Safety & Policing
Seek to legalize Police and Emergency workers to “Double Dip” of all professions. They must have the right to stay after retirement age if they meet the requirements.
Community Connection Events: The citizens and the Police Officers who help and service them need more time together in non-stressful situations.
Citizens of all ages must feel safe to join in a peaceful protest for a better world.
Recruiting from the communities with the goal of the majority of people hired as Police Office living inside the Portland City Limits. The recruiting process must include upgrading any needed skills necessary for the candidate to perform the job.
Seeking to legalize Police and emergency workers to “Double Dip” of all professions they must have the right to stay after retirement age if they met requirements. The knowledge, skill, and dedication to stay in the rank and file and continue to service keeping the trained level high. Allowing an Officer to keep all their earned retirement benefits and start again at the level of a new Officer helps retention and keeps cost down. The wage would let them experience what their fellow Officer is receiving and does not need another health or retirement package making keeping them a cost saving benefit for the citizens.
Community Connection Events; The citizens and the Police Officers who help and service them need more time together in non-stressful situations.
When people learn about each other on a personal level it is easy to give them support and understanding when the situation calls for that. This comes from actually spending time talking with each other and doing things together. I believe dividing the town up and assigning Officers in groups of five people that receive all the information of what is happening in that location letting them focus.
They can look to see what is happening and give advice when needed. Having quarterly weekend events in different communities where citizens can come and talk one on one, group, specific topics, defense classes, games, gun classes, and driving under the influence test a full family event will win hearts and minds. Having Police Officers show up at neighborhood meetings is listening in on the community. Having a Community Connection Event where we really get to know each other will start us communicating about what really matters.
I know that peaceful protests are necessary and work to achieve large goals. The City of Portland must provide a place for peaceful protest and I think the “little bulldog” Resting In Peace in Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a great starting point. The entire waterfront walkway crossing over the new pedestrian bridge and back is the perfect place to have peaceful rallies that do not interrupt businesses, no residential, 24/7 is okay, seen, heard, meeting, and respect of the issue, self, and our town.