Last week, Portland police launched a focused initiative to combat illegal drug use in various areas of the city center, resulting in 78 individuals being taken to the Multnomah County Coordinated Care Pathway Center for addiction services.
The operation took place daily throughout the week, with 12 to 15 officers deployed each day to address the rising concerns over drug-related activities around the city.
Officers conducted screenings to identify individuals eligible for the deflection program, created under changes to Oregon’s drug laws in September that reclassified the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs as a misdemeanor.
This deflection program is intended to direct those found in possession of narcotics away from the criminal justice system and toward necessary treatment resources.
Individuals with pending warrants, those too intoxicated to consent, or who have previously failed the program in the last 30 days were not eligible for deflection and were instead taken to jail or medical facilities.
Commander Brian Hughes of the Central Precinct, who has been with the Police Bureau for 22 years, emphasized the importance of this concentrated effort in showcasing the bureau’s commitment to addressing the city’s drug epidemic.
During the five-day initiative, police targeted five specific locations: West Burnside Street and 12th Avenue on Monday, Couch Park on Tuesday, Old Town on Wednesday, Central Inner Eastside on Thursday, and South Park Blocks and Goose Hollow on Friday.
Hughes stated that the community had voiced considerable concern regarding the visible impact of drug use in public spaces, compelling him to act decisively.
In addition to helping individuals struggling with addiction, the campaign sought to disrupt drug distribution activities, particularly focusing on those engaged in large-scale drug deliveries.
Hughes reported that approximately 50 individuals have been arrested in the past year for distributing drugs in the central area.
To bolster this mission, Hughes mobilized specialized officers—those who do not typically respond to 911 calls— to handle this operation.
On the final day, the mission received additional assistance from the Oregon State Police, as dispatched by Governor Tina Kotek.
Preliminary reports indicate that early signs from the deflection program point to its effectiveness.
Between September 1 and November 30 of the previous year, a total of 34 participants completed the program out of 212 who accepted the offer to enter.
Completion was defined as accessing referrals for services such as shelter, addiction recovery, medical attention, detox, or mental health treatment within 30 days.
County spokesperson Ryan Yambra mentioned that updated statistics from the county would be made public in a quarterly report scheduled for early June.
This initiative marks the first large-scale drug operation of the year, with no immediate plans for further missions due to cost concerns, as roughly 30 hours of officer overtime were accrued each day of the operation.
Hughes noted that with sufficient police staffing, routine patrol officers could potentially manage similar operations as part of their regular responsibilities.
“We will run additional missions as needed in response to changing dynamics on the street and in accordance with fiscal direction from the Chief’s Office,” Hughes stated via a police spokesperson.
While Hughes firmly advocates for the deflection approach and heightened police activity concerning street drugs, he acknowledges that significantly more needs to be done to address the city’s ongoing drug crisis.
The pervasive presence of fentanyl, a potent opioid that is inexpensive and easy to produce, remains a critical issue in the city, as highlighted by Hughes.
Hughes recounted a tragic case involving a 17-year-old who mistakenly consumed what he thought was MDMA but was actually laced with fentanyl, leading to the youth’s fatal overdose.
Such incidents have tragically become more frequent as fentanyl infiltrates the drug market. According to county health data, the number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Multnomah County escalated from 444 in the previous year to 622 in 2023.
Ultimately, Hughes emphasized that police efforts can only go so far in addressing these issues.
He reiterated the commitment of the police bureau to assist individuals by taking them to the deflection center on a daily basis.
“It’s not a police officer that decides when somebody gets sober,” Hughes remarked, reinforcing the necessity of providing opportunities for those grappling with addiction to improve their circumstances.
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