Past public comments at Eugene Police Commission offer insight into latest resignation

Presenter: Jensina Hawkins resigned Aug. 7 from the Eugene Police Commission, after repeatedly bringing to the city’s attention a commissioner’s ‘disturbing conduct.’ In response to words and actions she called ‘alienating, offensive, and intimidating,’ Jensina said the city of Eugene remained silent. Her resignation followed the resignation earlier this year of William Parham. William spoke during public comment at the June 12 meeting:

[00:00:23] William Parham (June 12, 2025): Thank you. So, yeah, time. Time isn’t real, but it’s one of our greatest resources. Time, like money, is one of the most valuable assets in a capitalist society. Amazing ways to figure out what to do with your time is passion and purpose.

[00:00:42] To live a fulfilled life, your time should be spent in places that give you belonging. Feelings of belonging and fulfillment can be increased when you spend your time doing things that you have a passion for and doing things that give you purpose.

[00:00:54] This commission gave me a sense of purpose and allowed for me to address issues with a sense of passion. However, it was rare that I felt belonging.

[00:01:03] I want to ask the commissioners that never got to know me: On a personal level, what does equity and inclusion mean to you? What would you do differently when the next person of color takes the position that I resigned from?

[00:01:19] In January I stood up for a person of color that was brutalized by the police. It’s not up to me to say if it was deserved and it’s not up to anyone on the commission to make that assessment as well. I was bullied and embarrassed by Commissioner (Jack) Radey, harassed and contacted after the fact.

[00:01:38] This commission has turned out to be a rubber stamp for the Police Department, and it has lost its mission of creating unique policy that really serves the citizens of Eugene. CAHOOTS, at the joy of certain members of the police force, has been gutted.

[00:01:59] And this has happened on the watch of the Police Commission.

[00:02:03] So I resign a failure. But I resign with peace and I resign authentically and I resign knowing that I made the best decision for myself. Thank you.

[00:02:17] Presenter: That is former Police Commissioner William Parham, explaining why he resigned. Here are the comments he referenced from Jan. 9:

[00:02:24] Jensina Hawkins (Eugene Police Commission): Commissioner Parham.

[00:02:26] William Parham (Eugene Police Commission, Jan. 9, 2025): So what is courage and what is culture and what type of worlds do we have to build and live in within Eugene? What type of legacy do we want to leave for our children? When you put your kids to sleep tonight and you look your children in the face, what do you want them to think of you?

[00:02:47] You see, the thing is, no matter how conservative or old-fashioned your views are, your kids are going to outgrow their views, your views, and what are they going to think of you then? What will they think of the inability to act with your complacency?

[00:03:02] These are rhetorical questions. However, what is not rhetorical is what happened to an unarmed, noncombatant person of color last week. What is not rhetorical was the department’s interesting press release that came out regarding what happened to this noncombatant, unarmed person of color. What’s not rhetorical is the need for appropriate and reasonable force.

[00:03:24] If someone doesn’t want to cooperate, but they’re not being combative and don’t appear to be a threat to an officer’s safety, what is a reasonable response? Is tasing someone and pepper-spraying them in a confined space after they stated that they had a heart condition appropriate for an alleged DUI cite and release?

[00:03:45] What’s not rhetorical is the fact that around seven houses of the Asian community have recently been broken into, an issue that sees these citizens of Eugene becoming the victims of multistate crime rings that target Asian households for home invasion robberies. What’s the appropriate response? And what has the police done so far to protect this vulnerable population? Who’s the detective assigned to the cases? What type of preventive policing and community engagement is currently being undertaken by the Eugene Police Department? Thank you.

[00:04:15] Presenter: On Aug. 7, another resignation from the Eugene Police Commission, as Jensina Hawkins steps down in protest of the city’s silence and inaction.