Volunteer; Non- Position - Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group; FITCOG

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The FITCOG’s mission is to work closely with the Commissioner-in-Charge of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), the leadership of the PPB, and the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) to understand, inform, and provide oversight and recommendations to the city's efforts to reduce gun violence in Portland. This will be done by remaining informed about gun violence trends, PPB and FIT strategies, and other City of Portland programs and priorities in supporting this work and best practices for prevention, intervention, and response.

• Assist with development of recommendations
• Participate in strategic planning
• Provide feedback on the prioritization of work in future phases

Total number of advisory seats: Fifteen (15)

Number of seats available: Five (5)

To be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work or do business in the City of Portland.

We want people from every part of Portland here to share their voice on this committee, especially people who have not been involved before. If you want to serve your community and help government make better choices, then we want to see your application. The attributes listed below will guide our selection process. It is helpful if you are specific in your answers.

We do not expect you to have everything listed.

• You believe government is better when community is involved.
• You are an advocate for racial equity: you want positive and long-lasting outcomes for underserved communities.
• You have a perspective on navigating the community as a person with a disability.
• You are available to attend all meetings and events and participate in the discussions.
• FITCOG requires its members to engage in 2-hour bi-weekly meetings (virtual and in-person), in addition to direct observation hours, recommendation contributions, and additional subcommittee work.

• Bi-monthly meetings will take place on Thursday evenings both virtually and in-person alternately. In-person events are held in different FIT-served communities.
• FITCOG members serve for one term which is equivalent to twenty-four (24) months. FITCOG members may serve longer per their availability. At the completion of each term, FITCOG members who wish to continue to serve will submit written notice of their request to renew appointment to the Commissioner-in-Charge of the PPB.
• The anticipated time commitment per month is ten (10) hours.
• We provide interpreters who will translate the conversation in your language during the meeting. Please ask for an interpreter at least a week in advance of the meeting.
• You may need to read and write in your language. Verbal and written translations are performed by outside organizations. The dialects may be different than your home region and may be different on each document.
• We try to translate the written materials you ask for, but we may not be able to provide translation on all meeting documents.
• Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time.

Let us know if there are barriers to your participation. Dinner will be provided at evening meetings. Public transportation or parking passes will be available if you need those to fully participate.

People who join this committee will become what we call “Public Officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fairly and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations.

This is called a “Conflict of Interest.” If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve; in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the advisory body staff liaison at Edith Thrower,…