In 2019, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) began publishing the Control Event
Statistics Quarterly Report. Data for these reports are from the MCSO QuickREPORT data
system.

Value Statement

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office respects the value and sanctity of human life and recognizes the inherent dignity of every person. The Sheriff’s Office understands that investing members with the authority to use physical force to protect the public welfare creates a solemn obligation to guide members as they balance the important social and individual interests involved.

The Sheriff’s Office further recognizes that the use of deadly physical force will emotionally, physically, and psychologically impact the member involved, the subject of the deadly physical force, and he family and friends of both and can impact the community as well.

The Sheriff’s Office requires that members be capable of applying, when needed, effective and reasonable physical force and tactics on behalf of the community. The Sheriff’s Office places a high value on resolving confrontations, when practical, with less physical force than the maximum that may be allowed by law.

Definitions

MINOR Event: When a member applies minimal force. Included but not limited to directional control, holding a person against a surface, and when a member points a firearm, a less lethal munition launcher, or an electronic device at a person.

GENERAL Event: When a member applies force to a person to help gain compliance of a noncompliant person. Included but not limited to the use of restraints to restrict mobility or the deployment of OC.

The numbers for MINOR and GENERAL events are based on individual incidents.

Force Reasons
(General Events Only)
Definition 
 Prevent Offense Prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of an offense 
 Make an arrest Lawfully take a person into custody, make an arrest, or prevent an escape 
 Prevent self-harm Prevent a suicide or self-inflicted injury 
 Safety/security - person Defend the member or other person from injury or the use of force 
 Safety/security/efficiency - operations Maintain the safety, security, and efficient operation of a Multnomah County facility 
 Prevent property damage/loss  Prevent or minimize property damage or loss
 Official purpose/perform duty Accomplish an official purpose or perform a duty authorized by law or judicial decree 
Stop/prevent adult in custody fight Prevent adult in custody fight
Defend self/other from injury Maintain the safety and security of Multnomah County Sheriff's Office members, other Multnomah County employees, third parties, or the general public in a Multnomah County facility

 

Force Types are categories of tools and techniques used to control an event. Force Type numbers are for all Force Types used, as more than one Force Type may be used in an event.

 Force Types Definition 
 Restraints  Tools physically applied to partially or completely restrict
mobility. These include arm restraint band, restraint chair,
restraint board, and flex cuffs
 Control Techniques  Control techniques are applied to a part of the body to
gain compliance. This includes carry, directional control,
joint control, and slide
 Takedowns  Techniques where the deputy physically takes the person
down to the floor or ground. These include arm, hair,
joint, leg, leg sweep, and tackle
 Pressure Points  When pressure is physically applied to part of a body in an
effort to gain compliance through pain or restrict mobility
 OC (pepper spray)  Oleoresin Capsicum (pepper spray) sprayed on a person to
gain compliance
 Taser  A device that provides temporary electrical stun control
through the projected probes or pushing directly against
the body without a probe cartridge
 Impact  Impact weapons are tools such as a baton, asp, and long
bat used to take a suspect into custody or to defend the
public and themselves
 Munitions

 Aerosol: A chemical compound that irritates the eyes to
cause tears, pain, and temporary blindness used in
policing, riot control, crowd control, and self-defense

Distraction: A Distraction Device is a non-lethal explosive
device that is often used to stun and disorient. The
devices make a loud noise and emit a bright flash of light
when they explode, temporarily blinding and deafening
people nearby

 Strikes  A focused strike to the person’s body
 Lethal  Firearm discharge, knife, other
 Other  Police canine (engagement), foot pursuit, vehicle pursuit

 

Demographic data represent each person involved in the event from data obtained from police reports.

Data for the location are based on the actual event locations.

 Location Definition 

Corrections Division

Reception Booking area to include reception and holding
 MCDC Housing  Multnomah County Detention Center modules
 MCDC Other Includes lobby, hallways, elevator, Close Street, visiting
room, law library
 MCIJ Housing  Multnomah County Inverness Jail dorms
 MCIJ Other MCIJ processing, hallways, visiting room, kitchen, video
court room, work crew
 Other Includes Court, Gresham Temporary Holding, Hospital; in
addition FSO areas include JDH, libraries, Gateway
 Bookings  Standard Bookings Only
 Jail Beds Number of inmate occupied jail beds, as of 4 am, totaled for each day of the quarter
   

Enforcement Division

 District 10 Northwest unincorporated Multnomah County, including Sauvie Island 
District 20 Southwest unincorporated Multnomah County, including Dunthorpe and parts of Lake Oswego 
District 30 Maywood Park, Wood Village, and parts of unincorporated Multnomah County west of Troutdale 
District 40 Unincorporated Multnomah County, west of the Sandy river, including Pleasant Valley 
District 50 Unincorporated Multnomah County east of Troutdale, including the Columbia River Gorge and Corbett 
District 60 Troutdale, north of SW Cherry Park Road
District 70 Troutdale, south of SW Cherry Park Road
District 80 Fairview 
River Multnomah County Columbia and Willamette Rivers 
Other Includes incorporated cities (Portland and Gresham) and other areas outside of MCSO Patrol Districts 

 

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For archived reports, please emal: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Control Event Statistics

2022 2nd quarter

2022 1st quarter

2021 4th quarter

2021 3rd quarter

2021 2nd quarter

2021 1st quarter

2020 4th quarter

2020 3rd quarter

2020 2nd quarter

2020 1st quarter

2019 4th quarter

2019 3rd quarter

2019 2nd quarter

2019 1st quarter