Byram is watching for police reform bills
By Terry Murry on Monday, January 18th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Six police reform bills passed the Oregon Legislature during its emergency session this past summer, but the issue isn’t done yet. Several legislative concepts are up for discussion and some amendments to the bills that already passed are proposed.
Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram said true reform comes from the leaders in each law enforcement agency, not from politicians. He’s keeping an eye on the measures as well as an eye on his department.
“We don’t need to be a hindrance,” he said. “We need to help. We need to continue to do the right thing and not give them any reason to ‘poke their nose in our business’ anymore. We need to lead from within.”
Byram said it is easier for larger law enforcement agencies to host problem policing, which is not the case in more rural areas.
“It’s easy to be anonymous in those big areas, so you can act differently,” he said. “I can’t go and act the way some of these officers act in this community and then not expect to be called out on it.”
Among the concepts and amendments being discussed by lawmakers is a complete ban on choke holds. The bill that passed over the summer banned them in all instances except if the use of deadly force is justified.
