News Outlets Perk Up to 'Don't Call Cops' Editorial
February 18, 2010
News outlets across Portland picked up on The Skanner’s editorial that encouraged residents to handle their own problems in lieu of calling the police. The editorial spoke directly to mental health crises that have lead to several deaths at the hands of police, particularly the death of Aaron Campbell.“We as adults need to talk to these young men to de-escalate the situation ourselves. In fact, Campbell’s family was trying to do that very thing. His young cousin told The Skanner News they had talked him into putting the gun down and giving himself up to the police – sadly he was dead by the time they were able to pass through roadblocks to the scene. It's a shame anyone called 911 at all.” Read the entire editorial at http://www.theskanner.com/article/view/id/11391.
Editor Lisa Loving was invited to speak about the editorial on the Victoria Taft show – a conservative Talk Radio host on KPAM 860 AM. She’s also spoken on OPB’s Think Out Loud on 91.5 FM. The program airs Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 9 a.m. and is rebroadcast at 9 p.m. and can be podcast at http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/.
Publisher Bernie Foster was interviewed for KPAM 860 AM radio.
In several “man on the street” interviews by KGW News Channel 8, reporters interviewed several African American males and females who generally agreed that they would avoid calling police in Portland due to their own negative experiences.
“From my personal perception with the police, I can count very few times they’ve been helpful to me,” said one young Black man.
One Black woman said if someone’s having an emergency, it would be “crazy” not to call the police. But did the same woman feel that she would be treated fairly once officer’s arrived?
“Some of them don’t. Police, to me, they don’t treat you respectfully. They’re not nice,” she said, admitting that there are exceptions.