Andre Miller, Chief of Staff for Portland Councilwoman Angelita Morillo, argues the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) disproportionately targets Black and brown communities during a recent community oversight meeting. Miller’s comments come amid a backdrop of significant reductions in gun violence, with homicide rates down 50% and shootings down 32% from the previous year, prompting questions about the policing strategies employed by the city.
Miller highlights concerns about tools like Shot Spotter, saying they contribute to unnecessary over-policing in minority neighborhoods. Notably, data shows that while white individuals make up about 70% of Portland’s population, they account for 55% of police stops, compared to 37% for Black and Hispanic individuals, who comprise roughly 28.4% of the city’s population. This data underscores ongoing debates about racial equity and transparency in policing across Portland.
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