2 Settle Suit Over Gang `Listing'

PORTLAND - The city of Portland has settled out of court with two brothers who complained the police practice of labeling and tracking so-called ``gang associates'' actually was harassment of young black men.

The city agreed this week to pay Ronald and Donald Rivers $36,500 for damages, attorney fees and costs. It also promised to remove Ronald Rivers' name from a list that labeled him a gang associate.

The brothers filed a federal lawsuit against the city after an incident outside Civic Stadium on Oct. 14, 1988. The brothers were arrested, photographed and held for four hours on accusations of jaywalking.

``No one could ever say why he was on the list,'' said the Rivers' attorney, Spencer Neal of Portland.

Wayne Woboril, deputy city attorney, said he was willing to have Rivers' name removed from the list, but the city made no admission of error.

Ronald and Donald Rivers are not gang members or gang associates.

Their nephew, O.J. Rivers, is a Crips gang member now serving a 20-year prison sentence. O.J. Rivers was convicted of attempted murder for shooting David Studebaker in the head in May 1988.

Neal said it appears Ronald Rivers was listed as a gang associate because he was seen talking to O.J. Rivers.

Neal said people listed as gang associates often will be subject to intense police scrutiny because of the violence associated with gangs.

Police generally look for a variety of signs before listing someone, such as clothing, hand signs, evidence of criminal involvement with gangs, admission of being a gang member and association with gang members.

Portland police Lt. Mike Linhares, commander of the Gang Enforcement Team, said changes this year include appeal processes against a gang label and automatic purges of names that have been on the list for five years.

He said criteria for identifying gang members are tougher, but he noted that two years ago, when the gang problem was more urgent, the community supported strong measures to counteract gangs.