On Saturday, February 18, Portland Police shot and killed a man who was armed with a pellet gun at the Union Station Plaza strip mall on St. John Street.[1]

The shooting is a tragedy for the family of Chance David Baker, the 22-year-old man police have identified as the victim. Our thoughts are with them.

Witness reports are not completely consistent, and it's far too soon to engage in speculation. But one thing is clear: If the incident had been recorded by police body cameras, we wouldn't be so dependent on inconsistent eyewitness accounts.

The City of Portland has earmarked $400,000 for body cameras starting in FY 2019. In the wake of this tragedy, the city should move that timeline up and include the purchase of body cameras in THIS year's budget.

In communities that have implemented police body cameras, they have proven popular both among the general public and police officers themselves, because they help prevent conflicting witness reports from creating chaos and distrust.[2]

It's been seven years since the last fatal officer-involved shooting in Portland. In the wake of this shooting, it's time for the city to stop putting off this important investment in community safety.