Portland

Portland, OR has become the poster boy picture for how not to deal with crime. The Portland Police Bureau currently deploys fewer sworn officers — 789 — than at any point in the past in 30 years, according to the bureau and an analysis of records by The Oregonian/OregonLive, even though the city added more than 165,000 new residents over that period. In 2021, Portland recorded 90 homicides amid a surge in gun violence, shattering the city’s previous high of 66 set more than three decades ago. In November, 2021, Portland was among major cities that added funds to their police department. City Council unanimously passed a fall budget bump that included increasing the $230 million police budget by an additional $5.2 million. The city fathers can say oops we made a mistake and must build up the police department but in the process many died. Here is something that I wrote in April of 2021 Most Americans find it hard to believe that 90% of police officers in England are unarmed. The Mayor of Portland has a plan to replace police with unarmed park rangers. This will be interesting to watch and may result in a whole new way of serve and protect. On the other hand it may result in more crime.