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 One Warm Coat Leads to Many Warm People
Sheriff's Office staff and community members gathered their hearts and coats to make this season a little warmer for many children and adults in need.
 Our annual One Warm Coat campaign proudly collected 1,087 coats plus 120 additional items, such as socks, scarves, and gloves.
We thank you all for your generous donations and our Sheriff's volunteers for their hard work in making this year's drive a success. Learn more.
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 Safer Online Shopping
We want to help you be safe when you shop online during the holidays and throughout the new year. Here are a few quick tips to ensure your packages arrive as planned.
Do not use public computers or public wireless for your online shopping. They may contain malicious software that steals your personal information when you place your order, which can lead to identity theft.
Know your online merchants.
Look for "https" when making an online purchase. The "s" in "https" stands for "secure" and means the webpage is encrypted for your protection.
Do not respond to pop-up ads. When a window pops up promising you cash or gifts for answering a question or survey, close it by pressing "Control" plus "F4" on Windows, or "Command" plus "W" for Macs.
What can you do if you encounter problems with an online shopping site? |
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 Will Thieves Take the Bait?
Holiday crooks looking to steal packages from porches in our county should BEWARE!
Sheriff's investigators are deploying "bait" packages on porches around Washington County, hoping to catch thieves in the act. The bait is the package, but our little holiday gift is a GPS tracking device inside that helps deputies track them. Investigators are asking for your help in making it a tough season for crooks: view the KGW News story.
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Cops Shop with 55 Children This Year!
On December 5 at the Cornelius Walmart and then on December 7 at the Cornelius Fred Meyer, a total of 55 local children joined deputies for a "Shop With a Cop" event. Local schools helped by nominating eligible children, deputies shopped with the kids, and many sponsors gave generously. Watch the videos: Shopping at Walmart and Shopping at Fred Meyer.
We thank all our 2016 sponsors: Cornelius Fred Meyer, Cornelius Walmart, the Washington County Police Officers' Association, the Sheriff's Office Foundation of Washington County, US Bank, Sonic Drive-In, People Helping People, and Forest Grove McDonald's.
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 Disaster Planning Gift Guide
Can't decide what to get the person who has everything? How about safer travels?
Many inexpensive items can help a motorist weather winter obstacles while on the road: - Map of the Portland Metropolitan area
- Gloves or hand warmers
- Socks
- Bottled water and non-perishable snacks (granola bars, nuts, fruit leather)
- Water purification straw (makes contaminated water safe to drink)
- First aid kit
- Flares
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- Back-up cell phone battery
- Blanket
- Rain Poncho
Get up-to-date road conditions by visiting Trip Check. We wish you safe travels!
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Sheriff's Media Releases
Put a Bird On It!
11/28/16 - A man showed up to attend his court hearing, not expecting to be there long. He brought his pet macaw along and placed it in a tree near the courthouse. When the man was taken into custody, he let deputies know about his beloved bird, named "Bird."
Court security deputies escorted the man to the tree where "Bird" was waiting for his owner. While perched on his owner's shoulder, "Bird" came inside the court booking area to eat and drink. Deputies were able to contact a friend of the man so "Bird" could be cared for while his owner resolved his court case. This may have been an unusual situation, but it was the right thing to do. Media release.
Stolen Bicycle Recovered Thanks to Alert Resident
12/12/16 - On December 8, deputies received an anonymous call regarding the whereabouts of a bicycle stolen from a special needs man, first reported on December 4. The anonymous caller saw the report on a local news program and recognized both the suspect and the bicycle. The Bike Gallery in Beaverton, which is where the bicycle was originally purchased, has generously offered to service the bicycle before it is reunited with its owner. The man who is believed to be the bike thief has not been found. Media release.
Local Road News
Other News
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Share This Issue of Sheriff's Office News!
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No Shave November for Charity!
Sheriff Garrett authorized staff to participate in No Shave November for charity! Together, w e raised $4,425 to support cancer prevention, research, education, and evoke conversation about cancer awareness.
