BALLOT TITLE
Caption: ADVISORY VOTE: Should Troutdale Create a Municipal Police Department?
Question: ADVISORY VOTE: Should the City proceed with planning and creation of a Troutdale Police Department?
Summary: This is a non-binding advisory vote and does not authorize or impose any tax, fee, or expenditure.
This is a non-binding advisory vote and does not authorize or impose any tax, fee, or expenditure.
In 2015, the City of Troutdale dissolved its Police Department and contracted with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office to provide police services. The decision was based, in part, on the expectation that contracting would reduce long-term costs while maintaining public safety services.
Since then, the cost of contracted police services has increased, and the City has continued evaluating service levels, operational needs, community expectations, and long-term financial sustainability. As part of that review, the City has developed preliminary plans for the possible re-establishment of a Troutdale Police Department.
This advisory vote asks whether the City should continue planning to create a Troutdale Police Department while evaluating the costs, operational considerations, and benefits of both a municipal Police Department and continued contracted police services.
The City Council will consider the results of this advisory vote when evaluating future police service options.
Explanatory Statement: This advisory vote asks whether the City of Troutdale should continue planning for the possible creation of a municipal Police Department. The advisory vote is non-binding and does not authorize the City to create a Police Department, impose any tax or fee, hire personnel, or discontinue contracted police services. The results will provide public input for the City Council as it evaluates police service options.
In 2015, the City dissolved the Troutdale Police Department and entered into a contract with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) for police services. At that time, contracting was expected to reduce costs while maintaining public safety services. Since then, the cost of contracted police services has increased substantially, prompting the City to evaluate the long-term financial sustainability of continuing the current model.
As part of that evaluation, the City has developed preliminary staffing plans, operational concepts, and financial projections for a possible Troutdale Police Department. Under those preliminary analyses, a municipal department could provide locally managed police services at a cost projected to be comparable to, and potentially less than, continued contracted services, although actual costs would depend on implementation, staffing, labor agreements, equipment, facilities, and future economic conditions. The City's preliminary planning also contemplates a phased implementation designed to allow time for recruiting and training personnel, developing policies and procedures, acquiring equipment, and coordinating a transition of police services before assuming full operational responsibility.
Supporters of a municipal Police Department identify potential benefits including local control over policing priorities, direct accountability to City leadership, officers assigned exclusively to the City of Troutdale, flexibility to tailor staffing and deployment to local needs, and the ability to develop programs specific to the community. Supporters also note that a locally managed department may provide greater predictability in future police service costs and increase flexibility to adapt staffing and service levels to local priorities.
Others support continuing contracted police services through the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. They note that the current model provides access to regional investigative resources, specialized units, emergency response capabilities, established administrative systems, and a larger regional law enforcement network. They also point to the costs and operational challenges associated with establishing a new Police Department, including recruiting and retaining qualified personnel, purchasing equipment, developing policies and procedures, and managing the transition from contracted services.
Following the advisory vote, the City Council will consider the results as it continues evaluating future police service options through an open public process. If the Council ultimately determines that creating a Troutdale Police Department should proceed, additional planning, public meetings, and future Council actions would be required before any transition could occur. As part of that transition, the City anticipates reoccupying the existing Troutdale Police Building, which is currently occupied by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Additional transition activities would include recruiting personnel, acquiring equipment, developing policies, and coordinating the transfer of law enforcement responsibilities. If the Council instead continues contracting for police services, it would continue evaluating future contract terms, service levels, and associated costs.
Submitted by:
Sarah Skroch, City Recorder
City of Troutdale