In its continuing investigation of the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. Justice Department has requested that local police departments interview foreign visitors.

The Portland Police Bureau has decided that conducting these interviews could violate state law and has refused to do so. What do you think of that stance?


(A)
PATRICIA COLLINS
27
Unemployed

Southwest
Portland

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(B)
KEN BOSTON
47
Architectural designer

Northeast Portland


(C)
SEAN BURKE
24
Powell's employee

Northeast Portland

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(D)

FRANK BANDY 52
Market researcher

Northwest Portland

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ANSWER #1: "I think that basically what the police are doing is a good thing. They seem to have a healthy sense of their role--and the limitations of their role. On the other hand, I just recently got stopped and questioned by the police because I was going to work at three in the morning; so it would be nice if they applied their policies across the board. And I don't know how easy it's going to be to make people feel safe without targeting certain groups of people."

ANSWER #2: "While I understand the need for heightened vigilance, I appreciate the fact that the Portland police department is taking a stand on this. I'm a little leery of some of our new policies since the 11th."

ANSWER #3: "That's fine with me. I know some Iranians; they're worried about government agents knocking on their door in the middle of the night. Where they come from, that's a valid fear. So when they read that Portland cops aren't automatically going along with John Ashcroft, I think that will put them more at ease. It almost feels like the rounding up of the Japanese during World War II. Anyway, our police have limited resources, and if state law prohibits it, I don't want them doing these interviews."

ANSWER #4: "I suppose somebody should be asking these questions, but I'm definitely glad that Portland cops don't see it as their right and role. The police have plenty of power already, so it's a testament to Portland that our cops are holding themselves back in this case."

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ANSWERS: #1-B, #2-A, #3-D, #4-C

WWeek 2015

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