AR 3520: Local Law Enforcement

The Mt. Hood Community College public safety department maintains a close working relationship with the Gresham Police Department and Multnomah Sheriff’s Office. There is a verbal understanding with the Gresham Police Department that college public safety can complete crime reports.

In response to a call, the college public safety department will take the required action, dispatching an officer or asking the victim to file a report through the Report a Concern link on the college website. All incident reports received by the public safety department are forwarded to the Gresham Police Department, student conduct, and human resources for review and potential action. The college may investigate a report when it is deemed appropriate.

Crimes should be reported to the college public safety department to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics and to aid in providing timely warning notices to the community when appropriate.

Community members, students, employees, and guests are encouraged to report all crimes and public safety-related incidents to the public safety department in a timely manner. To report an emergency, call 9-1-1 or 503-491-7911. To report a non-emergency security or public safety-related matter, call public safety at 503-491-7310.

Security officers have the authority to ask persons for identification and to determine whether individuals have lawful business at the college. Safety and Security officers do not possess arrest power. Criminal incidents are referred to the local law enforcement officers who have jurisdiction on the campus. The college maintains a highly professional working relationship with the Gresham Police Department. All crime victims and witnesses are strongly encouraged to immediately report the crime to the college public safety and the appropriate police agency. Prompt reporting will ensure timely warning notices on-campus and timely disclosure of crime statistics.

Campus “Pastoral Counselors” and Campus “Professional Counselors,” when acting as such, are not considered to be campus security officers and are not required to report crimes for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. As a matter of policy, they are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion in the annual crime statistics.

A Pastoral Counselor is a person who is associated with a religious order or denomination, recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and who is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.

A Professional Counselor is an employee of the college whose official responsibilities include providing psychological counseling to members of the college’s community and who is functioning within the scope of his/her license or certification.

Approved: 8/29/23

References: 34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 668.46