Another day in Portland, another police-related death

Reaction to the latest police shooting The City of Portland seems to take a stance of vindication when it comes to police shootings, justifying the officers’ perhaps-itchy trigger fingers, in the face of unarmed assailants and lawbreakers, with temporary suspensions and slaps on the wrist. People have noticed, taking up protest signs, especially in the wake of last year and its six—count them—six police shootings.

On the other hand, the national count of police killed in the line of duty in 2010 rose to 160—up 37 percent from the previous year, according to kgw.com.

The biggest contrast between the people behind these two numbers is that one side was armed, the other…well, not always. The last police police shooting of 2010 involved a reportedly suicidal man, 34-year-old Marcus Lagozzino, allegedly wielding a machete.

Surprisingly, there have already been two shootings in 2011—one involved a man over the age of 60 brandishing a knife, shot dead by two police officers, which merited a visit from Mayor Sam Adams on the scene. The story is still developing.

Considering the rise of police deaths in the last year, they certainly have reason to be antsy. Not even the most puritan patriot desires to die in the line of sworn-in duty.

Already, Portland police have a mess on their hands, and even though last year’s numbers proved to be a negative turnaround on a descending 18-year trend of police killings in Portland, this year is starting out even worse.

Guns are typically a last resort for a well-trained officer, but it doesn’t seem like they have much training for other, non-lethal tactics. Armed with radios, car scanners and Tasers as alternatives to guns, there are always options for avoiding fatal defense. Night-sticks, for example, or, for the fans of the police force in Japanese anime, katanas.

Of course I suggest the use of swords in jest, although they do use bikes and horses during riots instead of cars to mow people over, so maybe it’s time that Portland police got a bit more creative, because obviously something is not working. Because somehow, someone is not being protected in some way.

In a City Hall press conference on Monday, Mayor Sam Adams declared the problem runs much deeper than just the police force.

“There is another side to this issue, and that’s the side of government services to people that really need them,” Adams said.

Touché, Mr. Mayor—perhaps katanas aren’t the best fit. After all, six out of six shootings last year involved men with mental illness or some sort of addiction. More weaponry isn’t going to help the fact that people are attempting suicide by police, or that those with mental illnesses are more likely to plan murder attempts. I applaud you for your words.

The Portland Police Department needs to act fast to avoid protests. They shouldn’t get high and mighty, especially after their officers proposed two percent pay raises and called for the replacement of board director of the police union Will Aitchison with lawyers Mike Tedesco and Anil Karia. Tact is key, especially in light of recent events. The Willamette Week reports that the Portland Police Association is “accepting a two percent pay raise in exchange for major concessions on police oversight, comp time and drug testing for officers.”

I hope these rumors and mayoral promises can handle an upsetting trend of police brutality in the city of Portland. ?