Did you know that if you served in the military and meet certain qualifications, you can obtain a form of identification which designates you as a United States military veteran? There are actually many ways veterans can signify their service to our country on an identification card. 

View how to get veteran identification, and share this information with those you know who served our country.

The Western Washington County Firefighters are presenting a fireworks display at Tom McCall Field at 6:00 p.m. on the 4th of July ... with live music!

A deputy investigated a lawn mower theft that occurred after- hours from a local farm store. The store's surveillance video showed a dark figure approach and steal a red Troy-Bilt lawn mower. The deputy noted the suspect in the video had an unusual gait as he walked with a black handkerchief in his back pocket.

The next day on patrol, while compiling evidence, the deputy saw a man doing yard work. This man had the same unusual gait and black handkerchief as the suspect in the video surveillance.

Coincidentally, he was using a Troy-Bilt mower . . . recently painted black with the original red paint still showing in some spots. Talk about a bad cover-up job! The man was arrested and lodged in the jail for Theft II.

Two deputies were honored by the Beaverton Optimist Club for their dedication to serving youth in Washington County.  

Deputy Jarrod McCreary, a School Resource Officer, and Deputy Tony Morris, a Search and Rescue Explorer Post Advisor, received their awards on June 9.  

The Beaverton Optimist Club will make a donation to the Dean Mitchell Public Safety Scholarship in their honor.

Henry Hagg Lake (map) is a popular summertime destination for Washington County residents. Deputies have a couple of reminders to help keep people safe.

In 1996, Recruit Deputy Bill Steele was hired by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. He rose through the ranks and was eventually appointed as Chief Deputy in 2011, the third highest ranking position in our office. 

Congratulations, Chief Steele!

Ship Security - Rose Festival
Our deputies partnered with Multnomah County deputies on river patrol during the Rose Festival. On June 11, while patrolling the security zone for ships on the Willamette River, deputies heard a large splash near the Steel Bridge. They spotted a man flailing in the water and pulled him to safety. The man said he jumped from the car deck of the bridge on purpose, but he was thankful to have been saved. He suffered only minor injuries from the 100-foot fall, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Man Shot in the Back - Aloha
On June 11, around 6:00 p.m., deputies responded to a report that a male had been shot in the back. However, there were actually no weapons involved.  A person was suffering a medical problem and had a history of mental health issues. The patient was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Naked Man on the Loose - Forest Grove
On June 13,  just after 2:00 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a naked man who ran through a home on NW Seavey Road. The homeowner initially held him at gunpoint, but the suspect eventually left without being shot. When a deputy encountered the naked man walking in the middle of the road several blocks from the residence, he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and did not respond to the deputy's commands. As the suspect approached the patrol car, the deputy twice deployed a Taser, but the man kept advancing. A second deputy arrived on scene, tackled the suspect, and took him into custody. The suspect later admitted to taking acid with friends, but he could not remember anything after ingesting the drug, including his encounter with police.

A man decided to get hammered for his birthday at a local bar. He stepped outside where he encountered a man and woman outside chatting and sharing a few laughs. In his drunken state, he thought they were laughing at him. So what's a birthday boy to do?

The drunken man took a fighting stance and "put up his dukes," pretending like he was going to fight the other man. To make things worse, the drunken man started to spit at the feet of the other bar patrons. One patron defended himself and a woman by pushing the drunken man to the ground and away from them. The drunken man then urinated all over himself while lying on the ground.

He was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, two counts of Harassment, and Resisting Arrest. Worst. Birthday. Ever.