Question 8: Policing and Public Safety

I was elected to city council during the George Floyd protests. As a father of two young sons, I very much have skin and kin in the game of making sure we have a public safety system that treats people who look like me fairly." I’m committed to ensuring that when people call 911, they get a well-trained officer who responds quickly and effectively.

I helped negotiate body cameras for every police officer in the city, and that process is nearing completion. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant," and by the end of this month, every officer will be equipped with a body cam.

We also passed the new public police oversight board, though the vote wasn’t unanimous. I voted in favor of it, but not everyone on council did, and people should keep that in mind if public safety and police accountability are important to them.

As mayor, I’ll be hiring the next police chief, and I’m committed to appointing someone with lived experience of the tragedy of unfair policing. I understand why this is important, for my own kids and for every young person in Portland.

We’re literally rebuilding our police force, shifting the culture, and improving recruitment efforts. I’m proud of the recognition I’ve received for my role in supporting the creation of the behavioral health unit.

"If you want to be a bad cop, Portland is a terrible town to do that.