Thank you to everyone who donated during our No Shave November campaign!
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Where Have Deputies Been Working?
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Santa hitchin' a ride with a deputy at the Bethany Station Tree Lighting ceremony
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Crime Reports automatically opens with a view of all requests for police service (except traffic) in unincorporated Washington County during the last 30 days.
- Click on this link.
- Enter an address.
- For Banks, Cornelius, or Gaston, type the city in this format: "Banks, OR."
- Click on map markers to view call details.
- Use the Filter to change time periods, add traffic data, etc.
Keep in mind - these are requests for police services, not confirmed crimes.
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Attend a Free Women's Self- Defense Class
Power Curve - Registration is Now Open
This free two-day course is designed to empower women with tools to maintain personal safety and to successfully confront and survive potentially dangerous situations.
This class is extremely popular and fills up fast! The next classes are January 10 and January 12, 2017, both 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. |
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Deck the Halls - By Letting Go a Little
 Some of the most challenging aspects of the holidays are the expectations that we all have about what the holiday is supposed to look like, how our family is supposed to look and behave, and the perfect gift we feel we are supposed to buy.
Try letting go of some of those expectations.
Instead, a couple of times a day, try taking a deep breath, and acknowledge some of the moments, experiences, and people for whom you are grateful.
Don't wait for the earth-shattering moments, but notice the small ones -- your spouse who did the dishes before you got home, the stranger who held the door for you at the store, the seat you were able to get on the Max train that is almost always full.
If at any time you find the holidays difficult, sad, lonely, or you know someone else you believe is struggling, remember -- there is always someone to talk to, any time of the day or night.
You have many opportunities in Washington County to access mental health and emergency services.
- If you feel your safety or the safety of someone else is threatened by suicide or mental health crisis, please call 9-1-1 to report the emergency.
- In non-emergency situations, you can call dispatch at (503) 629-0111, and our Mental Health Response Team can assist.
- You can also call the Washington County Crisis Line, any time, at (503) 291-9111.
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Donate to "Colors 4 Kiddos" for Doernbecher Children's Hospital
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| | | Madison with the 2015 Colors 4 Kiddos delivery crew | |
One of our very own "WCSO kids" spent time at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland during the holidays in 2011. Since then, through "Colors 4 Kiddos," Madison gives back and helps other sick kids.
She has collected more than 2,500 coloring books and crayons, 250 board games, and various other cheerful, kid-friendly supplies.
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 Believe it or Not!
Just after midnight, a driver was stopped for having no tail lights and throwing litter out his car window. When contacting the driver, the deputy noticed the man had watery, bloodshot eyes, and the strong odor of marijuana was emanating from his car.
The deputy asked for his driver's license, registration, and insurance, and the driver began shuffling through papers. After a minute, he forgot the deputy's question. When the deputy asked questions to see if he was experiencing a medical issue, the driver admitted to smoking some "shake" marijuana about an hour before. He then proceeded to describe the marijuana's quality as a "five" on a scale from one to ten. He explained that a one was "crummy rag weed" and ten would be "the most diggity-dank he's ever smoked." The driver was arrested for DUII-marijuana, even though it wasn't the most diggity-dank.
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 He Knows if You've Been Bad or Good . . .
Not only is it illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol, it is also a crime to drive under the influence of a controlled substance, such as marijuana or even prescription medications.
Every year around the holidays, we increase the number of deputies on the road looking for DUII drivers.
Please drive safe and sober. Related Sheriff's Media Releases 12/12/16 - Sheriff's Office DUII Results for November
12/13/16 - President Declares December National Impaired Driving Prevention Month |
Who Made Santa's Naughty List?
The following people are wanted for committing crimes. Do not approach them.
If you see them or have information to share with law enforcement, please call:
Sheriff's 24-Hour Criminal Records Office at (503) 846-2700 or
Non-Emergency Dispatch at (503) 629-0111.
Wanted flyers are online - click on a photo or visit:
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Washington County Sheriff's Office, Hillsboro, Oregon
Nationally Accredited by CALEA since 2004
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