Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland Mayor Sam Adams announced Wednesday that he removed the two top leaders of the city’s police force.

Sam Adams: “This afternoon, I have submitted to the council clerk an executive order reassigning oversight of the police bureau to my office, effective immediately. And moments ago, I met with former chief Rosie Sizer, and we agreed to part ways in terms of her continued service as chief of police. That is effective immediately.”

For more on the story, I’m joined by OPB reporter, Rob Manning.

Obviously, there’s lots of recent controversy surrounding Portland’s police. There were two officer-involved shootings recently. The city agreed just yesterday to pay more than a million and a half dollars to the family of a man who’d died in police custody. And Chief Sizer and the mayor had publicly tangled over the proposed police budget. What reason did Adams give for firing Chief Sizer?

Rob Manning: You gave a pretty lengthy list of problems in the police force, and while the mayor didn’t list them himself today, he did say that the decision resulted from an accumulation of problems. One of the most basic problems Adams pointed to, was a troubling perception of the police."

Sam Adams: “Too many Portlanders express concern about their own safety – not just because of crime, but rather the fear from their own police force.”

That statement could certainly be interpreted as a reference to two recent officer-involved shootings – one in Washington Park involving a homeless man who had a knife, the other of an unarmed black man.

Adams also wants to improve how the city deals with the homeless and the mentally ill. He said that’s a job that the new chief would be well-suited for.

Beth Hyams: Who is the new police chief?

Rob Maning: His name is Michael Reese. He has been serving as the East Precinct commander, and before that he ran Central Precinct. Adams portrayed him as a supporter of community policing, and Adams said he was the right guy to tackle what he called Portland’s “reality.” Here’s Chief Mike Reese outlining what he sees as Portland’s challenge going forward.

Mike Reese: “While violent crime still exists, the reality is that more and more we find ourselves as first responders to social disorder. Homelessness, drug addiction, and mental illness are some of the common problems facing our community. These issues require long-term and different solutions, they demand different strategies and different training within the police bureau.”

Beth Hyams: Dealing with homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness aren’t typically law enforcement duties. Did Reese say how the police bureau would change?

Rob Manning: You heard him refer to training and different strategies – but Reese is interested in starting with a community-wide process to look at what policies need to change.

Mayor Adams said that the problem is that police wind up seeing people with drug or mental illness issues because they aren’t being served as well by state and county services. I spoke earlier today with Multnomah County chair, Jeff Cogen. He acknowledged that the county’s ability to provide services has diminished a lot in recent years.

Jeff Cogen: “Well, after ten years of cutting the county’s budget, there’s no question that the safety net is frayed. We’ve been trying to focus investments where we can, but you can’t get blood from a stone. The simple truth is that cutting and cutting and cutting again – we don’t have the safety net we wish we all had.”

Just a note – Jeff Cogen is running for re-election for the county board.  Beth Hyams: His former boss, city commissioner Dan Saltzman is also up for re-election. Mayor Adams just took the police bureau away from Saltzman.

Rob Manning: Yes, and I put a call in to Saltzman, but haven’t heard back. Saltzman’s chief rival, Jesse Cornett, though, applauded the move and said that Saltzman had been “in over his head.”

It’s not the only political dimension here – Portland police watchdogs are concerned about the new police chief, Mike Reese. They don’t trust his business ties, from his time as downtown commander.