Oregon sheriff warns of surging violent crime in Portland: ‘Without action, we can expect worse to come’

Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese penned an open letter to the residents of Portland and the encompassing space this week, warning that violent crime is reaching document heights and should solely worsen because the summer season approaches. 

“I proceed to be deeply involved about present traits in neighborhood violence,” Sheriff Mike Reese wrote Friday. 

There have been 102 folks in jail for homicide or tried homicide at first of April, essentially the most for the reason that mid-Nineties. 

Cities throughout the nation have seen a spike in homicides in recent times, however Portland’s murder price has surged at a far larger price.

Town has already seen 25 homicides within the first three months of the 12 months, setting itself as much as break final 12 months’s mark. 

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On the similar time, the variety of folks in Multnomah County jails for severe felonies like kidnappings, robberies, and intercourse crimes has additionally gone up. 

“This isn’t the one severe menace to public security, nevertheless,” Reese wrote. “Document-high ranges of visitors fatalities and overdose deaths are jeopardizing private security and devastating households and social help networks.” 

The Portland Police Bureau’s finances was elevated by $5.2 million final 12 months after being minimize by $15 million in 2020. 
(Portland Police Bureau)

Different components of the USA have been coping with the identical issues. Greater than 31,000 folks died in automotive crashes within the first 9 months of 2021, which was most within the first 9 months of any 12 months since 2006, in keeping with the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. In the meantime, the CDC’s provisional information reveals a minimum of 105,000 drug overdose deaths final 12 months nationwide, a 13% enhance over 2020. 

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The sheriff proposed a number of actions to alleviate Portland’s issues, together with taking firearms from people who’re prohibited from having them, participating in outreach for homeless folks, and growing funding for specialty groups that examine prison organizations. 

“We have to act with a way of urgency. Summer season is approaching, a time after we usually expertise elevated violence in our neighborhood,” Reese wrote. “With out motion, we will count on worse to come back.” 

A Portland, Ore., police officer scans the gang whereas dispersing protesters, Aug. 21, 2020. 
(Getty Photographs)

Portland’s metropolis council voted to chop the police finances by $15 million in June 2020, however added $5.2 million again late final 12 months amid the surge in crime. 

A report by an impartial regulation enforcement investigatory company referred to as the OIR Group discovered that the Portland Police Bureau can also be affected by declining morale. 

“The repeated references to a ‘lack of help’ from Metropolis authorities appeared much more acute than frustrations with protesters — and have seemingly contributed to a self-perpetuating dynamic of mistrust and resentment,” the report mentioned.