In a time when many urban environments are becoming more draconian in their approach to banning people experiencing homelessness from public spaces, Portland may be on the verge of bucking that trend.
This summer, the Portland Police Bureau put 10 police officers on the streets in downtown Portland and along Hawthorne Boulevard with the idea of building authentic relationships with businesses, the larger community and people on the streets.
The police officers were a part of a walking beat strategy put together by the Mayor’s office and the bureau with the idea of moving away from heavy handed policies that have historically failed time and again not only in Portland, but throughout the United States, as well.
Think about this: With more than 2,000 interactions with people experiencing homelessness and the general public, the 10 police officers only wrote 21 citations this summer. The officers made just over 200 arrests, mostly for outstanding warrants. We will take those odds any day of the week.
Being able to find the right formula that doesn’t criminalize any one group of people in public spaces is a real breakthrough for Portland.
We know people experiencing homelessness are vulnerable. On one side of the gun is a broken criminal justice system that leaves Americans with very little opportunity, and on the other a criminal element that preys on people in poverty. There’s nothing about surviving on the streets that is black and white. It’s just different shades of grey that requires human beings to make impossible choices day after day to survive. The trauma of homelessness and poverty is a cruel one.
Does this mean that we should simply celebrate and call it day? No way.
Street Roots hopes that the walking beat strategy can be extended in different parts of the city with the idea of building authentic relationships between the police and Portland residents.
Does that mean we believe we should let up on our efforts to create transparent police accountability, or to encourage changes at the bureau that encourages officers to live inside the city limits and to reflect the community it serves? Absolutely not.
In my mind, part of the evolution in creating a better police force is to inspire Portlanders themselves to become police officers, or at the very least to engage with officers in the community and not feel threatened. There’s no better way to do that than by having a transparent bureau and maintaining authentic relationships.
If we as a community can come together to approach the issue of homelessness from a harm reduction model and move away from heavy handed policies that target the homeless and often times people of color then I believe we are on the verge of collectively doing some great things. Time will tell.
For far too long we’ve been arguing over public sidewalks instead of working toward solving the housing crisis in our community. I believe in my heart that given the opportunity, people want to do the right thing when it comes to the issue of homelessness. That’s businesses, concerned neighbors, law enforcement and more. Together, we can do far more good than we can by tearing one another down.
The police walking beat was a step in the right direction. Now, let’s continue to work together to give all people the opportunity at a better life and housing.