Police Practices

Police have the vital and difficult job of protecting public safety. Performing this job effectively does not require sacrificing civil liberties or civil rights. All Oregon police agencies, from the state patrol to city police forces, need to respect the rights of individuals while enforcing the law.

Police car on a city street

"If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy."
— Louis Brandeis,
U.S. Supreme Court Justice,
Olmstead v. United States (1928)

Police have the vital and difficult job of protecting public safety. Performing this job effectively does not require sacrificing civil liberties or civil rights. All Oregon police agencies, from the state patrol to city police forces, need to respect the rights of individuals while enforcing the law. And when misconduct occurs, there must be policies and mechanisms for holding police accountable for their actions.

ACLU is also working to eliminate racial and ethnic profiling in police practices that have a disproportionate impact on individuals merely because of their race, color, national origin or religion.

The Latest

Press Release
Press Conference March 4 2026

ACLU of Oregon Wins Provisional Class Certification and Preliminary Injunction to Stop DHS Officers from Retaliating Against Nonviolent Protesters and Journalists at Portland ICE Building

Federal District Court Judge Michael Simon ruled in favor of Plaintiffs, protesters and journalists, issuing a Preliminary Injunction to protect nonviolent protest and reporting at the Portland ICE Building.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights, Free Speech, Police Practices
Court Cases: Dickinson (a.k.a. "the Portland Chicken") et al. v. Trump et al.
Resource
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Dickinson v. Trump

A timeline of events in our case against President Trump, Kristi Noem, and the Department of Homeland Security for retaliation against nonviolent protesters at the Portland ICE building
News & Commentary
Close-up shot of police car siren lights.

Why Police Traffic Stops Are Dangerous and Ineffective

Millions of drivers are pulled over every year for minor violations like broken taillights or tinted windows. Data shows these stops rarely make roads safer, and instead lead to racial disparities, violence, and loss of trust in police.
Press Release
Flock Automated License Plate Readers

ACLU of Oregon and partners sue City of Eugene for failing to disclose public records on Flock cameras

Today, the ACLU of Oregon and its legal partners, Visible Law and LeDuc Montgomery LLC, filed to sue the City of Eugene for failing to disclose public records pertaining to the city’s operation of Flock Safety cameras.
Issue Areas: Police Practices, Privacy & Technology
Court Cases: May v. City of Eugene
Campaign
Mar 2026

2026 Legislative Session

The ACLU of Oregon's 2026 Legislative Session Priorities
Campaign
Nov 2025

Know Your Tech

The following information is produced by the ACLU of Oregon for educational purposes only. This is not intended to be and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Campaign
Nov 2025

Firewall for Freedom: ACLU of Oregon's Strategic Priorities

Our top legal and legislative priorities for Oregon during a second Trump presidency
Campaign
Nov 2025

Protecting Your Rights Against Unlawful Police Surveillance

Oregon law (ORS 181A.250) prohibits law enforcement agencies from collecting or maintaining information on an individual’s political, religious, or social activities unless directly related to criminal investigations. Here is how you can request access to your public records from local police.