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The Albany Police Department is committed to providing courteous and effective service to all citizens of Albany. Employees are expected to treat every individual with respect, courtesy and dignity. Every complaint about department operations or employee conduct is taken seriously and is reviewed. We encourage questions or valid complaints about the actions of our employees. Sometimes a complaint is a simple misunderstanding that can be easily resolved, and other complaints require a more formal investigation.

Filing a complaint

Filing a complaint

Any person who witnesses or has direct knowledge of suspected misconduct may contact the Albany Police Department to initiate a complaint. It doesn't matter whether the person making the complaint was directly involved in the incident. Anonymous complaints will be taken. If you decide to remain anonymous, please ensure to provide information about the misconduct that can be proven by other evidence. 

Generally, complaints are filed through the supervisor of the involved employee. If the employee's supervisor is not known, the complaint may be filed with any supervisor. When making a complaint, simply convey the facts as you know them and be aware that you may be asked specific questions regarding the incident.

Online

Online complaint form

In-person or mail

Printable complaint form

Albany Police Department
2600 Pacific Boulevard SW
Albany, OR 97321

Details

Motorized Scooters

"Motor assisted scooter" pertains to a vehicle that:

  • Is designed to be operated on the ground with not more than three wheels;
  • Has handlebars and a foot support or seat for the operator's use;
  • Can be propelled by motor or human propulsion; and
  • Is equipped with a power source that is incapable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of greater than 24 miles per hour on level ground and:
  • If the power source is a combustion engine, has a piston or rotor displacement of 35 cubic centimeters or less regardless of the number of chambers in the power source; or
  • If the power source is electric, has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts.
  • If the motorized scooter has a combustion engine greater than 35 cubic centimeters then it becomes a "moped" and a separate set of laws apply, including it must have a seat or saddle and the rider must wear a motorcycle approved helmet.

Most parents have not checked the law to see if their child can legally ride a motorized scooter.   Oregon law allows only persons sixteen years or older to ride a motorized scooter on a public roadway.   Anyone riding a motorized scooter on a public roadway must wear a helmet approved for bicycle riding (American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Snell, or United States Department of Transportation (DOT)).   Similar to many after market accessories and equipment sold for vehicles, not all motorized scooters are legal for the Oregon roadways.   Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) regarding motorized scooter use are:

  • The scooter may not be ridden on sidewalks. (ORS 814.524)
  • Must be ridden in bicycle lanes where available. (ORS 814.514)
  • Use is limited to streets posted at 25 MPH and under or in a bike lane. (ORS 814.518)
  • May not carry passengers. (ORS 814.530)
  • An operator of a motor assisted scooter upon a public way is subject to the provisions applicable to, and has the same rights and duties as the operator of, any other vehicle operating on highways.   Including, they must have approved lighting and reflectors if riding at night. (ORS 814.510)
  • May not exceed 15 mph at any time. (ORS 814.512)
  • However, many electric and gas powered scooters are capable of exceeding 15 MPH.
  • Scooter operators may not be under 16 years old.   (ORS 814.512)
  • A parent may be cited for allowing the unlawful use of a motorized scooter. (ORS 814.536)

Since January 1, 2004, all children under sixteen who use roller blades, non-motorized scooters, and skateboards, as well as bicycles are required to wear a helmet.   If a child is under twelve years of age, the law allows for the parent or guardian to be cited if the child is in violation.   If the child is between twelve and fifteen years of age, either the parent or child may be cited.   

Pedestrian Safety

Most of the serious auto/pedestrian crashes occur while the pedestrian is trying to cross one of the busy multi-lane roadways located in this jurisdiction. The majority of these crashes occur while the pedestrians are in a crosswalk. 

Driver Responsibilities

  • Yield if pedestrian is crossing roadway at an un-signalized, marked or unmarked crosswalk.
  • Stop for a pedestrian that is in the crosswalk and on, or closely approaching, the side of the street that the vehicle is on.
  • Always obey speed laws and watch out for small children; especially in residential areas and school zones.
  • Stop for school safety patrol.
  • Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a marked or unmarked intersection that is waiting for a pedestrian.
  • Yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk.
  • Yield to a blind and/or deaf person crossing the roadway at any point and continue to yield until the person has cleared the roadway.
  • Yield to a pedestrian when making a turn at a stoplight.

