Chief of Police
David G. Bishop

Chief's Bimonthly Newsletter
July 11, 2008

Our number one priority is to serve the citizens of our community.  To that end, I think it’s important to reflect on who and what we are as an agency.

Having said that, I think the key to our success is our Mission and Vision Statements.

The Beaverton Police Department shall provide the highest quality service, preserving human rights, lives, and property, while striving to achieve the goals of the department, the city and community. 

We are committed to the highest professional standards, responding to and supporting victims, while working in partnership with our citizens to meet the challenges of reducing crime, creating a safer environment and improving our quality of life.

We, the members of the Beaverton Police Department, are committed to excellence in leadership, providing progressive and proactive services, developing community partnerships, and building for the future.

In addition, and probably most important, are our Core Values:

Honesty—By committing to this core value, we are pledging to be sincere, fair, candid, and truthful with our internal and external customers, as well as peers.  By incorporating honesty into our core values, we are acknowledging the importance of establishing and maintaining credibility with those whom we serve.  As much as partnerships serve as a cornerstone of community policing, honesty is the cornerstone of a healthy partnership.

Integrity—Integrity is defined as adhering to your moral and ethical principals.  In simpler terms, it means that your actions are synonymous with what you say and believe.  To lack integrity is to be hypocritical.  By having integrity as one of our core values, we vow to conduct ourselves in a manner that attests to our personal honor, virtue, and incorruptibility, and is consistent with all of the agency’s core values.

Compassion—A person who is compassionate has the ability to commiserate, show mercy and tenderness toward others, and has a true desire to alleviate suffering.  A person who is compassionate is able to sympathize and show respect regardless of the circumstances of the encounter.  By having compassion as one of our core values we are acknowledging that our job is not to judge, but to assist those who are suffering and in need.

Professionalism—Professionalism is defined as being professional in character, spirit, and methods.  It is embodying the high ideals held by the community, and using our professional expertise to reach and maintain the high standards rightfully placed upon police officers.  By including professionalism within our core group of values, we are pledging to provide exceptional customer service, follow through on our responsibilities even amidst adversity, and be cognizant not to allow prejudices to cloud our objectivity.

These are the words we should live by every day.  They are who and what we are and should never be forgotten.