Use of force, 21st century policing front and center at Eugene ad hoc committee meeting

Use of force and 21st century policing was front and center during the ad hoc committee meeting on police policy Wednesday night in Eugene.

Community members as well as law enforcement members discussed the next steps for the committee.

“The community does not see things the same way, and believe that the police is not prepared and have not done all that they can to deescalate,” said Guadalupe Quinn, a community member on the committee.

Chief Chris Skinner of Eugene Police Department was there in the virtual meeting Wednesday night to answer questions and concerns.

“One of things I have energy around, and obviously with Covid it makes it difficult, is resurrecting the citizens police academy. It allows citizens to come in and see the training and give feedback,” said Chief Skinner.

Use of force and 21st century policing was a part of the discussion.

And with recent officer-involved shootings in Oregon resulting in protests in certain communities, one of the answers is unity.

“And a lot of these issues surrounding use of force, which I believe, at the end of all this, it’s going to boil down to the relationship between the community and officers,” said Rick Hamilton, Senior Trooper with Oregon State Police.

One of the members says he’s glad Muhsin Sharif was not killed in the Nov. 30 officer-involved shooting on 2nd Avenue and Madison Street in Eugene.

Silverio Mogart says we need to have an open conversation about use of force.

“I fully expect the District Attorney’s office to be at a place where she’s ready to release all of the information next Monday, which is 14 days from the incident and which, in most cases, is very, very fast for a complex criminal investigation,” said Chief Skinner.

He says after the complete details are released, he’ll be happy to participate in that open conversation with community members.

The next committee meeting is expected to put forth motions that could possibly create an amendment on changes the community would like to see.