Formed in 1870, the Portland Police Bureau is one of the largest police forces in the United States, employing over 800 sworn members.
Formed in 1870, the Portland Police Bureau is one of the largest police forces in the United States, employing over 800 sworn members.
Between 1851 and 1870, Portland was protected by a marshal, sometimes elected and sometimes appointed for two years. Gradually, as the city’s population exploded, the lawman was assisted by deputies. In 1870, the city council decided to create the Portland Police Bureau to structure the new law enforcement agencies.
In 1908, Portland made history by hiring the first female officer, Lola Baldwin. The current building dates from 1984, when the 1913 headquarters at SW 2nd Ave and SW Oak St was demolished. It houses a museum tracing the history of public safety in the Rose City.
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