Judge rules police union-backed ballot initiative to increase police force is unconstitutional

A Multnomah County judge ruled Thursday that a police union-backed ballot initiative aimed at increasing the number of police officers in the city is unconstitutional.

Judge Katherine von Ter Stegge’s ruling comes after the ACLU of Oregon filed a lawsuit challenging the ballot measure on March 5, arguing that the initiative was intended to effect changes of an administrative rather than legislative nature. Von ter Stegge agreed with the petitioners in her decision.

The ACLU also claimed in its original filing that the ballot title contained more than one issue; A ballot title may only contain one topic. Because the judge ruled that the ballot title was unconstitutional because it sought administrative changes, she wrote in her opinion that it was unnecessary to comment on the single-issue allegation.

The initiative, supported by the Portland Police Association, included three components: increasing the number of sworn police officers in Portland, “establishing and maintaining 24-hour drug/alcohol detox dispensation and treatment centers,” and “expanding and maintaining street response services.” , including social workers who work with police and fire departments to reduce violence and connect people to services.”

The ACLU of Oregon is also challenging a second ballot initiative backed by the Portland Police Association that seeks to fundamentally change both the powers and purpose of a soon-to-be-established police oversight board that Portlanders approved with a vote in 2020 Measure amid racial strife following the killing of George Floyd.

PPA President Aaron Schamutz said the union was “dismayed that a single court has denied all voters the opportunity to have a say in the affairs of their own city.” He did not say whether the PPA planned to resubmit a ballot title.