TriMet Transit Police Division Welcomes Back Portland Police Bureau

TriMet and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office have welcomed back the City of Portland, OR, and the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) as a member of the Transit Police Division. The City of Portland ended a previous agreement with TriMet in late 2020. Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) became the law enforcement lead of Transit Police in 2021 and remains in the role.

“As the largest city in TriMet’s service area, renewing our relationship with the City of Portland and the Portland Police Bureau is a benefit for TriMet, our riders and the region,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr.

TriMet is contracting with the City of Portland for five PPB officers and one sergeant to serve on Transit Police. The Transit Police Division will have 31 active officers with the return of PPB to the unit and recent increase of law enforcement personnel from MCSO and the Port of Portland Police Department. Other members of Transit Police include the Beaverton and Hillsboro police departments. TriMet pays the fully burdened rate for the law enforcement personnel assigned to Transit Police.

“Welcoming the Portland Police Bureau back to Transit Police will increase our collective presence on the transit system, deterring crime, building trust, and reassuring riders,” said Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell. “It will also expand our capacity for high-visibility safety missions focused on areas of public concern or with higher rates of criminal activity.”

TriMet’s Transit Police Division uses a task-force police model. The agency contracts with local jurisdictions served by its transit system to assign officers to the police unit. This allows for the closest available officers—whether with Transit Police or the local law enforcement agency—to respond to incidents on TriMet. All calls are coordinated through the regional 911 system for the quickest response.

“Over the past year, Portland has seen a promising decrease in crime, with both property and violent offenses trending downward,” said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. “That improvement is the result of collaboration, community engagement, and tireless work by our law enforcement partners. Bringing the Portland Police Bureau back into the Transit Police Division builds directly on this momentum and helps ensure riders feel safe and supported.”