As your Chief of Police, it is my honor to welcome you to our very first e-newsletter.
At the heart of a safe and thriving community lies strong, meaningful connections between its members and those sworn to protect them. Building and nurturing these connections is a top priority for our police department.
Each issue will feature highlights of our work in the community, ways to connect, tips for staying safe, and interesting stories and profiles.
We are working on initiatives aimed at strengthening our relationship with those who call Gresham home. These interactions help us to understand your concerns and work together to find solutions.
This month’s highlight celebrates the launch of a new initiative we have named PACT. PACT stands for Police and Community Together.
PACT represents our commitment to partnering with the Gresham community to develop solutions to problems, increase trust, and to share safety initiatives.
This fall, we invite you to attend our PACT workshops, Neighborhood Crime Prevention and Drones in Public Safety. You will find more information and directions on how to register below.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Let’s continue to build a connected and resilient community.
Enjoy the newsletter.
Chief Travis Gullberg
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Was this newsletter forwarded to you?
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Fall workshop registration
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Join us for a PACT workshop to talk with police officers in person, share concerns and collaborate on solutions.
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- Thursday, Sept. 26
6:30 - 8 pm - City Council Chambers
1333 Eastman Parkway
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Open for enrollment
Learn about the ways the Police Department utilizes drones to safeguard the community and officers, assist with search and rescue, and support regional crime prevention. Watch the drones in action in a variety of settings.
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Neighborhood Crime Prevention
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- Wednesday, Oct. 16
6:30 - 8 pm - City Council Chambers
1333 Eastman Parkway
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Enrollment opens 9/5
Learn ways to safeguard your neighborhood and what neighbors can do together to prevent crime.
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- First-time users will need to create an account; enter your name and email address.
- A phone number is optional and will only be used if we have a last-minute cancellation.
- Once registered, return to the registration main page by going to the top right-hand corner and choosing "dashboard." From there, you can add additional workshops.
- If you are registering additional people in your family, everyone will need their own account.
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Interested in a PACT presentation for your group or facility? Contact us at 503-618-3202 or email Sarah Richardson.
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| The Gresham Police use drones in two distinct ways.
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- As a tool on scene during an incident. Specially trained officers carry drones in their patrol cars and deploy them when their assistance is needed, just as an officer might have a K-9 to assist.
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Drones as First Response (DFR). In 2023, the department began a pilot program to advance the program. This program dispatches drones independently to calls for service from remote sites. Just as a patrol officer would be dispatched to a call. The goal, as police staffing improves, is to have a full-time DFR unit.
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Learn more about this pilot program and how it helps keep officers and the community safe.
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September can be hectic with summer ending and the first day of school just around the corner.
The National Safety Council has some tips to help you get prepared for a safe school year.
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Cruisin' with the Cops Car Show
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- Sunday, Sept. 8, 9 am -3 pm
- Former K-Mart Lot, 440 NW Burnside Road, Gresham
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A free community event hosted by the Gresham Police Officers' Association.
Proceeds benefit Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, My Father's House, Trauma Intervention Program NW, Responder Life, and Pink Sistas.
Antique, custom, vintage and classics encouraged.
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Tagg's Dog Days of Summer
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- Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 am - 1 pm
- Gresham City Hall, 1333 NW Eastman Parkway
- Free to all ages
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Community members can meet Tagg, the Gresham Police comfort dog and his friends, including Remi from Beaverton; Burt from Multnomah County Sherrif’s Office; and Onyx from Tualatin.
Learn how police K-9s train and work.
Enjoy refreshments, photo opportunities, and fun activities for children. Well-mannered dogs (leashed) are welcome too!
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Following in the footsteps of eight family members including his dad and his aunt, Sgt. Amend began his law enforcement career with the Gresham Police Explorer program when he was 16 years old and never looked back. He was sworn in as a Gresham Police officer in September 1997.
As a detective sergeant, he is one of three who lead the department's Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program, which includes the Drones as First Responders (DFR) pilot program. He is working closely on the development of a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which is a future goal for the department.
Over the course of his career, Sgt. Amend’s roles have included K-9 handler, leadership for the Cadet Post, and Citizen Volunteers in Policing unit. He has acted as the Police Reserves Supervisor, Executive Officer for the Chief of Police under Chief Junginger, and Transit Police Sergeant for Eastside Transit. That is just a snapshot of his professional resume.
A few questions for Sgt. Amend:
You have been instrumental in developing PACT. What is your goal for the program? To strengthen our relationship with the community. I believe we can do that through community training and taking the time to share more about the job of a police officer.
How do you handle the stress of your job? I focus on being active, walking, and a positive mindset. I also make time to enjoy some hobbies which helps to manage the stress.
What is on your bucket list? I would consider it a huge success to get three launch sites for the Drones as First Responder program (DFR) up and running and forming a partnership with the Portland Police Bureau's UAS team with DFR, as well as spin up an operational Real Time Crime Center.
That is a great goal for a safer Gresham, but what about a personal bucket list item? I would like to fish in every lake and stream in Oregon.
That is a big bucket item right there. Any other hobbies? I enjoy woodworking and would like to learn more about gardening.
What is a recent woodworking project you completed? I made my daughter a Disney-themed lamp and a pin display for her Disney pin collection.
Our officers are not just enforcers of the law; they are neighbors, friends, and partners in building a safer Gresham.
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Meet Sgt. Amend at a fall PACT workshop.
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| Interested in becoming a Gresham Police Officer?
Gresham has a lot to offer!
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- Education reimbursement: Up to $5,000 per year
- Salary range: $78,180 - $95,016
- Generous benefit packages
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Know someone that would make an excellent officer? Refer them and once they are sworn in receive a $1,000 referral bonus.
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Police Transparency dashboard
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Launched in 2023, the dashboard gives community members a direct path to the work our police officers do. Included is data on:
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- Workforce diversity
- Crime and incidents
- Use of force
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Safety and trust go hand in hand. Our commitment to transparency is unwavering, and your trust is something we aim to earn every day through our actions, accountability and dedication in serving you.
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1333 NW Eastman Parkway None | Gresham, OR 97030 US
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