PORTLAND, Ore. — Content warning: There are images of public drug use in the above video.
More police are coming to Portland’s Old Town neighborhood. Starting in September, the bureau will set up a mobile office by Northwest 3rd Avenue and Davis Street, as well as leave a parked police vehicle near the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
It's all part of Mayor Ted Wheeler’s new action plan to increase safety and livability in Old Town.
“There’s obviously a lot of suffering here,” said Aron, who works in the neighborhood.
“It’s definitely been a tough few years for the neighborhood,” added Piers Rippey, who also works in Old Town.
“I think it’s great; we’re struggling down here,” said Jessie Burke, who runs the Society Hotel across the street from the planned mobile precinct unit. “There are a lot of things that need to happen down here one of them is that we need a sense that laws are enforced,” Burke said.
Others aren’t so sure more officers are the answer.
“There are a lot of people struggling and suffering, and I wish that the continued solution would be to invest in their wellbeing and housing,” Aron said.
“I think the cops are the wrong tool to throw at the problem… Lots of people are living on the street and are addicted to drugs,” Rippey said.
A block away, a meth pipe is passed down a line of people.
“The police are already here, and they’re not really doing anything to help. There aren’t any resources or anything; they’re just getting people in trouble,” said a homeless woman who goes by the street name Pineapple.
However, for months, officers have increased walking beats in the area pairing with outreach workers to help people like her addicted on the streets.
RELATED: Portland police and outreach workers connect 140 people addicted to drugs with same-day services
A block away from where that mobile police unit will be off Northwest 3rd Avenue and Burnside Street is where Portland police responded to a stabbing around 9:30 Thursday night. One person was injured and taken to the hospital — another example of safety concerns in Old Town.
“I think it horrifying, and I’m not surprised at all,” said Beth Ann, who was once homeless in Old Town but now stays in a shelter.
She’s been hurt on the streets before. “I’ve been abused sexually so bad, and that is no fun for anybody,” Beth Ann said.
Another man smoking meth nearby told KGW tells he was shot last month not far from where he was sitting Friday morning.
“Me and my girlfriend, we still suffer over my wounds,” he said.
“I’d like to see more money spent on providing housing and healthcare things that actually help people’s lives,” added Rippey.
Many in the Old Town community point to the addiction crisis as a major underlying issue to the safety concerns. The increased police presence there comes at the same time possession of drugs will be a crime again in Oregon. Police will also be enforcing that, starting on September 1.
The city will meet with the Old Town community about twice a month to talk safety.