Frequently Asked Questions

1. How will a new building improve my safety?

The new police station will include building improvements that will bring our department up to the current policing standards you expect and deserve.

The new facility will be fully ADA accessible, allowing everyone in the community equal access to local police services.

Training space will save money, allow our officers to have more frequent hands-on training, and ensure that officers are available and able to respond quickly when you call for help.

A new facility will provide the St. Helens police force with a building that is up to current earthquake safety codes and secure storage for taxpayer-funded equipment, evidence, and technology storage and security. It will also eliminate issues with mold and concerns of asbestos in the current station.

We need a facility to reduce overcrowding so that our police force can grow along with our community. Our City needs to protect the health and safety of those who put their lives on the line to protect us.

Constructing a new police station will ensure that our police have access to the most up-to-date technology possible, and greater ability to store massive amounts of data, such as police body cam footage. Currently, body-worn camera footage is quickly taking up most of the available digital space in our police force's servers. If you or a family member is the victim of a crime, secure evidence and records are critical for justice to be served.

The benefits of a new facility cannot be overstated; making smart public investments and increasing efficiency are strategic goals city-wide. Being able to provide trauma-informed services to survivors of violent crimes will make a real difference for our community.

2. What's wrong with the current station?

The safety of you and your family is critical. The station you see today has not met the needs of our growing community for quite some time. Our city is growing rapidly and our police department and municipal court are straining to provide high quality services.

The current building is inadequate in many ways. One critical issue is that it is not ADA accessible. It doesn’t meet federal law. Anyone who uses a wheelchair, cane, crutches or has other mobility challenges deserves access to their police station just like everyone else.

It is past time to invest in a facility that matches the expectation and aspirations of our community.

To learn more about the existing facility and it’s deficiencies, head over to our Current Police Station page to see pictures and read about the issues our police are facing daily in our current station. There is also a link to schedule an in-person tour of the facility to see the building for yourself (available in Spanish upon request). If you cannot make the tour in person, make sure to check out our video tour HERE by Police Chief Brian Greenway or in Spanish by our Administrative Sergeant Jose Castilleja.

3. What is accreditation?

Accreditation means an agency has been evaluated by an outside organization that represents and upholds national standards and the best practices of that profession.

Accreditation is awarded to a law enforcement agency upon demonstration of commitment to law enforcement excellence. This is done by meeting standards deemed essential to the protection of the life, health, safety, and rights of the citizens it serves and having exemplified the best professional practices in the conduct of its responsibilities.

4. Why should our police be accredited?

It is important to meet the standards you expect and deserve. National standards set the bar for effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services.

Accredited agencies are better able to attract and retain qualified, professional officers and staff that YOU want serving our community.

Accredited agencies are eligible for state and federal grants.

Accreditation reduces city liability.

National accreditation is a recognition of excellence and confidence in our agency.

5. Why now? Is it the right time to do this?

If you read about the history of our police station, you will notice that there have been several failed attempts in the past to build a new facility. The reason has always been the same: the economy. We understand the COVID pandemic has impacted today’s economy, but we also know that there will never be a perfect time to start this project in the future. Delaying this project will only mean a higher cost for our community in the future.

This is the accountable way to take on crime in St. Helens. A new police station will significantly enhance our police force’s ability to keep you safe by eliminating overcrowding, better securing the facility, adding safety features for officers and community members reporting crimes, improving evidence storage, providing training space, and by more safely securing taxpayer funded police vehicles, equipment, and firearms. This is an investment in our future.

6. What is a Public Safety Fund?

A public safety fund is a separate, protected fund created by City Council to collect revenue for a specific purpose. Revenue would come from a fee placed on monthly utility bills. The Public Safety Fund will be paid by residential, commercial and industrial customers. An oversight advisory committee will be formed to ensure that funds are spent appropriately and to recommend changes to the City Council as our community grows.

7. My water bill is already high, and now you're adding onto it?

Cities provide critical services. Clean, safe drinking water is only one service delivered by our City. Wastewater and storm water services also appear on monthly utility bills. There is no state or federal funding to provide core services to residents.

Changes in the number of customers, economic trends and the maintenance of basic infrastructure also affect rates.

Please see our Utilities Page to see the most up-to-date comparison of rates in local cities. Here is a direct link to the comparison completed in December 2020.

8. I can't afford this on my utility bill. What am I going to do?

St. Helens works hard to keeps rates affordable and offers support to residents who have trouble paying their utility bills. If you need help paying your utility bill, please contact Community Action Team at www.cat-team.org. We partner with CAT to help for your utility bill.

An important recommendation from the Public Safety Facility Ad-Hoc Committee was to increase the support the City makes available for utility bill payment assistance. There will be additional funding available to help community members who are struggling or on fixed incomes.

9. Why a utility fee and not a bond paid by property taxes?

Simply put, it's cheaper and more equitable. When the Advisory Committee compared monthly estimated costs for a fund versus a general obligation bond, the monthly cost was more than double for a general obligation bond. This is because a bond creates a set rate for as long as it exists. A fund could be decreased as more people and businesses move to our city, helping to pay for the fund’s expense.

The Advisory Committee heard advice from expert financial advisors and bond counsel, which led to a unanimous decision by the Ad-Hoc Committee to create a fund

10. Can't you find a grant or other money to pay for this?

Our Police Department cannot become accredited because our building does not meet the basic requirements set by the accreditation agency. Not being an accredited agency severely limits our eligibility for grant funds which would help pay to build a new facility.

We are looking for every opportunity to apply for law enforcement and public safety grants. One of the great advantages to a public safety fund is that if/when money is available, we can put that toward the safety fund to pay down the debt service and lower the monthly costs for community members.