Statement on Portland Police shooting death

Portland, Oregon—Earlier today, Portland Police officers killed a man who is reported to have been in crisis. Below is our statement:

Statement from Jake Cornett, Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon

We express our deepest sympathies to the family of the individual who was killed. We don’t yet know all of the facts of the situation, but the person appears to have been experiencing a mental health crisis. Police use of deadly force on people in crisis and in need of treatment is one of the critical issues facing people living with mental illness.

Portland needs to do better. In the past nearly two decades, half of the people killed by the Portland Police Bureau have experienced mental illness. Accountability is needed to deter future use of force and build community trust.

About

Disability Rights Oregon

Disability Rights Oregon upholds the civil rights of people with disabilities to live, work, and engage in the community. The nonprofit works to transform systems, policies, and practices to give more people the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more than 40 years, the organization has served as Oregon’s Protection & Advocacy system.

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