~ Report and Photos by Jason E. Kaplan

Today the Portland City Council voted unanimously to shut down two of the city's five police precincts.  The closure of North Precinct ends an almost 15-year battle to keep alive a police presence in North Portland that dated back to the founding of the city of St. Johns over a century ago.  North Precinct, currently housed in what was once the Town Hall for the independent city of St. Johns, has been under threat of closure ever since the mid-1990s when a new precinct was built in Inner Northeast Portland, off Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Today's closure order hits hardest in the St. Johns neighborhood, where the community has a unique attachment to the Police Bureau, as a symbol of the area's unique history, small-town charm and independent spirit.
 

Sergeant Ron Berry of North Precinct is unhappy with the new precinct plan.
"I think the whole deal is kind of sad," he says, sitting out in front of the North Precinct building in the center of the St. Johns neighborhood.

He says that when Chief Rosie Sizer tried to close the precinct two years ago, Mayor Potter told her to find a way to make a budget without the closure, and she did. "Mayor Adams could have told her the same thing."

Sergeant Berry doubts that the change will actually save any money, especially in the short-term. He thinks a big part of the problem is Commissioner Dan Saltzman's inexperience with police management. "Saltzman knows nothing about the Police Bureau and is just a yes man for Chief Sizer."
 

"It is not an accurate statement to say there'll be a police presence here," said Sergeant Berry, referring to the plan to keep the building open as a training facility and "contact office."
Berry says that the increase in the remaining precincts' size may cause communication difficulties among officers in the field. "This has the potential to cause a lot of problems, to get someone really hurt."

He says that currently morale is very low across the whole police force.
For the community wondering what to do next, Sergeant Berry advises that North Portlanders should "ask to see the budget. Where will the savings will really come from?"

Before walking back to the precinct building, he adds, "It kind of makes me sick to my stomach, really."

Sarah Anderson, owner of Anna Bannanas, has been a vocal opponent of the precinct closure. She doubts that the neighborhood will see any benefits from the new police precinct plan.

"In the long run this will not save us what we had hoped. It will, I think, cause a lot of unforeseen problems."

She says that right now she is willing to wait and see how things go, "but if it all goes to sh#t I'm going to do the 'I told you so' dance at Rosie's office."

Asked if she thinks the neighborhood will be less safe, Anderson says, "I think it will have the appearance of being less safe... A lack of improvements to the (community) core is just another reason for people not to move here."

She thinks it will "cost more money in the long run." She adds, sarcastically, "But we'll have a new soccer stadium!" 

Asked if she has any particular fond memories of North Precinct, Anderson answers, "I have fond memories of the cops who come in here for breakfast. I know most of them. They say we'll have all the same cops; I don't think so." 

She says that she doesn't know what the community should do next. "I'm astounded by this."

Bob Leveton, owner of the St. Johns Man's Shop, said that the City Council vote was "not surprising," but that the decision to close North Precinct is "absolutely ridiculous." He adds, "It's devastating. How [city leaders] have treated us is ridiculous.  The only time we see them is when they want votes."

Saying that he has been disappointed by the whole process, Leveton says, "I used to be so proud of this city, but not any more. I'm proud of St. Johns but not of Portland."

Leveton was particularly frustrated by the city's priorities when it comes to spending their meager funds. "Are you going to tell me that we're going to have a baseball field and a soccer stadium, but there's no money for [North Precinct]?"

He wants to know more about the training center that is slated to occupy the North Precinct building. He worries that it will be a short-term plan, because the precinct building is too small for the proposed facility.  

Like Sarah Anderson, Leveton feels that this precinct redistricting is "absolutely" a shot to our community pride.  

Asked about his memories of North Precinct, Leveton recalls the day the building was rededicated a decade ago. "Mayor Katz called me out, made me an honorary policeman.  I didn't know it was coming."  

Asked what the community should do next, Leveton looks down and shrugs. "I don't know.  I'm dejected... If they build that baseball park I'm going to explode, and I think everyone in North Portland should too."

Pattie Dietz, owner of Pattie's Home Plate Cafe, seemed more resigned to the new precinct plan than other area business owners who commented.  

"I don't like it," she says, referring to this afternoon's City Council vote, but she adds, "I can't change it, and I'm willing to see what develops." 

Dietz feels that her customers will let her know if police service is affected. "If the response time increases, I'll hear about it."  

Overall Dietz has been happy with with the recent level of police service. "I've seen more officers on the street at night than I have in a long time." Asked if she thinks that will continue, she says, "Hopefully. We'll see."