After an alarming rise in gang violence this summer—culminating in a stretch that saw nearly two dozen shootings last month—the Portland Police Bureau has announced a "Cool Down Mission" this holiday weekend in hopes of forestalling a new round of trouble.
The shootings began to subside after police flooded hot spots with extra officers and patrols, and huddled together with community leaders. Mayor Sam Adams unveiled his proposed package of gun restrictions at the same time.
This weekend's outpouring of officers will bring together every kind of cop Portland has: transit cops, traffic cops and gang enforcement cops, etc., plus parole officers and youth outreach workers.
It'll be a long weekend, no doubt. And we figure the fuzz will need all the help it can get keeping things not hot. So, basically, we want to do our part. Without further adieu, witness the coolest tool possible for when all you want is for everyone to just be cool:
