Building a Safer Milwaukie Together

Crime increased in Milwaukie in 2024 while declining 4.5% nationally. Our police are understaffed — 40% below the national average per capita. The camping ordinance goes unenforced. People camp in plain sight during banned hours because a $50 citation with no meaningful consequence changes nothing.

Officers across Oregon describe the same frustration. As Oregon City Police Sergeant Kevin Carlson put it: "Someone is cited and arrested, released, and returns to the same area the very next day, continuing the same behavior."

Portland proved the point: 20 camping citations in two months. Zero convictions. Zero jail bookings. The current system doesn't work — not for residents, not for businesses, and not for the people experiencing homelessness who cycle through it without ever connecting to real help.

Oregon City Has the Answer — In the Same County

Oregon City faces a larger homeless population than Milwaukie. Yet Oregon City has invested in a comprehensive safety system that works:

Civil Exclusion Zone (January 2026) — repeat criminal offenders banned from downtown for 30 days (90 for repeats). Violation means trespass arrest. Targets behavior, NOT homelessness status. Includes 10-day appeals and exceptions for medical care, court, work, and transit.
Dedicated Homeless Liaison Officer since 2017
Behavioral Health Unit embedded in police since 2020
Community Court diverting low-level offenders to services
Regular camp cleanup crews funded by Metro grants
Comprehensive annual police report with real data

Milwaukie has none of these strategic tools — despite spending more per resident on policing ($330 vs Oregon City's $291).

We Acknowledge What Milwaukie Has Done

The city hired two behavioral health professionals — Glen Suchanek and Trista Erickson. It participates in the county's LEAD diversion program. The Clackamas Stabilization Center opened in Milwaukie in November 2025. Officers wear body cameras. These are meaningful investments.

But significant gaps remain. The equation is half-complete.

Our 8 Proposals

We are not asking to criminalize homelessness. The research is clear: enforcement alone doesn't work. We advocate for Oregon City's model — enforcement paired with services. Every proposal includes both.

We, the undersigned, respectfully ask the City of Milwaukie to:

1. Adopt a Civil Exclusion Zone: for the downtown core and MAX station area — modeled on Oregon City's behavior-based program with appeals and exceptions.
2. Create a Dedicated Homeless Outreach Officer: a sworn officer partnering with the existing behavioral health team. The clinicians handle crisis stabilization. The officer handles enforcement authority. Both are needed.
3. Formalize the Behavioral Health Co-Response Model: deploy Suchanek and Erickson with officers on all mental health and homeless-related calls, matching Oregon City's 5-day coverage.
4. Publish Comprehensive Enforcement Data: monthly camping enforcement statistics and an annual police report. Oregon City publishes a full report with 29,600 calls, 1,397 arrests, and 100+ pounds of fentanyl seized. Milwaukie residents deserve the same transparency.
5. Establish a Community Court: divert low-level offenders to services while maintaining accountability.
6. Create a Downtown-Riverfront Resource Officer: one dedicated officer on daily foot/bike patrol covering Main Street, the MAX station, Kronberg Park, the Trolley Trail, and the Kellogg Lake waterfront.
7. Fund Regular Camp Cleanup Crews: apply for Metro Enhancement Grants ($50K+) and the $7.2 million in Clackamas County SHS city-led initiative funding available now.
8. Continue Advocating for Shelter Expansion: build on the Stabilization Center and Hillside Park investments. Enforcement without alternatives is ineffective.

Why Now

Three City Council seats are on the ballot November 3, 2026 — Mayor, Position 2, and Position 4. Filing opens July 2026. This is a generational opportunity to elect leaders who will invest in the strategy our city needs.

Both cities are in Clackamas County. Both have the same legal authority. Oregon City chose to act. We're asking Milwaukie to follow their lead.

Show your support. Share with your neighbors. Attend a council meeting. Our city can do better 

Safer Milwaukie is a community coalition of concerned residents. We are not affiliated with any political party, candidate, or organization. Learn more at safermilwaukie.org