Pedestrian Responsibilities

  • Do not start to cross a signalized intersection showing a “Wait” or “Don’t Walk” signal.
  • Obey traffic control devices.
  • Do not enter the roadway in such a manner as to constitute an immediate hazard.
  • Yield the right of way to a vehicle when crossing the street at any point other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
  • Do not cross against a gated and activated railroad crossing.
  • Yield to emergency vehicles.
  • Use a pedestrian tunnel or over-crossing when available.
  • Do not use the road as a walkway when a sidewalk is available.
  • Walk on the left shoulder of a road with no sidewalk on either side.

Seat Belt Law

811.210 Failure to use safety belts; penalty.

(1) A person commits the offense of failure to use safety belts if the person:

(a) Operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this state and is not properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness as required by subsection (2) of this section;

(b) Operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this state with a passenger who is under 16 years of age and the passenger is not properly secured with a child safety system, safety belt, or safety harness as required by subsection (2) of this section; or

(c) Is a passenger in a motor vehicle on the highways of this state who is 16 years of age or older and who is not properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness as required by subsection (2) of this section.

(2) To comply with this section:

(a) A Person who is under four years of age and weighs 40 pounds or less must be properly secured with a child safety system that meets the minimum standards and specifications established by the Department of Transportation under ORS 815.055 for child safety systems designed for children weighing 40 pounds or less;

(b) A person who is at least four years of age and under six years of age or weighs between 40 and 60 pounds must be properly secured with a child safety system that elevates the person so that a safety belt or safety harness properly fits the person. "Proper fit" means the lap belt of the safety belt or safety harness is positioned low across the thighs and the shoulder belt is positioned over the collarbone and away from the neck. The child safety system shall meet the minimum standards and specifications established by the Department of Transportation under ORS 815.055 for child safety systems designed for children weighing between 40 and 60 pounds; or

(c) A person who is at least six years of age and weighs 60 pounds or more must be properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness that meets requirements under ORS 815.055.

(3) The offense described in this section, failure to use safety belts, is a Class D traffic infraction.

Details

Chief Marcia Harnden

Chief Harnden has been with the Albany Police Department since December 2019. Prior to her tenure at APD, she provided 25 years of public service to the Bellevue Police Department in Washington State. She served in many different specialty units at Bellevue Police and has extensive management and labor experience. Her command experience has been in Patrol, Traffic, Investigations, Narcotics, Human Trafficking, SWAT and Crisis Response. Her focus in on strengthening community partnerships and building trusted relationships to not only reduce crime but reduce the fear of crime. Chief Harnden holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington and Master’s Degree in Organizational and Applied Leadership from City University of Seattle. She is honored to serve the people of Albany and the men and women who work at the Albany Police Department.  

The administrative support staff includes a Business Manager and two Confidential Administrative Assistants. Under the Chief’s direction, Administration prepares and administers the biennial annual budgets of over $40 million dollars; provides internal human resources, personnel development, and payroll services; purchases equipment and uniforms; manages accounts payable; administers grants; and is the police liaison with the Public Safety Commission.

The eight-member Public Safety Commission is appointed by the City Council and advises the Council on matters pertaining to funding, operation, maintenance, facilities and other aspects of the Albany Police and Fire departments. Its mission is to help public safety departments maintain high standards and deliver the highest quality emergency safety services to the residents of Albany.

marciaharnden
Details

What is a Trespass Letter of Consent?

trespass-sign1Jump to form

A Trespass Letter of Consent is a document that allows a police officer to immediately act on your behalf, and take enforcement action against a person trespassing on your private property without first contacting you. 

Police officers do not normally have the authority to go onto private property, which is not open to the public, and remove individuals or direct them to leave without the consent or authority of the person legally responsible for the property. 

