QuickTake:

Jensina Hawkins said Eugene officials did nothing even after she had raised concerns about another commissioner for months. The other commissioner said he did not believe his conduct has been offensive or intimidating.

This story has been updated to clarify the occupation of Jack Radey, a member of the Eugene Police Commission.

The chair of Eugene’s Police Commission resigned Thursday, Aug. 7, citing a failure by city staff to respond to “alienating, offensive and intimidating” behavior by another member of the volunteer citizens’ advisory board.

Jensina Hawkins’ departure comes after the resignation in May of another police commissioner, William Parham, who, in public remarks about leaving, referred to bullying behavior by a commissioner.

The departures raise questions about the behavior and also the city’s responsibility to citizens who take on such roles – without pay – to review governmental policies and priorities from the point of view of community members. Members of the Police Commission are nominated by the mayor and appointed by the City Council.

After reading Hawkins’ resignation letter, Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson said in a written statement she will find out more from city leaders and staff.

“I’m grateful for the time that Jensina Hawkins dedicated to serving on our Police Commission, especially for her willingness to serve as chair. I saw her letter of resignation this afternoon, and I will be following up immediately with city councilors on the commission and with city staff.” Knudson said.

“I appreciate the dedication and passion that all community volunteers bring to Eugene’s boards and commissions — it’s challenging and important work, and I know that many people care deeply about its integrity and effectiveness,” Knudson added.

In an interview in May with Lookout Eugene-Springfield, Parham said the concerning behavior includes “a series of microaggressions” by Commissioner Jack Radey.

In an email, Radey said he had a disagreement with Parham and that he did not believe any commissioner’s conduct was offensive or intimidating.

Hawkins provided her resignation letter to Lookout Eugene-Springfield. In it, she said she had raised concerns about the behavior to a city staffer for months.

“Over the past thirteen months I have diligently sought education and guidance from city of Eugene on how best to lead the Police Commission while protecting and speaking out for the rights of all individuals to be heard, seen and respected,” Hawkins wrote. “While city of Eugene accords extensive lip service to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, these values are selectively enacted, resulting in confusion, disenchantment and abandonment.

“I have repeatedly brought to city of Eugene’s attention the disturbing conduct of a police commissioner whose words and actions are alienating, offensive and intimidating. Instead of censuring the commissioner’s behavior, city of Eugene has chosen to remain silent, leaving myself and others subject to continued harassment from the commissioner.”

Hawkins is the founder of a medical software consulting practice, and her term as commissioner was set to expire on June 30, 2028.

Concerns over behavior

In public comment given during a June meeting, Parham, who is Black, described standing up for a “person of color brutalized” by police, only to be “bullied and embarrassed by Commissioner Radey, harassed and contacted after the fact.”

Radey, in describing his response to Parham’s comments about a Black motorist stunned with a Taser, said Friday: “That was not bullying. That was disagreement.”

“I think anyone reviewing the video archives of every commission meeting will have trouble finding any evidence of any commissioner whose conduct and remarks can be in any way characterized as ‘alienating, offensive and intimidating,’” Radey said. On the contrary, my impression has been of a commission and staff who enjoy really good, constructive and friendly relationships,” Radey said, adding that he “deeply regret[s]” Hawkins’ resignation.

However, others — including members of the public — have also complained about Radey as a police commissioner. Radey is retired. A biography posted on the city’s website said he previously worked as a magazine editor, but Radey said that he worked as a columnist. He also previously worked as an associate producer of video documentaries, among other jobs, and now is an author of military history.

“I felt that Commissioner Jack Radey was very disrespectful to the concerns of the public, and I would like to call for his resignation from the Eugene Police Commission,” said one commenter at a July meeting of the Eugene City Council. The comment referred to a Police Commission meeting at which more than 15 speakers denounced the use of license-plate readers by Eugene police.

In his email, Radey said he regretted “my inability to keep a straight face” during the Police Commission meeting.

“It was rude, and I am determined to do better,” Radey said.

Parham, in an interview, said he felt “personally attacked” by Radey’s comments during the discussion about the Black motorist, calling the experience an example of “how voices are shut down.”

Parham is nonbinary, using they/them pronouns. Told of this, Radey “said at the time that they would try, but that it would probably be hard for them,” then “refused to use my pronouns, they/them, on the record,” Parham said, adding that Radey also continued to send emails after a request to stop communicating.

While the email “wasn’t really anything malicious,” Radey “did not take into account the request that I had to not have communication,” Parham said. Parham’s term as commissioner had been set to expire on June 30, 2028.

Response to resignation

In a text message to Lookout Eugene-Springfield, Hawkins said her resignation was not about a commissioner but about the “city of Eugene refusing to support or protect” those affected by the behavior.

Parham and Hawkins, who is an Asian woman, referred to their identities when resigning and in interviews about their departures, which have left the Police Commission without members from those racial groups.

“Jensina was a champion of the police commission and is one of the most fair-minded folks I have ever met,” Parham said Friday in a written statement. “The city needs to learn from losing such a talent as Jensina. Trust women. Trust people of color. Don’t enable voices from the dominant culture to shout down voices that come from the outer edges of the power structure.”

Sean Shivers, a former chair of the Police Commission who left the group after the July meeting because of a move away from Eugene, said in an email that Hawkins had other options besides resigning from the commission, including setting the agenda “to hold a public discussion on the issue” or “recommending action” by the City Council.

“I consider her a friend and won’t fault her intentions … But I’m very disappointed by this choice,” Shivers said.

Lookout Eugene-Springfield reporter Ben Botkin contributed to this story.