Talking Beat - from the Portland Police Bureau

Transcript: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/729721 Traffic a popular topic for officers at community meetings and whether you travel by vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, foot, bus, streetcar, MAX train or scooter, you're navigating Portland's roads with a lot of other users out on the road as well. Our Portland police traffic officers two are here today to talk about all issues. Also we answer the question: Why do police park on the sidewalk, block MAX tracks or block traffic when responding to calls?

On this special edition of the Talking Beat, Lieutenant Tina Jones talks to representatives from the Portland Police Bureau's Bike Theft Task Force as well as burglary and robbery detectives. She also interviews the Portland Police Bureau's Homeless Outreach liaison and sergeant from the Gun Violence Reduction Unit and chief, Jami Resch. Hear how this unusual time has affected their jobs and what it means in regard to public safety in their respective units. Transcript: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/759321

Stephanie is the Portland Police Bureau's homeless liaison. This is a new position that was created in the 2018/2019 budget. Stephanie officially started in August 2019 and this is our first opportunity to sit down and talk to her about this position, what it's about and what the future holds. "Historically, law enforcement hasn't played the role of doing outreach and connecting people with resources. We as a police agency do a very good job helping people on the street get connected to resources if they're interested in getting resources. This position is important because it allows the police bureau to have somebody to respond to what are we doing as a city as a whole and as a county as a whole, and to be able to be the representative for the Portland Police Bureau and be able to have that information at the ready for things like policy changes internally or training needs." - Stephanie Herro Transcript: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/754640

In 2019, there were 426 reported incidents of gunfire in Portland, Oregon. 110 people were struck by gunfire during this time period as well, which means on average, every three days, an individual in the City of Portland is struck by gunfire. The Portland Police Bureau’s Gun Violence Reduction Team (GVRT) combines police investigations, technology and relationships with the community to respond to and help prevent further violence. Transcript: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/752470

This episode covers recent Traffic Missions, Street Racing, Bias Crimes and the work of the Gun Violence Reduction Team. Transcript: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/742871