If an officer observes someone on posted private property, or a problem is reported by someone who does not have the authority to sign a trespass complaint, the police department must typically contact the person who is legally responsible for the property before taking enforcement action. This is often a problem during nighttime hours, or after-business hours. Property owners/managers are often reluctant to answer their phones or drive to their property at 2 a.m. to sign a trespass complaint. This form alleviates that need. 

What happens if police arrest someone based on my signed letter? 

In some cases, officers are able to resolve trespass complaints without arresting the involved person. However, there are situations where the officer has no choice but to cite or arrest an offender. In those instances, you will be expected to be available for any resulting court action. 

What is the law regarding trespass? 

trespass-cuffsGenerally, a person commits the offense of Criminal Trespass if the person enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises when such premises are not open to the public; or the person fails to leave premises that are open to the public after being lawfully directed to do so by the person in charge. Refer to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 164.245 and 164.255. 

How do I put a letter on file? 

If a Trespass Letter of Consent would be helpful to you, complete the online form below. 

In addition to your consent letter, your property must be posted with ‘No Trespassing’ signs. Signs may include the Trespass authority under ORS 164.245 (property) or ORS 164.255 (building/dwelling). These signs should not include any language specific to loitering. 

What happens next? 

Should an officer respond to your property, the trespass file is available for officers to quickly determine if there is a current letter on file. The officer can then take appropriate action. 

What happens if I change my mind or sell my property? 

If the status of your property changes in any way, we ask that you notify us in writing of your desire to terminate the trespass letter. This termination notice can be faxed to 541-928-6692 or delivered/mailed to:

Community Resource Unit Supervisor
Albany Police Department
2600 Pacific Boulevard SW
Albany, OR 97321

What if my property is a multi-dwelling complex? 

trespass-sign2A trespass letter is generally ineffective for multi-dwelling complexes. A resident may “invite” whomever they choose to visit them at their residence; however, land-lords/property managers are encouraged to post all of their property entrances with signs that identify who may be on their property; e.g. “No Trespassing except tenants and invited guests. Police welcome.” 

How can I minimize property damage and theft? 

  • Post “No Trespassing” signage 
  • Install motion-activated lighting 
  • Provide on-site supervision 
  • Install video surveillance 
  • Maintain property with low or no brush/tall grass 
  • Install locks/gates/fences 
  • Join our Neighborhood Watch Program 
  • Repair damage and graffiti immediately 
 

Oregon Revised Code (ORS) 164.245 & 164.255

164.245 Criminal trespass in the second degree.

(1) A person commits the crime of criminal trespass in the second degree if the person enters or remains unlawfully in a motor vehicle or in or upon premises.

164.255 Criminal trespass in the first degree.

(1) A person commits the crime of criminal trespass in the first degree if the person:

(a) Enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling;
(b) Having been denied future entry to a building pursuant to a merchant’s notice of trespass, reenters the building during hours when the building is open to the public with the intent to commit theft therein;
(c) Enters or remains unlawfully upon railroad yards, tracks, bridges or rights of way; or
(d) Enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises that have been determined to be not fit for use under ORS 453.855 to 453.912.

(2) Subsection (1)(d) of this section does not apply to the owner of record of the premises if:

(a) The owner notifies the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the premises that the owner intends to enter the premises;
(b) The owner enters or remains on the premises for the purpose of inspecting or decontaminating the premises or lawfully removing items from the premises; and
(c) The owner has not been arrested for, charged with or convicted of a criminal offense that contributed to the determination that the premises are not fit for use.

Definitions: As used for ORS 164.205 to 164.270 

(A) “Open to the public” means premises which by their physical nature, function, custom, usage, notice or lack thereof or other circumstances at the time would cause a reasonable person to believe that no permission to enter or remain is required. 

(B) “Person in charge” means a person, a representative or employee of the person who has lawful control of premises by ownership, tenancy, official position or other legal relationship. “Person in charge”includes, but is not limited to the person, or holder of a position, designated as the person or position-holder in charge by the Governor, board, commission or governing body of any political subdivision of this state.

