Shootings in Portland drop sharply

Catch up quick: There was a notable increase in the rate of gun violence across the U.S. during the pandemic.

• Portland began to see a surge in shootings in July 2020, which law enforcement officials attributed to multiple factors, including the dissolution a month prior of PPB's Gun Violence Reduction Team.
• That unit faced criticism for disproportionately patrolling Black neighborhoods.
• The number of shootings reached a peak in 2022, when Portland saw about 1,300 shootings for the entire year, triple the number compared with those in 2019.

By the numbers: As of this year, gun violence is down nearly 60% through April compared with the same period in 2022, according to PPB's data.

• That follows a sharp drop in shootings in 2023 and 2024, which saw 1,025 and 803 shootings, respectively.

Context: In 2022, PPB relaunched its unit focused on reducing gun violence with more emphasis on community outreach.

• The Focused Intervention Team, which includes 12 officers and two sergeants, engages in data-driven location-specific missions and collaborates with partners through Portland Ceasefire or the Office of Violence Prevention.
• For example, when a shooting happens, the team investigates and identifies those who could be at risk of future violence — connecting them with organizations that offer counseling, housing vouchers, school re-entry support or job training.

What they're saying: "It's not always about enforcement," Israel Hill, the lieutenant who oversees the unit, told Axios.

• Hill said partnerships and follow-up services have been integral to de-escalating violence overall.

• "If you reduce conflict, you reduce retaliation, you can reduce shootings altogether."

Zoom in: At a recent Community Peace Collaborative meeting at PPB's North Precinct, more than three dozen individuals from community-based organizations — like Word Is Bond, Dads Helping Dads and Family Forward — heard the latest gun violence statistics from Officer Jason Hubert and shared what trends they've seen on the ground.

• Hubert noted Friday there have been 220 shootings so far this year, compared with 307 this time in 2024.
• Yes, but: Multiple people raised concerns of growing youth gun violence.

What we're watching: Councilor Dan Ryan, who represents District 2, was also in attendance and said there has been some conversation among his colleagues about cutting law enforcement funding to plug holes in other parts of Mayor Keith Wilson's proposed budget.

• "We cannot backpedal our investments in police at this time," he said.
• Councilors are currently working on amendments and will vote on a final draft next month.