July of the year Michael died. I had already been in the parade of police cars that clogged the city from east of Lloyd Center to the big church in Goose Hollow. I had flown back east for a funeral ceremony at St Roberts Church so that his East Coast colleagues could bid him farewell. I had headed north to Upstate New York, with the idea that I could get some nurture time there at my mother’s. Instead, we were greeted on the road trip home with a snow infused blizzard. I spent a couple of days trying to enjoy the snow, but I was too exhausted and too broken to savor the wonder of the white stuff. Too icy for a snow man, not great for a cross country ski. Mainly I was ready to climb on that airplane for home.
One week after Michael’s passing, I was fired from my job, told not to bother coming back from my family medical leave. So in July, I was busy with the classes I was taking on how to start a business, how to write a business plan. I was still earning a paycheck from the university because, duh, family medical leave. The university did not bother pushing back at my challenge of the firing. The best of both worlds, still earning my paycheck, medical coverage and retirement and free time to follow my next plan.
I probably wouldn’t have known about The Anarchist Convention taking place at the Xray Café, located in The Dead Guy’s beat, if there hadn’t been a riot. The Portland Police, having heard the news of the Anarchist Convention, dressed to the hilt in their brand new riot gear. They lined the street across from the café, facing the door front. Protected shoulder to protected shoulder. I can just picture the young folks inside the café. “Cool! They want a riot!” And that’s what they gave the cops. Until the cops showed up in riot costume, riot was not on the agenda, but… hey, why not.
The reason this incident came to my attention at the time is because one of the proprietors of the café, Tres Shannon, was quoted in the Oregonian: “If Michael Joyce was here, this would not have happened.” Wooo. I was so proud!
But why did the cops show up in full riot gear? It’s only conjecture on my part. I do know the force had just recently inherited the gear from the military. We have these new party outfits! Let’s bring it!!!
Why this comes to mind now are the comments, reports, signs at protest marches: ICE Thugs in Masks. I couldn’t figure out how these agents of law enforcement could get away with showing up on the job with masks on. An online picture told the story. The masks I saw were balaclava like masks in classic military camouflage pattern. That’s when I realized what was going on. The department had obtained these masks as a new part of the uniform. Maybe they provide some protection to the agent in case of teargas presence, either by their own release or by the protesters. Do I know this for sure? No. Do I know that this is official uniform issue? No. Do I think that this is history repeating itself? Yes.
Further dive into internet evidence of what has been taking place at various ICE activities around the country shows even more technical gear on the officers at these events which, for me, further confirms my speculation. This is top down behavior, not, as the protest signs indicate, thugs in masks.
What bothers me is this. It is the rank and file that is getting all the criticism. Is that fair? Fair is one of my four letter words. I don’t like it. The painting with the broad brush, of all these folks that are doing their jobs is what bothers me. Should (another one of the words on my list of obscenities) they be the real target? Let’s look up the line a way. Immediate supervisor? Further up. In this case we know, at the very tipity top there is lots of rhetoric, bravado, threatening braggadocio. What is being said down the line?
Yes, I know there will surely be a rank and file or two who came into the job with attitude. A bully or two that need to play out their puffed out chest and sense of superiority especially with, as all bullies really love, the level of back up. That kind of behavior, to an effective sergeant, is dealt with early and efficiently. Training is also an important part of how an entry level officer presents. My background of living on the edge of a number of police forces, I can see very early and clearly when there is efficacious training and when there is not. I saw it first hand in each of the three forces Michael, The Dead Guy, served with as the training played out. It was easy to see the other departments around those forces, who Michael needed to work closely with, needed to count on and be counted on. Which were effective and well trained and who were not.
I guess I want to give these folks, that we are reading about in the papers, online, the benefit of the doubt. Who and what is at fault. What is the driving force for bad, unprofessional behavior? Is it truly a mask causing the trouble? Sometimes. Sometimes it’s the contagion of bad behavior in a souped up situation. Sometimes we need to look up the chain of command. But let’s do that early instead of too late. Please!!!!!
If anyone reading this knows how to get in touch with Tres, please let him know. I’d love to touch base with him. Thanks for stopping by folks.
Mary E Joyce