Police Department Overview

The Milwaukie Police Department is a full service Law Enforcement organization that has been dedicated to the citizens of the City of Milwaukie, in one form or another, since it’s inception in the year 1903. Our Department evolves through constant introspection, Citizen input, and City Council direction and continually examines our operating processes in order to find a way to “do it better”.

In 1995 the Milwaukie Police Department supported and began to implement a transition into the community policing philosophy, recognizing that employing traditional law enforcement methods would not solve the problems of crime, violence, drugs, gangs, and the associated fear these problems produce in the community.  Although what is regarded as traditional policing does not go way, community policing provides a more comprehensive and creative, thus effective approach to policing. It recognizes the need for an ongoing partnership with the community to deal with the specific needs and problems of our community.

In 2001 the department expanded its community policing philosophy, recognizing it was becoming stagnate, by transitioning into  geo-based policing. This concept provided for a closer partnership between police, citizens and the neighborhoods in which we live and work. It provides accountability to a geographic area, which in Milwaukie, have been identified as the city’s Neighborhood Associations.  Also, geo-based policing provides a direct link between police and the citizens they are in partnership with. With two officers assigned to each of these associations, our department moves towards greater communication, education, identification and solving of  problems, and greater accountability.

Community Policing does not mean that traditional policing goes away. It does not! Traditional policing is maintained but the objectives have changed. Simply, the goal is no longer to put all the criminals in jail but to answer why are we putting all the same criminals in jail over and over again. In other words, what is behind the crime and what is the root problem that makes crime attractive in any given neighborhood? How do we eradicate the problems that eventually affect the very core of livability in our neighborhoods?

We can continue to react or we can add the concept of proactive policing to our inventory of tools. We are working towards a sustained commitment from both our police and our community, together, to do what it takes to solve livability problems.

The community and the police must realize that community policing is not a panacea that will correct all social problems or resolve all crime and associated violence. Law Enforcement is required to stay within the legal and constitutional limitations.  Police cannot step outside the foundation of a democratic society. Law Enforcement should, and this department is, always looking for better solutions that are outside the traditional enforcement function, looking for non-traditional, legal and organizational means of solving problems. We can no longer depend on traditional, short-term solutions but must forge ones that will alleviate a problem over the long term.

In order to accomplish this goal we are working to form partnerships between local government, local and state agencies, and our community itself. The task is twofold: gain knowledge of available community resources for access and mobilization; and develop new resources within our community.

It has been recognized that there is an increased cost to reach our goal of a fully effective community policing organization. As mentioned above, traditional policing does not go away. Milwaukie Police officers must respond and deal with public safety issues, including but not limited to, investigating crimes, developing the foundation for prosecution of the individuals committing crimes, traffic enforcement and other associated responsibilities.  The increased cost is in the need to redirect resources in order to provide the time for prevention, intervention, interaction, and base problem interdiction combined with developing viable solutions to those problems.

The Milwaukie Police Department has gone, and is currently going through a reorganization that began in July 2001. The reorganization is not complete but is moving in the direction of providing a community policing/ geo-based response to livability problems within the City of Milwaukie.

 

Contact Information
EMERGENCY	9 -1 -1
General Police Information and Records	(503) 786-7400	police@ci.milwaukie.or.us
Non-emergency Services	(503) 786-7500
Police Sergeants	(503) 786-7414	police@ci.milwaukie.or.us
Detective Division	(503) 786-7416	police@ci.milwaukie.or.us
Police Chief Larry Kanzler	(503) 786-7405	kanzlerl@ci.milwaukie.or.us
Police Captain James Colt	(503) 786-7417	coltj@ci.milwaukie.or.us
Crime Specialist Jill Martin	(503) 786-7406	martinj@ci.milwaukie.or.us