At a media briefing today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt and local leaders provided updates on the Auto Theft and Organized Retail Theft Task Forces, highlighting that the dedicated resources and collaboration are yielding positive public safety results. DA Schmidt was joined by Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Portland Police Chief Bob Day, Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg, and Portland Metro Chamber President & CEO Andrew Hoan.
“Both the Auto Theft and Retail Theft Task Forces are taking a collaborative, holistic approach and focusing on prolific offenders,” said DA Schmidt. “These are offenders who are on a trajectory of continuously committing crimes, and we’re interrupting that behavior, putting them out of business and preventing crime. All of the Task Forces’ successes are possible through having dedicated resources and working in partnership. I am extremely grateful to the city and county for the investments they’ve made in this work and for strong partnerships with Portland Police, Gresham Police, the Sheriff’s Office, State Police, and the business community.”
Among the accomplishments shared today are the following:
Auto Theft
- Case issuance rates for auto theft are at 83% – an all-time high.
- The Task Force has indicted 15 high-profile cases, encompassing 139 charges.
- Reported auto theft in Portland decreased 26% in 2023 compared to 2022.
- 92% of vehicles stolen in Portland in 2023 have been recovered.
Retail Theft
- Case issuance rates for theft are at 77% – a seven-year high.
- The Task Force has trained over 375 retail employees.
- The Task Force has indicted 10 high-profile cases, representing $164,143 in retail theft and $125,038 in organized retail theft.
- 2023 retail theft missions led by PPB have resulted in more than: 300 arrests, 144 felony charges, and 238 misdemeanor charges.
The Task Forces are funded through investments from both Multnomah County and the City of Portland. The funds created five dedicated positions (two deputy district attorneys, two investigators, and one legal assistant) within the DA’s office to lead the task forces.
“Multnomah County’s investments in these Auto and Retail Theft Task Forces are about taking immediate, collaborative action to make our communities safer. To reduce the human toll on families and the economic toll on small business owners – and the ripple effects this can have on our neighborhoods,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “These coordinated efforts have proven that strong partnerships can pay off and is exactly what we need to see now and into the future.”
Portland Police Chief Bob Day said, “PPB was honored to stand with our local partners today to discuss ongoing efforts to combat stolen vehicles and retail theft. We have made great strides but will continue to work collaboratively with each other and the community to address and reduce these crimes.”
Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell shared that the agency performed 60 public safety missions in 2023 – some focusing specifically on auto theft and retail theft, and others focusing on gun violence, street racing, transit safety, human trafficking, and traffic safety.
“While focused police missions are not new, the level of collaboration and cohesiveness between neighboring law enforcement agencies is worth noting,” said Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell. “Central to the success of these missions is the support and integration of deputy district attorneys. These prosecutors have helped deputies build stronger cases by writing more descriptive police reports and ensuring all investigative steps are complete before submitting reports to the DA’s Office. These factors help a prosecutor complete the next steps in the criminal justice system, to hold people accountable for criminal activity.”
Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg shared that the agency has participated in 13 stolen vehicle missions since July 2022 and five retail theft missions since 2023. He noted that auto theft was down five percent in Gresham in 2023.
“Through joint law enforcement missions, agencies are better equipped to share data and crime analysis to identify key patterns and trends our region is experiencing,” Chief Gullberg said. “But most importantly, shared resources act as a force multiplier, amplifying our collective efforts. 2023 marked the beginning of a positive trend in decreasing much of the crime that has plagued our communities, and we look forward to seeing this work continue.”
Portland Metro Chamber President and CEO Andrew Hoan said, “We want to thank DA Schmidt and his team for their ongoing commitment to reducing auto and retail theft in Portland and the county. Although the task forces have only been in operation for seven months, their work is already making a difference. We are grateful to our partners at the city and county for the investment, and those in law enforcement who are part of this public-private partnership to address crime in our city.”
