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Demilitarize the Portland Police!

It is past time to Demilitarize the Portland Police! Join with the majority of Portland City and Multnomah County residents to tell our local officials to take action on an issue that affects so many people’s lives and ultimately does not keep anyone safe. The Demilitarize Portland Police petition calls for an end to military-style training, prioritized recruitment of former military personnel, acquisition of military equipment and militarized crowd-control technology and allowance of militarized policing by state and federal forces.  It also calls for the dismantling and disposal of all currently held militarized weaponry currently stockpiled.

Take action now by urging City Council members and your County Commissioner to support this campaign and push for adoption of an official resolution. Share the petition and write a personalized email message using our key messages below:

To write a personalized, persuasive email:

  1. Create a subject line that speaks to the demand being raised (Demilitarize PDX, Concerned Citizens Demand Demilitarization, etc.)
  2. Use key messages (below) create a personalized email that speaks to why you think Demilitarizing the Portland Police is so important 
  3. Use the form on this page to send the email! 

Email for both city counselors and county commissioners:

  • Demilitarization is an act of reparations for the Black community!
  • Military style training for our SWAT and Rapid Response Teams is expensive and time consuming.
  • Since our agencies no longer participate in federal transfer programs, taxpayer money is being spent on the purchase of chemical weapons, assault weapons and tactical vehicles. 
  • Our law enforcement agencies shouldn't be purchasing items from or doing training with companies like Defense Technologies, who are tied to war crimes all over the globe. 
  • There's no data that show militarized policing reduces crime.
  • Militarized policing does not make law enforcement officers safer on the job.
  • Investments in militarized policing are directly correlated with police killings. 
  • Divestment from militarized policing frees up budget dollars for urgent public safety needs like mental health and housing programs.

Questions to include for city counselors and county commissioners:

  • How much of the public safety budget is spent on SWAT training, Rapid Response Training, and the purchase of tools and weapons to supply those units?
  • Is there any oversight of contracts with chemical weapons companies? Is there any vetting of crowd control training leadership?
  • Does the city/county have evidence that militarized policing has reduced crime, improved officer safety or reduced police killings?

Demilitarize the Portland Police!

It is past time to Demilitarize the Portland Police! Join with the majority of Portland City and Multnomah County residents to tell our local officials to take action on an issue that affects so many people’s lives and ultimately does not keep anyone safe. The Demilitarize Portland Police petition calls for an end to military-style training, prioritized recruitment of former military personnel, acquisition of military equipment and militarized crowd-control technology and allowance of militarized policing by state and federal forces.  It also calls for the dismantling and disposal of all currently held militarized weaponry currently stockpiled.

Take action now by urging City Council members and your County Commissioner to support this campaign and push for adoption of an official resolution. Share the petition and write a personalized email message using our key messages below:

To write a personalized, persuasive email:

  1. Create a subject line that speaks to the demand being raised (Demilitarize PDX, Concerned Citizens Demand Demilitarization, etc.)
  2. Use key messages (below) create a personalized email that speaks to why you think Demilitarizing the Portland Police is so important 
  3. Use the form on this page to send the email! 

Email for both city counselors and county commissioners:

  • Demilitarization is an act of reparations for the Black community!
  • Military style training for our SWAT and Rapid Response Teams is expensive and time consuming.
  • Since our agencies no longer participate in federal transfer programs, taxpayer money is being spent on the purchase of chemical weapons, assault weapons and tactical vehicles. 
  • Our law enforcement agencies shouldn't be purchasing items from or doing training with companies like Defense Technologies, who are tied to war crimes all over the globe. 
  • There's no data that show militarized policing reduces crime.
  • Militarized policing does not make law enforcement officers safer on the job.
  • Investments in militarized policing are directly correlated with police killings. 
  • Divestment from militarized policing frees up budget dollars for urgent public safety needs like mental health and housing programs.

Questions to include for city counselors and county commissioners:

  • How much of the public safety budget is spent on SWAT training, Rapid Response Training, and the purchase of tools and weapons to supply those units?
  • Is there any oversight of contracts with chemical weapons companies? Is there any vetting of crowd control training leadership?
  • Does the city/county have evidence that militarized policing has reduced crime, improved officer safety or reduced police killings?