Portland City Council struck a unified and optimistic tone Thursday, saying the city was heading in the right direction toward improving police accountability. Their message came despite community pushback around a proposed contract with the city’s police union.
“There are several things that the DOJ civil rights division is mandating that we do. There are several things that we as a council have put in place, and there are several things that voters have put in place,” Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said during Thursday’s City Council to hear public testimony on the contract. “And all those things … are all moving towards what I think is going to be a much more fair and equitable and transparent police force.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler touted the negotiations as a team effort.
“We got a lot accomplished in this contract,” Wheeler said. “The many changes we obtained in this contract lay the foundation for our work in the future as we continue to develop the best and most forward-thinking police bureau.”
In a departure from past police union negotiations, each commissioner’s office had a representative on the bargaining team, something Steven Schuback, the outside attorney hired to lead bargaining, described as “revolutionary.” Schuback said their presence ensured the city was speaking with a unified voice during negotiations.
The city had wanted the full contract process to be public, but state law requires terms of negotiations to be agreed to by both sides. The union...
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