Earlier this year, K9 Mando and his partner Deputy Colburn completed certification to detect fentanyl. Over the past few months, they have begun detecting and locating this potentially lethal drug to help remove it from our community.

Keeping Mando safe while he works to detect this dangerous drug is a top priority. Because fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic narcotic, ingesting even minute amounts can be deadly. WCSO utilizes necessary precautions to mitigate the danger of searching for fentanyl. During training, the WCSO K9 Team uses training aids from Precision Explosives saturated in the odor of fentanyl only, so there's no chance Mando can ingest any actual fentanyl. 

When searching for fentanyl in the field, Deputy Colburn first visually checks the area to ensure there's no fentanyl in the open for Mando to discover. Deputy Colburn has been trained to recognize the signs of opioid-related distress and can administer injectable Naloxone if Mando accidentally ingests any drug.

Thank you to VCA Rock Creek Animal Hospital for supplying this life-saving medicine and helping to keep our K9s safe as they serve our community. 

On February 22, 2023 Washington County Sheriff’s Office Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) Team members worked together to seize 150,000 fentanyl pills and 3 kilograms of powder fentanyl.

In early March K9 Mando worked with a K9 from the Tualatin Police Department to help locate fentanyl in the Thurston County Jail following several overdose cases of adults in custody. The fentanyl was concealed in plastic chess pieces.
This April, join us in honoring Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every child deserves a safe childhood. Awareness and prevention efforts are vital to creating safety for all children and families.

WCSO commits to protecting children, advocating for them, and remaining proactive against child abuse. WCSO has dedicated and experienced detectives working in the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), who focus on investigating various violent crimes, including child abuse investigations.

Detectives work closely with patrol deputies and local and state agencies to provide families and children with the needed help once abuse has been reported and beyond. VCU detectives are the primary investigators of violent crimes committed within Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol Districts (ESPD), which provides enhanced law enforcement services to unincorporated urban areas in Washington County.  

WCSO is also a member of the Washington County Multi-Disciplinary Child Abuse Intervention Team, with representatives from several law enforcement agencies, the Washington County District Attorney's Office, Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services (CARES) Northwest Program, Department of Human Services, and other public health and government agencies.  

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233) or Washington County's non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111. Call 9-1-1 if you believe someone is in danger.  

For more information and resources, visit Prevent Child Abuse Oregon.
We are excited to announce the return of our in-person WCSO Community Academy!

Want to learn more about your local law enforcement? Join us for this 6-class series, Wednesday evenings from May 10-June 14, 6pm-9pm. 

Join us for this unique opportunity to experience interactive demonstrations, specialized tours of our precincts, jail, training facility, and dispatch center, and various presentations designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of your Sheriff’s Office. 

We are less than two months away from the 2023 Washington County K9 Trials competition! Join us on Saturday, May 20, at the Hillsboro Stadium. 

In partnership with the Sheriff's Office Foundation, this event provides an excellent opportunity for the public to connect with local public safety agencies and learn about the talented K9 units protecting our communities. 
 
In addition to the competition, spectators will enjoy a safety and vendor fair, beginning at 10 a.m., and a meet-and-greet with the K9s after the competition. 

Doors open at 10 am, competition begins at 11 am. We hope to see you there!  

With warmer weather (hopefully) on the horizon, we want to remind everyone about the hidden danger open windows can pose in your home. Avoid the dangers of window falls and follow these safety tips:

  • Lock windows when not in use
  • Keep toys and furniture away from windows
  • Install window stops or guards
  • Stop at 4" when opening a window

Limit window openings to no more than four inches to keep everyone safe inside. Remember - window screens are for keeping bugs OUT; they are ineffective for keeping kids safely IN.

Talk to your children today about how to stay safe around windows.

For more information on window safety, visit https://www.safekids.org/blog/window-safety.

Though we can generally count on siblings to embarrass us, they also tend to be our biggest supporters - inspiring, encouraging, and motivating us. In recognition of #NationalSiblingsDay, we’d like to honor siblings in law enforcement who have encouraged each other to be their best!

Siblings also make fantastic recruiters; we would like to recognize a few outstanding sibling duos with unique stories that landed them in law enforcement together!

Deputies Jeremy and Bryan Payton grew up with a father who chose a career in law enforcement. These twin brothers have dreamed of being on the SWAT team from as early as they can remember. Together they made WCSO history as the first twins to be part of the Tactical Negotiations Team, WCSO’s very own SWAT team.
 
Brothers Corporal Gene Mitchell and Deputy Michael Mitchell were inspired to pursue a career that provided an engaging environment with something new everyday. Both serve our community on specialized teams, Gene on the Tactical Negotiations Team and Michael on the Air Support Unit. 

Sergeant Jason Yazzolino and Hillsboro Police Officer Joe Yazzolino take pride in following in their family’s footsteps and serving their country before pursuing careers in law enforcement. Between these two brothers, they have 41 years of law enforcement experience! With a passion for horses, one of Jason’s favorite roles within WCSO has been as a member of the Posse. Most of Joe’s law enforcement career has been with WCSO, where he enjoyed his time as a motor deputy on the Traffic Team.

Starting her career at WCSO almost 22 years ago, Sr. Administrative Specialist Dawn Nelson began working in the jail as a booking clerk and later transitioned to the Patrol Division. One of her fondest childhood memories with her brother, General Services Aide Randy Waldron, was driving cross country to Pennsylvania one summer with their family in a Ford Pinto – even with no air conditioning! Fun fact – Randy’s son also works for WCSO!

The opportunity is here. Will your family join our family today? 
A rewarding career with great pay + benefits and
the chance to serve your community is waiting for you!
Washington County values a culture of equity, diverse perspectives, and life experiences. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration and work-life harmony. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our diverse community.

Currently, there are multiple ways to build your career at WCSO. Meet with our Recruitment Team to learn more about your perfect opportunity.

Visit Washington County Jobs for more information and to apply today.