Mayor Wheeler’s $7.8M Public Safety Spending Plan Includes 636 Body Cameras and a $25,000 Hiring Bonus for Portland Police Recruits
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler outlined on Wednesday his $7.8 million public safety spending proposal, which includes the purchase of body-worn cameras for Portland Police Bureau officers, $25,000 signing bonuses for new PPB recruits, and expanding to more than three dozen unarmed public safety specialists.
The mayor opened the Nov. 3 press conference with a solemn message.
“This is the deadliest era in modern times for the city of Portland,” Wheeler said, referring to the record 72 homicides for the year to date. “Many Portlanders no longer feel safe in their city. Business owners have closed up shop for fear of doing business in high-risk areas. Commuters fear for their safety, whether taking public transit or going by foot. Parents are scared to let their children play outside. People are leaving for work, going to the supermarket or grabbing drinks with friends and not returning home.”