If you want to see what defunding the police might look like in Portland, a good place to start is Portland Street Response, a non-police response to assist people experiencing houselessness or a behavioral or mental health crisis. The program was approved in November of 2019, started training this January, and on February 16, the small four-person team spearheading the program will begin taking calls in Lents in Southeast Portland.
Portland Monthly deputy editor Fiona McCann talks about the new Portland Street Response, how it differs from traditional police, and what we can expect when the team rolls out on February 16.
Guest