Portland - FBI Meet To Discuss Withdrawal From Terrorism Task Force

Portland could be the next major city to withdraw its police from a key partnership with federal law enforcement agencies that investigate terrorism and domestic extremism.

Mayor Ted Wheeler held talks with the FBI in November 2018 to discuss how to handle the city’s withdrawal from the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), public records released by the mayor’s office show.

Records show that Renn Cannon, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Portland division, arranged to meet with the mayor and his staff Nov. 8, to discuss the fate of the JTTF.

In addition to federal law enforcement agencies, the local terrorism task force includes representatives from the Oregon State Police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Port of Portland Police Department.

Opposition to the JTTF runs deep in Portland. Mayor Tom Potter, a former Portland police chief, voted to remove the city’s officers from the task force in 2005 out of concern that it lacked adequate civilian oversight. The city rejoined under Mayor Sam Adams in 2010 on an “as-needed basis” after the FBI announced it had arrested a teenager for plotting to bomb Pioneer Courthouse Square. The council then voted to fully rejoin in 2015. (Oregon Public Broadcasting, November 28, 2018)
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The JTTF works to combat domestic terrorism and violent extremism, and I believe overall does good work while respecting the civil rights and liberties of American citizens. However, past patterns false arrests and detentions, attacks on homes and friendships, and attempting to impede members of political organizations from peacefully assembling and demonstrating anywhere, at any time, cause many to question the overall value of anti-terrorism officers within law enforcement agencies.


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Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:

A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

 

Military personnel deployed to a combat area, their supporting contractors overseas, government civilian employees overseas, non-government organizations (NGOs), journalists working on international stories, businesses attempting to establish a foothold in developing countries, and individual travelers to remote areas of the world can all find themselves in hostile and non-permissive environments. This guide covers a broad range of subjects that are intended to aid individuals, living and working in dangerous areas, in being safer in their daily lives and in being better able to protect themselves and survive in case of an emergency, disaster, or hostile action.