Building Community Trust

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At Hillsboro Police Department, our vision is to be the most trusted department in the pacific northwest. In 2020, we developed an internal working group to help guide the future of public safety and policing in our City.

Now, we’re continuing our efforts to build community trust by improving data accessibility and engaging directly with community members through our Police Community Advisory Group.

Police Chief Coleman: Welcome

Dear Hillsboro Community Members,

Police Chief Jim Coleman Two years ago, the Hillsboro Police Department shared the results of the Independent Review of the Hillsboro Police Department: Use of Force, Policies, and Accountability Systems conducted by the OIR Group. Our progress on implementing many of the recommendations into the operations of the department has been steady and will continue. See the latest update on our progress.

At the same time the department has been engaged in efforts beyond the focus of accountability systems to increase accessibility to key information relating to public safety in Hillsboro. These initiatives include but are not limited to expansion of the Analytic Services Branch, establishment of the Chief’s Advisory Group, creation of a police department based and court certified Spanish language interpreting service, and expansion of Public Information platforms.

In August of 2023 one of the initiatives, the Chief’s Advisory Group, combined with a group of department staff to discuss adding a Vision statement to our Mission and Core Values. Through a facilitated process the group decided “to be the most trusted police department in the Pacific Northwest” was a vision that encompassed most if not all our recent series of actions. We know that accessibility can build dialogue and in turn build trust. With that in mind we are launching a new evolution of our department site that makes key statistical and analytical data available to page viewers whenever and for whatever purpose they may need. We intend for data to be as current as practical and to present it in a manner that is easily understood.

Our new Vision speaks to our goals and ideals for the future. In the present, we are mindful of the privilege we have to serve in a community that offers the support ours does. We hope to always demonstrate our commitment to maintaining that support and to never take it for granted.

Respectfully,
Jim Coleman
Chief of Police Hillsboro Police Department

Computer keyboard and screen displaying charts & data

Data, Reports, and Policies

Hillsboro Police Community Advisory Group

Community members have the opportunity to advise Hillsboro Police Chief Jim Coleman as part of the Hillsboro Police Community Advisory Group.

This community engagement group formed in 2022 to represent the cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity of the Hillsboro community and advise the Chief of Police directly on issues faced by all Hillsboro community members.

Each summer, incoming high school seniors are invited to apply to earn volunteer hours and a scholarship as the group's youth advisor.

The group is sharing updates on its work to keep the community informed. Follow the button below to read the latest.

Community Advisory Group Updates

OIR Group Report

Police Chief Coleman: Why We Asked for External Review & Recommendations

Dear Hillsboro Community Members,

I appreciate your interest in the Independent Review of the Hillsboro Police Department: Use of Force, Policies, and Accountability Systems conducted by the OIR Group.

The Hillsboro Police Department chose the OIR Group to conduct an evaluation for several reasons. It’s a nationally recognized organization with a demonstrated expertise in accountability systems. It has a reputation for thorough and direct assessments. Because of this, OIR Group was granted access to use of force, policy, and accountability-related records that have reached a procedural conclusion between the years 2018–2020.

We are privileged to serve in a community that offers the support ours does, and we are hopeful this report demonstrates our commitment to maintaining that support.

Respectfully,
Jim Coleman
Chief of Police Hillsboro Police Department

How We Got Here

Internal Work Group (2020)

In the spirit of achieving equitable positive outcomes for all members of the community — and in response to calls to action from the community after the death of George Floyd and several national incidents related to police use of force — we developed an internal working group on the future of public safety and policing in our City.

This work group consisted of employees within the Hillsboro Police Department, Human Resources Department, and City Manager’s Office — and was guided by policy direction from the City Council. This webpage provides a summary of work accomplished and underway, a timeline of events, comments received from the public, and links to several City Council meetings and statements related to policing and public safety. The group's work was concluded following the formal implementation and adoption of their December 2020 recommendations.

Engagement and Action Timeline (2020 to 2022)

June 8, 2020

Hillsboro Police Chief Jim Coleman released a message in response to the death of George Floyd and other racial injustices and announced an upcoming June 16 City Council Work Session on police policies and procedures. Read the Message from Chief Jim Coleman.

June 16, 2020

The City Council held a Work Session on Zoom to review Hillsboro Police Department policies and practices designed to reduce incidents of excessive use of force, injuries, and death. Council members and Police staff also reviewed the "8 Can't Wait" recommendations brought forward by Campaign Zero with the goal of ending police violence in America.

July 15, 2020

The City of Hillsboro launched a new Hillsboro Police Department website to make it easier for users to access data and resources, including a newly created complaint form with the option to file anonymously.

July 21, 2020

City Council requested public comment on safety and policing at their regularly scheduled meeting.

View the July 21 meeting details.

August 1, 2020

Council hosted a Special City Council Meeting on Zoom to listen and receive comments and ideas from community members.

View the August 1 meeting details.

