Besides the Mayor riding in Critical Mass last month, something unique happen on that misty night... no police issuing frivolous tickets. Instead the police appear curtoious to bicyclists riding in Critical Mass. Only six bicycle cops joined Critical Mass last month. Could this be the Mayor showing off his 'community policing' he preached about during the campaign? Could the Mayor have recognize that the City has wasted much of their resources with massive police escorts issuing frivoulous tickets, which ends up in court wasting tax payers money?
Sadly, tonight went back to the same old Critical Mass. Eleven motorcyle cops with two police cars escorted over fifty bicyclists ridging in Critical Mass (see photo 1A). Fifteen minutes before the ride, four byclists cops stood with the motorcycle cops, but left for some unknown reason. At the beginning of the Critical Mass, the police quickly issue a ticket to one woman for allegedly running a stop sign. The police also issued another ticket to a man for allegedly not having a front light bright enough for the ride (you be the judge - see photo 3A).
Office Smith, Badge #29991, was one of the police officers issuing the ticket. He seem reluctant to give his name and badge number to the Critical Mass bicyclists. The other two motorcycle cops refuse to give their identification. Officer Smith mentioned to one Critical Mass bicyclist riders, "We work for us, we don't work for you (recorded on camera)."
This concept by Smith that police do not represent the interest of all Portland residents, only a select a few, is disturbing and does not fall in with the ideas of community policing.
Before the Critical Mass, a police officer identify Officer Chamberlan as the police escort leader. I asked Officer Chamberlan how come the police decided to have motorcycle cops this month's ride when last month's ride went smoothly. He claimed the motorcycle cops did escort the ride last month. Even the Oregonian reporter notice no motorcycle cops in last month's Critical Mass. Chamberlan seem very reluctant to talk to me.
Could the Mayor fill pressure to start issuing frivoulous tickets after an editorialist at the Oregonian made rediculous opinions without facts? Or tonight shows the lack of authority and control the Mayor has over the Portland Police Department when he is suppose to be the police commissioner? I hope not.
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