Public Safety in Beaverton

In June 2020, Council passed a resolution denouncing systemic racism and committed to “eliminate racism in city structures and practices, to work toward the elimination of institutional racism in our community, and to improve the lived experiences of all people of color through our actions and leadership.”

City Council, Beaverton Police Department, Department Heads and the Mayor, are committed to learn and explore ways to address systemic racism within our city structures and practices. Since the resolution, city leadership has actively engaged in the following:

January 2021

• The Human Rights Advisory Commission (HRAC) discussed their recommendations from the 2020 BPD-HRAC Inquiry Sessions with City Councilors at a Round Table meeting on January 26, 2021

October 2020

Progress has been made towards the Mayoral Reimaging Policing Pledge presented by former President Obama as signed by Mayor Doyle on June 4. Read the first 100 days report.

As part of the ongoing efforts to address police reform from organizations like Campaign Zero and their 8 Can’t Wait initiative, the Beaverton Police Department (BPD) has conducted an analysis and concludes that it is within 94% compliance. Learn more in this report.

August-September 2020

• Understanding Experiences of BIPOC Members of Beaverton
  • Facilitated Community Conversations to address crucial issues around public safety, public health, policing, race, and accountability – planning in progress with outside racial equity consultant. Tune in to the City Council meeting on September 15, 2020 at 6:30 pm, to hear the report.
    • Presentation to City Council
  • Read the final report and two appendices
    • A Call to Action: Findings and Recommendations for the City of Beaverton
    • Appendix A: Raw Notes from conversation and survey comments
    • Appendix B: Community provided anti-racism resources
  • Any questions or comments can be directed to the Council email addresses.

July-August 2020

• City Council Community Work Sessions on Beaverton Police Department current practices and policies
  • Public meetings with minutes and videos from prior meetings available at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/citycouncil.

July-December 2020

• Beaverton Police Department and the Human Rights Advisory Commission Inquiry Sessions
  • Public meetings with minutes and videos from prior meetings available at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/HRAC.

Please, keep sending us your emails, participating in visitor comment during Council meetings, and having conversations with us. We recognize the scope of the work to be done and appreciate your input as we move to the next steps.

The City of Beaverton strongly encourages submitting written public testimony to the City Council at citymail@BeavertonOregon.gov. In addition, members of the public may submit comments to City Council by calling 503-755-9544 during the meeting (please join the call 20 minutes before the start of the meeting to be put into the queue for the Visitor Comments section).

We also welcome invitations to speak to your organizations, or ideas on how we can be even more visible in the community.

Other resources:

• Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan for the City of Beaverton

Police Department Budget Comparisons
FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget

The City’s total adopted budget is $406,000,000 and the Police Departments budget of $36,000,000 represents 9% of the total budget.

One way to display the City’s budget information is by City Departments and Divisions.

Chart 1, below, shows the city’s Adopted Budget by Department and Divisions. The largest city department is Public Works / Operations, budgeted at just over $82 million, making up about 20% of the city’s budget. This department is responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the city’s streets, water system, sewer system, and storm water system.

The Police Department is the fifth largest, at $36.7 million, and is 9% of the overall city budget. Over 95,000 services calls are taken or initiated by the department in a year. Some of the Police’s departments duties include, patrol, traffic, investigations, community policing, code compliance and the behind the scenes staff that work to ensure that Beaverton is one of the safest cities in the Northwest including, records management, training, evidence and administration.

As part of the ongoing efforts to address police reform from organizations like Campaign Zero and their 8 Can’t Wait initiative, the Beaverton Police Department (BPD) has conducted an analysis and concludes that it is within 94% compliance. Learn more in this report