Oregon’s independent streak puts state in spotlight over terrorism investigation

By Terrence Petty

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon likes to go its own way. Its maverick mentality has produced laws allowing everything from physician-assisted suicide to voting by mail.

And now that independent streak has emerged in the nationwide campaign to track down terrorists.

Three Oregon cities – Portland, Corvallis and Hillsboro – have refused to participate in the questioning of 5,000 foreign visitors nationwide as part of the federal anti-terrorism probe. The cities are believed to be the only ones in the nation to rebuff the Justice Department’s request.

In addition, police in Eugene have agreed to help with the federal probe, but only in a limited role.

Hillsboro Police Chief Don Louie said his force has enthusiastically aided federal agents in past investigations, and he’s committed to helping track down those responsible for the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

But he said he can’t order his officers to interview people who are not suspected of crimes.

“It would be inappropriate to use law enforcement officers for intelligence gathering,” Louie said Thursday. “At times some of us will stand up, in the emotion of what has happened, and put a little scrutiny on our precious civil rights.”

Across the state, police officers and community leaders have been searching their souls on the issue. Much of the disagreement is based on different interpretations of Oregon privacy laws that, some say, could bar the questioning of people not suspected of crimes.

Supporters of the interviews include Gov. John Kitzhaber, who backs plans by Oregon State Police investigators to participate in the 150 interviews that the Justice Department wants to conduct in the state.

“There’s been a massive crime,” Bob Applegate, Kitzhaber’s spokesman, said of the Sept. 11 attacks. “If there was a murder in your neighborhood, the police would go knocking on neighbors’ doors.”

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers says there is nothing in state law to prevent investigators from participating in the interviews.

Portland, among other cities, is deeply divided. Portland’s city attorney has said the interviews could violate state laws, but the city’s police officers have expressed frustration about the decision not to conduct them.

“We’re very disturbed that we’re virtually standing alone in the nation,” Sgt. Robert King, president of the 950-member Portland Police Association, told The Oregonian newspaper.

The debate over questioning foreigners isn’t the first high-profile dispute in Oregon that has pitted local officials against the federal government and each other.

Oregon’s assisted-suicide law, the only one in the nation, was twice approved by voters, but only after a highly contentious debate.

The law is now in effect, but the debate is far from over. U.S. Attorney General John Aschroft issued an order on Nov. 6 barring doctor-assisted suicide; the state is fighting in court to block the order.

As with assisted suicide, the dispute over whether to question foreign visitors has divided Oregonians.

Setting itself apart from neighboring Portland, the Gresham City Council has directed city staffers to draft a “proclamation of patriotism” that pledges to cooperate with the anti-terrorism probe.

“We do agree that the president is right and we are at war and need to take reasonable steps at the national level and local level in the battle against terrorism,” said City Councilman Larry Haverkamp.

In Corvallis, Police Chief Pam Roskowski said she has no legal problem with the Justice Department’s request, but she doesn’t have the resources to conduct “noncriminal interviews.”

In Eugene, police decided Thursday to assist federal authorities by having two or three officers help track down addresses of 40 foreigners. The officers may also set up interviews at neutral locations, but will leave it to federal officials to do the questioning.

The decision came after police met with community leaders to discuss the predicament.

“We wanted to find a way to have this accomplished without the community misperceiving what this is all about,” said Police Chief Jim Hill said. “I don’t have any problem necessarily pursuing this if it’s done in an appropriate way.”

Federal officials, meanwhile, have avoided criticizing communities that have chosen not to help with the questioning. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kent Robinson, in fact, singled out Portland as a city that has been helpful in the fight against terrorism.

“Part of my concern about how this has all played out in the public is that people may not understand just how valuable a part the Portland Police Bureau has played in the ongoing investigation of terrorism,” Robinson told The Oregonian.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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