On Dec. 16, 2020, the Portland Police Bureau Chief, Chuck Lovell, publicly asked the community for help after shootings this year more than doubled the numbers recorded in 2019. According to reports much of the increase is gang related.
The Blaze explains:
According to Fox News, at least 850 shootings have been reported in Portland as of Dec. 24. The outlet noted that there were at least 59 reported shootings in December alone.
“As of Christmas Eve, this year’s shootings had surpassed last year’s by more than 116%, with 393 shootings reported in all of 2019, statistics show,” Fox pointed out. “At least 53 murders have been reported in Portland as of Dec. 24 — the highest yearly total the city has seen in nearly 30 years.”
In June 2020, Portland city council voted to defund the police resulting in the elimination of 84 positions. READ: Portland City Council defunds police bureau by $15 million.
The Blaze explains what happened next:
The bureau is now asking for a community-wide effort and action to help put a stop to gun violence across the city after its gun violence reduction team was disbanded over the summer.
The team was dismantled after activists and gun control activists said that the bureau was guilty of racism in “stopping people of color disproportionately to others,” the station reported.
READ: Portland police forced to beg for community’s help in curbing out-of-control violence
