About 20 local citizens, Eugene Copwatch volunteers and members of the media gathered on the steps of the Eugene Police Department at City Hall during a Copwatch press conference Tuesday morning.
Dedicated to monitoring law enforcement activity as a grassroots movement since 1996, the organization scheduled the event, which lasted less than an hour, in response to a recent rash of police brutality charges and suits filed in Oregon. Speakers briefly spoke in support of the numerous aspects and the importance of Copwatch to encourage better awareness of questionable police activity and to promote the organization’s new Web site.
“This Web site is the tool that people can begin to use for reporting,” volunteer and introductory speaker Tim Lewis said.
Copwatch was represented by a handful of volunteers who calmly voiced their opinions and statements to news cameras and microphones. Supporting individuals stood behind them while shading their eyes from the rising sun with flyers listing the Web site address — www.eugenecopwatch.org — and the reporting phone number — 343-8548.
Former Human Rights Commissioner Melissa Mona mentioned the inadequacies of current advocacy programs available to the public.
Speaker Charles Overbeck specified many of the newer features now available on the site, including a “how-to” page on different ways to witness and document incidents.
Speaker Randy Glicker addressed issues of videotaping events in teams and expressed a need to expand the local process of reporting.
Whiteaker Community Council member Majeska Seese-Green handed out information about the area’s most recent community meeting, which focused on how to prevent incidents like the Oct. 17 police raid, during which 59 officers from at least six agencies carried out a drug search and found nothing.
“(Our decision) represents condemnation of unwarranted use of police tactics and weapons that together endanger the very lives of everyone in the residential neighborhood,” she said. “We want this never to happen again.”
During the following question-and-answer period, speakers dispersed to talk with reporters and camera crews individually. In one comment made to a reporter, Lewis said “the media should be more aware of misinformation and disinformation” in regards to police investigations and public records.
EPD spokeswoman Pam Olshanski, accompanied by other EPD officials, observed the event from a few yards away. She said Copwatch demonstrations — much like peace rallies — have typically remained peaceful, with the turnout of the last local demonstration being a good example.
“Eugene is very well known for its activism,” Olshanski said.
The conference quieted down at about 11 a.m. as local supporters headed home, camera crews packed up to leave and Lewis thanked everyone for coming.
“We believe everyone should be a Copwatcher,” Lewis added.