Hillsboro Police Department
Encyclopedia
The Hillsboro Police Department (HPD) is the municipal law enforcement agency
of the city of Hillsboro, Oregon
, United States
. It is a regionally accredited agency with 115 sworn officers on the force. As of July 2010, the chief is Carey Sullivan in a city of over 90,000 residents west of Portland, Oregon
, in Washington County
. With 151 employees as of 2007, the department is the second largest police force in the county and seventh largest in Oregon
.
In 1995, Hillsboro police partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) and Intel Corporation
to start the Oregon High-Tech Crime Team to investigate and prosecute computer based crimes. Intel donated $100,000 to the program. By 1999, the department had seven officers assigned to the team. In 2003, the unit was dissolved after 93 arrests and the recovery of $208 million, after private funding ended and a new FBI lab was opened.
The department became the first police agency in Oregon to collect racial information
from traffic stops in May 2000. The information was collected to train officers to not target minority groups. Hillsboro PD examines the data monthly to analyze any numbers that appear disproportionate to Census data. By 2001, the department offered increased pay for officers who could speak Spanish. In 2006, police chief Ron Louie and one other officer were appointed to a six-person, state-wide task force to analyze racial profiling along with the American Civil Liberties Union
’s top person in the state, and former Oregon Supreme Court
justice Edwin J. Peterson
.
The department established a mediation program in 1997. That program reached its goal of providing 32 hours of formal training for its entire workforce, becoming the first law enforcement agency in the United States accomplish this task. HPD has documented that mediation can lead to fewer repeat calls to police from those involved in disputes. The department purchased a closed Albertson's grocery store for $2.6 million in January 2001. The building was remodeled and became the new main precinct.
An earthquake in February 2001 temporarily closed the police headquarters in downtown, but re-opened the same day after the damage to the old brick building was determined to be cosmetic and not structural. In December 2001, the department took issue with the appropriateness of some of the questions in the United States Department of Justice
’s anti-terrorism interviews that followed the September 11 attacks. HPD became nationally accredited in 2004 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
(CALEA), and regionally accredited in 2008 by the Oregon Accreditation Alliance. The agency remained CALEA accredited until 2007.
In 2003 officer Lila Ashenbrenner became the first woman in the department with a command position. At that time women made up 19% of the 106 officer force. On July 2, 2007, Ashenbrenner would become the departments first female chief of police when Louie retired. Prior chiefs of police include M. E. DeRock (1947-77), Herman Woll (1977-1991), and Ron Louie (1992-2007).
In 1997, a police dog on the force was shot and killed in the line of duty, and in 2007 Hondo Dog Park
was built by the city and named in honor of the fallen canine. The department's Life Intervention program for fighting truancy
in schools was named a finalist an award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police
in 2009.
HPD operates two stations, a West Precinct located in downtown on 10th Street near the Washington/Southeast 12th Avenue
MAX Station. The Tanasbourne Precinct is located in the Tanasbourne neighborhood
on the city’s eastside. Divisions include a patrol unit, detectives, emergency response team
created in 1993, K-9 units, reserve units, and a Citizen's Enhancement Team, among
others. The department utilizes automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles in its enforcement mission. Some detectives and staff drive hybrid vehicles, as HPD's part in helping the City of Hillsboro go "green."
The department employs non-lethal weapons such as a special launcher that fires paintball-like pepper balls to incapacitate suspects. To reduce repeat calls for service, the department utilizes a mediation program that trains every member of the department. The department also utilizes police cadets to perform tasks that may otherwise take up the time of full time officers. These tasks include participating in community events, traffic details, officer ride-a-longs, and graffiti clean up.
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
of the city of Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a regionally accredited agency with 115 sworn officers on the force. As of July 2010, the chief is Carey Sullivan in a city of over 90,000 residents west of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
. With 151 employees as of 2007, the department is the second largest police force in the county and seventh largest in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
History
The Hillsboro Police Department grew to five employees in 1947, and expanded to 31 employees by 1976. In 1980, officer Gerald H. Erickson became the only officer in the department to die in the line of duty. The department hired Ron Louie as chief of police in 1992. The department had grown to 54 sworn officers in 1994.In 1995, Hillsboro police partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) and Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
to start the Oregon High-Tech Crime Team to investigate and prosecute computer based crimes. Intel donated $100,000 to the program. By 1999, the department had seven officers assigned to the team. In 2003, the unit was dissolved after 93 arrests and the recovery of $208 million, after private funding ended and a new FBI lab was opened.
