On Thursday, the Portland Police Bureau introduced a new liaison who is supposed to be a connection point between people experiencing homelessness, social service agencies and police.

Stephanie Herro will not be a sworn officer, but will be a representative of the police bureau for homelessness issues. She will be expected to help guide the police bureau’s policies on how to interact with homeless people.

In 2017, about 52 percent of all arrests in Portland were of homeless people, according to an Oregonian/OregonLive report. The vast majority of those arrests were for low-level and non-violent offenses.

Homeless advocates and some officials have called for changes in how law enforcement treats homeless people.

Chief Danielle Outlaw proposed the liaison position to help facilitate those conversations and possibly lead changes in training and policy.

"We welcome Stephanie and are excited about moving forward with this critical component in how police respond to those who are homeless in our community," Outlaw said in a news release.

Herro served as a reserve and full-time police officer with the West Linn Police Department for six months in 2017 and three months in 2018. She was also a police officer in Wisconsin, her home state.

She also worked as Clackamas County’s manager for a state program that helps people who are elderly or have disabilities remain independent, find jobs and community, and access services for food and housing.

Before moving to Oregon in 2014, she worked in the geriatric psychiatry field.

The Police Bureau has had two officers assigned to Central Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team, which has until now served as the bureau’s contact with the city’s homeless. They will continue their work in regards to officers’ response to police calls.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger

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