Portland police are currently investingating seven shooting incidents, most of which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19. Two were in the Parkrose area, and two more were in outer Southeast Portland. Here's the press release:

The Portland Police Bureau's Gang Enforcement Team is investigating 7 overnight shootings that occurred in North, Northeast and Southeast Portland.

The first shooting occurred at 11:21 p.m. at North Albina and Killingsworth. Multiple gunshots were heard and officers arrived to find a Tri Met bus kiosk damage. No victims or witnesses were located by police.

The second shooting occurred at 12:00 a.m. in the 4500 Block of Northeast 119th Avenue. Portland Police arrived and located an occupied apartment that had been hit with several gunshots. Nobody was hurt in the shooting.

The third shooting occurred at 12:05 a.m. in the 4000 Block of Northeast 135th Avenue. Callers to 9-1-1 reported hearing multiple gunshots and officers arrived to find bullet holes into a residence. Nobody was...

Portland Police have reported that they are investigating a homicide that occurred around 3:15 a.m. near NE 103rd and Clackamas (just south of Halsey, near Wunderland and Winco).

According to the press release,

An adult male was in the area visiting friends when a fight erupted with unknown individual/s. The male suffered at least one wound consistent with a stabbing which proved to be fatal. A second adult male suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The victim was found on the ground near a motorcycle, so the incident was originally reported as a motorcycle accident, but police quickly determined that it was not.

UPDATE: Portland Police have announced that the stabbing victim was 30-year-old Carroll Williams.

UPDATE 2: Police have arrested Thomas A. Kolpin, age 27, in connection with this homicide. 

Morning newscasts are reporting an early morning shooting at The Refectory restaurant at NE 122nd and Halsey. One vehicle left the scene with an injured man and crashed at the AM/PM gas station at NE 102nd and Halsey.  The man was transported to the hospital with a non-life-threatening neck wound. More information and links as they become available.

UPDATE: According to Portland Police, the shooting occurred at about 2:15 a.m. The victim left the scene in a friend's vehicle, which crashed into a gas pump at 102nd and Halsey a few minutes later. No one else was injured in either incident.

School starts for most Portland-area students this Tuesday, September 8. Portland Police officers will also be on patrol to ensure the safety of students.

Today's press release from Public Information Officer Mary Wheat says "Starting Tuesday, September 8, 2009, and continuing every weekday for the next two weeks, officers from all three precincts, the Traffic Division, the Transit Police Division, and School Resource officers will participate in a citywide school safety mission."  Officers will be out to enforce traffic laws in school zones, bus zones, and crosswalks, making sure that students can get to and from school safely.

According to Wheat, "Officers will conduct the patrols during the morning commute, 7:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., during lunch around Portland’s high schools, 11:00a.m.-12:30 p.m., and during the afternoon commute, 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m."  Drivers should remember that the speed limit in school zones is 20 miles per hour, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or whenever school zone lights are flashing.... (more)

Portland Police have a 34-year old male in custody as a possible robbery suspect after a police chase and SERT action near NE 122nd and Halsey this morning.

According to local residents, a police perimeter was set up in the area shortly after 8:00 this morning. Some residents were allowed to leave the perimeter, but none were allowed back in until after 12:00 p.m., when the police had taken the possible suspect into custody and decided to release the perimeter.

Portland Police spokesperson Mary Wheat made a brief statement around noon, saying that "this individual was taken into custody in a back yard near 126th and Hassalo," and that they are still searching for a possible second suspect, but that this person is not a safety concern for the general public at this time.

UPDATE - 8/11/09 10:30 p.m. The Portland Police Bureau issued a news release today without many new details. According to the release, the incident began around 7:40 a.m. on August 11, when police attempted contact with two people in a vehicle near... (more)

Cleaned your medicine cabinet lately? It's recommended that you do so regularly, to get rid of unused, expired medications. But what should you do with these, especially with prescription drugs that could pollute our water or be misused by other people?

That's why the Portland Police Bureau and the Crime Prevention Program are holding a Prescription Drug Turn-In on Saturday, August 29. Bring your old, unused prescription medications to Eastport Plaza (SE 82nd and Holgate) between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and look for the Mobile Precinct near LA Fitness. There is NO charge for this service.

But can't you just flush old medications down the toilet?  NO, according to federal guidelines (PDF link), you should not flush medications unless specifically instructed to do so on the label or the accompanying medication information. Otherwise, the medications can contaminate our groundwater. They also encourage you to take advantage of any medication collection events like this one.