PPB Restructures to Form Gun Violence Reduction Team

February 08, 2019 16:05

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The Portland Police Bureau is making some internal structural changes that will allow for a more collaborative approach for responding to and preventing gun violence in the City of Portland.

The first part of the restructuring started last fall when the Bureau added personnel to the Tactical Operations Division and changed the response to shootings. Previously, division members were assigned to investigate shootings with a criminal gang nexus. Since last fall, the members within the Tactical Operations Division have been responsible for triaging and or/investigating all shooting incidents that occur in the City.

Now, these personnel, plus three other units in the Tactical Operations Division which includes members of the Gang Enforcement Team, the Metro Gang Task Force, and the Gun Task Force, will be folded into one unit called the Gun Violence Reduction Team. The team will remain assigned to the Tactical Operations Division, which also includes: the Special Emergency Reaction Team, Air Support Unit, Crisis Negotiations Team, Rapid Response Team, Explosive Disposal Unit and the Canine Unit.

"We made this change to align our officers and investigators so they can work collaboratively on all gun violence that occurs in the city," said Chief Danielle Outlaw. "We will continue to investigate violence committed by those who claim affiliation to criminal gangs, and continue our work with community stakeholders who work to prevent this violence through outreach and other strategies. This new model will allow for our officers and investigators to work more closely, implement additional strategies and have a more intensive response to all gun violence in the city. These crimes deeply impact our community and we want to ensure we create a robust team with the common goal of reducing gun violence."

The Gun Violence Reduction Team will be contacted by officers after every shooting. Supervisors will determine if members of GVRT, the Robbery Detail, Domestic Violence Reduction Unit, Homicide Detail or another investigative unit will respond to assume the investigation

The members of the Gun Violence Reduction Team meet biweekly with representatives from the Multnomah County District Attorney, the United States Attorney for Oregon, as well as members from Parole and Probation, the Multnomah County Sheriff's office and the Gresham Police Department to share information in a collaborative manner with the goal to prevent future gun violence. GVRT members also continue to share information with the Office of Youth Violence Prevention in a coordinated effort to reach community members directly impacted by gun violence. This holistic approach, which includes services and assistance to those involved in or at risk for future violence made available through OYVP is intended to prevent further gun violence and trauma in our community.

For statistical information about shootings, visit the Police Bureau's open data at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/71978.


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