Meet Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Commander James Crooker. As a boy, he lived in Sellwood. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Meet PPB’s East Precinct Commander – a former Sellwood resident
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
In July of 2023, the Portland Police Bureau quietly named James Crooker to be the new East Precinct Commander. Currently East Precinct covers much of East Portland, extending westerly through the Woodstock neighborhood west to S.E. Chávez Blvd. (the former 39th Avenue).
Unlike past East Precinct PPB Commanders, Crooker is truly a “local” – which we learned in his recent interview with THE BEE. Not only was he a former Sellwood resident as a boy, but he grew up a few miles east in Lents. And, he didn’t grow up wanting to become a police officer, either. “After high school I went to college, and decided that I wanted something more, so I joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
“After my time in the Marines, going into law enforcement was something that fit like a glove – so, I decided to continue my life of service by transitioning into the Portland Police Bureau,” recollected Crooker. “I fell in love with it the moment I became a Portland Police officer – and I knew it was right for me, in every sense.”
Now, for 23 years he’s been with the Portland Police. In addition to working in a wide range of positions, from patrol officer to the leader of specialty teams, Crooker said that he’s also gone through the Commanders Course at DPSST (The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training).
“The training is ongoing,” Crooker remarked. “There’s a lot of specific discipline training in law enforcement, and as you rise up to the ranks you get more exposed to leadership training – and some of the command-level training is required in order to perform certain functions at the command level.
“Some of that training isn’t directly related to police work, either! For example – understanding and working with the City of Portland budget!”
Uses collaborative leadership style While some people, when put in a position of power, tend to be authority figures, that’s not his style. “I’ve learned to draw a lot from the people around me,” Crooker said. “And, it’s just not the people who work for me, but also my peers – and those in the Bureau above me. Also, law enforcement leadership has to have a lot of contact with the community. If we lose that touch, it becomes difficult to tailor policing to the needs of the community.”
Having lived in Sellwood, and later having worked out of Central Precinct – which covers Inner Southeast Portland neighborhoods west of Chavez Blvd. – Crooker affirmed that he knows the area well. “Inner Southeast Portland is a confluence of residential neighborhoods, retail areas, and some industrial commercial areas – factors that make this part of Portland very unique!
“One of the primary issues that affects Inner Southeast Portland is related to unsanctioned camping – and all the downstream effects of that,” said Crooker. “It’s important to understand that the Portland Police are involved with this issue directly, when specific crimes take place. But, our primary role is to support the SSCC (Street Services Coordination Center), and the work that they do.”
Crooker explained that the SSCC program is an umbrella organization which controls the Impact Reduction Program, which in turn addresses unsanctioned homeless camps. The program also leads the Portland Bureau of Transportation to address unsanctioned camping in vehicles – PBOT has the ability to tow those vehicles, and has the contracts for places to store them.
Asked if there’s a connection between unsanctioned homeless camps and crime, Crooker said that many crimes still go unreported; those that do get reported center on particular crimes: “For instance, there is about 100% report rate for homicide; and we have a pretty good success rate on reported-stolen vehicles, because people need their cars.”
It is a good idea to go online to report ALL property crimes, he said.
“I do pay attention to the locations that report crimes through online reporting at – http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/cor/ – the reporting there has seemed to be a pretty good reflection of what’s going on in the neighborhood.”
Other precincts pay attention to those reports, too. Don’t fail to report any crime! Police resources and patrols are deployed – at least partly – through those reports.
The best way to contact Commander Crooker is by email, he said. “I respond to every email that comes to me, at – james.crooker@police.portlandoregon.gov. But remember that that is a public email address, so anything that’s received there is subject to public disclosure.”
Sebastian, and mom Katje Chiller, came from the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood to participate in the Westmoreland “Makerspace” fundraising event for the storm damage repairs underway at the Sellwood Community House. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
‘MakerSpace Sellwood’: Day benefits repairs at Sellwood Community House
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Throughout the day and evening of Saturday, February 24, the co-owners of MakerSpace Sellwood – which is actually located In Westmoreland, at 1520 S.E. Bybee Boulevard –held fundraising events to raise money for water-damage repair at the Sellwood Community House. The severe damage occurred during January’s week-long ice storm.
“Actually we’re having two fundraisers today,” pointed out Alison Osborn, a co-owner of the business, along with Mackenzie Gray. “This afternoon we’re having a family-friendly all-ages pottery-painting, like we have at our ceramic workshops. I made 35 bisqueware pottery pieces for guests to paint on; other area ceramic artists donated more of them.”
