Portland Police Association president on measures to enhance public safety, police accountability

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The Portland Police Association is taking the issue of public safety and police accountability directly to the voters in November.

The first proposed measure requires the city to maintain increased levels of patrol officers, mandate a 24-hour drug and alcohol detox drop-off center and boost street response services.

The second would change the authority of the voter-approved community police oversight board, allow police officers to serve on the board and revisit if the office should be funded by 5% of the police bureau budget. Both measures would amend the city charter.

PPA President Sgt. Aaron Schmautz returns to Eye on Northwest Politics to talk about these ballot measures. In particular, whether the intent of the second measure is to dilute citizen oversight after Portlanders voted for the board in 2020 to boost police accountability.

Additionally, Schmautz explains why police should be responsible for the proponents of the first measure, when those duties have fallen to the city council and Multnomah County Commission.

He also discloses his reaction to PPB Chief Bob Day's take on the police oversight measure.

Watch the full interview in the video above.