Where’s a Portland Police officer to get a cup of coffee?
My daughter and I were looking forward to a nice lunch at the red and black, a vegan cafe in southeast Portland, two days before she was to return to Germany. Having a vegetarian daughter makes for great eating adventures. I had heard about this place as it was the opening scene in the book Imaginary Jesus, written by Matt Mikalatos, whom I am writing a story about for the newspaper.

We ordered, we got our food and spoke of life and love and God and how things are going and how interesting the interior of this place is. I so wanted one of our last outings together to be memorable.

Then, I looked outside the window and saw a police officer and thought, Oh, no; I hope I am not illegally parked. You never know in southeast Portland. But, the police officer was not looking to give out tickets, but instead he was looking for a cup of coffee, so he thought he would try this vegan place.

He walks in and I say something to him, about how glad I am that he did not give me a ticket and he chuckled.

With all the recent disturbing stories regarding the police in Portland, I thought I would try to show my support of the police by just being friendly.

After he got his coffee, he was on his way out. My daughter and I were sitting near the door, so we addressed him again, just to talk. I opened the conversation by asking if he comes here a lot, and he said that he had never been there before.

Then I told him that I appreciate the work they do as Portland Police officers and I noted that it must be hard with the recent shootings and negative reaction of the public. He was humble, and said that indeed Portland is an interesting place to work; he said it is very hard and trying at times as he deals with murderers and gang members and drug addicts on a regular basis. People hear about the unfortunate police shootings, but rarely do they hear about the day in and day out reality of police putting their lives on the line and saving people.

As I was just starting to tell him how I agreed with him, and had a specific example – our friend who lived in North Portland, a 14 year old Sudan-refugee boy, who was shot at by gang members in North Portland (and later came to live with us for seven and a half weeks), who was saved by the Portland Police – one of the owners of the cafe came over to us; I figured he was just going to say hello, but instead, what came out of his mouth caught me off guard. He looked directly at the police officer, and said to him, “I don’t feel comfortable with you here, I would like you to leave.”

I am baffled. Here is guy, who happens to be a police officer, who paid good money for a cup of coffee, talking to my daughter and me, who paid good money for their food, and we witness what I believe is discrimination really based upon what someone is wearing and the job he has. And humiliation of an individual person. This in a place that purports to be safe and welcome for all, found on their website.

I asked the co-owner what is the problem here, he said that he does not feel safe around the Police, that they shoot people. I tell him I am confused by his response to a Police Officer who is merely trying to get a cup of coffee, and that I know that there have been some unfortunate situations recently involving the Police, but that overall they are here protecting our community day in and day out, and you have to look at all sides of culture. I also asked him whom he would call if someone came in to rob his store and he said he would call his friends in a community and that is when I knew we were getting nowhere.

I wondered if he has visited countries where there is no true police force and where there is indeed lawlessness running the town or country.

Later, I tracked down the police officer to give him my card and to tell him how I was sad that happened to him and I asked him to call me. I told him that I wanted to write about this and that it baffled me. I live in the suburbs where police are very much respected in the community. The Portland Police told me that they are used to this general attitude from some people in Portland; and he also said he will always be kind to people no matter what.

I thought, wow, here this police officer is trying to protect the very

http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/where%E2%80%99s-a-portland-police-officer-to-get-a-cup-of-coffee/


The Rest of the Story

Red & Black cafe shows Portland officer the door, won't sell him coffee again ....

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/06/red_black_cafe_shows_portland.html

That cafe owner is a f'n tool. If the roles were reversed there would be all kinds of screaming about discrimination and sh!t. . . . . . . . .

who is the guy going to call when he gets a revolver stuck in his face and is told to empty the til? Every cop in Portland now knows what this guy has coming.

As a business owner you want to be a good neighbor to everyone, like them or not.

The owner is a freakin asshat.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

If the place is held up I hope the cops remember to stop and get a cup of coffee on the way there. He should just go outside and paint a target on his door. idiot