Police insist interviews illegal , (Portland, Or. Police Chief)

The Oregonian ^ | 11/28/01 | MAXINE BERNSTEIN and MARK LARABEE

[Grampa Dave]

It appears that Kroeker is up to his Keister in the lies and left wing spin by the Portland liars er lawyers and mayor!

[Bikers4Bush]

Portland PD, protectors of terrorists.

Charming.

[dixiechick2000]

I am constantly amazed at Fat Katz's ability to get her buttboys to toe the line. I'm very disappointed in Chief Kroeker.

Portland is an even bigger national disgrace than that town in Maryland that tried to ban smoking and have now uninvited Santa Claus to their tree lighting.

[DoughtyOne]

Knowing what a ceaspool of socialists that area is up there, I'm leaning toward Portland simply acting out like the Berkley wanna be that it has become. While I don't think any city attorney should blindly follow bad orders, this one is making an ass out of himself and his city.

Portland, put a sock in it. If you'd get your head out of your ---, you'd conduct these interrogations and support your farmers in Klamath Basin.

But then that would be a bit too patriotic hugh.

[dixiechick2000]

The rank and file Portland PD doesn't seem to support this, from the things I have heard. It's the politicians and the leadership (if you can call it that) that have their panties in a wad over Ashcroft's request.

[aculeus]

If, God forbid, we have another 9-11 or worse, these Quislings will wish they had acted differently.

[Bikers4Bush]

I would hope that they don't support this.

Unfortunately protecting terrorists seems to be more of a priority to the Portland leadership than protecting Americans.

It's sickening.

[Madame Dufarge]

Hey, thanks for the help Portland.

See, this is a WAR, not a stolen car ring, get it?

This is about finding sleeper cells of people who want to kill us before they get the opportunity to do so, get it?

[AAABEST]

I'm a big-time civil libertarian (not of the ACLU) type, but I just can't fathom these idiots.

Is it a violation of anyone's civil rights to go door to door after a homicide is commited in the neighborhood? It's the same thing. Police are invesigating according to a demographic.

While I find idiotic lawmaking like the "Patriot Act thoroughly repulsive, I find nothing wrong or unconstitutional about questioning people who fall into the same demographics as the terrorists for information that may be helpful. What the hell is wrong with asking people to voluntarily give information about potential atrocities?

A violation of a civil or human right means that someone is harmed. Can anyone tell me who is harmed by this?

[mxbluto]

Hat's off to these guys for having some integrity!

[mxbluto]

Well let's see, drug overdoses have killed far more than any Arab terrorist has on this soil. So this would be like grabbing and interrogating everyone on a Harley, every chance they got because some Bikers sell drugs. I don't think they'd like that.

[JustAnAmerican]

I wrote the "Acting chief of police" a letter on November the 21st of this year, in it I asked why the Town and its "Acting chief of police" took it upon themselves to refuse the Attorney Generals request to interview the people on the list. I received a reply 2 days later supposedly from the "Acting chief of police". I have not posted this reply because of one of the statements in the reply about the Attorney General's request not being lawful,knowing eventually they would contradict themselves. Looks to me like its not the law they are worried about but their own self interests. In fact the "Acting chief of police" had one of his underlings reply to my letter, but this is to be expected. Here is the reply;

Subject: Re: You are refusing to help the government track down terrorists?
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 07:51:00 -0800
X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19)

Thank you very much for taking the time to write. Oregon State Law prohibits local police from questioning immigrants when there is no evidence they are connected to a crime and foreign citizenship is the only issue, therefore if local police took part in this, we would be breaking the law. We do want to cooperate with the US Attorney's Office should they be willing to modify some of the questions that pose a problem under the state law. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to write me.

Andrew Kirkland
Acting Chief of Police
Portland Police Bureau

Officer Kristy Galvan
Chief's Office
(503) 823-0027

[thorshammer]

Portland "The City of Bridges" a prime target. If those bridges come tumbling down, their commerce will be gone.

Do you think they would repond then?

[thorshammer]

Sorry typo "respond"

[LibWhacker]

What a bunch of scumbags.

The Left is correct to fear military tribunals. With any luck, Dubya will soon expand these tribunals to include not only foreigners suspected of providing aid and comfort to terrorists, but ANYONE -- foreigner or not, police chief, mayor, judge, legislator, infobabe, or candlestick maker.

The extreme leftwing is chock-full of veteran America haters. Al-Qaeda couldn't hold a candle to them, and they are every bit as much a danger to us as an anti-American amateur like bin Laden.

[uncommonsense]

Oh, so you are saying bikers need to apply for a US VISA before straddling a hog? The people who are being interviewed are guests of this country, not citizens. They come from countries that sponsor terrorists who target our citizens. I hope you were just being sarcastic, not stupid.

[PatrioticAmerican]

Being a VOLUNTARY questioning, I see no harm in it. Law enforcement can ask anyone any question as a private citizen can. They just cannot require it. Police have a right of free speech as much as a private person does. Immigrants are here at the kindnesss of this nation, not as a right. Therefore, they should be willing to answer.

[JamesinGA]

With any luck, Dubya will soon expand these tribunals to include not only foreigners suspected of providing aid and comfort to terrorists, but ANYONE -- foreigner or not, police chief, mayor, judge, legislator, infobabe, or candlestick maker.

Sarcasm is notoriously hard to pick up in print. Were you being sarcastic with the above statement, or can you possibly be stupid enough to think it's a good idea that military tribunals be used against political enemies of the president? That's fascism by any definition. Are you for that?

I bet you won't answer the question but will just call me names. I hope you'll prove me wrong and defend your position instead, if indeed you weren't being sarcastic.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for your insight to this incredible issue!