Portland shelled out thousands of dollars to homeless people in exchange for feedback on police conduct

A report by the Portland Police Accountability Commission revealed that the city spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to pay a group of homeless people for their opinion on police officers' disciplinary methods.

The Portland commission created to investigate police conduct and to discipline its agents organized focus groups with members of "communities that have been historically underrepresented … or who are vulnerable to police misconduct or discrimination" to express their thoughts and suggestions about members of the police.

One of the sessions was held at a homeless shelter and featured two dozen participants who were given $200 gift cards. The city spent at least $4,000 on the discussion group with homeless people.

Portland also sought focus groups with people who had a "history of working with over-policed communities," with "equity practitioners" and with anyone else "who has witnessed or experienced police misconduct"

The conclusion of the report

According to the document, most focus group participants said the police oversight system is ineffective.

Concerns about the legitimacy of the commission

A report from The Washington Free Beacon exposed that the commission was created in 2020 as a measure approved by Portland voters to carry out "systemic changes" in police discipline methods. For two years, it has been designing a system that would replace the city's police review board.

The new board, with powers to investigate officer conduct, subpoena police records and even discipline law enforcement, has raised concerns about the lack of "balance," as law enforcement veterans and their immediate family members are barred from serving on the commission that will investigate police shootings and other relevant incidents.