Chief Bob Day: “Portland Must Be Better Than This”

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Recent reporting has surfaced past public statements from a current City Councilor expressing hatred for the men and women of the Police Bureau - describing these city employees as "monsters," calling for their abolition, and stating a "pure hatred" for Portland Police. As a city, we pride ourselves on civility and inclusivity. We know words cause harm. Every Police Bureau member-sworn staff and professional staff-who reads them will perceive them as directed at them personally, because they were.

I'm not going to relitigate someone's history on social media. But statements describing officers as fundamentally incompatible with a peaceful society and mocking them for cowardice are difficult to dismiss as youthful indiscretion. They reflect an agenda.

What concerns me is that this Councilor sits on an elected body that sets the Police Bureau's budget, shapes its policy, and votes on the tools and staffing our personnel rely on to do the jobs safely. That profound responsibility requires a baseline of good faith: that the Bureau's work will be judged on its merits rather than beginning with the predetermined conclusion that law enforcement should be dismantled.

That is why I have a responsibility to say that I no longer have confidence that this Councilor is evaluating the Police Bureau reasonably and objectively.

A sharp disagreement amongst city leaders is expected and appropriate. It can force us to examine our policies, improve our practices, and ultimately make PPB better. There is an important difference, however, between a Councilor who challenges police policy because they believe a particular policy is wrong and a Councilor who has repeatedly argued that police should not exist.

We would all like to live in a city with no crime, no violence and social systems capable of meeting every person's needs before they reach a crisis. But that is not the city-or a world-we live in.

Every year, Portland Police Bureau members respond to more than 200,000 emergency calls for service from Portlanders who are in crisis, have been victimized, and are experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives. Our members show up professionally and compassionately, often putting their own safety at risk to help others and keep community safe.

I will continue to bring the work of the Portland Police Bureau before this Council. I will continue to engage in difficult conversations and accept legitimate criticism of the Bureau. But we cannot pretend these past statements don't damage trust. And I will not ask the men and women of this Bureau to pretend otherwise.