Police Department FAQs

1. When and how do I use 911?
2. Where is the Police Department located? 
3. What is the Non-Emergency phone number? 
4. Why don't I get a police response immediately after I call? 
5. Whom should I call I believe a child is being physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected? 
6. What should I do if I hear my neighbors involved in a violent fight? 
7. Should I call the police department about suspicious activity in my neighborhood? 
8. If I report a crime to a patrol officer will a detective contact me? 
9. What is the curfew law in Milwaukie? 
10. What constitutes an abandoned vehicle in a neighborhood? 
11. What is the process for having abandoned vehicles removed? 
12. Do I have to report a traffic accident I am involved in? 
13. How can I get my vehicle released if it was towed as a result of a DUII arrest or another violation? 
14. Where do I go to take care of a traffic fine? 
15. Where is the Milwaukie Municipal Court located? 
16. What is the procedure for getting a copy of a police report? 
17. What are the business hours of the Police Records Office? 
18. If I turn in found property and it isn't claimed, can I have it? 
19. How do I claim property that the police department has? 
20. Where can I find out if I have an arrest warrant pending? 
21. How can I find out if a particular arrest is still on my record? 
22. How do I get a concealed weapon permit? 
23. How do I apply for a position with the police department? 

Answers: 

1. What is 911? 911 is the emergency telephone number system in the City of Milwaukie which links callers to the appropriate emergency service - Police, Fire or Medical. Calling 911 helps ensure you reach the emergency service you require as quickly as possible. 

What IS an emergency? A situation where the safety of people or property is at immediate risk. Examples of 911 emergencies include a fire, crime in progress, or medical crisis. 

What is NOT an emergency? It is not an emergency when the situation is not dangerous and immediate action is not necessary. Examples of a non-emergency situation include: an automobile accident where an injury has not occurred; after a crime has been committed and you believe the suspect has left the scene, and follow up on an auto theft report. If the emergency is not life threatening, then call (503) 786-7500. 

What happens when you call 911? The Lake Oswego Communications Center (LOCOM) handles all 911 calls in the City of Milwaukie. When you dial 911, your call is routed to their communications center, and is answered by professionally-trained emergency Call Taker. The 911 telephone system has an Automatic Location Identification System and an Automatic Number Identification System (ALI/ANI) which lets the Call Taker know the address and telephone number of the caller. If you are unable to speak, police will be dispatched to the location you are calling from. If you call from a cellular phone, ALI/ANI information will NOT be available to the Call Taker. Try to remain calm and give your exact location. You must be prepared to give the following information: 

• Which service is required - Police, Fire, or Medical. 
• Where the emergency has occurred. 

How to use 911 

• At home dial 911 
• Do not pre-program 911 into your telephone, this can cause dialing problems if the battery is low on cordless phones or the button is hit accidentally. 
• At a business or other locations you may need to dial an outside line before dialing 911. 
• At a pay phone dial 911, a coin is not necessary. 
• When calling from a cellular phone inform the call taker you are calling from a cell phone and give your location. 
• To access TTY or TDD. (Telephone Device for the Deaf), press the space bar until a response is received. 
• If you do not speak English, stay on the line and a Call taker will link up with a telephone translation service that can handle 156 different languages. 

2. The Milwaukie Public Safety Building is located at 3200 S.E. Harrison Street. We are on the south side of the intersection of 32nd Avenue and Harrison Street. 

3. For non-emergency police response call: (503) 786-7500 Information and Police Records: (503) 786-7400 

4. Police dispatchers prioritize calls based on an evaluation of the seriousness of the request for service. On occasion, response may be delayed due to officers being tied up on serious calls or major incidents. In some situations, an officer will take a report at the Police Department or over the phone in order to keep patrol officers free to respond to higher priority calls. 

5. If the incident is "in progress," call the police emergency line at 911. If the incident is over or takes place on an ongoing basis, call the Child Abuse Hotline at (503) 731-3100. In the event the abuse is sexual in nature, regardless of when the act was committed, call the police at (503) 786-7500 or the Child Abuse Hotline. You can report anonymously. 

6. You should call the police at 911. Domestic violence is everyone's business. It impacts our children, friends, churches, and businesses. Domestic violence is a crime and will be dealt with accordingly. 

