City of Troutdale

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News Release

City Of Troutdale Statement Regarding Public Safety Service Evaluation - 06/04/26

The City of Troutdale appreciates its longstanding partnership with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, and the dedicated service Sheriff's Office personnel have provided to our community over the past decade. As part of its ongoing responsibility to ensure the long-term sustainability, effectiveness, and affordability of public safety services, the City is evaluating multiple service delivery models, including the potential creation of a locally controlled Troutdale Police Department. No final decision has been made, and the City remains committed to a transparent public process that carefully considers operational, financial, and community impacts. While we respect the Sheriff's Office's perspective, several statements made regarding the City's proposal reflect assumptions about a staffing model that has not been finalized and do not fully represent the options currently under evaluation.

 

The City is conducting a comprehensive analysis of staffing, deployment, supervision, investigative capacity, emergency response, and regional partnerships. Preliminary planning models include strategies to provide 24-hour police coverage while concentrating personnel during periods of highest call volume and community need. As with many municipal police agencies throughout Oregon, specialized services such as SWAT, major crimes investigations, hostage negotiation, crisis response, and other regional law enforcement functions may continue to be provided through intergovernmental agreements and cooperative partnerships.
 

It is important for residents to understand that participation in regional public safety partnerships is not exclusively tied to contracting through the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Many municipal police departments throughout Oregon maintain access to specialized regional resources through mutual aid agreements, intergovernmental agreements, and participation in multi-agency task forces. The City's evaluation includes consideration of how these partnerships would be maintained or enhanced under any future service delivery model. While the Sheriff's Office has suggested that Troutdale residents could lose access to resources such as SWAT, Major Crimes, and other regional response assets, the City believes it is more accurate to state that the availability of these services would depend upon future intergovernmental agreements and regional partnerships rather than the existence of a patrol services contract alone. Preserving access to critical regional resources remains an important consideration in the City's evaluation process and would be a priority in any transition planning.

 

The City recognizes that reasonable people may disagree about the best model for delivering public safety services. However, residents should understand that the evaluation currently underway is intended to compare multiple service delivery options using objective data, operational analysis, and long-term financial projections. Statements suggesting a predetermined outcome regarding staffing levels, service capabilities, or community impacts should be viewed within the context of an ongoing evaluation process that has not yet reached a final recommendation or decision. The City's evaluation is not driven by a desire to reduce public safety services. Rather, it is focused on maintaining and improving service levels while addressing the long-term financial challenges associated with escalating contract costs. Current projections indicate that public safety contract expenses will continue to increase at rates that may become increasingly difficult for the community to sustain without significant impacts to other municipal services.

 

The City believes residents deserve a thorough and objective review of all available options. That review includes service levels, response capabilities, local accountability, community policing opportunities, long-term costs, organizational sustainability, and the ability to maintain strong partnerships with neighboring agencies and regional public safety organizations. We encourage community members to remain engaged, review information from all sources, attend public meetings, and participate in the discussion as the City continues its evaluation process. Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of local government, and any future decision will be made only after careful consideration of facts, data, costs, risks, and community priorities.

 

The City remains committed to working collaboratively and professionally with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office throughout this process and appreciates their continued service to the residents and businesses of Troutdale.

City Of Troutdale Statement Regarding Public Safety Service Evaluation - 06/04/26

The City of Troutdale appreciates its longstanding partnership with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, and the dedicated service Sheriff's Office personnel have provided to our community over the past decade. As part of its ongoing responsibility to ensure the long-term sustainability, effectiveness, and affordability of public safety services, the City is evaluating multiple service delivery models, including the potential creation of a locally controlled Troutdale Police Department. No final decision has been made, and the City remains committed to a transparent public process that carefully considers operational, financial, and community impacts. While we respect the Sheriff's Office's perspective, several statements made regarding the City's proposal reflect assumptions about a staffing model that has not been finalized and do not fully represent the options currently under evaluation.

 

The City is conducting a comprehensive analysis of staffing, deployment, supervision, investigative capacity, emergency response, and regional partnerships. Preliminary planning models include strategies to provide 24-hour police coverage while concentrating personnel during periods of highest call volume and community need. As with many municipal police agencies throughout Oregon, specialized services such as SWAT, major crimes investigations, hostage negotiation, crisis response, and other regional law enforcement functions may continue to be provided through intergovernmental agreements and cooperative partnerships.
 

It is important for residents to understand that participation in regional public safety partnerships is not exclusively tied to contracting through the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Many municipal police departments throughout Oregon maintain access to specialized regional resources through mutual aid agreements, intergovernmental agreements, and participation in multi-agency task forces. The City's evaluation includes consideration of how these partnerships would be maintained or enhanced under any future service delivery model. While the Sheriff's Office has suggested that Troutdale residents could lose access to resources such as SWAT, Major Crimes, and other regional response assets, the City believes it is more accurate to state that the availability of these services would depend upon future intergovernmental agreements and regional partnerships rather than the existence of a patrol services contract alone. Preserving access to critical regional resources remains an important consideration in the City's evaluation process and would be a priority in any transition planning.

 

The City recognizes that reasonable people may disagree about the best model for delivering public safety services. However, residents should understand that the evaluation currently underway is intended to compare multiple service delivery options using objective data, operational analysis, and long-term financial projections. Statements suggesting a predetermined outcome regarding staffing levels, service capabilities, or community impacts should be viewed within the context of an ongoing evaluation process that has not yet reached a final recommendation or decision. The City's evaluation is not driven by a desire to reduce public safety services. Rather, it is focused on maintaining and improving service levels while addressing the long-term financial challenges associated with escalating contract costs. Current projections indicate that public safety contract expenses will continue to increase at rates that may become increasingly difficult for the community to sustain without significant impacts to other municipal services.

 

The City believes residents deserve a thorough and objective review of all available options. That review includes service levels, response capabilities, local accountability, community policing opportunities, long-term costs, organizational sustainability, and the ability to maintain strong partnerships with neighboring agencies and regional public safety organizations. We encourage community members to remain engaged, review information from all sources, attend public meetings, and participate in the discussion as the City continues its evaluation process. Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of local government, and any future decision will be made only after careful consideration of facts, data, costs, risks, and community priorities.

 

The City remains committed to working collaboratively and professionally with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office throughout this process and appreciates their continued service to the residents and businesses of Troutdale.