Please include your address and a daytime phone number for confirmation purposes. Characteristics- such as honesty, integrity, fairness and community participation are critical. From the perspective of a patrol officer though, I'd like to see something more - an understanding of the morale crisis facing the Portland Police Bureau. Here are some of the factors that have brought us to where we are today. First, although we've been successful in bringing about a reduction in crime, Portland still has the highest crime rate in the state, a rate that is 60 percent higher than other major West Coast cities.
High crime means high workload and greater danger on the job.
Second, unlike virtually any other major police agency, the Police Bureau demands that its new officers have a four-year college degree. This fact, combined with our slipping wages, has made the Police Bureau unable to meet recruiting goals. Third, our precincts are critically understaffed. Many officers work three to four extra shifts a week, and without these overtime shifts, minimum staffing levels would not be met. Vacation requests are being denied, and sergeants have difficulty convincing already exhausted officers to work more hours.