As gun violence soars, community members, elected leaders search for solutions
PORTLAND, Ore. — For the last year, gun violence in Multnomah County has been on the rise, but these crimes are playing out more frequently in one part of Portland than others.
"We haven’t had a month without a homicide in East Precinct since April of 2020," said Portland Police Bureau Deputy Chief Chris Davis. "Some crimes are down like our thefts from motor vehicles are way down. But the big takeaway from this slide here is the tremendous increase in violent crime."
Due to this increase in East Portland, Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson held a Zoom conversation with elected leaders, community organizers and concerned neighbors.
During the "East Portland Gun Violence Community Conversation" Monday night, part of the discussion was focused on statistics and potential causes for the increase in violent crime. The other part was spent on possible solutions. Those participating on the panel believe more community resources and partnerships are needed to stop the gun violence from continuing.
"I’m just ready to band together for give it our best shot. We talked about the limited resources, so we have to be creative and we have to work together and do the best of what we have today," said Joe McFerrin II, CEO of Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC). "We should not have to worry about resources in the way that we worry about resources. We’re on the front lines trying to help our most vulnerable people in a system that talks about equity and every step of the way but behaves contradictory."
As this conversation played out on Zoom, Portland police were called to a shooting in Northeast Portland. Police said two people were wounded on Northeast Sandy Boulevard near 96th Avenue.