After the newly-decorated pottery was fired in an oven, participants returned to the shop to pick up and take home their own unique works of art.
Then, that evening, the shop hosted a fundraising dinner – which included donations by local restaurants, including wine from the Corkscrew Wine Bar, lasagnas from Gino’s, and salad and focaccia from Montelupo Focacceria.
“At both the afternoon workshops, and at the evening dinner, guests can buy raffle tickets, to hopefully win items created and donated by local ceramicists,” Osborn continued. “We’re hoping to raise as much as $3,000 today; that would be just a ‘drop in the bucket’ toward the extensive Sellwood Community House repairs, but everything helps.”
The final amount raised in this benefit was $2,000.
At this picturesque Inner Southeast Portland Assisted Living Center, police came to the aid of a man who’d been shot in the face, and found and arrested the woman accused of firing the gun. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Woman shoots man at Foster-Powell ‘assisted living center’
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Possibly the last place you would expect police to be called to a shooting would be an assisted living center for senior citizens. But it was to one, in Inner Southeast, that East Precinct officers were dispatched on Thursday afternoon, February 22nd, at 4:25 p.m.
This unusual shooting incident took place at St. Anthony Village’s “Nani Warren Assisted Living Center” building, at 3560 S.E. 79th Avenue – two blocks south of Powell Boulevard.
While officers were still enroute, dispatchers sent them an update: The victim was a 75-year-old man who, despite having been shot, had been able to make his way to the lobby of the building to ask for help. An ambulance was added to the dispatch at 4:27 p.m.
The shooting victim told witnesses that he’d been shot by a woman who was now attempting to leave the area.
Based on the description provided by the victim, officers spotted the woman in a car trying to drive away, and safely took her into custody. The wounded man was taken to a local hospital – with a gunshot wound to his face. But officers told THE BEE that the victim’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Detectives from the PPB’s Special Victims Unit were called in and assumed the investigation, because the shooting suspect was believed to be the current or former spouse of the victim.
Investigators recovered what appeared to be a Smith & Wesson Model 638 revolver, with a fully-shrouded hammer, believed to have been used in the crime.
73-year-old Lana Jean Strand was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC), at 9:23 p.m. the same evening on two Felony charges: Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Domestic Violence), and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Domestic Violence).
At her arraignment the following day, Strand learned she would be held without bail for the time being at the MCDC. No motive has yet been revealed for what is thought to have been intended as a deadly attack involving two people who knew each other.
At the tournament in Woodstock School’s library, Teacher-Librarian Rosie Lingo is standing, while PTA President Kjersti Dodds is in the background monitoring the virtual streaming. Shown are the top two teams’ members: The “Blazing Bookworms”, at left – Archie, Alson, Evan, and Gus; and the “Smart S’mores” – Theo, Clara, Emma, and Theo. (Photo by Elizabeth Ussher Groff)
Friendly ‘Battle of the Books’ in Woodstock School
By ELIZABETH USSHER GROFF For THE BEE
One month after the big Lunar New Year celebration at Woodstock Elementary School, another notable event – the tournament for the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) – took place.
Each year, third, fourth, and fifth graders in Oregon schools volunteer to read books for this friendly competition – and then answer questions based on the content, characters, and details in those books. The questions are created by a statewide committee.
On Friday, March 8th at 10:30 a.m., the two top teams – from a record 29 teams participating at Woodstock Elementary this year! – gathered to determine the school’s winning team. The third grade “Blazing Bookworms” were pitted against the fourth grade “Smart S’mores” – and school librarian Rosie Lingo led them through a series of questions based on the sixteen books chosen for the statewide tournament this year. (Participants are not required to read all of the books.)
With an audience of eight parents and Woodstock PTA President Kjersti Dodds, two teams of four students each answered questions. And family members or friends not able to attend in person did not miss out on the excitement; a laptop computer placed unobtrusively ten feet away made it possible for those not physically present to watch virtually.
Librarian Lingo cheerfully and skillfully led the tournament, and kept the children in check with gentle reminders: “Let’s all take a deep breath;” “Voices off”; “Calm bodies”; “Collect yourselves.”
“It’s very important that kids remain composed and respectful,” she remarked to THE BEE after the tournament was over. Incorrect answers were met by Lingo with a comment such as “That’s a good guess, but not the answer we’re looking for.”
During the semi-finals, technology again came to the rescue for team members who were ill and could not participate in person. After being given a question, the student team members who were present quickly walked 25 feet away and bent down behind a shelf of books, to confer quietly over cell phones with their absent teammates! They then walked back to their chairs and answered the question.
