Public Safety FAQs

How do I find out about Oregon law or Florence City Code ordinances?

People can read the current statutes by accessing the Internet. To review the Oregon Revised Statutes, go to www.leg.state.or.us/ors/. To review the City of Florence Ordinances, click here. 

How do I find out a police policy on a particular issue?

The police department is governed by General Orders. With the exception of those general orders that govern police tactics, all others are a matter of public record. Any specific questions or requests can be made to Ms. Sarah Huff, Administrative Assistant at 541-997-3515.
 

I need legal advice. What do I do?

Anyone who needs legal advice should speak with a licensed attorney at law. Members of the police department are not permitted to provide any legal advice under any circumstance.
 

How do I report the location of a person with a warrant for their arrest or who is a suspect being sought by the police?

You are asked to call the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515 and provide the information to the on duty communications officer. You will be asked physical description of the subject, clothing description, if armed with any weapons, and possibly other needed information.

What can I do about neighborhood crime and other problems?

The only truly successful approach to dealing with neighborhood crime issues and other problems is having a solid collaborative partnership with the community and the police department. There are ways to develop that partnership into a successful approach in having neighbors watch out for their neighbors.

The police department has dedicated and enthusiastic individuals that can assist you in setting up a neighborhood watch program. If you are interested in such a program in the neighborhood you live or want to explore other potential approaches to resolving specific neighborhood issues, you are encouraged to contact Auxiliary Officer Mike Nielsen at florencewatch1@gmail.com or 541-991-3240.
 

How can I find out whether a charity solicitation in the City of Florence is legitimate?

Try to put the charity's name into your on-line search engine and start there. Usually that will bring up the charity's web site or bring up information about a scam linked to the charity if that is the case. Next contact the church or institution that is listed as sponsoring the charity drive. If you are contacted by phone ask for information to be sent to your mail box or P.O. Box. This information should include the charity's name, address and a phone number. Never give out personal identification, social security numbers, checking account information or credit card information over the phone or internet unless you are sure of whom you are dealing with. If you have any questions you may call the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515.
 

What can be done about speeding vehicles in my neighborhood?

We can try a couple different methods to resolve these problems. If the problems seem to happen at a certain time of the day we can have an officer, when available, park in the area and run radar during that time period. If it is a random problem we can have an officer park and run radar at varying times in the area, when calls for service permit.

The Florence Police Department can also set up the “Reader Board”, which has a radar speed display along with a message that alerts traffic to their speed, in the area. We will park the Reader Board in the neighborhood and leave for the day.  The Reader Board has proven to be very effective with drivers who are simply not paying attention to their speed to get them to slow down.

If the problem is a certain person we can go talk to that person and try to resolve the issue or if you can get a license plate number we can contact the registered owner and try to identify the driver. If you are able to identify the driver and the speed and conditions reach the level of careless driving, you can sign a citation against the driver and have the case heard in Municipal Court.
 

How do I report a crime?

You need to call the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515 to report a prior crime incident. If the crime is in progress, you should call 9-1-1. A police officer will respond to investigate the incident. The officer will provide you with a case number should you desire, if a crime is determined to have occured.
 

Can I report a crime via email or the Florence Police Department website?

Currently not at this time, however the web site in development will have that capacity for certain offenses where there is no suspect information. However we have forms that you can print out and fill out from your home or business to make certain reports only, and then fax to our department. The fax number for the Florence Police Department is 541-997-4104.
 

How do I report my vehicle stolen?

Citizens who discover their car missing and believed to be stolen should contact the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515. You will be asked to sign a form in regard to the report of the stolen vehicle. Should there be suspect information or the stolen vehicle is part of a crime scene, an officer will be sent to investigate.

Should you be experiencing or witnessing an in-progress theft of a car, call 9-1-1.
 

Is it legal to camp or lodge in public in Florence?

No. It is prohibited by Florence City Code to lodge in a car, outbuilding or other place not intended for that purpose.
 

How can I protect myself from fraud and identity theft?

The rule of thumb is if it is too good to be true, it probably isn't.

These are the fastest growing crimes in America. The list of frauds and scams grows everyday and include but are not limited to lotto's, sweepstakes, online auctions, online purchases of all kinds, fake charities, obituary scams, and home repair.

If you did not enter a Lotto or Sweepstakes, you can not win. The crooks will send you a check that you must cash and send back money to insure your winnings. The check is bogus and you are out of the money you send back.

Beware of any contacts that originate from outside the United States. Most out of country frauds include someone claiming to be a high ranking officer in a financial institution in need to have money deposited in a bank account in our country. The offer is to pay you for the service of using your bank account. They want you to provide them with your bank account number and other information to do this. These thieves will access your account and attempt to take all your money. To see an actual example of an internet fraud from outside the United States click here.

