Frequently Asked Questions

When a member of the community becomes aware of criminal activity whether as a victim or a witness, they may call 9-1-1 to report it. That is referred to as a call for service. After an officer is dispatched to investigate the incident, they may file a report, and the compilation of those reports is referred to as reported crime.

Analysis of calls for service provides an unfiltered view of what crimes are being reported to police, and with automated dispatch systems, the data is much more current. Police reports provide much greater information about the details of criminal activity, but not all reports are entered and available for analysis immediately.

Our Apartment Calls for Service page provides information for those interested in evaluating local apartment complexes, and further analysis of police reports. Other sources of crime analysis may focus on arrests or on the number of reported crimes cleared by the arrest of a suspect, criminal convictions, or sentences rendered.

Mapping crime can help law enforcement agencies protect the community more effectively in the areas they serve. Simple maps that display the locations where crimes or concentrations of crimes have occurred can be used to help direct patrols to places they are most needed. Policymakers in police departments might use more complex maps to observe trends in criminal activity, and maps may prove invaluable in solving criminal cases. For example, detectives may use maps to better understand the patterns of serial criminals and to hypothesize where these offenders might live.

Using maps that help people visualize the geographic aspects of crime, however, is not limited to law enforcement personnel. Mapping can provide specific information on crime and criminal behavior to elected officials, the media, and the community.

Not all vacant buildings are of concern. For example, a soldier who has gone off to war, leaving his unoccupied house under the watchful care of neighbors, is not of concern. A rental house that is temporarily vacant before a new tenant moves in is not an issue. Usually landlords, family members, or friendly neighbors watch over these buildings to preserve and protect them for their owners. These are not the types of vacant buildings that contribute to urban blight. However, obviously vacant buildings that are open to entry by trespassers are the kind of buildings the City’s ordinance was designed to address.

Vacant buildings that are open and accessible pose a danger to the community and particularly the immediate neighborhood.

• Children are drawn to vacant buildings to explore and play.
• Other not-so-innocent trespassers are also drawn to vacant buildings. Arsonists, child molesters, drug abusers, and gangsters sometimes use vacant buildings for their crimes.
• Vacant and abandoned buildings pose a threat to firefighters. The National Fire Prevention Association reports that more firefighters are injured at fires in vacant or abandoned properties that in any other type of property. The NFPA estimates more than 6,000 firefighters per year are injured fighting fires in abandoned and vacant buildings nationwide.
• When there is a fire in a vacant building, there is typically a delay in notification to the fire department. The delay allows the fire to grow and spread, posing an increased risk. Where there are clusters of vacant buildings, the fire can spread to several buildings before it is reported.

If you observe people trespassing at a vacant building, call the non-emergency police dispatch number, 503-629-0111.

Financial institutions are required by Oregon law to report foreclosed properties. To comply with the law, simply fill out the Report of Foreclosed Residential Real Property.

The Axon camera has three modes:

1. Off – no recording at all.
2. Buffering – recording video but not sound. The visual recording holds 30 seconds of video before it recycles.
3. Recording – full video and sound being recorded.

Officers patrol in ”Buffering” mode. When they take enforcement action or begin an investigation they activate the “Recording” function. The camera automatically records and saves video from the prior 30 seconds when the camera was in “buffering” mode. Once the “Recording” function is on, the camera is recording audio and visual until it is turned off.

Officers are able to turn their cameras off to conduct private daily functions such as using the bathroom.

If you saw a flash near one of the photo enforcement systems, it could have been a test shot or for another vehicle that was detected by the system. Routine test shots are taken several times a day to ensure that the system is operating properly and there are several checks and balances in place to ensure that a citation is only issued if a violation occurred. If a citation is issued it will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle at the address listed on the citation within 10 business days for red light and intersection speed violations. Due to high call volume, calls regarding flashes will not be returned.

If you have received a photo citation, most questions can be answered by following these steps.

1. Read all the information that came with the citation.
2. Go online to https://payment.zerofatality.com/vps/cgi/VP/citation_review to view images and/or video of the violation. For red light violations, it is particularly important to view the video to see the vehicle in motion.
3. Respond to the citation by choosing one of the options on the back of the citation and enter a plea with Beaverton Municipal Court.

If you have read the information that came with the citation, went on line to view images/video of the violation and have additional questions, you will be instructed on how to leave a message.

For more information on how enter a plea, to see if you are eligible to take traffic school for a dismissal of your citation, or to make a payment, or request a trial, go online for more information at www.beavertonoregon.gov/court or call the Beaverton Municipal Court at 503-526-2290. If you select this option, you will be instructed on how to be transferred to Court staff.

If you call to leave a message with the Beaverton Police Photo Enforcement Information line at 503-526-2546, please include the following details:

• The citation or docket number, which is printed on your photo citation.
• The license plate, make, model, and color of the involved vehicle.
• The date, time, and location the photo incident occurred.
• Your name and phone number.
• A brief message.