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III. Background In her "State of the City Address" (January 3, 2005), Mayor Kitty Piercy asks "...is this a perfect place?" and answers, "Perhaps not quite." Even if perfect conditions were a reality, police-community relations would be tenuous at best. One incident can send an entire community (or portions of it) into the streets demanding better police service. History has taught that ninety percent of all major civil disturbances in this country have at their epicenter the police. This does not say that the police have been the cause of these incidents or that the incidents have been the result of poor police-community relations. However, it does suggest that there is something very fragile about the relationship between the police and the community they serve, and that good police-community relations require constant monitoring and nurturing. Unfortunately, this country has a history of poor race relations and power abuses associated with the police departments in many major cities. This history has colored the view of many on how they perceive the police and their interactions, particularly with members of minority communities. In Eugene, Mayor Piercy has indicated that her own son has had to struggle with racial profiling (State of the City Address, January 3, 2005). Incidents such as the Cortez Jordan racial profiling allegation and the A1-Nesayan trial, in 2004 and 2003 respectively, register as a strong negative in the court of public opinion. Such evidence further strengthens the resolve of those in the community who point to racial profiling as a significant problem. Furthermore, the recent Magafia and Lara scandal raises numerous questions regarding abuse of power. Headlines like "Blow Job Cop" and articles asking "Will New Chief Clean House?, .... Betrayal - How will the EPD win back women's trust?," and others citing "Missing Brass" and "Audit Criticizes Police Reviews," create