Portland police, park rangers team up to enhance city safety

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A new collaboration between Portland police and city park rangers is aiming to enhance safety in some of the city’s busiest areas, including the Waterfront and Eastbank Esplanade.

The initiative, launched in an effort to provide safer parks and reduce incidents, has officers and rangers patrolling together at least once a week. The goal: a better experience for those enjoying Portland’s parks and public spaces.

“We want the parks to be available for everybody,” said Sgt. Dan DiMatteo of the Portland Police Bureau.

The collaboration began after DiMatteo noticed the need for additional patrols during his daily walks. Recognizing the limits of park rangers’ authority, DiMatteo suggested a joint effort to increase enforcement and visibility. Since then, police have backed up the rangers in situations requiring ID checks, arrests, or addressing criminal offenses.

Park Ranger Supervisor Alex Arrell emphasized that the partnership isn’t about strict enforcement but about offering more eyes and tools to address potential issues. “Having them with us has been a great help,” he said.

Trouble spots such as Couch Park, the Eastbank Esplanade, and Waterfront Park are frequent areas of focus. Recently, the partnership was put to the test when police responded to a man allegedly chasing a woman with a knife, interrupting the KOIN 6 interview. “A lot of times, we’ll have something just like that come up where we have to go deal with it,” DiMatteo said. “It’s something the rangers won’t be able to handle alone.”

The team also handles less serious incidents, such as helping people file police reports. “The parks should be open to everybody, everyone should feel comfortable being in the parks and feel safe,” Arrell said.

The collaboration has not resulted in additional costs to the parks department, according to Arrell. He said the goal is simply to increase visibility and teamwork, creating a safer environment for everyone.

One park visitor, Lukas Evans, who regularly brings his daughter to the park, welcomed the joint patrols. “It should make people feel more safe knowing that the park rangers and the police are working together to make it safer,” he said.

Portland Parks and Recreation says the added assistance supports its 29 full-time staff members who manage more than 300 properties throughout the city. However, officials advise that for serious incidents, people should still call 911.