DoJ Findings of 12 Sep 2012, posted here:
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/September/12-crt-1111.html
show patterns and practices of civil rights violations by the Portland Police Bureau.
The problems are two-fold. The immediate need (prior to 4 December) is for subject matter experts in the field of pychological evaluation services to respond to the Mayor's request (at the website provided in Sec. 1) for input designed to improve the delivery of these services in screening pre-hires for the Portland Police Bureau; assistance is also required to gain an appreciation of the role of psych eval services throughout PPB operations as the Mayor forms a task force to develop an RFP for these services once the audience has been empaneled. We need the word to go out that an opportunity exists for those with knowledge of best practices in this field to help shape this effort.
In addition, a proposed City/DoJ settlement to remedy the DoJ Findings is under consideration. While the proposed agreement offers policy details to specific practices, administrators require those with broader knowledge to address patterns, beliefs and perceptions within this bureau. We face a problem Asst AG Civil Rights Tom Perez describes as a 'self-defeating accountability system.' Proposed line-item changes to taser cycles do not address the broader, organizational reforms necessary to most effectively reform unconstitutional practices.
Potential members of a panel tasked with improving the psychological process that the Police Bureau utilizes are presently envisioned to consist of psychologists, human resources professionals, police process specialists, and community members.
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Our longer-term need will be to develop mechanisms that engender a cultural transformation within the PPB. Organizational developers who can describe the role of change agents, the need to protect 'whistle blowers,' and other means to foster an effective shift in police culture will also be valuable.
As the City & DoJ are expected to develop a citizen advisory board to oversee the implementation of reform, my wife and I have developed a consultancy that seeks to bring together the kind of broad-based public response Perez envisions. Building on the AMA Coalition's roots in the faith-based community, we seek to stimulate participation by legislators, charitable giving foundations, mental health professionals, organizational developers, professional trainers, policy analysts, their associations and affinity groups, academics, and others. Believing that, ultimately, the responsibility for civil rights protections is The People's responsibility, we advocate for the larger community to engage in the creation of such an oversight board and to prepare for what is expected to be a five-year plan of implementation of police reforms to address an 'us-against-them' mentality the Findings identify. Ultimately, we advocate that, in addressing unconstitutional police practices, PPB will actually accrue the community trust required for the most effective police work: the public provision of leads to investigators and witness testimony to prosecutors.
We will supply contact information on letterhead to the edress provided.
Roger David Hardesty, Minority Partner & Jo Ann Hardesty, Principal Partner
Hardesty Consulting
rdhardesty@centurylink.net & joannhardesty@gmail.com
(503) 957-4364, after 10am PST
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Received e-mail from Mr. and Mrs. Hardesty (community advocates)on 11.21.12 asking for BJA to become involved in TA request for the City of Portland. Directed them to submit an application through the website. Application received on 11.26.12. Application indicated that communication should be directed to Sophia Chavier and Clay Neal in the Mayor's office since TA was being requested for the City of Portland. E-mail sent to Sophia Chavier on 11.29.12 asking to set up conference call to go over assessment. Received e-mail from Clay Neal on 11.30.12 indicating that the City of Portland was not ready to seek TA services. Hardesty's protested and still wanted to have assessment call. Mr. Neal responded and indicated again that the assessment would be pointless and that the new city council would be convened in January and that they would make the decision on whether or not they wanted to seek TA services. I e-mailed on 12/3/12 to all parties indicating that the TA would be closed and that if the City of Portland decided that they wanted to apply that they should do so through the website. Informed the Hardesty's that they could not apply for TA on behalf of another organization. TA request being closed on 12/3/12