Building a Safer Milwaukie Together
Safe streets. Clean parks. Real help for people in crisis. Oregon City has built the tools — now it's Milwaukie's turn. Three council seats are on the November 2026 ballot.
By the Numbers
What Milwaukie Is Doing Right
Credit where it's due. The city has made real investments in public safety.
Two Behavioral Health Professionals
Glen Suchanek and Trista Erickson are embedded at the police department, providing direct behavioral health support on calls.
LEAD Program
Milwaukie participates in the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program through Clackamas County, connecting people to services instead of jail.
Stabilization Center
A 24/7 crisis center opened in Milwaukie in November 2025, providing immediate behavioral health support as an alternative to emergency rooms and jail.
Body-Worn Cameras
All Milwaukie officers have worn body cameras since July 2022, increasing transparency and accountability in every interaction.
Public Safety Advisory Committee
Seven Neighborhood District Association representatives meet monthly to advise on public safety priorities and community concerns.
Community Partnerships
LoveOne outreach, weekly library sessions, and 4D Recovery provide community-based support connecting residents to resources and recovery services.
These are meaningful steps. And yet significant gaps remain — gaps that Oregon City has addressed with tools Milwaukie has not yet adopted.
The Current Situation
Current tools fall short. Officers describe a cycle where people are cited, released, and return the next day.
"Often, someone is cited and arrested, released, and returns to the same area the very next day, continuing the same behavior."
— Sgt. Kevin Carlson, Oregon City Police Department (January 2026)
The Enforcement Failure Chain
- 1 Resident reports illegal camping during banned hours (10 PM – 6 AM)
- 2 Officer responds and issues a $50 citation
- 3 Individual has no address, no ID, no ability to pay
- 4 Citation goes to municipal court — individual doesn't appear
- 5 Court issues failure-to-appear warrant
- 6 Warrant is low priority — no one serves it
- 7 Individual returns to same location the next day
- 8 Officer issues another $50 citation — cycle repeats
- 9 Residents lose faith. Officers stop citing. The system collapses.
Portland issued 20 camping citations in two months. Zero convictions.
3,000 Children Within Walking Distance
Six schools and childcare facilities are located within 0.65 miles of the Milwaukie/Main Street MAX station — with no published safety plan for the station area.
| School / Facility | Distance from MAX | Students / Capacity | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukie High School | 580 ft (0.11 mi) | ~1,200 students | Grades 9-12 |
| Sunshine Early Learning Center | 700 ft (0.13 mi) | 112 capacity | 6 weeks - 12 years |
| Head Start - Lake Road | 860 ft (0.16 mi) | — | Birth - 5 years |
| Portland Waldorf School | 0.36 mi | ~340 students | PK - 12th grade |
| Milwaukie El Puente Elementary | 0.44 mi | ~430 students | Grades K-5 |
| Rowe Middle School | 0.64 mi | ~747 students | Grades 6-8 |
Statewide polling shows 85% of Oregonians support restricting camping near public schools (DHM Research, 800 voters, Feb-Mar 2025). Three of these facilities are within 900 feet of the MAX station. There is no published safety plan for the station area.
The Solution: Oregon City Shows the Way
Same county. Same legal authority. Dramatically different results.
| 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. Both have the same legal authority. Oregon City chose to invest in strategy. Milwaukie has not.
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.
November 2026: Your Chance to Demand Change
Filing opens July 2026. We will publish every candidate's position on public safety.
Show Your SupportFrequently Asked Questions
Is this an anti-homeless campaign?
What is a Civil Exclusion Zone?
Doesn't HB 3115 prevent the city from acting?
Why compare with Oregon City?
Who is behind Safer Milwaukie?
How can I help?
What about the November 2026 election?
Won't the ACLU sue over a Civil Exclusion Zone?
There's nowhere for people to go — isn't enforcement unfair?
Won't a CEZ just push people to other neighborhoods?
Can the city afford these proposals?
Doesn't research show that enforcement doesn't reduce homelessness?
Why do schools matter to this discussion?
Show Your Support. Share with Your Neighbors.
Sign on Change.orgSafer Milwaukie — A Community Coalition of Concerned Residents