OREGON – The federal government got a court-approved, settlement agreement to reform the way in which the Portland Oregon Police Bureau interacts with people who are mentally ill, official announced Tuesday.
The agreement was signed by the federal government, the city of Portland, Oregon, with the approval of the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform and Portland Police Association.
“We are committed to continuing to work with our partners in the community throughout the reform process to ensure full implementation of the settlement agreement,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran for the Civil Rights Division.
Adding, “We applaud the city’s efforts to implement portions of the settlement agreement during the pendency of the litigation. We are pleased to provide the court information about reforms through ongoing periodic hearings. We are also appreciative of the continued collaboration with the AMA Coalition and the participation of the PPA to resolve these issues to enable the entry of the settlement agreement. We look forward to the positive changes that these civil rights reforms will bring about for the people of Portland.”
The agreement addresses constitutional claims in a civil action filed by the United States pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. In today’s order, the court approved the agreement with the requirement that the parties appear for periodic hearings to provide the court progress on implementation of the agreement.
The agreement requires changes—many of which has already begun to implement—in Portland’s police policy, training, supervisory oversight, community-based mental health services, crisis intervention, employee information systems, officer accountability and community engagement and oversight.
The agreement also calls for innovative new mechanisms for ongoing community involvement in the implementation of reforms.