Council Signs Terrorism Task Force Agreement

The City of Portland, is now officially part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force pairing local law enforcement with the FBI to collect and share intelligence after signing a Memorandum of Agreement Feb. 25.

Two Portland Police Officers to be chosen by Police Chief Larry O’Dea and Mayor Charlie Hales will work full time with the agency.

Scores of advocacy groups and Muslim organizations have spoke out against Portland’s involvement with the task force, citing a fear of the FBI’s history of abusing civil rights and targeting Muslim-faith people and the Arab community.

Portland pulled out of the JTTF in 2005 citing better oversight of its own police force and lack of transparency on the hazy relationship it and the FBI, but would later rejoin in 2011 after a plan to let off a bomb in Pioneer Square was thwarted by FBI tactics.

The decision to re-join was made  Feb. 19 in a split 3-2 vote between City Council, with Mayor Hales casting the conclusive 'aye' vote.

Hales called the decision “a choice of evils.”