Recent data released by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) reveals a significant rise in driver stops during 2023. According to the annual report, there were 17,113 driver stops citywide, marking a 26% increase compared to 2022 and ending a five-year trend of declining numbers. This surge is linked primarily to the PPB's Traffic Division, which more than doubled its stops as officers returned to dedicated traffic patrol after a hiatus of over two years.
Moving beyond the Traffic Division, data indicates that PPB officers from other units maintained a consistent rate of stops, with a slight rise from 10,536 stops in 2022 to 10,684 in 2023. Working within the three precincts, the Focused Intervention Team (FIT), part of the Specialized Resources Division – tasked with confronting gun violence, conducted 966 driver and 4 pedestrian stops through the year, as reported by the PPB.
The analysis of the stops shows that a vast majority, 97.8%, were for traffic-related offenses, with speeding being the top violation cited by Traffic Officers at 48.8%. Offenses such as missing or expired licenses led the reasons for stops made by non-Traffic personnel, accounting for 31.3%. The report further illustrates that drivers who were perceived to be Black or African American were disproportionately stopped for Non-Moving Violations by Non-Traffic Personnel compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
PPB Chief Bob Day acknowledged the public's potential concern over the spike in stops, especially those by the FIT. “The release of this report is another example of the transparency continually exhibited by the Portland Police Bureau,” Day stated. “I understand how the community may perceive the increase in driver stops in 2023, particularly by our Focused Intervention Team. I believe there is a correlation between the stops and the work FIT is asked to do to combat gun violence." The Chief assured ongoing dialogue with the Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group and other stakeholders to ensure community safety in the most equitable manner.
The PPB has been systematically documenting traffic and pedestrian stop data since 2001, following recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Racial Profiling. Officers are required to record their perceived demographics of individuals stopped, the stop reasons, search details, and outcomes. The Bureau's stops application, updated in 2018, maintains a link with their computer-aided-dispatch (CAD) and electronic citation (eCite) systems, supporting the accuracy and completion of the Stops reports.