August 8, 2020

Two online listening sessions were led by diversity, equity, and inclusion trainer and facilitator Frances Portillo. These sessions provided an opportunity for community members to speak outside of a formal City Council meeting. Sessions were offered in Spanish and English.

Read the August 8 Police and Safety Listening Sessions Engagement Summary.
- View the August 8 Listening Session (English) details.
- View the August 8 Listening Session (Spanish) details.

August 18, 2020

At a Work Session, the City Council reviewed a summary of the more than 200 comments received from community members, expressed strong support for the Police Department and its employees, and outlined next steps for City staff to pursue.

November 17, 2020

The City Council and Hillsboro School Board held a joint Work Session to discuss School Resource Officers, also known as Youth Services Detectives. The two groups discussed the future of the program and opportunities for partnership. The result of the work session was that the two organizations would work on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will detail the roles and responsibilities of School Resource Officers within the Hillsboro School District.

Watch the November 17, 2020 City Council Meeting and Work Session video.

December 1, 2020

During the December 1 City Council Work Session on police oversight in Hillsboro, City Manager Robby Hammond presented recommendations to the Council on ways to improve the existing oversight systems within the Hillsboro Police Department and provide the public with opportunities the engage with the Police Department. Find additional details on the Work Session outcomes in the Next Steps section below.

September 2021

Police Community Advisory Group recruitment begins.

January 2022

Police Community Advisory Group holds its first meeting.
Use-of-Force Review Board begins formally reviewing qualifying events.

Community Comments (2020)

The City received 207 comments in June, July, and August, 2020.

68 comments supported transformative changes
53 comments expressed full support of the Hillsboro Police Department
34 comments supported minor reform
33 comments were determined to have an unclear desired outcome
19 comments supported major reform

The City continues to collect community input on policing and public safety in Hillsboro. Share your thoughts, comments, and feedback with the Hillsboro City Council.

Completed Actions (2020 to 2021)

Since the initial City Council Work Session in June 2020, the City and Police Department have moved forward on the following actions:

Formalized existing training and practice through a policy that requires Hillsboro Police Department employees to intervene in the unreasonable use of physical force.
Formalized existing training and practice through a policy that prohibits the use of chokeholds and similar techniques, except when deadly physical force is authorized.
Updates to the Hillsboro Police Department website to make it easier for users to access data and resources, including a newly created anonymous complaint form.
The creation of a Community Outreach Division to focus on community engagement and livability services.
The announcement of a new Hillsboro Police Department mission statement: “Delivering exceptional police service to the Hillsboro community through our shared values of Dignity, Respect, Service, and Just Outcomes."
The City Council held a work session to discuss the continuation of the City of Hillsboro’s agreement with the Hillsboro School District to provide seven School Resource Officers and a sergeant during the 2021-22 school year.
- The updated agreement specifies that school resource officers are not to be involved in disciplining students for non-criminal activity – or in actively tracking student attendance.
- The updated agreement was unanimously approved by the Hillsboro School Board following engagement with HSD students and families.
- Watch the June 1, 2021 Work Session video.
Provided implicit-bias-awareness training to all personnel through Fair and Impartial Policing. Separate sessions were held for frontline employees, supervisory, and command personnel and culminated in an evening session between executive personnel from the City of Hillsboro, the Hillsboro Police Department and key community stakeholders.

Ongoing Work & Updates (2022 to 2023)

During the December 1, 2020 City Council Work Session on police oversight in Hillsboro, City Manager Robby Hammond presented recommendations to the Council on ways to improve the existing oversight systems within the Hillsboro Police Department and provide the public with opportunities to engage with the Police Department.

Following the presentation and discussion between the City Council and staff, the Council members were supportive of the City Manager’s recommendations:

Improve existing oversight workflow, including more detailed tracking of all inquiries, complaints, and responses. (Completed and ongoing)
Increase the role of the Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards in the oversight processes. (Completed and ongoing)
Establish a Police-Community Advisory Group that will be comprised of community members that can provide the Chief of Police with input in policing programs and policies from a community perspective. (Completed)
Establish an Internal Use-of-Force Review Board comprised of Hillsboro Police Department staff, a City Manager’s Office representative, and the City’s Risk Manager to provide multiple perspectives on uses of force within the police department. (Completed)

These recommendations were made based on City-specific use-of-force and complaint data, and a desire to increase community engagement in policing and public safety within Hillsboro and support Police Department staff in providing public safety services to all members of our community.

City staff also continue to work on the following:

Expand equity training for the City Council and City staff, including the Police Department.
Research programs nationwide through a racial equity lens, such as CAHOOTS based in Eugene, and propose a program that will help support the needs of community members experiencing mental health and/or homelessness challenges.
Continue to engage community members, including partnering with community groups, to hear from more residents.
Provide ongoing communication to residents on policy decisions and opportunities to provide input and give feedback.

City of Hillsboro staff will continue to research policy options and engage Hillsboro community members and groups.

City of Hillsboro, OR

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