7. Numerous criminal activities have been stopped and people have been arrested committing crimes as a result of a citizen call about suspicious activities or persons. If life or property is in danger, call 911 immediately, otherwise, call the non-emergency reporting line (503) 786-7500 and be prepared to give detailed information about the incident or individuals involved. 

8. Detectives are not assigned to every crime reported. A detective supervisor reviews and assigns cases according to the severity of the crime as well as the potential for solving the case. If a detective is assigned to your case, you will be notified. Some investigations may be referred back to patrol for follow up. 

9. Under the Milwaukie City Ordinances the hours for curfew for children under fourteen years who have not begun high school, between nine-fifteen p.m. and six a.m. of the following morning, except that during the months of June, July and August, the hours shall be ten-fifteen p.m. and six a.m. of the following morning; as to children fourteen years of age or over who have begun high school, the hours shall be between ten-fifteen p.m. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and six a.m. of the following morning and between twelve midnight on Friday or Saturday, or any day prior to a legal holiday when no school is scheduled for the legal holiday, and six a.m. of the following morning. 

10. "Abandoned" means left unoccupied and unclaimed, or in a damaged or dismantled condition upon the streets or alleys of a city. (Ord. 1360 § 1(1), 1977) 

11. The towing, storage, and disposal of vehicles determined to be abandoned in rights of way in the City of Milwaukie shall be in accordance with state statutes, including ORS 819.100 through 819.270. (Ord. 1898 1,2002: Ord. 1745 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 1566 (part), 1984: Ord.1360 11 (1), 1977). 

12. Traffic accidents involving an injury and/or over $1,000.00 in damages to any vehicle or property require both drivers to report the accident to DMV within 72 hours of the event. (The DMV forms may be obtained at the police department or any DMV office) The police should also be called to the accident scene to take a report. 

13. The owner must pay a fee and obtain a release from the Milwaukie Police Department prior to claiming the vehicle at the tow yard. If the vehicle was impounded because it was uninsured, the owner must bring proof of insurance in order to obtain a vehicle release. If the vehicle was impounded because of a suspended or revoked driver, the owner must bring someone with a valid driver's license to the police department to drive the vehicle. 

14. To pay a traffic fine or to request a trial for a citation you should contact the court specified at the bottom of the citation issued to you. 

15. The Milwaukie Municipal Court is located at 10722 S.E. Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222. Phone: (503) 786-7555. 

16. Reports are not faxed so you must submit a written request or come to the police department in person. If the case has already been submitted to the District Attorney for action, you will need to contact that office at (503) 655-8431. There is a fee of $15.00 for reports. 

17. The police department's records office is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed on weekends and holidays. The Police Records business line is (503) 786-7400. 

18. Finders of lost property or money of $100.00 or more in value may gain legal title of the money or property they find by following a simple process. Finders must file a notice in writing to the Clackamas County Clerk within 10 days of the finding. Within 20 days of the finding the finder must publish a notice of finding in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two consecutive weeks. After a three-month waiting period the finder must present copies of the written notice to the County Clerk and the newspaper advertisements to the Police Department Property Control Technician. 

19. To claim property that belongs to you, contact the Property Room Technician by calling (503) 786-7430. You must have an appointment or make arrangements with the Property Technician to get property returned to you. The Property Technician is the only one who can release property. 

20. To find out if you are wanted you must come in person, with identification, to the police department. You cannot obtain this information over the phone. 

21. The Oregon State Police Identification Services Section can provide criminal history information. For a copy of your record you will need to submit your name, date of birth, and a set of your fingerprints. For more information and current fees for this service, write to: Oregon State Police Identification Services Section Unit 11 P.O. Box 4395 Portland, Oregon 97208-4395 Or call (503) 378-3070, ext. 236 (Salem) 

22. For information regarding obtaining a concealed weapon permit contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office at (503) 655-8218. 

23. Employment opportunities with the City of Milwaukie can be learned about through the Human Resource Department's Job Hot Line at (503) 786-7543. All current openings will be listed on the hotline, which is updated every Monday. At the end of the recording a number will be given if you wish to request an application. The City of Milwaukie also lists employment opportunities in the Employment Section of the Oregonian and on the City's Employment page.