> But police said all officers were busy responding to other calls and were not available at the time. <
So a naked man was running around and threatening people. And the police were too busy.
Not blaming the cops. Very much blaming the Portland politicians.
And it’s just gonna get worse.
Google AI:
Portland City Council advanced a budget reducing the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) funding by millions, eliminating most unarmed responder positions and cutting overtime and training.Meanwhile, a controversial ballot measure is seeking to divert 25% of the city’s clean energy funds directly to the police.Current Budget AdjustmentsTo address a $170 million budget shortfall, city leaders advanced a spending plan featuring the following changes to the PPB:
Staffing Cuts: An 80% reduction in non-sworn Public Safety Support Specialists (unarmed responders).
Operational Reductions: Nearly $6 million in materials and services cuts, along with almost $2 million less in overtime budget.
Impact: Police Chief Bob Day noted this translates to approximately 20,000 fewer officer hours on the street, at a time when emergency response times have roughly doubled over the last decade.