Word: portlands
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Penny Harrington became the first woman police chief in a big U.S. city the hard way: besides proving her abilities as an effective officer, she filed some 40 sex-discrimination complaints against Portland's police bureau, consistently winning them to keep rising in the ranks. Since her appointment to chief in January 1985, Harrington, 44, has discovered that running the city's 760-member force has been just as much of a struggle as her 21-year climb...
...Penny Harrington, turmoil is not unusual. She had been in office only a month when a city budget crisis forced her to fire 16 police officers and leave 60 vacancies unfilled, outraging the force. Ordered by Mayor Bud Clark to give priority to cutting Portland's high burglary rate, which topped the nation's three years running, Harrington created a juvenile division that worked to prevent truancy, thus reducing daytime burglaries. But to pay for it she eliminated the vice and drug division, giving its duties to already overworked detectives and precinct officers. Critics charged that this...
Through no fault of Harrington's, Portland's criminals are often returned to the streets soon after conviction because the city's jails are too full to house them. For four years in a row Portland voters have refused to approve funds for more cells. Due to overcrowding, some 7,500 offenders were given citations last year instead of jail sentences. "It's insane," protested Harrington. "We're recycling the same criminals over and over again...
...chief has further angered her subordinates by limiting smoking on the job. Each precinct is allowed only one office and one squad car in which smoking is permitted. Harrington has reprimanded officers who abuse citizens. Last year she banned the use of the carotid ("sleeper") hold after a Portland policeman used the neck grip and inadvertently killed a black security guard who had no criminal record. Two officers responded to the ban by selling T shirts inscribed DON'T CHOKE 'EM. SMOKE 'EM. Harrington had the officers fired, but they were reinstated by an arbitrator...
...chief has not been blamed by most residents for the police problems, and her ready access to community groups has created a reserve of goodwill. But there is a growing feeling that her latest difficulties may leave Portland's bright Penny somewhat tarnished...