At its September board meeting, BWNA welcomed a visit from the Portland Police Bureau. Fielding questions and concerns about crime in the neighborhood was North Precinct’s Lieutenant Chuck Greulich, a 17-year veteran on the force. Although Lt. Greulich doesn’t work in the Beaumont-Wilshire area, he came prepared with information about our neighborhood and the vicinity — and the news is comparatively good. As has been the case for years, Beaumont-Wilshire statistically has one of the lowest crime rates in Portland — matched on the Eastside only by Alameda and Grant neighborhoods.
Why so? Lt. Greulich specified that higher income levels are a common factor, with much of the crime taking place in lower-income neighborhoods. He also pointed out that Beaumont-Wilshire benefits from not having higher-crime transportation corridors such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Sandy boulevards.
That said, no neighborhood is insulated from crime. Regarding vandalized and/or stolen cars, a longstanding concern in Beaumont-Wilshire as it is throughout the city, Lt. Greulich reported that the Stolen Vehicle Operation has actually resulted in a decline in car thefts since May 2023. He advised people not to leave items in view in their vehicles. Questioned about the 2023 violent crime that occurred at NE Milton and 37th, Lt. Greulich pointed out that while the victim was a Portland resident, he was not from Beaumont-Wilshire; information about the assailant has not been made available. When asked about the shortage of police officers and how it relates to the incidence of crime, he said that with 800 officers covering a population of 650,000, resourcefulness and community outreach are essential. “Less than 1% of the population commits the crimes,” Lt. Greulich said, “so that’s where we put the majority of our resources.”
Lt. Greulich will provide crime perspectives and answer residents’ questions at BWNA’s General Meeting on December 9