By Chief Nick Troxel
Recently, a Tillamook Police Officer was injured in the line of duty during an incident that resulted in the officer going to the hospital for treatment and the suspect being arrested and lodged in jail.
A video of a portion of this incident has circulated publicly. Like many short videos of police encounters, it does not show everything that occurred or the totality of the circumstances faced by the officer.
Because this remains an active case, the Tillamook Police Department will not publicly discuss the facts or evidence. Those facts belong in the appropriate investigative and legal process.
What we can say is this: police work can be dangerous, unpredictable, and at times violent.
Our officers are asked to respond when people are fighting, when someone is experiencing a crisis, when weapons may be involved, and when members of our community need immediate help. Officers are expected to make difficult decisions, sometimes in seconds, while protecting the public, themselves, and the person they are attempting to take into custody.
The use of force is never something we take lightly. It can be difficult and uncomfortable to watch. But the fact that force looks unpleasant or even violent does not, by itself, mean that it was unlawful. The appropriate question is whether the force was objectively reasonable and lawful based upon the circumstances confronting the officer at the time.
In this recent incident, one of our officers was injured enough to require hospital examination and treatment. That is an important reminder that behind the uniform is a person who comes to work every day knowing that an ordinary call can become dangerous in a matter of seconds.
We understand that our community expects accountability and transparency from its Police Department. You should expect that from us. You should also expect us to stand behind our officers when they are doing difficult, dangerous, and lawful work on behalf of this community.
Our officers will continue showing up. We will continue treating people with dignity whenever circumstances allow, working to de-escalate situations whenever possible, and using only the force that is lawful and reasonably necessary when force becomes unavoidable.
We ask our community not to judge an entire incident from a short portion of video without knowing what happened before, during, and after the recording.
Every day, the men and women of the Tillamook Police Department work hard to protect the people who live, work, and visit our community. Most of that work happens quietly and without attention. Sometimes, however, that work is dangerous.
We remain committed to our community, committed to accountability, and committed to protecting people, even when doing so requires our officers to place themselves in harm’s way.
People First. Mission Driven. Trauma Informed.
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday August 26th from 9 to 10 am at Hygge Kitchen, 110 Stillwell Ave., Tillamook
Let’s strengthen our community connections, one cup at a time.
If you have concerns about our officers handling of a call, conduct, ets., please contact Chief Nick Troxel at Tillamook Police Department email ntroxel@tillamookor.gov or call 503-842-2522.
