0310.50 Truthfulness
Refer:
• ORS 133.402, Recording of Custodial Interviews of Juveniles
• ORS 133.403, Voluntariness of Statement by Juvenile During Custodial Interview
Definitions:
• Custodial Interview: An interview in which the person questioned is in custody and is required to be advised of the person’s constitutional rights.
Policy:
1. Police legitimacy and community trust in the Portland Police Bureau (Bureau) require truthfulness and transparency. The Bureau is committed to holding its members accountable for being honest and truthful in all statements and actions taken relating to their duties as members of the Bureau.
Procedure:
1. No member shall knowingly or willfully be dishonest or untruthful in giving a statement or testimony, in creating a report, in any official oral or written communication, or in giving any statement about actions taken that relate to the member’s own or another member’s employment or position. Being dishonest or untruthful includes knowingly or willfully: making false statements, falsifying work-related records or official documents, omitting material facts or material information, or answering questions or providing information in a manner that is incomplete, evasive, deceptive, or misleading.
1.1. These requirements apply to any report, investigations, or communication concerning Bureau business, including, but not limited to, oral communications, written reports, transmissions to the Bureau of Emergency Communications, testimony in legal proceedings and communications to members via radio, telephone, pager, e-mail, text, or mobile data computer.
2. Members shall not knowingly or willfully make any false statements to justify a criminal or traffic charge or seek to unlawfully influence the outcome of any investigation.
3. Members shall not knowingly or willfully use false information to elicit a statement from a juvenile during a custodial interview.
4. Members shall respond fully and truthfully to questions relating to their employment or position, or to the employment or position of another member, regardless of whether such information is requested during a formal investigation or during the course of business.
5. Under limited circumstances, members may use deception for a specific and legitimate law enforcement purpose when they reasonably believe that:
5.1. It is necessary to due to the nature of the member’s assignment, and is necessary for a criminal investigation (e.g., surveillance or meeting with a Confidential Informant);
5.2. There is an imminent and articulable threat to any person’s safety;
5.3. There is an imminent risk of loss of evidence; or
5.4. It is necessary to obtain information for a criminal investigation.
6. Any use of deception under the above circumstances, unless part of an approved assignment requiring deception, must be:
6.1. Temporary; and
6.2. Documented in a police report or CAD notes, as applicable.
Effective: 8/16/2025
Next Review: 8/16/2027