The commander of the Portland Police Bureau’s central precinct has advised Multnomah County officials to install metal detectors in the Central Library, remove exterior benches and disable WiFi outside the building, after a fatal shooting on the front steps this month.
That advice, issued by Comm. Brian Hughes July 7, comes amid a pressure campaign by the Portland Metro Chamber to compel county leaders to crack down on drug use and weapons at the iconic Central Library.
“The current environment reflects a troubling refusal to acknowledge the severity of what is occurring both inside and around the library,” writes Jason Gerlt, the chair of the Downtown Retail Council, a subset of the Metro Chamber. “The county’s repeated attempts to distance itself from these safety failures—while downplaying law enforcement as a necessary partner—have led to harm, distrust, and a visibly deteriorating public space.”…