Eli Arnold, a Portland police officer running for a District 4 seat on the City Council, recently outlined his policy proposals to enhance the effectiveness of Portland Street Response (PSR), the city’s unarmed team addressing mental health emergencies.
Arnold argues that PSR’s current scope is too limited, restricting its ability to respond to situations involving individuals who are aggressive, armed, or indoors. He proposes that PSR teams be authorized to transport individuals or initiate mental health holds, stating that these changes “could be a real game changer for PSR’s efficacy.”
In addition to operational changes, Arnold believes PSR should be managed by Multnomah County, which already oversees mental health services. “PSR should never have been created at the city, and the county should be responsible for funding them,” he stated. He suggests integrating PSR with the county’s Project Respond team to improve coordination and expand the scope of mental health responses.
In a related Instagram video, Arnold addressed potential concerns about his impartiality as a council member on law enforcement issues. “You’re going to want me on council because I’ve been a police officer in Portland, not in spite of it.” He described policing and PSR as “tools” that should be designed to effectively address the city’s needs.
“When Council is trying to figure out how to deal with use of force, with crime, with homelessness and shelter systems, and mental health, the fact that I’ve already worked on all of those things—that I know where the starting point is—is going to be very useful,” Arnold concluded.
