Portland committee hears draft requiring officers to show identity; no vote as public testifies

Portland — The Community and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 13 reviewed a draft ordinance intended to ensure Portlanders "have a right to know who’s policing you," but the panel took no vote and invited public feedback.

Councilor Sameer Kunal, who introduced the draft, described four core components — masking limits, visible identification, a verification process and documentation — and said the bill is an early "frontroom" draft meant to be shaped by council questions and community input. "This document is not the end of a backroom deal. It's the start of a frontroom deal," Kunal said.

The administration outlined operational hurdles. Bob Kazi, deputy city administrator for public safety, and Brian Hughes, assistant chief of the Portland Police Bureau, told the committee the city must follow federal law and existing oversight agreements. Hughes said federal law "supersedes local…