During the first half of 2023, the Hillsboro Police Community Advisory Group discussed many important topics:

The Murder of Tyre Nichols

Following the murder of Tyre Nichols, the group discussed the local impact on community members. Group members asked questions and learned about HPD’s policies and practices. The Group wrote a statement about the impact of the incident that was shared in HPD’s “Badge and Beyond” monthly email newsletter.  

OIR Report Review

The Group reviewed and discussed the OIR report in depth, including a focus on:

• HPD’s implementation of the recommendations from the OIR Group
• The need for an updated status of the recommendations to be posted on the website
• Priorities amongst the pending items 

Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Policy 

The Group discussed the Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Policy and attended a presentation by Project Manager Donelle O’Loughlin that included a demonstration of the cameras and data. The Group provided input to the Chief on different areas of the policy from a community perspective, including community impact, trust, and expectations.  

HPD's Vision Statement

The Group began discussing HPD’s Vision Statement.  

Other Updates 

Other Group updates include:

• The Group welcomed a new member to fill a vacancy. The new member was selected from the alternate pool created during the first recruitment.
• Members of the Group participated in and presented at the Hillsboro Police Community Academy.
• Some Group members participated in patrol ride-alongs with HPD officers.
• The first youth member graduated the Youth Participation and Scholarship Program in June 2023.  

Youth Representative Joins the Group

During the last half of 2022, members of the Hillsboro Police Community Advisory Group focused on adding the group’s final member — the youth representative.

The invitation to serve was posted on a variety of City of Hillsboro and Police Department communication channels, including social media and email newsletters. HPD staff also connected with Hillsboro School District staff, who shared the opportunity with HSD students and families.

In November, the advisory group invited student candidates to present to the group. The youth representative who was selected made an impressive presentation, sharing her vision for increasing youth engagement with Hillsboro Police. She joined the advisory group in time for the December meeting.

Discussion of Deadly Force Incidents

On two separate occasions, the advisory group discussed recent incidents of deadly force involving Hillsboro Police Department staff. The group discussed the community’s frustration when a police department doesn’t release details about an incident right away.

While the group did not learn more details about the incidents than provided to the rest of the community, they did learn about the separation of roles between the local police department and the Washington County Major Crimes Team that investigates such incidents.

The group also discussed how the incidents impact not only the persons directly involved, but their family, other community members, the officer involved, and the officer's family.

TRUST Peer Support

The advisory group met Sgt. Leland Gilbert from the TRUST peer support group. Upon learning about the difficulties that officers and their families experience after being involved in a critical incident or using deadly force, the group also learned about the tools and supports available to police officers after critical incidents.

Community Outreach

In October, Lt. Jincy Pace from the Hillsboro Police Department’s Community Engagement Team presented the activities and outreach efforts to the Hillsboro community.

Lt. Pace provided details about the team’s outreach activities and efforts to focus on Latino-owned small businesses and neighborhood groups, including:

• Coffee with a Cop
• Soccer with a Cop
• Popsicle Patrol
• Community Academy
• National Night Out
• Pride Event

Lt. Pace expressed being open to new ideas for how to create new engagement opportunities for Hillsboro community members.

OIR Group External Review & Recommendations

Chief Coleman introduced the OIR Group’s report as part of its independent review of the Hillsboro Police Department’s use of force, policies, and accountability system. The advisory group will review the OIR Group report in more depth in coming months.

Read the OIR Group Report.

1st Quarter 

Getting Started

Community Advisory Group members focused early conversations on:

• Establishing operational systems
• Reviewing the Guiding Document for the Advisory Group
• Planning a group webpage
• Selecting co-chairs to serve a one-year term

STOP Data

In February, the group welcomed a presentation from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission discussing Statistical Transparency of Policing (STOP) data. The presentation included information about the Hillsboro Police Department from a 2021 report (see page 78 for data on Hillsboro).

Group members provided input and shared their perspectives with Chief Jim Coleman on the STOP data report. Among questions posed by group members: Who is the baseline data compared? Why was that demographic chosen?

2nd Quarter

Community Concerns

Group members advised Chief Coleman on community concerns about policing and public safety, including in the 10th Avenue corridor. One discussion centered on options for connecting community members with health and safety resources, rather than calling 911. The group suggested providing additional communication to the community about the non-emergency number: 503-629-0111.

Unhoused Community Members

HPD's Community Impact Team Homeless Liaison Officers presented to the group about their collective personal experiences working with community members who are unhoused. Police Department employees shared their detailed knowledge, including establishing relationships and remembering individuals' names, circumstances, and needs.

Following the presentation, the group discussed local issues related to mental health and homelessness.

