Frequently Asked Questions

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Our police officers currently operate out of makeshift space at city offices and share a public parking lot with restaurants and other businesses. A new police station would provide a safe, secure facility with the necessary features to better protect our community.

The current space doesn’t allow for an emergency operations center to direct fire emergency efforts and coordinate other public safety crisis response. 

Officers must share desk space to fill out paperwork and there is not adequate storage, training space, or the ability to hold public meetings with the current space limitations. There are no secure bathrooms, lockers, or showers for on-duty personnel. 

The combination of these challenges cost our community and as our safety needs continue to grow, an investment in a new police station will help us secure our future and build a better tomorrow. 

If approved, the bond would pay capital costs to provide a new police station and related facilities on existing City land.  Specifically, the project will: 

• Create an emergency operations center to direct fire emergency efforts and coordinate other public safety crises, 

• Increase police capacity and safety for the community, officers, and staff,

• Allow for both adult and juvenile temporary holding cells,

• Provide secure space for suspect intake, police vehicles, equipment, and evidence, 

• Allow officer training and task force meetings to be held locally, 

• Provide a space for on-site community group meetings, 

• Increase efficiency of operations with appropriate workspace for officers, improved technology, and adequate showering and toilet facilities,

• Provide a seismically sound earthquake-ready facility that will be accessible to all the community. 

The City Council has been putting aside money for years to be able to purchase land for a police station without increasing taxes. The city-owned site (where the former bowling alley was located) is strategically positioned within the city and appropriate for a new police facility. 

The project is ready to move forward, but first, the public must approve this public safety measure to create a $16 million bond to pay for the construction costs over the next twenty-six years.

The bond will increase the property tax rate by roughly $0.97 per $1,000 of assessed value, costing average Molalla homeowners roughly $20.21 a month and will not appear on the property tax bill until November 2024.

Yes, of course. But the reality is that the existing space is inadequate to securely process suspects and criminals, let alone hold them with all the necessary safety precautions. 

The current temporary holding space is a converted shower/bathroom (approximately 3 feet x 5 feet) which has a multitude of structural issues that are costly to maintain. 

Dangerous offenders must be immediately transported to the Clackamas County Jail in Oregon City. This can take an officer out of our community for hours at times and reduces police presence in our community.  There is a minimum police force presence required in our community which may require additional coverage and possible overtime expenses which is costly to taxpayers.

Right now, after responding to calls there is not a secure area to bring back suspects.  The police parking area is currently shared with a public parking lot that also serves as parking for restaurants and other businesses. This poses risks to the community when police are using the same parking lot that also serves community members going to dinner with their families and friends or visiting a business in the area.

A virtual tour of the existing facilities will be available in August. Take three minutes of your time to learn more before you decide if our public safety is worth your investment. Once you learn more, you’ll want to vote “YES!” to a new police facility to secure Molalla’s future and build a better community!!  You can schedule a personal tour as well.

Quote from a local business owner after touring the site:    

I had the privilege of taking a tour of the current police station facilities and was shocked by how little space the department has. One example is the small reception room. Imagine dropping off expired medicines, a community service the Molalla Police offers, and an angry or distraught person coming into the same 5’ x 5” space you are in.  This would be an uncomfortable and possibly dangerous situation for me. 

This isn’t the primary reason the bond initiative is being referred to voters, but it is a huge additional benefit to the community. 

Local crisis coordination will save lives and property by decreasing response time and improving the capacity to mobilize resources and first responders when they are needed most. 

Forest fires aren’t going away, but we can be better prepared for them as well as all crises that come our way. Molalla should be able to take care of its own, and right now our capacity is severely limited.

The construction process will begin right away.  The City already owns the land (the location of the former Molalla bowling alley)  on Grange Avenue.

Investing in this measure will ensure that Molalla will have a police facility that will serve generations to come. 

 Things won’t just stay the same, they’ll get worse. Our police are committed to doing the best they can to deal with the increased traffic, crime, homelessness, and drug problems that come with growth. But make no mistake, those problems and others won’t get better on their own. The community and police officers will continue to be challenged by the limitation imposed by the current facility. That’s why we need to take responsibility for our future now.