On that second part, I think that Portland, like many other cities, would benefit tremendously if there was a legally empowered but non-police group that existe

On that second part, I think that Portland, like many other cities, would benefit tremendously if there was a legally empowered but non-police group that existed for after-the-fact fact-finding and record-keeping responses to crimes that have already occurred. Currently if a theft or robbery happens here, the police pretty much don't give a shit and will only even record it if you hassle them at length about it.