A Vision for Staffing PPB

News Article

Chief Day shares an important staffing study

It has been a year since I was sworn in as Chief of Police and during that time, I have been encouraged by the amount of enthusiasm for the Portland Police Bureau and its place in leading Portland's renewal. We know that safety and the sense of safety provides predictability and decreases our feeling of vulnerability so that we are more likely to positively engage with one another.

That is why I have been having discussions with our advisory groups and in public forums about increasing the number of sworn personnel at the Portland Police Bureau. Mayor Ted Wheeler has also strongly supported the idea of increasing PPB's sworn personnel. Therefore, I asked our analysts to provide some data around comparable cities and historical staffing numbers.

This is not a logistical plan, but the foundation to create a vision and energy to get PPB to an appropriate size while also being fiscally responsible. We must create a healthy agency where its members have time to connect with the community and problem solve-something I have heard repeatedly is needed. Community members want a relationship with their police and that takes resources. By increasing the number of officers, we can improve community outreach, be more effective and less intrusive with crime reduction strategies, reduce the reliance on overtime, provide a higher level of service and create a work environment where PPB members are thriving.