PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An oversight group for the Portland police’s team to reduce gun violence in the Rose City held its annual community listening session on Thursday evening.
The Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group (FITCOG) was formed in response to gun violence several years ago. The oversight group was designed to work with the Portland Police Bureau’s Focused Intervention Team to help with recommendations to reduce gun violence brought forth by the community, including through intervention, prevention and response.
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FITCOG holds monthly in-person meetings on the third Thursday of each month. However, they also hold an annual “Meeting and Community Listening Session,” the third of which was held at the Portland Community College, Southeast Campus, on Thursday night.
PPB Chief Bob Day made an appearance during the listening session. He said that while crime is down in Portland, overall, there is still a long way to go to improve safety. Community members asked Day why officers are not connecting with young people outside of everyday crime-fighting.
“I hear you, I definitely am a proponent of that, I’m definitely looking for ways we can create opportunities,” Day said. “It is our future.”…