Embracing the community and partnerships

Meanwhile, McDonald said if people want to chat with him, there are very few things Tigard police can’t talk about unless it pertains to something like an active investigation. He said he’s found the community to expect transparency and accountability.

In addition to Tigard residents, McDonald has gotten to know the local business community as well, having served for 3-1/2 years as sergeant in the commercial crimes unit. While the unit’s initial goal was teaching business owners how to prevent crimes, detectives that were part of the team made it clear they wanted to also solve crimes where merchants had been victimized.

“By the time I got there in 2011, we were focusing almost exclusively on investigations,” he said of a program that is largely funded through business fees.

One innovation the Tigard Police Department has embraced over the last several years is a drone program, which can be used in helping local police agencies who use dogs to track a suspect know how close they are. They’ve proved to be beneficial for other activities as well.

During a recent Tigard fire, an officer was able to send a drone up while a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue firefighter stood by and watched the unmanned vehicle identify hotspots on the roof. The drone provided more effective intelligence on how to fight the blaze.