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
from traffic stops in May 2000. The information was collected to train officers to not target minority groups. Hillsboro PD examines the data monthly to analyze any numbers that appear disproportionate to Census data. By 2001, the department offered increased pay for officers who could speak Spanish. In 2006, police chief Ron Louie and one other officer were appointed to a six-person, state-wide task force to analyze racial profiling along with the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
’s top person in the state, and former Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
justice Edwin J. Peterson
Edwin J. Peterson
Edwin J. Peterson is an American jurist in the state of Oregon. He was the 39th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1983 to 1991, and is currently a Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon.-Education:Edwin Peterson received his...
.
The department established a mediation program in 1997. That program reached its goal of providing 32 hours of formal training for its entire workforce, becoming the first law enforcement agency in the United States accomplish this task. HPD has documented that mediation can lead to fewer repeat calls to police from those involved in disputes. The department purchased a closed Albertson's grocery store for $2.6 million in January 2001. The building was remodeled and became the new main precinct.
An earthquake in February 2001 temporarily closed the police headquarters in downtown, but re-opened the same day after the damage to the old brick building was determined to be cosmetic and not structural. In December 2001, the department took issue with the appropriateness of some of the questions in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
’s anti-terrorism interviews that followed the September 11 attacks. HPD became nationally accredited in 2004 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., is a credentialing authority , based in the United States, whose primary mission is to accredited public safety agencies, namely law enforcement agencies, training academies, communications centers, and campus public safety...
(CALEA), and regionally accredited in 2008 by the Oregon Accreditation Alliance. The agency remained CALEA accredited until 2007.
In 2003 officer Lila Ashenbrenner became the first woman in the department with a command position. At that time women made up 19% of the 106 officer force. On July 2, 2007, Ashenbrenner would become the departments first female chief of police when Louie retired. Prior chiefs of police include M. E. DeRock (1947-77), Herman Woll (1977-1991), and Ron Louie (1992-2007).
In 1997, a police dog on the force was shot and killed in the line of duty, and in 2007 Hondo Dog Park
Hondo Dog Park
Hondo Dog Park is a city park in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Opened in 2007, it is the first dog park in that city. Located on nearly four acres, the park is in the northeast section of Hillsboro adjacent to Hillsboro Stadium. Hondo Dog Park is named after a Hillsboro Police Department K-9...
was built by the city and named in honor of the fallen canine. The department's Life Intervention program for fighting truancy
Truancy
Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
in schools was named a finalist an award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police
International Association of Chiefs of Police
The International Association of Chiefs of Police was founded in Chicago in 1893 as the National Chiefs of Police Union. The primary goal of this organization was to apprehend and return criminals who had fled the agency jurisdictions in which they were wanted...
in 2009.
Operations
Washington/Southeast 12th Avenue (MAX station)
The Washington/Southeast 12th Avenue station is a light rail station on the MAX Blue Line in Hillsboro, Oregon. Hillsboro's West Precinct is near the station...
MAX Station. The Tanasbourne Precinct is located in the Tanasbourne neighborhood
Tanasbourne, Oregon
Tanasbourne, Oregon is a neighborhood in Washington County, Oregon where NW 185th Avenue and U.S. Route 26 intersect. The area sits between Beaverton and Hillsboro, and is generally considered to be south of U.S. 26, north of Walker Road, west of 158th, and east of Cornelius Pass Road...
on the city’s eastside. Divisions include a patrol unit, detectives, emergency response team
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
created in 1993, K-9 units, reserve units, and a Citizen's Enhancement Team, among
others. The department utilizes automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles in its enforcement mission. Some detectives and staff drive hybrid vehicles, as HPD's part in helping the City of Hillsboro go "green."
The department employs non-lethal weapons such as a special launcher that fires paintball-like pepper balls to incapacitate suspects. To reduce repeat calls for service, the department utilizes a mediation program that trains every member of the department. The department also utilizes police cadets to perform tasks that may otherwise take up the time of full time officers. These tasks include participating in community events, traffic details, officer ride-a-longs, and graffiti clean up.