The Olympian Logo

Portland officer gets city's OK to be funny | The Olympian

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • About Us
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services
    • Archives

    • News
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Death Notices
    • Education
    • Local News
    • Military News
    • Obituaries
    • Politics & Government
    • State
    • Traffic
    • Watchdog
    • Weather
    • Opinion
    • Cartoons
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Opinion Columns
    • Submit a Letter
    • Sports
    • College
    • High School
    • Mariners
    • Preps Stats
    • Seahawks
    • Sounders
    • UW Huskies
    • Politics
    • Living
    • Announcements
    • Food
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Arts & Culture
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Restaurants
    • Outdoors
    • Fishing

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Washington state

Portland officer gets city's OK to be funny

The Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

March 05, 2007 12:00 AM

PORTLAND - Mayor Tom Potter says a police detective who moonlights as a standup comedian can star in a reality television show.

Potter initially rejected the idea of having Detective Willie Halliburton appear as "Willie, the Comedy Cop." But Potter had a change of heart after hearing Halliburton speak at a retirement party for Lt. Harry Jackson.

Halliburton told the crowd that he wanted to become a Portland police officer after watching Jackson on a 1989 episode of "COPS." Halliburton said he saw in Jackson an African-American officer who embodied the kind of community-based policing he wanted to do, but couldn't at his police job in Kansas.

Halliburton resigned from that job and relocated to Portland. The Portland Police Bureau hired him in December 1990.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Olympian

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

The mayor said Halliburton's remarks made him realize how Jackson's appearance on "COPS" positively influenced how minorities viewed police officers.

"After that, I decided anything we could do to get more minorities on the department we should," Potter said, "including letting Willie do his thing."

Just months earlier, Potter had rejected the proposal without even viewing the promotional video a Los Angeles producer had made. At the time, Potter said such shows don't "enhance the professionalism of policing in America."

The promotional video shows the detective on his job and showcases his family life. Halliburton played it recently before a group of students and teachers celebrating Black History Month at Portland State University.

Halliburton told the audience he expects to start filming a pilot TV show for a cable network this summer and hopes it will be ready to air this fall.

"I'm excited, but yet I'm cautious," Halliburton said. "This is really big, but I've got to make sure things go smoothly, especially since I'll be representing the city of Portland."

His executive producer, Andy Scheer of Los Angeles, is negotiating with a cable network. Scheer said the network is considering shooting a half-hour pilot show that could become a series.

"I was extremely thrilled and pleasantly surprised," Scheer said of the mayor's reversal.

  Comments  

Videos

Tim Eyman under investigation in theft of chair from Lacey Office Depot

Washington music teacher sings ‘Snow Day’ after classes are called off -- again

View More Video

Trending Stories

Tim Eyman investigated for theft after Office Depot incident, Lacey police say

February 15, 2019 03:45 PM

Despite residents’ pleas, Lacey policy is to clear only main roads during snowstorms

February 15, 2019 07:00 AM

Thurston Co. students are finally heading back to school. What took so long?

February 15, 2019 08:11 AM

Bill would prohibit authorities from ticketing homeless people for sleeping on sidewalks

February 14, 2019 10:33 AM

The new year is off to a good start for prospective Thurston County home buyers

February 14, 2019 07:00 AM
Local display advertising by PaperG

Read Next

Washington state

Man dies in Anacortes house fire

The Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 16, 2019 05:35 AM

Authorities have identified the body of a man found dead after a fire destroyed his home Thursday in Anacortes.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Olympian

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE WASHINGTON STATE

What good are smoke alarms if your kids can’t hear? This Pasco mom found a solution

Washington state

What good are smoke alarms if your kids can’t hear? This Pasco mom found a solution

February 15, 2019 07:18 AM
Eyman under investigation in theft of $70 chair from store

Washington state

Eyman under investigation in theft of $70 chair from store

February 15, 2019 05:52 PM
Lawmaker seeks restrictions on offender location, release

Business

Lawmaker seeks restrictions on offender location, release

February 15, 2019 05:30 PM

State

Idaho appeals court rejects murderer’s 4th try to clear name

February 15, 2019 03:35 PM
Crews begin tearing down Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct

Washington state

Crews begin tearing down Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct

February 15, 2019 03:54 PM
Amazon’s stormy week will blow over, but the debris may stay

Business

Amazon’s stormy week will blow over, but the debris may stay

February 15, 2019 03:47 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

The Olympian App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Contests-Promotions
  • Vacation Hold
  • Rewards
  • Pay Your Bill
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
  • Special Sections
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story