Who are “Portland Patrol?”
Every day on MAX in old town, I see these guys get on all decked out in a Police uniform, but they aren’t Police. They are “Portland Patrol.” Who is this and are they official? I ask because the carry guns and wear the same color as Portland Police? Is this a private security company? Do they have the same abilities as a cop? I know certain private security guards can carry weapons, but I doubt the wander the city keeping things secure.
Help me out.
I know for sure that they’re a private security/gaurd firm.
What I don’t know for sure, and am speculating, is that TriMet has hired them for security, much like Wackenhut. Which is easily my favorite rent-a-cop name.
From what I understand, they’re not a private firm, they’re usually older cops (getting perilously close to desk-jockey duty) who roam downtown with that patch on their uni. They’re usually on the bus mall, or coffee shop therein. I swear, I think they have a precinct office at Bagel Bistro…
This is just a mild ribbing to those cops, who are all nice guys.
Sounds kinda like the downtown rangers here in Austin.
Ack, my URL got lost:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/pl150596.htm#rangers
This is part of the whole downtown Clean and Safe package - the people who sweep up the streets & clean up the transit mall, etc.
It’s part of services provided by the downtown business district (and funded by business district improvement taxes) - read this from the Portland Business Alliance for more information.
Downtown merchants can call Clean and Safe to help deal with disturbances outside their stores, get resources to handle, um, messes, and more. Plus, they’re another visual security presence.
They are, generally, retired cops.
They are deputized, if I understand correctly, pursuant to the powers of the Sheriff’s Office, and are law enforcement officers per Oregon law.
All that said, they’re mostly useless.