News / Press

The Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) responds to calls alongside the Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT -- or SWAT) with the special focus on establishing communication, gathering information, defusing emotions and increasing options in often rapidly evolving situations. CNU works to create peaceful resolutions during volatile situations by establishing ongoing dialogue and rapport with the person or persons in crisis. Formed in 1981, CNU's cornerstones are empathy, knowledge, and compassion. The team responds to many callouts throughout Washington County each year. Typical

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Our community is changing. So should our jail system. Operating the only jail in a county of just over 600,000 residents is challenging. With only 572 beds available and over 18,000 annual bookings, keeping the “right” offenders in jail requires a thoughtful systems approach with quality care and services. The capacity of the jail has not increased since 2000 when the population was just shy of 450,000 residents. Jail staff collaborate with criminal justice partners to ensure limited bed space

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Today's deputy must be agile, well-rounded and strategically minded to best serve and protect our community here in Washington County. This is why we are pleased to announce the opening of our new Public Safety Training Center (PSTC). Designed to be comprehensive and holistic in approach, it offers everything today's deputy needs to train at elite levels. Located off SW Walnut Street in Hillsboro, the $20 million, 100,000 square-foot PSTC is poised to become the premier law enforcement training facility in the

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Our newest recruit class of WCSO Explorer Post 877 participated in field training exercises to prepare for their role as Explorers. All new recruits attend the Sheriff's Office Explorer Academy, a 12 day training hosted in a collaborative effort with the Tillamook and Clatsop County Sheriff's Offices. After the academy, our members enjoy training throughout the year during regular meetings on weekday evenings and during some weekends. Training, like Search and Rescue in general, takes place in any weather. This program is

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The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the 200th capture for Corporal Micah Akin & K-9 Stark. The dynamic duo logged their milestone capture on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 while assisting Forest Grove Police in tracking down a suspect. At around 6:00 p.m., a woman reported to police her 20-year-old son-in-law was recording cell phone video of an underage girl in the bathroom. The suspect ran off into a large field. K-9 Stark arrived and tracked the man

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On May 3, 2019, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a kitten trapped inside a garbage can at Hillsboro Garbage Disposal on SW Minter Bridge Road in unincorporated Washington County, just south of Hillsboro. A garbage collector was working to empty a trash can at a property on SW Minter Bridge Road, just north of the Hillsboro Garbage Disposal location.  While trying to empty the can using a hydraulic arm, the driver noticed the contents of the

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In 2018, deputies responded to 122,931 calls for service, ranging from stolen property to missing persons to more serious threats to public safety. Certain calls may require an additional response beyond what is expected for a typical patrol deputy. The Washington County Sheriff's Office Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT, or SWAT) is a highly trained and well-equipped tactical team prepared to address high-risk incidents. The primary mission of this inter-agency team is to conserve public safety during extremely hazardous situations where

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Each deputy begins their career with one-on-one coaching from a Field Training Officer. Learn more about how this essential relationship is the first step in a successful law enforcement career.

July 9, 2018 – During enhanced holiday patrols between the dates of July 1 and July 8, deputies arrested 22 individuals for impaired driving. Seven of those arrests occurred between the afternoon of July 3 to the early morning of July 5.