Eugene is currently in the middle of a special election that could determine the future of community relations with city police: Measure 20-106.
If passed Nov. 8, Measure 20-106 would “amend the (city) charter to allow the city council to hire and supervise an independent police auditor, and to appoint a civilian review board, to investigate or oversee investigations of complaints involving police employees.”
Those in favor of Measure 20-106 argue that, considering a string of sexual harassment issues within the Eugene Police Department, an auditor and review board outside of the department are necessary to analyze how the city investigates and responds to complaints.
Those opposed to the measure claim that 20-106 should not pass because it violates the city charter by mandating that the Eugene City Council, not the city manager, hire the auditor and review board. They also claim the measure’s costs are prohibitive.
Although potentially costly, granting the council this narrow exception to the council-manager model of city government is necessary to ensure a police review process that is truly open and independent of city administration. Moreover, we must prevent momentum on this much-needed legislation from dwindling.
We must ensure that the police properly deal with departmental issues such as sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Passing Measure 20-106 will help guarantee the police department responds to our complaints.