(C) “Premises” includes any building and any real property, whether privately or publicly owned.

Details

Communications is the first line of communication between citizens and patrol officers. Communications Specialists are responsible for receiving emergency and non-emergency calls for service along with other requests for police assistance.  Communication Specialists gather and relay crucial information to assist officers in the field with their response and investigation.

When to call 9-1-1:

Call 9-1-1 in cases of emergency. An emergency is defined as; a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. Examples:

  • Domestic Violence
  • Physical Fight
  • Injury Car Crash
  • Theft in Progress
  • Suspected DUII driver
  • Fire/Medical problem
  • Any crime that is currently happening

If ever in doubt and in need of immediate assistance, call 9-1-1.

When to call the APD non-emergency line (541-917-7680):

  • Crimes that are not in progress (happened last night, happened last week)
  • Civil issues
  • To contact an officer about a previous call for service

Other Resources

What information should I have ready when calling APD for assistance?

Citizens calling APD for assistance should expect to provide different information depending on the issue they are experiencing; however, some general information will be consistent across all types of requests.  Citizens should expect to provide:

  • Address or location of the crime
  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Home address
  • If not occurring now, date and time crime occurred
  • Suspect information (i.e. name, physical description, clothing description, direction of travel)
  • If crime was a theft; property that was taken along with serial numbers if available
  • If crime was a theft of motor vehicle or theft from motor vehicle; license plate number of vehicle

What should I do if I come home and my house or vehicle has been broken into?

Above all else, your safety is our first concern.  If you are unsure if the suspect is still inside of the house or vehicle, you should:

  • Remove yourself from the potentially dangerous area
  • Call 9-1-1 for assistance
  • Wait until officers respond to clear the location and take a report

If you have entered the house or vehicle and are positive the suspect is not present:

  • Call the Albany Police Department non-emergency line: 541-917-7680
  • Minimize contact with objects the suspect may have touched
  • Start to develop a list of items that may have been taken from the location
  • Wait for an officer to respond and take a report

Do I need to call APD if I get into a car crash?

  • If parties involved are willing to exchange insurance information and the crash is non-blocking/non-injury, you do not need to call the police.
  • Parties simply need to exchange insurance information and contact their insurance providers.
  • If the damage to any property involved in the crash exceeds $1,500 in value, parties also need to submit a crash report with Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Interested in working for Albany Police Department Communications?

The APD Communications Center is comprised of one supervisor and ten communications specialists, two of whom are communications training officers.   Communications specialists work four ten-hour days and are responsible for providing dispatching services twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days a week.   Each communication specialist rotates schedules every two months and all shifts are assigned based on a rotation schedule. Communications Specialists are allowed to trade shifts, with supervisor approval, to accommodate the demands of life.  

Hiring Process

The Communications Center strives to serve the community as quickly and efficiently as possible. To do this, we need quality applicants who are up to the challenge to meet the demands of the profession each and every day. APD has a quick and demanding hiring process. Applicants should be prepared to submit a high quality application, and participate in; a five-minute interview, a CritiCall pre-employment test; a panel interview; a background investigation; and psychological and medical evaluations.

Training Process

Once hired, a new trainee can expect to attend a two-week Department of Public Safety, Standards & Training (DPSST) academy in Salem.  Trainees are assigned a training coach and will work directly with their coach on their shift, sharing the same days off.   Trainees will be put through a demanding three to four months of on-the-job training in emergency and non-emergency call taking and police dispatching.  Trainees will receive daily performance reviews and supervisor reviews to ensure that they are aware of job performance and training needs.  Once employees have mastered the basic skills needed to successfully perform the job duties on their own, they are released from their coach and monitored for the rest of their eighteen-month training period.

Ready to apply?

If this sounds like the job for you, please visit the City's jobs website to see if there are any positions currently available.

Apply online

If there are no positions available, fill out a job interest card and get notified when one opens.

Job interest cards

Details
  1. Crime Prevention
  2. Tip of The Month
  3. National Night Out
  4. Patch Requests

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