Colleen Waibel
1953-1998
Officer Colleen Waibel was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon as part of a large, extended farming family. She graduated from St Mary’s of the Valley High School and attended Portland Community College. She had been a secretary for the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
She was appointed to the Bureau on July 3, 1991, at the age of 37. She was assigned to East Precinct.
The Incident
Just before noon on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 officer Waibel was with three other officers responding to a report of marijuana in a house at 2612 SE 111th Avenue. Three of the officers went to the front door and the third around back. Getting no response from inside, they broke open the door and were met with rifle fire that struck Waibel and the other two officers. Waibel was killed at the scene, one officer seriously injured and the third had minor injuries but was able to return fire.
After a two-hour standoff, the suspect surrendered and was hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Officer Waibel was 44 and survived by a husband and two children.
She was appointed to the Bureau on July 3, 1991, at the age of 37. She was assigned to East Precinct.
The Incident
Just before noon on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 officer Waibel was with three other officers responding to a report of marijuana in a house at 2612 SE 111th Avenue. Three of the officers went to the front door and the third around back. Getting no response from inside, they broke open the door and were met with rifle fire that struck Waibel and the other two officers. Waibel was killed at the scene, one officer seriously injured and the third had minor injuries but was able to return fire.
After a two-hour standoff, the suspect surrendered and was hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Officer Waibel was 44 and survived by a husband and two children.