Our Research
Three months of deep research, stress-tested against every counterargument.
Download the Full Research Brief
The complete analysis with all sources, data, and legal citations in PDF format.
Executive Summary
Milwaukie, Oregon is experiencing rising crime, a camping ordinance with no publicly available enforcement data, and a police department understaffed at 40% below the national per-capita average. In 2024, crime increased significantly while national crime fell 4.5%. Residents report a cycle where individuals are cited, released, and return the next day with no consequences.
Meanwhile, Oregon City — in the same county, with the same legal authority and the same HB 3115 constraints — has built a comprehensive public safety strategy: a Civil Exclusion Zone for repeat criminal offenders (January 2026), a dedicated Homeless Liaison Officer (since 2017), a five-day Behavioral Health Co-Response team (since 2020), a Community Court, contracted camp cleanup crews, and a comprehensive annual police report with enforcement data.
Milwaukie has made meaningful investments — two behavioral health professionals, LEAD participation, the Stabilization Center, body cameras — but key strategic tools remain missing. Despite spending more per resident on policing ($330 vs. Oregon City's $291), the gap is not funding — it is strategy.
Three City Council seats are on the ballot November 3, 2026: Mayor, Position 2, and Position 4. This is a generational opportunity to elect leaders who will invest in the layered approach our city needs.
Oregon City vs. Milwaukie: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Capability | Oregon City | Milwaukie |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Exclusion Zone | YES (Jan 2026) | No |
| Dedicated Homeless Outreach Officer | YES (since 2017) | No |
| Behavioral Health Team | YES (5-day co-response) | YES (2 staff, growing) |
| LEAD Program | YES | YES (via county) |
| Community Court | YES | No |
| Camp Cleanup Crews | YES (contracted) | No |
| Camping Enforcement Data | YES | No |
| Annual Police Report | YES (comprehensive) | Raw dispatch only |
| Homelessness Strategy | YES (2022–2026) | No |
| Individuals Tracked | 58 on roster | Unknown |
| Per-Resident Police Spending | $291 | $330 (higher spending, fewer strategic tools) |
Both cities are in Clackamas County with the same legal authority under HB 3115.
Our 8 Proposals
Every proposal pairs enforcement with services. Not one or the other — both.
Adopt a Civil Exclusion Zone
Designate downtown and the riverfront as a Civil Exclusion Zone, modeled on Oregon City's January 2026 ordinance. Repeat criminal offenders — disorderly conduct, harassment, public drug use, vandalism — can be banned for 30 days (90 for repeats). The boundary should account for the three schools and childcare facilities within 900 feet of the MAX station — Milwaukie High School (580 ft), Sunshine Early Learning (700 ft), and Head Start (860 ft). Statewide polling shows 85% of Oregonians support restricting camping near public schools. Includes a 10-day appeal process and exceptions for medical, court, work, and transit access.
Create a Dedicated Homeless Outreach Officer
Fund a full-time sworn officer dedicated to homeless outreach and case management, mirroring Oregon City's model in place since 2017. This officer builds relationships, tracks individuals by name, and connects people to services before enforcement escalates.
Formalize Behavioral Health Co-Response
Expand the existing two-person behavioral health team to a five-day co-response model. Pair clinicians with officers on calls involving mental health crises, addiction, and homelessness. Oregon City's team responds alongside police — Milwaukie should match that capacity.
Publish Comprehensive Enforcement Data
Require the police department to publish an annual report with camping enforcement data, outcomes, and trends — not just raw dispatch logs. Residents deserve to know how many citations are issued, how many lead to prosecution, and how many people are connected to services.
Establish a Community Court
Create a community court for low-level offenses that diverts defendants into treatment, housing assistance, and community service instead of jail. Oregon City's community court reduces recidivism by addressing root causes. Milwaukie has nothing comparable.
Create a Downtown-Riverfront Officer + School Safety Plan
Assign a dedicated officer to a compact beat covering Main Street, the MAX station, Kronberg Park, the Trolley Trail, and the Kellogg Lake waterfront — on daily foot and bike patrol. The beat should include school-zone coverage during morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal, when 1,200+ Milwaukie High students move through the station area. Coordinate with North Clackamas School District on a safe routes plan ensuring student walking paths are monitored and maintained. Coordinate with TriMet to co-fund the position. Publish a written safety plan for the corridor including camera coverage, patrol schedules, and emergency protocols. Missoula, Montana's model: 2 officers, 445 business contacts, 71 interventions in 2024.
Fund Camp Cleanup Crews
Contract dedicated cleanup crews to remove debris, biohazards, and abandoned camps on public property — as Oregon City already does. Currently, Milwaukie has no systematic cleanup process. Camps persist for weeks, creating health hazards and eroding public trust.
Continue Shelter Expansion Advocacy
Advocate for expanded shelter capacity in Clackamas County, including year-round low-barrier shelters and managed transitional camps. Enforcement without available shelter beds is both legally vulnerable and morally insufficient. The county has $7.2M in available SHS funding.
Sources & References
Milwaukie Police Department. Dispatch data, staffing reports, and city council presentations (2023–2025).
Oregon City Police Department. Annual Police Report; Homeless Liaison Program documentation; Civil Exclusion Zone ordinance (January 2026).
Clackamas County. Point-in-Time Count (2023, 2024); Supportive Housing Services (SHS) funding allocations.
Lebovits, H. & Sullivan, E. (2025). "Criminalizing Homelessness: A Review of the Evidence." Annual Review of Criminology.
RAND Corporation. (2022). "Effects of Enforcement Approaches on Homelessness." Research brief.
Oregon HB 3115. (2021). Relating to regulation of camping on public property; prescribing standards for "objectively reasonable" enforcement.
Martin v. City of Boise. 920 F.3d 584 (9th Cir. 2019). Involuntary-status protections under the Eighth Amendment.
City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. 603 U.S. ___ (2024). Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce camping ordinances with civil penalties.
FBI Uniform Crime Report. (2024). National crime statistics.
Milwaukie Municipal Code. Title 8 — Public Peace, Safety, and Morals; camping ordinance.