News Portland’s police aren’t the only ones beefing up mental health training.The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training—where all new police recruits get basic training—recently approved adding three hours of mental health training.The change adds three hours to mental health and disabilities classes, bringing the total amount new cops spend on the topic over the 16-week course ...   More

News Attorney General John Kroger today released the results of the investigation that led to the abrupt Nov. 24 resignation of John Minnis as director of the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. As first reported in last week's WW, the issue that prompted Minnis to resign is the alleged sexual harassment and possible sexual assault of a female employee. Those allegations were ...   More

News The woman who brought forth allegations of sexual harassment against John Minnis, her boss as director of Oregon's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, has won a $450,000 settlement against Minnis and the state. Terms of the settlement, announced today by Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian, call for Minnis to pay $65,000 and the state risk management account ...   More

News The state agency that trains cops has thrown more water on City Commissioner Randy Leonard's ongoing efforts to give greater police powers to security officers for the Portland Water Bureau. When last we reported on the issue, Leonard was exploring using an obscure state law that lets water bureaus form special police forces. The goal is to arm the bureau's security guards and give them power ...   More