Portland Police Bureau 2025 Annual Report

The Portland Police Bureau's 2025 Annual Report highlights work across public safety, crime reduction, accountability, community engagement, staffing, and organizational development.

The report provides a snapshot of major public safety trends, precinct-level crime reduction efforts, public order response, behavioral health work, investigations, services, staffing, and budget priorities.

Why the precinct meetings were canceled

Community engagement and transparency remain a strong commitment of the Portland Police Bureau. Traditionally, we have held meetings in each precinct to discuss the Annual Report.

However, despite actively promoting the meetings, attendance has remained very low. At one meeting last year, only three people attended. These meetings also require significant staff time and resources to plan and present.

Chief Day has directed the Bureau to continue looking for ways to improve community engagement while also being responsible with public resources.

Precinct commanders regularly attend neighborhood association meetings that are already well attended. East Precinct also offers weekly office hours where community members can discuss public safety directly with precinct leadership.

The Bureau will continue evaluating additional ways for community members to engage with Bureau leadership and may reconsider precinct meetings before mid-September.

In the meantime, community members are encouraged to read the Annual Report or watch the presentation.

Major Accomplishments in 2025

Gun violence continued to decline

Gun violence declined significantly in 2025. The Bureau investigated 52 homicides, and shooting incidents decreased for the fourth year in a row. Firearm-related homicides decreased 41 percent, overall shooting incidents fell 29 percent, and non-fatal shooting victims declined 30 percent.

Mission-driven policing produced measurable results

PPB continued using focused, data-driven missions to address retail theft, vehicle theft, drug activity, nuisance locations, livability concerns, and other public safety issues.

Central Precinct conducted 29 missions, resulting in 136 arrests, 60 deflections, 53 service offers, recovered vehicles and stolen items, and significant fentanyl and methamphetamine seizures.

East Precinct conducted 10 Stolen Vehicle Operations, resulting in 69 recovered vehicles, 75 arrests, and 11 firearms seized. Those operations contributed to a 30 percent reduction in vehicle theft.

North Precinct conducted 25 planned missions, resulting in 328 arrests and 23 search warrants. Retail theft missions were associated with a 38 percent decrease in overall retail crime and a 40.4 percent decrease in shoplifting in the 30 days following missions.

Human trafficking missions connected people with services

The Human Trafficking Unit conducted 10 missions, made 65 arrests, connected 62 individuals to services, seized 4 firearms, and towed 17 vehicles.

Reported overdose deaths declined

Reported drug overdose deaths declined 25 percent in 2025. Investigators continued focusing on fentanyl trafficking networks, resulting in narcotics seizures, firearms seizures, and arrests connected to drug distribution.

Public order response emphasized communication and constitutional rights

Throughout 2025, Portland experienced large-scale demonstrations, including recurring events near the ICE building in South Portland. PPB activated Incident Management Teams and relied on Dialogue Liaison Officers, the Rapid Response Team, Air Support, sound truck resources, Mobile Field Forces, and public safety partners to support public safety while safeguarding constitutional rights.

Dialogue Liaison Officers were activated for 145 events, including 104 protests and 41 community events. The Rapid Response Team was activated for more than 100 protest-related events.

Staffing and recruitment improved

Rebuilding staffing remained a major priority. PPB received 1,801 police officer applications, the highest number since 2020. The Bureau hired 72 sworn members and 36 professional staff, achieved a net gain of 27 sworn members, and had 813 sworn members on staff.

Transparency and public communication remained central

The Strategic Communications Unit supported public information, incident management, media response, internal communications, public meetings, ceremonies, videos, podcasts, written releases, and social media.

In 2025, the unit produced 604 news releases, handled 16,248 media inquiries and 3,674 public inquiries, produced 126 videos, supported 90 Incident Management Team activations, and coordinated 22 news conferences or media availabilities.

Key Challenges

Violence remains too high

Although gun violence declined, 52 homicides still represent a significant loss of life and remain higher than historical levels.

Traffic deaths remain a serious concern

The report shows a reduction in traffic fatalities, but the draft contains conflicting traffic fatality figures that should be resolved before publication. Regardless of the final figure, fatal crashes remain a major public safety issue.

Fentanyl and overdose deaths continue to affect Portland

Reported overdose deaths declined, but fentanyl remained the leading driver of overdose deaths. The report identifies ongoing drug trafficking, fentanyl distribution, and overdose investigations as major public safety concerns.

Public order events required substantial resources

Large-scale demonstrations and recurring public order events required significant staffing, planning, coordination, and communication throughout the year.

Staffing limitations continue

The Bureau showed measurable staffing improvement in 2025, but ongoing staffing limitations remain a challenge as PPB plans and implements future operations.

The Road Ahead — 2026 Focus Areas

• Continue rebuilding sworn and professional staffing
• Sustain focused, data-driven crime reduction missions
• Continue efforts to reduce gun violence, fatal crashes, and overdose deaths
• Strengthen community engagement and public communication
• Support accountability, transparency, and open data efforts
• Continue behavioral health response and service coordination work
• Maintain public order readiness while safeguarding constitutional rights
• Invest in training, recruitment, retention, and organizational development