Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell directed Portland Police Officers to stop pulling drivers over for less serious, non-moving violations and focus on people who are speeding, driving under the influence, or otherwise making other drivers less safe. He also directed “Officers to tell drivers they can decline searches” and is now “requiring an audio recording of consent” for searches.
“The goal of these two changes is to make our city both safer and more equitable, helping reduce the number of Black, Indigenous and people of color who are disproportionally impacted by consent searches and traffic stops,” Mayor Wheeler said.
“This is a time where officers are, I think most of them know, we’re in a time of change. Reform is upon us, and we’re really looking at ways that we can meld what the community is asking for with public safety at the same time,” said Chief Chuck Lovell
Chief Lovell, added that another reason for the new policy is “limited staffing and resources”. In the wake of “significant budget cuts to the PPB, the department is operating well below authorized strength.”
Portland Oregon, is a city with a 5.8% Black Population, according to data from Portland’s Population Census from April 1st, 2020.
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) revealed data from their “Stops Data Collection 1st Quarter Report 2021” showing in 2021, only 18.9% of all the 4857 drivers stopped by PPB were “Black or African American”
In June, the entire Portland Police Bureau Rapid Response Team unanimously resigned one day after a Grand Jury indicted Portland Police Bureau Officer Corey Budworth on one count of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, for what prosecutors allege was an “excessive and unlawful use of force” during the summer 2020 riots.
A PPB Press Release states “On June 16, 2021, Portland Police Bureau employees serving as members of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) left their voluntary positions and no longer comprise a team.” it continues “There were approximately 50 employees serving as RRT members.”
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