Hillsboro Police Department leaders told the City Council on July 1 that patrol and investigative staffing, complaints and increasing shoplifting and assault reports are driving operational focus, and they presented designs for a new, seismically resilient police headquarters planned for the city’s northeast quadrant.

Chief Jim Coleman said the department has roughly 207.5 staff positions (sworn and professional staff combined) and described a 2022 reorganization that aligned patrol, services and business operations. “We’re excited to talk to you tonight about the Hillsboro Police Department,” Coleman said as he introduced the executive staff.

Why it matters: The department reported modest increases in assaults, larceny/shoplifting and weapons‑offense counts in 2024 relative to pre‑COVID baselines, and it singled out organized retail theft as an ongoing focus. At the same time, the department emphasized steady performance on priority response times and described ways the proposed headquarters would improve security, privacy, staff wellness and public engagement.

Key points

- Crime trends and data: Leah Turner (analytics services) said 2024 shows higher‑than‑expected counts for some categories compared with the post‑2016 baseline used for state NIBRS reporting. The department highlighted increases in assaults (including aggravated and simple assaults), shoplifting/organized retail theft and weapons‑law offenses. Turner also noted Measure 110’s effect on drug‑possession statistics and the need to interpret that data carefully.
- Organized retail theft: The department described multi‑agency, grant‑funded enforcement missions addressing shoplifting and organized retail theft and showed an officer video summarizing recent activity and arrests. Patrol staff said those missions use overtime funding when available and that grant reimbursements offset some costs.
- Patrol and response metrics: Patrol is deployed across three daily shift starts (06:00, 15:00 and 20:00) with 10‑hour tours and a 4‑on/3‑off rotation. Leadership said the department aims for response to high‑priority calls in under four minutes and maintains lieutenants and sergeants to preserve continuity of supervision.
- Complaints and oversight: The department reported a low number of community complaints relative to overall activity and stressed multiple intake paths (phone, web, in‑person). Coleman and staff said administrative (internally‑originated) investigations and community complaints are handled under established policy; the Police Chief’s Advisory Group does not conduct internal‑complaint adjudication, a choice made after outside review of department processes.
- Body‑worn cameras and evidence: Staff said body‑worn camera audio is now harder to mute accidentally (operators must hold a mute control continuously) and that the department’s evidence unit and regional digital forensics capability support complex investigations.

New headquarters plan

The council also heard progress on a proposed consolidated Hillsboro Police Headquarters on a site near Northeast 185th Avenue and Intel’s campus. Project highlights provided by city project staff and the design team:

- Size and resiliency: Target building size is about 67,000 square feet (roughly 17,000 sq ft larger than current combined facilities) and the design is intended as a Level‑4 seismic‑resilient facility able to operate after major earthquakes.
- Design themes: The project includes public plaza space, a multipurpose/community room, secure vehicle sally‑port, staff wellness and fitness areas, and biophilic design oriented toward adjacent wetland areas. Renderings show a public entry plaza and secured staff/vehicle zones separated from public circulation.
- Schedule and delivery: The team reports design development at roughly the 50–60% stage, with early site‑work procurement planned for late 2025, a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) request in early 2026, construction start in spring 2026 and an occupancy target in summer 2026; early work packages would include grading and deep utilities. The city is using a construction‑manager/general‑contractor (CMGC) delivery model and has engaged Swinerton as CMGC and DLR Group as the architect.
- Cost approach: Project staff reported a target value design process and earlier estimates above $100 million that the team has been working to reduce; current reported hard‑plus‑soft per‑square‑foot targets were described as driven by Level‑4 building requirements and security standards.

Quotes and context

Leah Turner described the analytics team and the public dashboards: “We get a lot of support from volunteers, and we appreciate that.” Chief Coleman described the headquarters project as an effort to improve employee safety and public access while preserving operational resilience: the design will “surprise people” who come to the building by being less fortress‑like while meeting security needs.

Operational notes and next steps

Department leaders asked the council to continue supporting analytics, evidence‑processing capacity and mental‑health co‑response staffing (an officer paired with a clinician). On training and facilities, leaders said firearms, driving and other practical training still require off‑site ranges and facilities; the department and city staff are exploring options to keep those activities accessible and cost‑efficient.

Ending

The police briefing combined near‑term operational items (shoplifting and weapons‑offense enforcement, mental‑health response) with a multi‑year capital project. Staff said they will return with procurement requests for early site work and the GMP once design and market pricing are reconciled.