This Week in the Mercury
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Occupy / Cops Occupy Portland Packs Council Hearing on Police Accountabilty
Posted by Denis C. Theriault on Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 5:09 PM
Detailed discussion about the changes being explored—laid out in reports that rebuff all but a handful of community-driven proposals aimed at boosting civilian oversight—was quickly swallowed by the real-world manifestation of what police accountability means. It was the third such hearing, but it was by far the most intense. And it served as a perfect illustration of why, exactly, accountability and oversight are worth fighting for.
Justin James Bridges, a protester who remains in a wheelchair because of injuries suffered in the clearing of Chapman Square last month, was the first person to testify and set the tone when he held up his $22,000-plus hospital bill and said that he still lacks feeling in his right arm and leg. He kept on point, holding up his case (police say Bridges re-injured an old back injury) as an example of why misconduct cases need greater civilian oversight.
"Everybody has to be held accountable for their actions," he said. And when Adams asked Bridges if he'd filed a complaint with the Independent Police Review office, he replied, "Yes I have."
It was probably the most surreal hearing I've attended yet at city council. Adams repeatedly pleaded with speakers to relate their testimony to the accountability reports—an almost futile effort in the face of a stream of stories about cops poking and bashing people, or treating them roughly once in custody, or even making things tense just by showing up in riot gear. There were up-twinkles and even protocol-defying applause. The last speaker, in tears, was surrounded by a dozen or more occupiers who attempted to comfort and support her with the simple act of resting hands on her.
Her admonition to the mayor: "Please be nice to us."
Voices were raised, including Adams' as he tried to keep order, and security guards swept in in case the room needed to be cleared. Eventually, a compromise emerged in which those who were willing to stay on topic would jump to the front of the line, and then, after they were finished, Fritz would leave and Adams and Nick Fish would stay and listen to everyone else.
They got an earful, along with Chief Reese and his internal affairs captain, Dave Famous.
One occupier said he watched officers swinging their batons overhead during Saturday's failed clearout of Shemanski Park and said he was troubled that the city is rebuffing efforts to give new oversight powers to the Civilian Review Committee, which handles appeals of misconduct cases once the police bureau conducts its own investigations.
"I don't understand how that's independent," the man said before looking at Adams and telling him, his voice quavering: "I think you owe us an apology for the police brutality in this city."
An Occupy medic, Remi, also said he saw officers hitting people in the face and neck with batons on Saturday, including 15-year-old Walker Prettyman, who was photographed by the Oregonian and confirmed his injuries but said he wouldn't file a complaint.
"We need to make sure that the actions taken be measured by the actions that are going on," Remi said, saying cops had other means of clearing the park besides heavily armed riot cops.
Later, a woman held up her hand so the TV cameras filming the council meeting on public access cable could see the bruises she suffered from a baton on Saturday. A 16-year-old boy talked about having his arm twisted painfully when he was arrested at Jamison Square last month, with zip-ties fastened too tightly, even though he was trying to leave the park when officers arrested him.
And another man said his laptop was confiscated during the raid and that he was having a hard time getting it back. It had the last remaining footage of his young daughter, who died in January 2010, he said. The man, in tears at one point, was directed to Fish's office, which told me that a laptop was among the items recovered Saturday in Shemanski, and that anyone else with lost items should call the cops' property division at 503-823-2179.
The first mic check of the day, however, waited until after the hearing finally ended. It was a call to come back next Thursday for the next hearing.
2
The only reason that asshole Bridges is still in a wheelchair is he is hoping to steal money from us. Hire a ambulence chaser and fleet us as much as he can.
I bet he gets up outta that wheelchair just fine to get his weed at home. In fact, strap his guitar on him and put an audience out there and I bet he'd be doing Chuck Berry all over the stage.
What a bullshitter.
And, have you noticed how his story has changed over time? And how video fails to confirm much of his story?
HE IS A FRAUD.
Also, I think the cops by and large did a great job with what they were tasked to do, using the least amount of force needed to accomplish it. My hat remains off to them.
5
reid, you seem like a good guy. I feel sorry for you having to deal with yokels like Justin who I think detract from your message.
I have been there and seen brutality by police against peaceful citizens with my own two eyes. I have myself narrowly escaped injury on multiple occasions.
8
You know, I can easily break a large mans finger if I wanted, and I ain't no big burly cop. If they wanted to bust his fingers, they'd be broken.
I've seen video from several angles of the alleged 'beating' and haven't found anything in there that suggests what he claims. There was one angle, from a distance, that showed he MAY have gotten hit.
Haven't seen any video at all to support him being choked or even dragged by his bandanna either.
Ready to go home so soon after getting to the hospital - so he can smoke weed? C'mon. Puh-leeze.
But still in a wheelchair?
Give me fucking break. He's working the system. Much like that 1%
I ain't blind.
9
So, all the sudden his leg and arm...?
Gimme a break.
He doesn't want to work for a living. Thinks he found an out.
10
What did Justin James Bridges ever do to you?
12
https://twitter.com/#!/psucarrierae/status…
'#opdx aiming for zero arrests at the port shutdown for #D12. "Your insurance policy is bringing your friends & family" #OO #occupytheports'
I don't think the occupiers are thinking clearly at all.
they didn't let any press into the parks when the police booted Occupy. Seems like the same thing has happened in a lot of cities. otherwise frankiebankie, you'd probably find better coverage.
and let me guess... you think the people who got beat down by the cops the other night are faking it too, right?
14
Whose bright idea was this anyway?
Was this voted on?
15
Show me the 'beat downs'. I've seen alot of questionable things in other cities (hello Oakland) but our police here did one heck of a job.
16
All of the OccuTards in the OccuFail movement owe the 99% an apology for highjacking the news, destroying the parks, costing Poorland over $2 million in expenses, making the city smell and pissing us off with your childish chants, slogans and twinkles..
18
People, let's stay on topic here.
Thank you to Denis and the Merc for a very well done bit.
20
People using or preying on symapthy that are merely thieves.
21
Graham, I wanna thank you for giving me a reason to quit smoking and sell my Ibanez. Sincerely. I am now 100% convinced that weed makes you retarded.
We will attend next Thursday's meeting in solidarity. The room will be packed and so will the hallways and so will the streets. Expect us.
27
And I was down there checking out the protests... but I did not see the Justin Bridges incident, as I'm pretty sure you haven't either.
But what I have seen from several differing videos doesn't support what Bridges has claimed. Choked, dragged by his bandanna, etc.
I could be wrong - maybe there was just some sort of freakish accident of fate that caused him still - STILL - to be rolling around in a wheelchair, but I really doubt it.
The point about the fingers - have you got your glasses on granny and can read this right? - is that he claims the cops tried to break his fingers. Clearly, his fingers ain't broke and even you as a saggy old granny can break a finger, right? Why couldn't those burly cops do it then?
I don't like the 1% abusing the system for financial gain as much as the next guy, but I sure as hell don't like to see anyone of the 99% gaming the system either.
28
31
But I'll look them up if you promise to look up 'scam artist' and 'cheat'.
32
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