After double overtime, due to team ties, the Blazing Bookworms were declared the winners for Woodstock School this year. On March 16th they were to match off with students from other schools in a regional tournament held at Marysville School, at 7733 S.E. Raymond Street.
At the end of the competition, members of the two teams received a round of applause, and Ms. Lingo asked both teams to congratulate each other on their good work. The eight team members then received a Powell’s Books “OBOB” patch, and an “OBOB” poster with pictures of all the sixteen books, and with the encouraging motto, “Read the Books… Form a Team…Battle For Your School!”
Cleveland High junior Isabel Herring, celebrating after winning the 6A/5A Girls 170 Championship Match at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum at the end of February. (Photo by Raleigh Emerson)
Isabel Herring: CHS’ Winning Warrior
By AUSTIN WHITE Pamplin Media Group
Last season, there was no stopping former West Linn wrestler Destiny Rodriguez in the Oregon High School State Wrestling Tournament. Back then a sophomore, Cleveland’s Isabel Herring was flat on the mat in 47 seconds against Rodriguez, the eventual four-time State Champion.
But Herring learned plenty from that state experience, and she applied it all on February 23rd and 24th at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the 2024 State Tournament. As the top seed in the girls’ 170-pound bracket in Class 6A/5A, Herring dominated the field. She won all four of her matches via fall – including the title bout, where she pinned defending State Champion Jasmine Brown from Wilsonville in 4 minutes.
The final fall gave Herring her first state title in her high school career, a whirlwind the junior was still trying to process after coming off the mat. “I’ve wrestled [Brown] before; she’s super strong, she’s super hands-on – Jasmine is a great wrestler,” Herring reflected. “I think she just kind of relies on her strength a lot, so I tried to use it against her a little bit. I’m not really sure if I did, because I don’t remember the match very well.”
The rest of the Cleveland faithful will remember the match for her, as Herring came out of the gates strong, getting a takedown only 17 seconds in, and picking up three near fall points soon afterward. In the second period, Herring got the takedown again, and got the pin right, as the buzzer went off for period two.
In her three matches leading up to the final, Herring had falls in 3:16, 42 seconds, and 3:38.
“She was focused, she was absolutely ready,” Cleveland Head Coach Keira Gabaldon said of Herring. “They had wrestled before, earlier in the very first tournament of the season, and Jasmine actually put [Herring] to her back. So this is kind of redemption from that.”
The whole season was, in some form, a redemption tour for Herring, after she broke one of her ribs right before the season got under way. Mix in the fact Portland Public Schools teachers went on strike, and that the record-breaking ice storm closed schools for a week in January, and the schedule was thrown off in all sorts of ways for Herring.
Despite the recovery time and the dip in practice time, Herring was able to prove on the biggest stage that she’s the best.
“I think it kind of proves to myself that me winning isn’t just by chance or just because I might have a bigger gas tank than some of the girls I wrestle,” Herring said. “I’m actually good at the sport. It’s very gratifying.”
Watching her firsthand through those trials was Gabaldon, who also said Herring took a bad fall at the District Tournament and was checked for a concussion. In order to get through it all she called on mental strength at the end of the day, which is what Gabaldon believes was the biggest change this season in Herring. “Mentally, when you’re injured, things kind of start going downhill,” Gabaldon remarked. “She worked on that, she kept her head straight and everything worked out in the end.”
While Rodriguez is in the history books as a four-time State Champion from West Linn, Cleveland has already established itself well in girls wrestling. Former Warrior Haley Vann won three state titles, earning the third last year in her final state competition. Now Herring can add her name to the State Champion list from Cleveland, one that appears to have the foundation for many years to come in producing champions. And it’s one that Herring hopes to add “two-time” to next year as a senior.
Inside the new Holgate Library building, here’s a look at construction now taking place on the second floor. At the far end is the new dedicated “Teen Space”. Note the exposed wooded beams of “Structural Composite Lumber”, which will be highlighted throughout the building. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
The former one-story library building was cleared away, here in the Foster Powell neighborhood – and now the all-new Holgate Library is on track for the opening planned for this summer. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Sneak Preview: Holgate Library reconstruction tour
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
Those who were patrons of the Holgate Library Branch, or were just motorists passing by on Holgate Boulevard at S.E. 79th Avenue – have certainly seen major changes on the property, since it closed on December 5, 2022, and the old one-story library was removed.
The corner lot in the Foster-Powell neighborhood was scraped clean to make way for a new two-story 21,000-square-foot library – almost four times the size of the old building – on the existing site, and planned to reopen this summer.
