Outside perspective: Gresham Police Department wraps up independent organizational assessment

Gresham is pleased to share that the Gresham Police Department's organizational assessment is complete. In November 2021, the City of Gresham hired the BerryDunn consulting firm to develop an organizational assessment of the Gresham Police Department. The assessment process included a thorough analysis of the department's operations, staff feedback, as well as multiple opportunities for community input.

"Community Safety is our top priority and it's incredibly helpful to have this comprehensive analysis to ensure we, the Gresham Police Department, provide high-level service," says Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. "While it's never easy to apply a critical eye to operations, this assessment will help us maximize our efficiencies and we're grateful for the work of BerryDunn Associates and support of the City in accomplishing this."

Over the past eight months, the assessment process examined over twenty critical areas of the Police Department's operations. Overall, the analysis by BerryDunn has determined that several areas within the Police Department require adjustments to allow the department to not only meet current service demands, but also to improve operational efficiencies, and cultivate sustainable positive relationships and trust between officers and the community.

The assessment provides more than forty recommendations, which follow four main themes

• Staffing (including recruiting, hiring, and retention)
• Personnel development
• Policies and procedures
• Technology utilization

"The staff in the Gresham Police Department are hardworking and care deeply about the community of Gresham," said Deputy City Manager Corey Falls. "I'm confident that their dedication to serving this community along with the recommendations of this report will make us more effective and chart a strategic course for our Police Department for years to come."

BerryDunn and City staff will present the organizational assessment to City Council on August 16 at the 6:00 pm Council business meeting. Following the Council meeting, the report will be made available on the City of Gresham's website. Police leadership now begins the process of prioritizing the recommendations and creating an implementation strategy. While it will take several years due to the comprehensive nature of the report, the Police Department's three-year financial plan provides a framework for beginning to make progress on these recommendations. The City is grateful for the work of the Police Department and our community throughout this process.

For more information, please visit GreshamOregon.gov/Police.