Measure 34-353:  Forest Grove Police Facility Bond

Measure 34-353 Forest Grove Police Facility Bond, Endorsed by Democrats of Washington County

By Clayton Callahan, Washington County Democrats Communications Committee Member

The Washington County Democrats support the police ballot measure in Forest Grove! I know, comes as a shock to some folks, right?

After all, if you spend all day on Fox “News” you will hear a constant vomit about how much us “libs” just “hate America” and especially the police. Well, the truth is—as it usually is—a lot more nuanced. First off, if we didn’t love America, we wouldn’t be fighting so hard every day to see that the better angels of our nation succeed over those who would use our flag as a blindfold as they push America off a metaphorical cliff. And as for the police, I think I speak for most Democrats when I say we absolutely support the cops whenever they’re in the right. And just now, voting “yes” on Measure 34-353 is the right thing to do.

The funds generated by this measure would be put to use replacing the old Forest Grove Police Station at 2102 Pacific Avenue which was built in 1977 to accommodate a mere twelve officers. Fast forward to 2026, the same building is now the workspace for thirty-six cops plus six clerical staff.

Things are so crowded in the station that they can’t even properly store evidence on site (rather important when you think about it), interview citizens with public safety needs, or even use the bathroom without a reservation.

Okay, so I’m kidding about the bathroom part. The point is, this is a 1977 facility being used for a 2026 world.

The 1970 census tells us the town had a grand total of 8,275 people back then. As of 2020, it boasts 26,225 and the population continues to grow. So, obviously, this is a thing that is way past due. But unfortunately, a similar measure failed in 2025 leaving our law enforcement professionals high and dry.

That year, voter turnout was a paltry 21%, but this time it should be significantly larger due to the midterm cycle of elections. The question is, who will be doing the voting? People who want our police to have the opportunity to be at their best as they protect the city of Forest Grove? Or people who want our public safety professionals to lack the basic space they need to properly do their job?


Learn more about Ballot Measure 34-353 here.