In early February, THE BEE toured the project with Multnomah County Sr. Construction Project Manager Elise Hendrickson; and with Liz Sauer, Library Capital Building Projects Communication Manager – and THE BEEE got a close-up inside look at how it’s coming along.
“This building will focus on people! There are a lot of ‘people spaces’ here – spaces for people to sit and gather,” Hendrickson remarked as she began her tour. “There are community rooms here that will be open to the public free of charge, for community meetings or events.
“There’ll also be an enclosed children’s area on the ground floor. This will have special features, like an early-learning activity area.”
We glanced at the elevator shaft, still under construction, as we walked up the stairs to the new second level.
“Here on the second floor will be the adult collection – the English language collection, and the ‘we speak your language’ collection in this area,” Hendrickson explained.
“This library, like all the new library buildings, will have an automated material-handling unit which will help staff process books quickly. Books that are returned to Holgate Library can easily be sorted here, and then sent on to their next location.”
Sauer listed some of the features built into this new Holgate Library building:
Large play and learning space for children and families
Dedicated enclosed “teen room” with areas for technology, homework, and creative expression
Multiple flexible rooms for programming and meetings
Updated technology and Internet
Outdoor plaza for community members to relax and connect
New art that represents the community
Solar panels to help offset energy use
Outside the building, Sauer indicated the siding being installed on the exterior. “Through workshops, the community committee chose the color and the textured pattern seen on the metal cladding of the exterior of the building, and also chose the color and services seen inside the building.”
The new parking lot will provide 31 standard automobile parking spots – two of them with electric charging stations, plus one loading spot for library deliveries, and three ADA spots.
The chosen architects for the new Holgate Library were Bora Architecture & Interiors, and Colloqate Design. Swinerton is the building contractor for this approximately $27 million project. Again, the new library is still on schedule, and expected to open this summer.
Now you’ve read what we found in our tour of the new library building – here’s your chance to see it all for yourself – in an exclusive brief BEE VIDEO!...
Although the windshield of this Subaru XV CrossTrek was caved in during the roll-over crash, its headlights were still on – after tangling with the Ford E-150 transport van, seen behind it. By the time emergency services – and THE BEE – arrived, the car had been uprighted again, apparently by those who had been in it. No injuries were reported. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Roll-over crash on Powell Blvd. stops afternoon traffic; no injuries
By DAVIDF.ASHTON For THE BEE
As the afternoon outbound commute began on Friday, February 23, a two-vehicle crash at 4:27 p.m. snarled eastbound traffic on S.E. Powell Boulevard, just west of 26th Avenue.
Several Central Precinct officers responded – and, because it was dispatched as a “Traffic Accident–Rollover”, Portland Fire & Rescue also sent four units, two Battalion Chiefs, an Engine and a Truck Company, as well as an ambulance.
It appeared that the front passenger side of a blue Subaru XV CrossTrek, a small quasi-SUV, had collided with a Ford E-150 medical transport van. The Subaru flipped onto its driver’s side. None of the bystanders who gathered at the scene said they’d actually seen the crash take place.
As the emergency services arrived, they were surprised to find that the “rolled-over” Subaru had already been flipped back onto its wheels – apparently by its occupants.
“No one was transported for medical care; all involved denied the need for medical evaluation,” the officer told THE BEE. Lacking any injuries, the mishap was considered simply a traffic problem, with no citations issued – but it took a while for the backed-up traffic on Powell Boulevard to get moving again.
New Troop 64 Eagle Scout Daniel Schaller is congratulated by Craig Vanderbout, the Advancement Coordinator for the B.S.A. troop. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Westmoreland ‘Court of Honor’ for new Eagle Scout
By DAVIDF.ASHTON For THE BEE
The leadership of Boy Scouts of America Troop 64 is clearly doing the right things. On Saturday morning, February 3, the troop held a “Court of Honor” ceremony in the Moreland Presbyterian Church community room for yet another Eagle Scout.
Daniel Schaller, a junior at Cleveland High School, was the one being honored this time, before about 50 of his family members, friends, and fellow Scouts.
“I have one word to describe Daniel: ‘Driven’,” Troop 64 Advancement Coordinator Craig Vanderbout said to THE BEE before the ceremony began.
“Daniel s a very driven young man, as you can see by the merit badges that cover his sash, both on the front and the back,” Vanderbout continued. “For example, I didn’t even know that there IS a ‘Nuclear Science’ merit badge; but he found it, went out of this way to study it, and earn that merit badge.
