On December 4, 2024, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office Deputies participated in an illegal dump site clean-up on land adjacent to the Hoquarton Slough park and the US Post Office. This property is owned by Tillamook County but lies within the Tillamook City limits. The charge was led by Tillamook Police as the criminal activity that was being investigated falls within their jurisdiction, yet TCSO assisted during the entire process.
Several people had been staying on the property which had essentially been turned into a hazardous waste dump site with about 20 stolen shopping carts, garbage, human and animal feces, illegal drug paraphernalia, rotten food, scrap metal, numerous bicycles, mattresses, car batteries, and other trash-related items.
Prior to the clean-up, people associated with the dumpsite had been contacted and advised that they would need to vacate the property as required by law. Also, local social service organizations Tillamook Family Counseling’s Crisis Team, Helping Hands and CARE were involved during the planning of this operations to ensure that the people located at the property had access to necessary services as the plan to clean-up the property moved forward.
“The clean-up on the land adjacent to the Post Office was a success,” said Tillamook Police Chief Nick Troxel. “I am so proud of the work accomplished by so many partners. But the two MVP’s here are Tillamook City Code Enforcement Officer Kenny Moreland and Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office’s Sgt. Troy Jackson.”
The list of entities involved in this operation include those mentioned, as well as American Legion Post 47, Veterans Repair Solutions, VFW Post 2848, Tillamook City and Public Works, Tillamook County Solid Waste and Public Works, and City Sanitary.
Tillamook County Sheriff Joshua Brown issued a temporary emergency order closing the property due to the potential environmental and public health hazards.
“We are fortunate to have such a collaborative partnership between all of these agencies, and this is the only way operations such as these can be accomplished,” said Sheriff Brown. “There will be similar site clean-up operations occurring in the coming months.”
AFTER: 
According to Chief Troxel, his staff and sheriff’s office personnel are in the planning stages to dismantle and clean-up similar sites that are located north of the Hoquarton Slough behind the old Chevy dealership and soccer fields.
If members of the public are interested in assisting with the clean-up costs, Chief Troxel advises you to contact Tillamook Police Department and they will direct you to their non-profit entity.