Portland Police Chief requests funding to increase force size to 1,037 from 881 due to staffing shortages and low officer-to-citizen ratio.

Portland Police Chief Bob Day has requested funding to increase the police force from 881 to 1,037 officers, aiming to address staffing shortages not seen in over 20 years. This increase, based on an analysis comparing staffing levels in similar cities, is intended to improve response times, reduce crime, and enhance community relations. Currently, Portland has the lowest number of officers per capita among major cities, with 1.23 officers per 1,000 residents.

October 15, 2024
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