Posted on 11/28/2001 9:54:10 AM PST by MrSparkys
I sent an EMail to the Portland Police and received a response.
First, my EMail:
Yeah, I'd like to report a crime in progress. The UNPATRIOTIC PORTLAND POLICE REFUSED A.G. ASHCROFT'S REQUEST TO INTERVIEW 200 POSSIBLE TERRORISTS!
What a dung pile of political correctness you're sitting in. Worried about being sued? Who CARES if you're sued. Consider it your patriotic duty. Are you trying to one-up the city of Berklee?
Yuck!
Fred Manteghian Connecticut (thank GOD not Oregon)
And now for their response, just received 11/28 1:00PM EST
Thank you for sharing your concerns about the Portland Police Bureau's response to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's memorandum regarding the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001.
Portland's City Attorney has raised objections about the legality of certain specific questions to be asked of individuals that the U.S. Attorney General has identified.
According to the U.S. Attorney General, these individuals are not suspected of criminal activity. Oregon State law provides specific protections for individuals who are not criminal suspects. While Portland Police may ask most of the questions on the U.S. Attorney General's list, our city Attorney believes that State law prohibits them from asking certain specific questions. The pertinent statutes are ORS 181.575 and 181.850.
It is likely that the local interviews requested by the U.S. Attorney General will take place without the City's participation. And, according to the City Attorney, Portland Police may reassess their decision if the U.S. Attorney General is willing to modify the list of questions.
The City of Portland is unequivocally committed to the fight against terrorism, but within the provisions of Oregon State law. The U.S. Attorney General's memorandum is not a federal law. For that reason, Oregon law takes precedence.
Suggestions that Portland is refusing to work with the FBI are incorrect. The City of Portland has always cooperated with the FBI, and is one of several U.S. cities to have a Joint Terrorism Task Force agreement with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
Andrew Kirkland
Assistant Chief of Police
Portland Police Bureau
Officer Kristy Galvan
Chief's Office
(503) 823-0027
I believe there is a phone number right there smack at the bottom Freepers. Knock 'em dead.
Do you wish the police to act contrary to law?
Somebody tell that to Ashcroft, he seems to have forgotten.
181.575 Specific information not to be collected or maintained. No law enforcement agency, as defined in ORS 181.010, may collect or maintain information about the political, religious or social views, associations or activities of any individual, group, association, organization, corporation, business or partnership unless such information directly relates to an investigation of criminal activities, and there are reasonable grounds to suspect the subject of the information is or may be involved in criminal conduct. [1981 c.905 s.8]
181.850 Enforcement of federal immigration laws. (1) No law enforcement agency of the State of Oregon or of any political subdivision of the state shall use agency moneys, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation of law is that they are persons of foreign citizenship residing in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a law enforcement agency may exchange information with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service in order to:
(a) Verify the immigration status of a person if the person is arrested for any criminal offense; or
(b) Request criminal investigation information with reference to persons named in service records.
(3) For purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the Bureau of Labor and Industries is not a law enforcement agency. [1987 c.467 s.1]
Every citizen too, after all ignorance of the law is no excuse!
10,000 laws...not one too many!!
Then amend Oregon law.
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