Online fraud occurs when you are selling an item on the web and make a sale. The con artist will send you a check for more than the amount of the sale to cover shipping. This amount will usually be $100.00 to $500.00 over the amount needed. They ask you to cash the check and ship the item with the excess cash returned to them using Western Union. In 7 to 10 days your bank will contact you telling you the check you initially deposited was no good. You are now out the item and the cash.

If you receive a check or travelers check in the mail remember time is on your side not the scammers. Make sure the check clears the bank before you send any money to anyone and work with your bank.

Banks and Credit Card Companies will not call or E-Mail you looking for personal information. If you are contacted politely get the name and title of the person on the phone. Using the phone number on your billing statement, call the lending institution and ask for that person. This is not rude and the person on the phone should appreciate your effort as you are protecting the company they work for.

People need to be cautioned when providing obituary information for publication that scam artists look for opportunities. Do not list the complete date of birth or the complete middle name of the deceased to protect them from Identity theft. Do not list the address or towns of the survivors to protect them from scams.

Beware of phone solicitors or door to door home repair companies. If you have a question about a contractor or repair company, contact the Oregon Construction Contractors Board in Salem at 503-378-4621 or www.oregon.gov/CCB/.

Never give out personal information and financial accounts over the phone or internet unless you are positive of who is receiving the information. Get to know the folks at your bank and what they can do for you before you need them. Shred all personal information using a cross shredder if possible. Check your credit report at least twice a year. You can receive a free credit report by contacting one of the three credit bureaus listed here:

Credit Reporting Bureaus

What can I do to prevent someone from opening accounts or borrowing money using my identity?

As of October 1, 2007, all Oregonians are able to place a security freeze on their credit file maintained by a credit reporting agency such as Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. Once activated, someone who has fraudulently obtained your personal identifying information would not be able to open new accounts or borrow money. The freeze also prevents lenders and others from gaining access to your credit report for review.

Keep in mind that a security freeze will not prevent an identity thief from misusing existing credit cards and credit accounts. Before you decide to apply an optional freeze to credit files, consider whether you intend to make a purchase that would require a look at your credit history. For example, if you plan to buy an item where you will need to obtain new credit, that credit company will need to access your credit files to finalize the sale.

To learn the procedures required to obtain a Security Freeze, you should visit the State of Oregon web site of www.dfcs.oregon.gov/id_theft.html for specific instructions.
 

Will the police department send officers to loud noise and/loud party complaints?

Yes, we do. Depending on the time of day, 10:00pm to 7:00am is quiet time, and where the location of the noise is, residential or commercial area, will effect how we can handle the call. In most situations we will ask if you would like to sign a complaint for a citation to be issued or if you would just like for us to contact the person(s) responsible to seek their voluntary compliance and quiet things down without having to issue a citation.
 

Can the Florence Police Department check on a friend or relative I am concerned about?

Yes. If you are concerned about a friend or relative and he/she lives within the city limits of Florence, we will send an officer to their residence and check on their welfare. If your friend or relative resides outside of Florence we will refer you to the appropriate agency.
 

When would the Florence Police Department respond outside of the city limits and provide policing services?

The Florence Police Department’s General Order 306.1 covers outside agency assists. Patrol officers will not be dispatched to calls for service outside the city or handle calls for service that are not under the jurisdiction of the City of Florence when there are no OSP officers or LCSO deputies immediately available, except under those most rare of circumstances when assistance is requested by the agency with jurisdiction involving exigent circumstances of a crime of extreme violence in progress that will result the loss of life of citizens if no immediate law enforcement response is made. The call shall not be dispatched without the expressed approval by an on-duty supervisor or on-call supervisor.

If another agency officer requests a Florence Police Officer to cover them on a call for service, with supervisory approval and upon availability of the officer, a Florence Police Officer may respond with the officer from the requesting agency. Once the situation is controlled, officers shall clear from the scene and immediately return to the city. Officers may not assist in interviewing, providing security for any prisoner and other activities unless the on-duty or on-call supervisor approves.

Apprehension and Narcotic K-9 units may be sent outside the city to assist other agencies with the authorization of the on-duty or on-call supervisor.

Only with supervisory approval, officers may be sent outside the city limits to take a crime report on an incident which occurred in the city. Officers may take “courtesy reports” when the reporting party is inside the Florence city limits, but the crime occurred elsewhere when it is not reasonable to refer the person to the agency in whose jurisdiction the crime occurred (e.g., victim has no transportation; crime occurred a long distance away); and the crime is a felony, or a report of a runaway juvenile, or a report of a missing person with circumstances indicating they may be endangered; or when another agency makes a reasonable request to do so, but only when there is supervisory approval; or a supervisor authorizes taking the report. Requests for assistance which would require our personnel to respond outside Lane County must be approved by the Chief of Police or his designee.