A police union president sent a memo to city leadership alleging District 2 City Councilor Sameer Kanal interfered with the Community Board for Police Accountability. The memo claims Kanal overstepped by attending a CBPA meeting he was invited to attend and by offering logistical and administrative support. The memo also cites continued evidence of bias and manipulation of the CBPA. The complaint could lead to a legal fight between the city and the police union over Portland’s new independent, civilian-led police oversight system. The CBPA is part of the Office of Community-based Police Accountability created by voter approval in 2020. The accountability office is intended to investigate misconduct independently and make disciplinary decisions when appropriate. The CBPA held its first meeting in February and had met only a few times when the memo was drafted.
"On March 19, Aaron Schmautz, president of the Portland Police Association, fired off a memo to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, City Administrator Raymond Lee III, and other top city administrative staff, alleging District 2 City Councilor Sameer Kanal had interfered in the operations of the city's new Community Board for Police Accountability (CBPA). By attending a CBPA meeting-which the councilor was invited to attend and give a presentation at-and offering his office's support with logistics and administrative help, Schmautz says Kanal was overstepping."
"While the complaint primarily focused on the councilor's meeting attendance, the PPA memo cited "continued and concerning evidence of overt bias and manipulation of the CBPA" and set the stage for what could be a future legal fight between the city and the police union over Portland's new independent, civilian-led police oversight system."
"The CBPA is a key part of the new Office of Community-based Police Accountability, which was approved by voters in 2020 via measure 26-217. The accountability office will replace the city's current system with one that is independent of police influence and involvement. It will independently and impartially investigate alleged police misconduct, and make disciplinary decisions, when deemed appropriate."
"Kanal was asked to attend and present at the group's March 11 meeting because of his background and familiarity with the new police oversight system. Before being elected to Portland City Council in 2024, Kanal previously worked for the city as a project manager for the Police Accountability Commission-the precursor to the CBPA. The Commission was tasked with developing recommendations and policy guidelines for"
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