A Diverse Workforce

The group also discussed attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that is reflective of our community. Chief Coleman shared how the Police Department seeks unique, quality people to serve the community.

Current Events

The group had informal discussions about current events, including mass shootings, local criminal events, and threat assessments. Group members are looking forward to gaining insight into tactical responses to possible future events, as well as best practices in emergency situations.

Youth Member Recruitment

The group sought to add a student member to provide a youth voice and youth perspective for discussions. Members were encouraged to refer interested applicants to the Community Advisory Group's webpage and to share that the student member is eligible for a college scholarship as part of their participation.

To join, you must be 18 years or older, live or work within the City of Hillsboro, and pass a background check. 

• Three group members and three alternates will be selected to serve a two-year term.
  
  
• Monthly meetings take place online or in person on third Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Hidden Creek Community Center.
  
  
• Childcare and/or supervised play is available for in-person meetings.
  
  
• Interpretation will be provided to meet the language needs of all participants.

Criteria

Members of the Group and alternates appointed by the Chief of Police through the application process must be:

• Residents of or work within the City of Hillsboro police jurisdiction,
• Age 18 or older (except for the appointed youth member), and
• Willing to commit to regular attendance at meetings. 

Members and alternates appointed by the Chief of Police through the application process must pass a background check before final appointment. Members and alternates may not simultaneously be running for or holding public office.

The youth member must meet the requirements of the youth application process.

Background Check

Members may not have been convicted of a felony in the last ten years. Individuals with a felony conviction that is more than 10 years old or who have a misdemeanor conviction may be considered for appointment on a case-by-case basis. No member may be on supervised status or pretrial release, have active warrants for their arrest, or be a registered sex offender.

Mission

To advise the Hillsboro Chief of Police from a community perspective on matters related to community engagement and relations, programming, public education, and other matters requested by, or in consultation with, the Chief, in order to enhance police-community relations and improve community trust.

Guiding Principles

• The Group will follow the City’s Guiding Principles.
• The Group will respectfully seek to understand the varying perspectives on public safety and its impacts on the community.
• The Group will recognize that it acts strictly in an advisory capacity to the Chief of Police.  
• The Group will act only as a group and there is no individual jurisdiction granted to any single member.
• The Group will rely on data (quantitative and qualitative) to inform its discussions and recommendations.
• The Group will recognize that the Hillsboro Police Department does not control the entire criminal justice and/or public safety system and will keep its discussions and recommendations focused on the scope of control of the Hillsboro Police Department.
• The Group and its members must follow any applicable statutory rules as they relate to the subject matter being dealt with.
• There is no transfer of authority, administrative accountability, or legal responsibility assigned or delegated to the Group.

The Hillsboro Police Community Advisory Group is made up of volunteer community members who live or work in the City of Hillsboro. Group members serve two-year terms, with individual terms expiring in alternating years to allow both fresh perspective and continuity within the Group each year. 

The group is composed of seven members appointed by the Chief of Police and one youth representative appointed by the Chief of Police through a special youth participation process, for a total of eight members.

The members will annually select by majority vote two members to serve as co-chairpersons.  At least one co-chairperson will be required to be present for each meeting. The membership should be representative of Hillsboro’s cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity.  

Terms for members appointed by the Chief of Police through the application process will be two years, with four of the members’ terms expiring at the end of even-numbered years and three of the members’ terms expiring at the end of odd-numbered years. The term for the youth member will be one school year.

In addition to the members, there will be at least one approved alternate(s) who have completed the application and background process. An alternate will be selected to replace an active member in the event a member cannot complete their term. Alternates will remain on the alternates-list for two years.

Members and alternates are appointed by the Chief of Police following a collaborative process.

Logistics

Monthly meetings take place online or in person at Hidden Creek Community Center on third Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

• A quorum for the Group will be four members.
  
  
• Members needing to utilize the onsite childcare and/or supervised play will be able to do so with advanced notice.
  
  
• Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Structure

The agenda for each meeting will be set by the Facilitator (Police Executive Manager) in collaboration with the Chief of Police and co-chairs, based on the Chief’s requests for recommendations and distributed to all group members in advance of each meeting.  

The Police Department Facilitator will coordinate relevant training for each meeting related to the topic being discussed to ensure that the group is able to provide meaningful and relevant recommendations.

Annually, some training time will be dedicated to providing an overview of the Department, structure, and operations.

Any official recommendations by the Group will be formally presented by the co-chairs to the Chief of Police during a scheduled regular meeting. (This does not preclude open discussion with the Chief prior to the Group’s recommendation being reached.) When appropriate, but at least quarterly, the Group will provide an overview of its current work that will be posted to this webpage.