Previous Reports from 2008

Public Safety at its Finest!

One of the nicest parts about serving as Mayor is that we have so many interesting and challenging issues that we deal with every day. The services we provide in Beaverton and Washington County are done in a collaborative and cost efficient way across multiple agency boundaries. We are unique because we have been recognized as a role-model for achieving high quality services that are top-notch and streamlined to serve the end user – you! This special issue of Your City focuses on overall public safety services in Beaverton.

Beaverton is a very safe community in many ways – including police services, fire and life safety and emergency preparedness. Our police services are second to none in the state. In November 2007, the 14th Annual Morgan Quitno Press Safest City Awards ranked Beaverton as the safest city in the Northwest. This impartial analysis is based upon FBI statistics.

When I assumed office as Mayor, I brought Chief David Bishop to City Hall as our new Police Chief. I met the Chief while a young college student majoring in Psychology and Law Enforcement. He impressed me even more as my mentor during a two-term practicum study inside the Beaverton Police Department during my college studies. He eventually left Beaverton to become Chief in Newberg and returned to help me reshape the department. In addition to being a modern cop, I knew the Chief’s integrity and honor were not able to ever be compromised.

He is soon to retire after a very successful and memorable 45-year career in law enforcement. I give the Chief his proper credit in shaping the department into the respected agency it has become.

He is the very best. We have hired the right people, trained them to be the best in the business and have given them the tools to succeed. Our statistics bear this out – in addition to the top ranking in 2007, the City has been ranked in the top three in the Northwest four years running. I have great pride in the work accomplished by the men and women who serve us in the Police Department and recognize their dedication to public safety.

We are also served by a top-notch companion organization in Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R). In 1996, TVF&R became our fire and emergency services provider – and I have never regretted that decision. Fire and emergency response services don’t get any better than that we receive. TVF&R are also recognized as a top award winner nationally. In 2006, TVF&R received the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Service Excellence Award “that recognizes innovation in managing resources to reduce loss of life and property from fire and other emergencies.” The Fire District has been a great partner and continues to strive to innovate, elevate overall public services and improve emergency response effectiveness with our police department.

On the emergency preparedness front, we became a charter member of the Regional Emergency Management Group (REMG) in 1993 – a public/private effort to plan for and train together in the event of a large scale emergency. Public agencies region-wide (including those in Clark County, Washington) have been participants in this process since its inception as well as the Red Cross and area utility companies. I have served as Chairman of the Policy Group since its creation.

As a result of REMG’s success, in 1995 we made a conscious decision to jointly provide emergency preparedness and response efforts countywide. We joined Washington County, TVF&R, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Hillsboro to create the Office of Consolidated Emergency Management (OCEM). While we retain and fund our own Emergency Services Manager, on a daily basis he works with the OCEM Emergency Services Manager as part of this broader countywide team. This OCEM team pools resources and talent to provide a model service agency that organizes countywide. We are able to stretch resources further and also effectively receive a larger share of state and federal grants due to these cooperative efforts. State Emergency Management recognizes both and OCEM as model organizations statewide.

Public safety continues to be a priority for our City. I hope you enjoy this special edition full of interesting and usable public safety information. Thank you for your efforts to keep our City safe for all!

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