Sep 3, 2020 Testimony to Oregon Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform
Channel: Pacific Northwest Family Circle
Date: 2020-09-05

Maria Cahill speaks on behalf of PNWFC Family Members regarding PNWFC legislative priorities compared to legislative concepts being refined in Committee. 

"Hello. My name is Maria Cahill. Today I testify on behalf of Pacific Northwest Family Circle, a group of Families whose Loved Ones were killed by police and who work together to educate the public and change laws and policies. PNWFC is a politically diverse multi-racial group of Families that struggle for justice together by consensus. Three things that Families agree should be priorities for the Oregon Legislature:
Discipline Police for Misconduct
Extend the Statute of Limitations for Bringing Lawsuits Against Police to at least 30 Years
Change Internal Police Procedures to Recognize the Failure of the Government to Protect Families and Loved Ones
The legislative concepts that have gone through committee (LC-17, 18, 19, and 20) are largely downstream bills that support people after being subjected to police violence. Sadly, these LCs will not reduce the likelihood or frequency of police killing Loved Ones. Family Members feel that the proposed LCs should not be the first priority of the legislature. Instead, finding a way to discipline police officers -- without being found unconstitutional because of federal laws on qualified immunity -- should be the very first priority of the Oregon legislature. Without this, Loved Ones will continue to be killed by police, simply because police have the discretion to do so.
When police kill a Loved One, the government has failed that Loved One and that Family and the community. There are governments that go months, sometimes years, without killing a single one of residents in their county. Our country’s government cannot go a day without killing someone. No one can convince us that Loved Ones need to be killed on a daily basis.
Over 380 people have been killed by police in Oregon in the last 28 years. This is a rate of about 13 people per year. Few officers have been disciplined. Those that have, have all had their discipline overturned and their privileges restored, resulting in NO officers actually being disciplined.
I ask you today: Are you prepared to fail another Family Member? Are you prepared to take responsibility for the death of 26 - 78 more Loved Ones while you serve your terms working on less pressing legislation?
This testimony is offered in Loving Memory of 19 year-old Christopher Kalonji killed by Clackamas County sheriffs during a mental health crisis and all PNWFC Loved Ones and Stolen Lives killed by police."