AltWeeklies Wire
Questioning the Questionersnew

Feds Investigate Portland Police—But Miss Crucial Input
The Portland Mercury |
Sarah Mirk |
08-15-2011 |
Crime & Justice
When Should Cops Call for Help?new

IN A CASE WITH striking similarities to the death of James Chasse Jr. in 2006, a man arrested by Portland police—after an intense chase early Sunday, July 10—fell gravely ill in custody, after complaining he was short of breath, and later died at a hospital.
The Portland Mercury |
Denis C. Theriault |
07-14-2011 |
Crime & Justice
Violent Truthnew

What's wrong with Oregon that domestic violence is on the rise?
The Portland Mercury |
Sarah Mirk |
11-05-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: Domestic Violence
A 22-Year-Old Southeast Portlander Vanished on His Bike Two Weeks Agonew
Tyler Brady was last seen riding home on his fixed-gear bike, a black frame and white handlebar Schwinn, on the night of February 17. A friend says the bar Tube had turned him away for being too drunk.
The Portland Mercury |
Sarah Mirk |
03-11-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Changing the Cop Culture that Led to the Death of Aaron Campbellnew
Portlanders remain outraged over Aaron Campbell's death. A day after the police chief's radio appearance, a group of 50 people carpooled to Salem to meet with legislators. Reverend Renee Ward wants prevent the further "murder" of young men like Campbell, she says.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
03-04-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Oregon's Jails Are its Biggest Providers of Mental Health Servicesnew

The jail spends half of its annual $600,000 drug budget on psychiatric medications for the inmates who will consent to taking them. But jails can't force the inmates. Far from solving our state's mental health problems, the current situation is probably making them worse.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
01-14-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Tasered Bicyclist Beats Resisting Arrest Chargenew
One night last June, police stopped Phil Sano for not having a bike light. Sano flailed his arms at the cops and wound up on the ground, Tasered multiple times and cited for resisting arrest. Sano was vindicated when a jury cleared Sano of the charge.
The Portland Mercury |
Sarah Mirk |
02-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: law enforcement, Phil Sano
Portland to Get Pilot Mental Health Courtnew
Three qualified mental health professionals will work with a dedicated judge, with a goal of hooking mentally ill people up with medication and counseling instead of prosecuting them for low-level crimes.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
05-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Was a Portland Cop Fired for Snitching?new
Officer Lindsay Hunt is planning to sue the city over allegations she was effectively terminated in retaliation for "snitching" on an officer who was supposed to be training her.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
03-06-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Arresting Developmentnew
The manager and owner of a private security firm in SE Portland is still running his business with the blessing of the state, despite having been warned repeatedly by police for over a year for allegedly taking "pseudo police action."
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
02-08-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
The Blame Gamenew
The Portland city auditor needs to make changes to stop widespread public mistrust of the Independent Police Review process, according to an independent consultant's report released last week.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
02-01-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Portland Cops Take Aim at People of Colornew
New numbers show the city's police are pointing their guns at African Americans more often than they are at the city's white residents, and that per capita, African Americans are five times more likely to have force used against them in a police encounter than whites.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
01-17-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
What I Learned at Citizen Police Academynew
On Dec. 4, I finally graduated from the Portland Police Bureau's 11-week Citizen Police Academy. That being said, you're under arrest. Just kidding.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
12-14-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Where Are the Cops?new
Sluggish Recruitment Puts Public at Risk
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
11-29-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Where Are the Cops?new
The Portland Police Bureau's sluggish recruitment puts public at risk.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
11-29-2007 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice