Activist group Oregon Action plans to present a petition to Police Chief Rosie Sizer next Monday, May 19, signed by more than 600 “concerned community members” who think the police bureau has been too slow to take action on racial profiling. They hope more community members will sign it between now and then.

The presentation of the petition will mark the two-year anniversary of the first listening session between the community and the police—”and yet no substantial action has been taken to date,” says the group, in releasing the petition to the media. So far, the racial profiling committee has been mired in controversy. Last month the Police Union effectively took discussion of the issue back to square one, hiring a Wichita consultant to address the mayor’s racial profiling committee. He said there’s no proof racial profiling exists, after he looked at the numbers.

This reporter has a copy of Chief Sizer’s March 2007 document, entitled “elements of a plan,” to end racial profiling. You can download both pages here. At this point, as far as we are aware, this is the closest the police bureau has come to crafting a specific plan related to racial profiling.

Here’s a copy of Oregon Action’s blank petition. If you click on the image you’ll get a full-size, printable version which can be returned to them by this weekend at 6601 NE MLK, Portland 97211. Or by fax at 503 282 7266.
PETITION: Looking for community signatures…