Federal judge examines new police oversight system in Portland

The city of Portland and the U.S. Department of Justice are asking a federal judge to approve a new police oversight system.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the reform in a 2020 ballot proposal. But the committee's outcome was heavily watered down by Portland City Council, frustrating supporters. Now they're making their frustrations clear to U.S. District Judge Michael Simon, who must approve the new system. Simon retains oversight of the city's police policies thanks to a decade-old Justice Department lawsuit.

Points of contention in the proposal include the influence of the police union on the disciplinary process and the requirement that members of the new oversight board must accompany the police. Both the Mental Health Alliance and the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform have filed protests.

“Giving the Portland Police Association and the Police Bureau veto power on the selection committee will doom this project,” said the MHA statement, written by attorney Juan Chavez.

The next hearing is scheduled for August 29.