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Portland, Ore., Can’t Find Police for Unit to Fight Rising Murder Rate
Wall Street Journal ^ | August 2, 2021 | Zusha Elinson

Posted on 08/02/2021 4:04:03 AM PDT by karpov

Leaders in Portland, Ore., are looking to combat the city’s rising homicide rate by resurrecting a police unit focused on gun violence. But after a year of growing tension within the department, they can’t find enough officers to join.

Since 14 job openings were announced in May, only four police personnel have applied to work with the new version of Portland’s Gun Violence Reduction Team, which was shut down last year amid long-running protests seeking racial justice and an overhaul of police practices. None have yet been assigned.

Portland officers say such positions, once considered prestigious, are now less desirable, given the increased scrutiny that accompanies them. The new unit has its own citizen-advisory board, instituted after the old unit was criticized by city leaders for racial profiling. A job description says qualifications include the ability to fight systemic racism.

“They’re demonizing and vilifying you, and then they want to put you in a unit where you’re under an even bigger microscope,” said Daryl Turner, head of the union that represents Portland’s officers.

Portland police have coped with frequent late-night street violence in the past year, as well as criticism from politicians and activists on the right and left.

Jami Resch, assistant chief of the Portland Police Bureau’s investigations branch, acknowledged that morale is down in the department. She said criticism of the old unit and uncertainty surrounding the new one and its relationship with the oversight committee have slowed applications. Once those roles are clarified, there will be more interest, she predicted.

Homicide rates rose 24% in a sample of 32 American cities in the first quarter of 2021, compared with the same period last year, according to a recent study by the Council on Criminal Justice, a think tank focusing on criminal-justice policy and research.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: antifa; blm; portland
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1 posted on 08/02/2021 4:04:03 AM PDT by karpov
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To: karpov

Nobody saw that one coming.


2 posted on 08/02/2021 4:05:28 AM PDT by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged )
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To: karpov

Call in the social workers. If there are still openings, look for gender studies majors to fill the spots.


3 posted on 08/02/2021 4:06:27 AM PDT by Bernard (The very best scientific articles always contain this phrase: “My personal intuition has been…”)
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Anyone else glad?


4 posted on 08/02/2021 4:07:43 AM PDT by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: karpov
Maybe they need Officers Toody and Muldoon.
5 posted on 08/02/2021 4:10:01 AM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: karpov

“Once we regain control of the city, more people will want to become police officers” said Jami Resch.


6 posted on 08/02/2021 4:11:36 AM PDT by Mashood
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To: JonPreston

Knee-jerk liberals gotta “knee-jerk.” Apparently, it’s not as easy to rebuild the police after defunding them. Who would’ve guessed...


7 posted on 08/02/2021 4:12:38 AM PDT by Nabron
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To: karpov

Gee, that’s a shocker, NOT.


8 posted on 08/02/2021 4:15:59 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: VTenigma

As Gomer Pyle would say, “Surprise, surprise, surprise!”

Command-and-control power phreaques are ALWAYS confounded when one of their pet projects goes awry. Which is just about all of them. Then they have to go all militaristic.

Raise a non-traditional enforcement agency, legality be damned. It is not law to be upheld, but order, and if that means breaking a few eggs (and heads), then so be it.


9 posted on 08/02/2021 4:17:18 AM PDT by alloysteel ( Cows don't give milk. You have to work for it.)
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To: VTenigma

Years ago I had a bumper sticker that read “Support your local police.” The reason behind it was that there was a push for federal police.

I believe that what we are seeing is not idiocy, but a paving the way for a federal police force.

People will welcome it when the chaos becomes unbearable.


10 posted on 08/02/2021 4:17:47 AM PDT by xenia ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell)
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To: karpov

I’m 100% against public sector unions. That being said, why is the Union head not calling a strike? I believe that action would flip the script quick


11 posted on 08/02/2021 4:19:18 AM PDT by Jarhead9297
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To: karpov
How about Sheriff Lobo and Deputy Perkins instead?
12 posted on 08/02/2021 4:19:46 AM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: karpov

If I were a Portland cop I’d do the bare minimum, only leave the car to respond to 911 calls and just punch the clock until I was eligible for my pension.

Let Portland Burn.


13 posted on 08/02/2021 4:23:16 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: karpov

Its sad to say but things are going to get much worse in Portland.


14 posted on 08/02/2021 4:26:13 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: VTenigma

Helen Keller saw it coming.


15 posted on 08/02/2021 4:28:01 AM PDT by dynachrome ("I will not be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.")
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To: karpov
Maybe they need to recruit Antifa, BLM or the local drug lords. After all, a rising murder rate is a feature, not a bug and must be encouraged in the Leftist dream state.
16 posted on 08/02/2021 4:30:35 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Mashood
"Once we regain control of the city.

Well, at least they admit to their failure at doing their job.. Now, if only the voter would take notice...

17 posted on 08/02/2021 4:34:58 AM PDT by unread (Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities - Voltaire)
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To: karpov

If I were a cop, I would ignore getting involved in gangsta vs gangsta violence, figuring them killing each other is a net positive for the rest of us.


18 posted on 08/02/2021 4:35:31 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (A Leftist can't enjoy life unless they are controlling, hurting, or destroying others)
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To: VTenigma

“Less desirable” is the understatement of the year.


19 posted on 08/02/2021 4:37:09 AM PDT by healy61
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To: karpov

great way to be indicted. not sure why LEOs arent jumping at the chance

btw, do the people in charge, who are the system, realize they are calling themselves racist when they make the charge of systemic racism


20 posted on 08/02/2021 4:38:12 AM PDT by joshua c (Dump the LEFT. Cable tv, Big tech, national name brands)
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