You’ve probably noticed some people in uniform around our neighborhood. Perhaps you’ve chatted with a police officer at Starbucks or nodded to a group of men and women in fatigues dining on Fremont Street. I decided to interview a few of those folks to learn a little bit more about who they are, and what they like best about Beaumont-Wilshire.
I introduced myself to Lieutenant Colonel Melinda Lepore of the Oregon Air Guard 142nd Fighter Wing while she was having lunch with Colonel Jennifer Pardy. Lt. Col. Lepore was extremely gracious and more than happy to answer a few of my questions.
Can you tell us a little more about the officers and airmen we often see in uniform around Beaumont-Wilshire?
Many people don’t know that the Oregon Air National Guard Base is really close to this neighborhood. It’s just across the runway from the Portland International Airport. There are 1100 people on the base. Of those, about 600 are here full-time. The rest are coming in one weekend each month to work at the base.
Our mission is to take care of the skies above the Pacific Northwest. Another way to think about our role is that we’re like policemen for the sky.
Is the Air National Guard separate from the Air Force?
The Air National Guard is a Reserve branch of the Air Force. The Air Force reports directly to the President, but the Air National Guard belongs to the Oregon governor day-to-day. In the event of a federal call-up, that’s when we report to the President. We belong to the people of Oregon and to the people of the United States.
What does a typical airman do?
There are so many things we plan and train for! You may have seen F-15 fighter jets taking off and landing. They’re mostly heading off to train. It takes a lot of training to stay current in these airplanes. They train over the coast as well as Central Oregon. Usually when you see them flying it’s because they’re training.
But not everyone is a pilot; in fact, they’re a very small percentage. I started as a navigator, for instance, and moved to other positions over the years. There are a ton of different roles here. We have aircraft maintenance, finance payroll, chaplains, our own security force…it’s like our own little city.
Many of our folks helped fight fires in Oregon. And if there were ever a big natural disaster, the Guard would be called up. The Guard plays a huge role in emergency management. We’re even co-located with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in Salem; it’s a huge partnership.
Why do so many airmen visit Beaumont-Wilshire?
We come here because it’s so accessible and friendly. It’s a neighborhood, not a strip mall. It’s more personable. We come here for quaint restaurants and friendly people.
What are your favorite things to do in our neighborhood?
I actually live in this neighborhood. My kids go to Beverly Cleary. We moved here from Piedmont about four years ago, and we really love it. We spend many days at Grant Pool and walking our dog at Grant Park. We also love Grand Central Bakery. Two or three mornings/week, I meet with friends outside of Starbucks for a run. Then I head to the base to start my day.
How did you get started with the Air National Guard?
I was looking for money to help pay for college. The Guard (and the Reserves) offer generous tuition assistance.
What’s the history of the 142nd Fighter Wing?
We’re celebrating 75 years in 2016. The base opened in 1941; it originally started as a squadron to protect the airways during WWII. So be on the lookout for celebrations to honor the 75 years of men and women who have served in the Air Guard. We have tons of aviation history out here. Just the other day I met some people who had flown in the Korean War!
Does the base offer public tours?
Every other year we open up the base and invite the community out to take a look, and 2016 is the next year—so look for that open house next year. You can also see some photos and read historical articles on our website, http://www.142fw.ang.af.mil.
I introduced myself to Police Officer Patrick Johnson with the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct at Starbucks on Fremont. Officer Johnson was generous and friendly as he shared a few insights about life behind the badge.
How long have you been with the Portland Police? Are you from Portland originally?
I’ve been with the Portland Police for 7 ½ years. I grew up in Portland very close to Beaumont-Wilshire actually, right by Madison High School. I went to Gregory Heights (now Roseway Heights) and graduated from Madison High School.
Tell me about your typical day and schedule.
There are three precincts in Portland, and the North Precinct covers Beaumont-Wilshire. I’m assigned to the North Precinct. I typically work four ten-hour shifts. When we come to work, we get ready, dress in our uniforms, and do a roll call. That’s when the sergeant tells us what’s going on that day, and lets us know if there’s anything to look out for. Then we usually go out independently in our cars.
Why do police officers sometimes meet at Starbucks here in Beaumont-Wilshire?
We like the Starbucks on 47th because it’s a central spot for a lot of people. It’s easy to reach, and we like the staff. Everyone here is really nice. We get together to catch up over coffee—it’s a nice social time, especially when you’re alone in the car most of the day. And I’m really good friends with a lot of police officers. Sometimes we talk about work and try to help each other out. We look out for each other.
Do people often approach you while you’re having coffee?
Oh sure, it draws attention when you’re in uniform. People say hello and thank us a lot, especially in Beaumont-Wilshire. It depends on what’s going on in the national news—sometimes more people want to reach out to us. It feels like we’re supported in this neighborhood.
And yes, we get approached by kids all the time! We have stickers we can hand out to them. Sometimes they just wave at us or stand there awestruck, like a deer in headlights.
What can we do to help keep our neighborhood safe?
This is a generally safe area but you know your own neighborhood better than anyone. We can’t be everywhere all the time, so it helps to have a good neighborhood association and a good network of people. Keep an eye on things, and if you see anything suspicious, please call. The non-emergency number is easy to remember, actually: 503-823-3333.
Any tips for the upcoming holidays?
You probably know this one, but it doesn’t hurt to remind people: please don’t leave valuables in your car during the holidays. It’s a higher incident time. Don’t invite crime. A lot of what I see is a crime of opportunity; for example, someone’s walking down the street and sees an X-Box sitting in the passenger seat of a car.
What do you like best about being a policeman?
I didn’t get this job so I could drive fast. I love interacting with people and helping them. People don’t call the police to say, “Hey, I’m having a great day!” Usually people are victims. But I try to leave those interactions better than I found them. I learn a lot interacting with people.
I have an MBA (actually, we have a lot of well-educated folks on the force) and I used to work at Boeing as a business analyst. But I finally decided to do what I always wanted, and that’s when I became a police officer. In fact, I was a Police Cadet in my late teens. Now I’m one of the advisors for that program.