Police Union: Use of Force Policy "Fundamentally Flawed"

Portland's largest police union says the police bureau's revised use of force policies handed out by Chief Mike Reese Thursday are "fundamentally flawed."

In a release sent this morning, the Portland Police Association repeated that it was not party to any of the changes made to the use of force and Taser policies—done as part of a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that found police use excessive force against the mentally ill.

"The PPA has sought and will continue to seek input on changes to the PPB's versions of the policies, which are fundamentally flawed and will place officers at a safety risk and at risk for baseless discipline," PPA President Daryl Turner says.

The union, which represents all of the sworn rank-and-file officers, won its motion on Tuesday to intervene in the DOJ settlement. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon ordered the city, federal representatives, the PPA to use mediation to come to an agreement. The Albina Ministerial Alliance is part of the mediation, but not a signatory to the agreement. The process has until April 5, at which point the DOJ can take the case back to court.


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