“Anything to which he puts his mind, he will accomplish – anything,” remarked Vanderbout.
Eagle Scout Schaller took time to tell us that he started in Scouting in late September of 2018. “I decided to get into Scouting because my parents wanted to find something engaging for me to do when I got into middle school.”
In addition to completing all the required Eagle Scout merit badges, Schaller kept on completing more elective merit badges, ranging from American Cultures and Animation, to Traffic Safety, Weather, and Wood Carving. “Yes, I do have 60 merit badges.”
For his Eagle Scout project, Schaller took on refinishing and rehabilitating benches around PP&R’s Eastmoreland Golf Course. “I am a golfer; now when I go golfing there, I see those benches being enjoyed by other golfers, or just people who go walking in the golf course.”
He’d definitely encourage others to join Scouting, too, Schaller stated. “The coolest part of scouting for me is gong to summer camp with your troop, where you can earn merit badges and learn new skills with your friends!”
Here’s a PBOT illustration of the plan for the southern portion of the “82nd Avenue upgrade project”. (Courtesy of PBOT)
PBOT reveals design plan for major upgrade of 82nd Avenue
By DAVID F. ASHTON For THE BEE
As construction on the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) “82nd Avenue Critical Fixes: Major Maintenance” project prepares start up this summer – part of the Bureau's multi-year Building a Better 82nd program – neighbors on both sides of S.E. 82nd Avenue of Roses were invited to an open house on March 4th to talk with staff, and leave comments.
At the meeting’s location in the Foster-Powell neighborhood, at Marysville Elementary School, narrow S.E. Raymond Street and its side roads were packed with vehicles, as people flocked to the evening meeting.
“We’re holding this open house so members of the public can view detailed plans for the project, ask questions, and give their ideas and comments directly to the PBOT staff who are finalizing plans for construction that's scheduled to start this summer,” explained PBOT spokesperson Dylan Rivera.
With the southern portion of this project, PBOT will improve S.E. 82nd Avenue of Roses from Mill Street to Foster Road. This project area was selected based upon:
Safety needs
Pavement maintenance needs
Serving equity
ServingCenters and other major destinations
“Additionally, PBOT selected these areas because the designed improvements can be constructed largely within the existing public right-of-way,” explained Rivera.
“This project is important to those in Inner Southeast Portland, beyond the Foster-Powell, Mt. Scott Arleta, and Brentwood-Darlington neighborhoods, because we’ve heard from public transit riders – and those who walk or roll – about the difficulty of crossing 82nd Avenue,” Rivera told THE BEE.
“We’re hearing this project is especially important to families in outer East Portland – especially in the Lents neighborhood, where children who once attended Oliver Lent Elementary School were relocated to Marysville Elementary.
“These improvements will make it both easier and safer to get, for example, from the Mt. Scott Community Center to the TriMet MAX Green Line – or just to go see a movie at Eastport Plaza,” remarked Rivera.
At $55 million, this particular project comprises the largest part of the $185 million overhaul of 82nd Avenue that will be under construction through the end of 2026.
Mt. Scott-Arleta neighbors emerged from their homes to talk with responding officers, after they’d called in reports of shots being fired on the perimeter of Mt. Scott City Park. (Photo by David F. Ashton)
Gunshots again rile residents near Mt. Scott Park
By DAVIDF.ASHTON For THE BEE
Since the June 23, 2023, shooting THE BEE reported at Mt. ScottCityPark, in which two teenagers were injured – one, shot in the neck – it’s been relatively quiet around this Mt.Scott-Arleta public space.
However, on Friday evening, February 23rd, residents in the area were again bedeviled by a fusillade of shots.
Portland Police Bureau East Precinct officers responded, at 8:26 p.m., to S.E. Ramona Street at 74th Avenue, on the east side of the park – in the area of last June’s shooting.
“While officers were on their way, more neighbors called the 9-1-1 Center to report hearing shots near the park,” Portland Police spokesperson Terri Wallo-Strauss told THE BEE afterwards. Arriving officers found evidence of shooting on S.E. Knight Street, just east of 73rd Avenue, along the south side of Mt. Scott Park.
“In that area, officers recovered [spent bullet shell] casings, and talked to some neighbors who came out to meet them,” Wallo-Strauss said. “Officers did not locate any property damage, and there were no arrests.”
The incident was referred for follow-up to the PPB’s Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST). If you have information to about this latest shooting spree there, or if you know of gunfire damage resulting from this incident, please e-mail – crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, to the attention of ECST –and refer to Case No. 24-45277.
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