Page 9 - 2018 WCSO ANNUAL REPORT HTML5 ONLY
P. 9
It is easy to see why being part of a community
where people feel safe ranks high for all of us. To
best serve our communities, the 726 square miles
of Washington County are mapped out into 14
geographic beats or service areas. Each beat is
assigned a command officer directly responsible
for problem solving and strategic planning.
Assigned together, deputies and the beat
sergeant gain an understanding of area residents’
needs and tailor service locally for community
engagement and accountability. Beat sergeants
and deputies regularly connect and collaborate
with the community – through events, schools,
community groups, local business association or
community meetings and educational public safety
presentations. Command officers or lieutenants are
responsible for sectors or a collection of beats in
similar geographic areas. Working from this view
point, the collective needs of an area are easily
identified and a lieutenant helps leverage available
assistance.
One of our strategic goals at the sheriff’s office is for
Washington County to be the safest major urban
county in Oregon. According to FBI data for the
most recent year recorded – 2016 – we achieved
that goal. The extent to which we meet this goal
depends greatly on how well we work together.
View the FBI report:
www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/publications
Deputies patrol the road 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 days a year. We take pride saying this is
more than a full-time job - because it is - patrolling
the streets and keeping our commitment to public
safety is our calling.

