I suspect working under a leader such as Sam Adams may well create mental health problems where none existed before.

Its a question of self respect and not limited to the Police Department.

Tri-Met drivers,mechanics and dispatch people are subject to random drug and alcohol testing, something their union agreed to a long time ago. They drive buses - slowly most of the time - through the streets. Portland firefighters race huge rigs - some longer than a bus - at top speeds through city streets. But, their union has refused to agree to random D&A testing. Portland police officers race through city streets at top speed, carry deadly force, put real ammunition in "less than lethal" weapons, shoot people and kill citizens and their union has steadfastly refused random D&A testing. The City needs to get where Tri-met got years ago. But, of course, the City is headed up by Mayor Creepy and the Usual Bafoons.

I think Tri-Met's drug testing is mandated by federal regulation (FTA or USDOT).

I think we should start a pool to bet on how many PoPo will be disgraced by the end of the year.

As for drug testing the PoPo, the union will never allow the bad apples to be weeded out. It would violate the thin blue line. Of course, if cops were as wonderful as some readers here suggest, there'd be no objections because the officers would be so honorable there'd be no worries.

I'm waiting for HMLA - 41 to tell us why its a good positive high integrity thing that this bozo pulled over to sleep it off, and that we should have no concerns about the pattern of PPB folks popped for DUII.

HMLA 41 will also doubtless clear up the confusion in our minds about why it is that no PPB cop ever gets opped within Portland for DUII.

I gotta tell ya - I love the headline writing on your blog - keep it up

I don't know about Oregon (in so many ways) but here in Wa State, the DUII is being "in physical control". So sleeping drunks at the wheel with keys in the ignition is the same as weaving down the road.

That unit must be quite the riot. Must be fun to be on the phone with an active drunk or a dry drunk, both ways what a cluster! Only in Portlandia!

dman - If you talk like that Mister Tee will be having words with you about how you are all wrong about the cops.

And Jack the Zero is reporting there have been 5 PoPo charged with DUII in the last nine months. Wow. Just wow.

Nonny, there are lawyers that steal from their clients, psychiatrists that sleep with their patients, and doctors that abuse drugs. Remember Multnomah county's "Marrying Judge" that faked his own divorce decree?

You can find aberent behavior in any profession. To indict all (or most) the members of profession based on the misconduct of a few is unfair, and just plain dumb.

You know, kind of like prosecuting a case with a witness you know to be unrealiable (but proceed anyway...)

"A few"? Did you just write "a few"?

Between the trigger-happy killers, the Chasse "thumpers," the liars, the wife beaters, the road ragers, and the drunk drivers, it's quite a "few."

Re HMLA: Yes, there's deviant behavior everywhere. The difference with the professions you name is that they typically think--"Yeah, that dude screwed up...he deserved getting disbarred, etc." and don't say squat in support of the d*****bag in trouble. Cops all pile on in support of the s***ty behavior of their own, ad nauseam. It makes you all look like you all think you have the right to break the law because you're officers of the law.

See any irony in this thinking? At all? That's pretty much the crux of why cops' reputation seems to keep getting worse--and you're giving another example of it here. Think about it.

Jack, I have acknowledged that PPB is an agency in crisis. But how long has their problems gone on, under how many politicians?

Portland keeps electing idiots that are more into scoring teen a**, pushing bicycles, and building toy trains rather that attending to the basic services of government. (Like maintaining good order and discipline in the police ranks.)

The problem is that PPB's problems do not reflect that of other agencies, or all officers.

Consider the case of Ellis McCoy, and how it was handled. Do you think the same elected officials would do any better with a police misconduct case?

When enough citizens demand change and elect *competent* leadership the culture of PPB will change. I hope it comes soon.

HMLA-267, I think you are missing the point that people think LE should have enough pride, ethics, morals to start healing within their own ranks. So looking at your reasoning, the only way we can change the sick blue culture is electing different leadership? Fighting the union each step of the way, risking "sick ins" and the protests? Wouldn't it be something to have the union leadership agree to testing to prove they are drug free like so many other unions? The union taking lead on treatment before they have to be fired? Or from the sounds of it, the union are children and need the right parental figure elected?

HMLA-267 - The problem is not political leaders; it is PPB union leaders. Please. For whatever reason, since I got here (Stan Peters was d*#chebag in charge of the union then) the union has made it its mission to protect bad cops and tacitly screw whistle blowers. You got an weaselly explanation about that. Quit blaming pols. You cops should be grown-up enough to police your own and set a good example.

Well, seems like HMLA-267 expects answers from Nonny but doesn't expect to give them back when he is on the spot. So typical for a cop lover.

The film is being made now in Charlestown -- a province of Boston, where Ben Affleck's admirable "The Town" was shot:

"Charlestown streets have become a movie set this week, as Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, and others film 'R.I.P.D.', a film about undead police officers."
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/charlestown/2011/09/filming_of_ripd_sets_charlesto.html

Funny that a person on a "Portland" blog would mention a city like Boston. Armchair the MINOR problems with your police department, but seriously?? What place is this? A sustainable rooftop garden and bikes and methers that live on one side of town. I feel dizzy. Yeah, mention Charleston, Southy or Back Bay (movie places) all you want in your post Mr Menefree. I grew up on the line between Dorchester and Roxbury. Ever heard of those places? After you google it Im sure. While your at it, google what life is like for the average citizen that lives there, Chicago, Miami or LA. Getting gunned out of your car doesnt even warrant a mention in the local paper, much less a headline on the evening news. A cop or 5 was pinched on a drunken driving charge here, well yeah, a cop came to a shooting in progress and went in there yesterday to deal with it. Ive long since retired from the MDC over there, in fact it doesnt exist anymore. Just like a thank you to the people who will come when you dial 911.

mildly jaded - Don't go there. The Boston cops were a joke when I lived there in the 70s. Frequently drunk on the job. Showing up to calls hastily dressed after their shake down booty calls to prostitutes. Shaking down business owners. So please never bring up Boston cops again. They are just a joke.