Assaults / Bias Crimes
If you are the victim of a bias crime assault, or if you are witnessing one, immediately call 9-1-1.
If you are the victim of another type of bias event where the suspect is no longer present—such as vandalism or graffiti—please call the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.
The harm caused by bias events cannot be measured solely in terms of physical injury or financial loss. Bias events often intimidate entire communities, leaving individuals feeling isolated, vulnerable, and unprotected. By making members of minority communities fearful, angry, and suspicious of other groups—and of the systems meant to protect them—bias incidents can damage the fabric of society and fragment our communities.
Oregon law recognizes that some crimes should be enhanced based on the motivation behind them. This concept is already reflected in other areas of law, such as domestic violence and child abuse statutes.
There is a difference between a person who commits an assault to steal a wallet, and a person who assaults someone because of their perceived race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
When someone targets a victim based on one of these characteristics, it puts the entire community that shares that identity at risk.
Oregon’s Bias Crime statutes create separate criminal charges that can be filed individually or added to other charges within a case.
The Portland Police Bureau has dedicated investigators who specialize in addressing bias-motivated crimes.
The Bureau encourages anyone who experiences or witnesses a bias-motivated crime or incident to report it.
Under Oregon law:
- Bias crimes are criminal acts where the perpetrator targets someone based on their perception of the victim’s race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- Bias incidents are acts of hostile expression, such as slurs or derogatory gestures, that may be motivated by bias but do not rise to the level of a crime.
Detectives work to determine whether reported incidents meet the legal definition of a bias crime under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS):
Bias Crimes Resources
- Portland Police Bureau Bias Crimes Investigations: 503-823-0400
- City of Portland, Office of Equity and Human Rights: 503-823-4433
- Oregon Department of Justice Bias and Hate Crimes Website: DOJ Bias Crimes Resources
- Oregon Department of Justice Bias Crimes Reporting Hotline: 1-844-924-BIAS (1-844-924-2427)
Homicide Detail
In addition to investigating homicides, the Homicide Detail investigates Officer Involved shootings/use of deadly force, felony assaults, kidnapping, custodial interference and missing persons. There is a team of Detectives to respond to homicide investigations on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you have information regarding a homicide, contact Homicide Unit investigators directly at (503) 823-0400. To remain anonymous, witnesses may provide information through Crime Stoppers of Oregon.
Crime Stoppers
Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Submit anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppersoforegon.com or call 503-823-HELP (4357).
Visit the App Store and download P3 Tips to submit secure and anonymous tips.
Missing Persons
There is no 24-hour waiting period to report someone missing!
Reports of Missing Persons:
- A person, of any age, who is missing with a proven physical or mental
disability, and thereby subjecting themselves or others to personal and immediate
danger, should be reported to 911. - A person, of any age, who is missing under circumstances indicating that the disappearance
may not have been voluntary (i.e. abduction or kidnapping) should be reported
to 911. - A person of any age, who is missing under circumstances indicating that his or
her physical safety may be in immediate danger, should be reported to 911. - A missing child should be reported to 911.
- All other reports of missing persons, of any age, should be reported to the
non-emergency police number at 503-823-3333
Missing Person Detectives can be contacted at missing@police.portlandoregon.gov with
questions related to missing person investigations.
Robbery Detail
The Robbery Detail may be reached at 503-823-0400.
The robbery detail is charged with the investigation of robberies reported to the Portland Police Bureau. The primary focus of the Robbery Detail is on First and Second Degree Robbery. These are the most serious forms of robbery in Oregon and carry mandatory minimum sentences. The detail is also charged with investigating felony weapons offenses and reported cases of extortion.
The following priorities are used in selecting robbery cases for follow up investigation:
- Threat to Public Safety
- Solvability
- Notoriety