The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners this week approved a Sheriff's Office plan to take over patrol duties for Troutdale, a city of 16,000.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office patrols Wood Village, the 950-resident Maywood Park, as well as unincorporated areas of the county.
The contract will increase patrol supervision in Troutdale from 14 hours a day to 24 hours a day and provide a full-time training unit, detective unit and evidence unit beginning July 1, 2015. Current Troutdale police officers will continue to patrol, but as deputies of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
“We worked on this very hard," Sheriff Dan Staton told the board as it prepared to vote on Thursday, April 23. "This process has been vetted so well I can’t see any flaws and I hope you feel the same."
Discussions on the partnership began in 2010. Over the next several years Staton and his executive staff worked with administrators at the City of Troutdale to develop a formal proposal. Last year, Staton and Troutdale Police Chief Scott Anderson took the proposal to the City of Troutdale and Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. A workgroup formed to examine the financial and operational impacts and to define the service model.
In March, the Troutdale City Council approved the consolidation of law enforcement services with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
The Troutdale Police Community Center will become the home of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division.
Troutdale Mayor Doug Daoust told the Board of County Commissioners this week that the contract comes out of the most comprehensive vetting that he has seen in his 18 years on city council and included five public hearings.
“Even as we go forward, the Sheriff’s officers are continuing to reach out to make sure City Council concerns are addressed and questions are answered. I plan on continued public education even after this vote.”
City Councilor Glenn White opposed the contract. “The proposal was the largest financial decision in Troutdale history,” he told the county board. In his view, it needed more time for public input, research and review. “I support our officers 100 percent, but this contract is not appropriate at this time,” he said.
Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury acknowledged White’s concerns and assured him the county board wouldn’t sign the contract and then walk away.
“How we move forward is going to be really important,” she said. “The devil’s in the details. But you have our support and we will work hard to make sure this merger is successful. Ultimately this will better serve the residents of Troutdale and will be a better use of taxpayer dollars.”
Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel said she was impressed with the due diligence performed by the county and the city of Troutdale.
“Because of the due diligence I know this is the best way to provide for a safer community,” she said.