That's important, for in this area continuing contact and relationships are absolutely vital. Some of that contact will be eroded by the cuts in the unit, however, and the ability to act on troublesome information certainly will be diminished. The raid on the team recalls the 1980s when then Police Chief Penny Harrington raided the intelligence unit to staff truancy patrols. Daytime burglaries dropped, but gang violence and drug-dealing soared. Portland's police shouldn't have to make these choices.
City officials talk about community policing and fighting youth violence.