should be allowed to disrupt, harass and impede the rights of others without consequence, is in itself stigmatizing. There may be times during acute phases of illness or crisis that a person’s behavior arises directly from psychiatric symptoms, but most of the time their behavior is motivated by the same things that motivate all people.
Based on what I have observed, some members of the group of disrupters exhibit symptoms that may impact their ability to regulate their behavior at meetings, while others appear to be engaged in planned disruptive behavior, all supported by others whose primary goal appears to be undermining and attacking the COAB chair and volunteer members of the COAB. The planned disruptions have stifled the voice of COAB members and meeting attendees who also have the right to participate in this important process. This small group of mean-spirited individuals cannot be allowed to dominate meetings and drown out other community members.
The “community” of people with lived experience is diverse, and they do not always speak with a single voice. While the small group of disrupters may represent a portion of the community, they do not represent the voice of all with lived experience and certainly do not represent the entire community of Portland.
There are mechanisms for all to have a voice in this process. There is public comment time at all meetings, and members of the community can join COAB subcommittees. Comments can be submitted electronically as well. There is also a publicized process for requesting accommodations.
In order for people to be able to work together, there must be respect for reasonable rules of conduct. It is difficult to understand why a small group of people who claim to be fighting for constitutional and human rights are so determined to deny those rights to others in this effort to improve the Portland Police Bureau’s response to mental health crises.
Jewishness is not a Mental Illness, Amy Watson of Rosenbaum Watson LLP
Jewishness is not a Mental Illness. I Sang Razzle Dazzle (From Chicago). Chicago, Amazing Grace, Hava Nagila, Witchcraft (By Frank Sinatra), and My Heart Belongs to Daddy, to help people calm down and work together, and to give that bad entertainment at the unfortunate cocktail party vibe. It really seemed to work, and bring down certain heated arguments. I Commandeered the Skype Connection with The Chicago Police torture coverup teamster Amy Watson and bragged about my affair with Israeli Electronica act Violet Vision’s Shay Raviv as if to intimate that i was very opposed to any Jewish Pogrom type activities from the COAB Police Brutality/ Wrongful Death committee, Bud Feuless, or Herr Mark Kruger. Amy Watson confirmed she is not Jewish. I confirmed my great-gran does seem so to be. I volunteered to Skype with her later to EXPLAIN what is going on. We have not yet had this call. So this letter is pre-disclosure. So Hopefully we will get this all sorted out over an electronic connection to Chicago. And in the meantime, i suggest she look up Mark Kruger and the history of NeoNazis in the Pacific Northwest, and stop covering up for the fact that our Mayor Charlie Hales hid for 29 LONG days a serious #ODeaShooting misconduct, Bud Feuless cyberbullying of a Jewish person, and continues to Flaunt a NeoNazi on the force at a large detriment to the public safety, and the larger national security scene. Does it take the death of Jo Cox MP to inspire belief, or a Sacramento mass knifing? When will Amy Watson realize inflicting a NeoNazi on Portland’s police brutality accountability meetings is purely maddening and anti-natsec? Then we can talk psychiatry. all day long. MKULTRA, Darpa, Icarus, and the rest of it. She can skype me at maryeng1 or please call 503-468-0450 and we can talk freely about the things she can’t understand from a simple skype connection on the way to that million dollar cashola.
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/06/mental_illness_no_excuse_for_d.html
Having followed some of the action via video and Copwatch emails, and having some familiarity with the activists, I have to say that it is inappropriate to refer to them as “mean-spirited individuals” or assume that their disruptions are purely motivated by mental illness. In many instances they are objecting on valid points. …but isn’t it nice to have scapegoats for your failure to have significant impact in your assigned task of improving the Portland Police. Don’t feel bad. Mayor after mayor as well as police chief after police chief have all failed as well.
…these comments are enough to send Jason Renaud if not JoAnn Hardesty to visit the old Red anD black card ;) thanks doncha, Kinect and commented above Mrs Engstrom und GrannyT’riot
Wow, yeah, people whose brains are organized more generically don’t get to make careers out of working with people with diverse brain organization, and then draw a line in the sand when they decide they’re uncomfortable with their own job. The solution for that problem is to quit and find a less challenging job, especially–especially!–if this is where the challenged person “is” after years in the field. The issue of attitudes and gate-keeping exposed by this author sends a message that people who are diverse don’t count unless gatekeepers approve of them. This represents a regressive, bully-ish culture and mindset which functions to actually either CREATE unsupported, diverse brain organization in targeted communities, OR, to “disable” and disrupt the capabilities of people who already are supporting diverse brain organization. This is classical, textbook oppression, and it increases the STYGMA that “some people” have bad character and use overwhelming life challenges as a “mealtickets,” etc. to get “free money” because the the challenges they face are made up, within their control, and “all in their heads.” That’s also victim-blaming and gaslighting, which is also ABUSE of vulnerable communities.
Suddenly, I realized just now that a lot of SERIOUS points about the condescending attitude expressed by this professional just keep blooming out of this issue in plenitude. I find it totally understandable and agreeable that a person under pressure would punctuate the same offensive volume of serious points with more powerful and colorful words.
Questions exposed by this article:
1) Since when is it good for anyone, let alone people who may very well be trying to figure out how to deal with their own brain diversity in the context of deficient support—a really serious issue—to be slapped with this politically, socially, racially, economically and emotionally loaded issue?
2) What are we doing about the “professional, high-functioning” bullies who cause or increase diverse brain organization in others? Who launch “shoot the messenger” attacks on overwhelmed communities?
3) How are we dealing with these dismissive, invalidating, invisibilizing, abusive, and oppressive actions…………..in the context of longstanding targeted police abuse and white collar coverups?
4) It simply MAY OR MAY NOT be an appropriate goal of individuals with diverse brain organization to increase the comfort level of others. That said, if the author of this article prefers the luxury/privilege of “fixing” the entire community of diverse brain organized people instead of just doing her job…………does she also think that the diverse brain organized should do her work for free? The last time I checked, disparate pay was a ginormous issue affecting politics, sociology, racism, economics, classism—-capacity, etc.—EVERYTHING, so I would guess it counts….a lot.
5) Why are we even talking about people with diverse brain organization making accommodations for people with more generic brain organization, when the law clearly states that it’s the other way around?!
On a side-note, its sad but not surprising that the City of Portland has plans underway to actually provide a type of “school”–that’s right, S-C-H-O-O-L—for differently-abled people to “fix” the differenly-abled’s style of interacting with the City. Instead of the City venturing out of their cloistered their ivory towers to interact with real people. Should they be doing this to the people of this city, anytime they don’t like their jobs, but want to continue getting paid tax dollars? Who is next? Should people in wheelchairs have to go to years of physical therapy—if possible—to use the steps of public buildings before they are allowed to enter?! What the….
Again, we must ask the question, “Who benefits?”