Newberg-Dundee Ranked Oregon's 5th Safest City
(NEWBERG, OR) – The Cities of Newberg and Dundee have been recognized as Oregon’s 5th safest city, according to Safewise, a distinction that reflects the strength, character, and shared commitment of an entire community. While the Newberg-Dundee Police Department (NDPD) plays a central role in public safety, Chief of Police Jeff Kosmicki is quick to point out that this achievement belongs to everyone.
“This recognition does not belong to the police department alone,” said Chief Kosmicki. “It belongs to our entire community: our residents, our businesses, our city government, and every stakeholder who plays a role in making Newberg and Dundee such special places to live and work.”Safety in Newberg and Dundee is built on relationships between neighbors, between schools and families, between local government and the people it serves. For the NDPD, that means showing up not just in emergencies, but every day, in ways large and small. Officers are encouraged to be proactive, exercise common sense, and treat every person they encounter with respect and dignity. The department’s 911 dispatchers bring that same dedication to every call they answer, connecting residents with the right resources—often on the most difficult days of their lives.
That community-first philosophy is reflected in programs like:
- Operation Safe Schools: A partnership with the local school district that places officers at every school during morning drop-off for a portion of the school year, with continued random visits throughout the year. The program provides students, parents, and staff with a consistent and reassuring presence.
- Second School Resource Officer: Made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Newberg City Council and City Manager Will Worthey, this addition deepens the department’s connection with young people and strengthens the bond between law enforcement and the next generation of community members.
Chief Kosmicki also expressed gratitude for the strong support the department receives from city leadership, crediting City Manager Will Worthey and the City Council as instrumental partners in providing the resources necessary to serve effectively.
“Safety is not built by enforcement alone—it is built through trust, partnership, and a shared commitment to the well-being of our neighbors,” Chief Kosmicki said. “We will continue to work to be the number one safest city—not for the accolade, but because our community deserves nothing less than our very best.”
Statement from the Chief of Police, Jeff Kosmicki:
"We are incredibly grateful and humbled to learn that the Cities of Newberg and Dundee have been ranked as Oregon's 5th safest city this year. While we are proud of this achievement, we want to be clear — this recognition does not belong to the police department alone. It belongs to our entire community: our residents, our businesses, our city government, and every stakeholder who plays a role in making Newberg and Dundee such special places to live and work.
Being consistently ranked in the top 10 is something the men and women of NDPD should be proud of. It is a reflection of their daily commitment to doing the right thing on every contact. Although we are not perfect, we strive to provide exceptional customer service while working within the framework of the law. I believe we need to be something positive for everyone if we can. While this ranking is quite an achievement, we will continue to work to be the number one safest city — not for the accolade, but because our community deserves nothing less than our very best.
For us, it is equally important to have great relationships with all stakeholders in the community. Safety is not built by enforcement alone — it is built through trust, partnership, and a shared commitment to the well-being of our neighbors. We are fortunate to have tremendous support from our community and city government, including City Manager Will Worthey and our City Council, who have been instrumental in providing the resources and support we need to serve effectively.
One example of this partnership is the addition of a second School Resource Officer, made possible through the collaborative efforts of the current City Council and City Manager Worthey. This was a huge piece we were missing — the ability to build positive rapport with our students and strengthen that critical connection between law enforcement and the young people in our community.
We also have several community engagement components that contribute to the safety of our city. One that comes to mind is Operation Safe Schools, a program operated in cooperation with our school district. For a limited time during the school year, we place a police officer at every school during morning drop-off. During the rest of the year, we randomly select a patrol officer and schools to continue this program, maintaining a consistent and reassuring presence for students, parents, and staff.
Our supervisor team encourages officers to be proactive when they are not busy taking calls — to use common sense and treat people with respect and dignity. That philosophy is at the core of everything we do. We also want to recognize our 911 dispatchers, who have a very difficult job handling a wide variety of emergencies. They take tremendous pride in getting the right resources to help people, sometimes on the worst day of their lives. Their dedication is a critical part of what makes our community safe.
At the end of the day, we have a dedicated team that serves the Cities of Newberg and Dundee, and we are honored to do it. We will continue to build on the trust and partnerships that make this community great, and we remain committed to being the safest city in Oregon."
Jeff Kosmicki, Chief of Police
Newberg-Dundee Police Department
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