For more than 23 years, Sgt. Colleen Altabef has dedicated her career to keeping people safe in small communities along the Mid-Willamette Valley. Over the course of her 14 years in Woodburn, her role has expanded beyond traditional law enforcement — she now helps lead the department’s harm reduction efforts, providing life-saving resources to people who use drugs.
The Woodburn Police Department has embraced harm reduction as a critical component of public safety. Traditionally, officers have carried naloxone to respond to overdoses quickly. However, as overdoses increased in the community, Woodburn Police had difficulty finding enough naloxone. In looking for a solution, they found Save Lives Oregon.
“Previously, we could administer naloxone on scene, but we couldn’t leave it behind or hand it out,” Altabef said. “Now, we can empower people to take control over their own lives and the lives of their loved ones.”
Through their partnership with Save Lives Oregon, Woodburn Police also provides hygiene supplies and first aid kits to people, often during welfare checks, community interactions, and routine patrols.
“It allows officers to open lines of communication with community members in ways that might not have been possible before,” Altabef said. “When we provide for basic needs, we also offer support, resources, and a chance to build trust.”
Since implementing harm reduction efforts, Woodburn Police has documented multiple overdose reversals. In at least two instances this year, naloxone provided by officers was later used by community members to save lives.
“We’ve shown up to overdose calls where someone had already administered naloxone we gave them previously,” Altabef said. “We replace what they used, ensuring they still have it for the future. It’s about increasing the chances of survival.”
This shift has also allowed officers to support individuals more broadly. Officers now carry wound care and personal hygiene kits, offering everything from toothbrushes and sunscreen to bandages and feminine hygiene products.
“It creates a different kind of connection,” Altabef said. “We’re not there just to enforce the law. We’re there to help.”
Harm reduction is sometimes misunderstood. Criticisms include the premise that providing supplies like naloxone and safer sex kits condones harmful habits. But for Woodburn Police, harm reduction isn’t about promoting drug use. It’s about promoting safety and dignity.
“The drugs are already there,” Altabef said. “We have to find a way to help people reach a place where they can become healthy. That doesn’t mean ignoring the law — it means providing the resources they need to stay alive long enough to get there.”
Altabef’s commitment to harm reduction is deeply personal. Her father was a well-respected police officer, and his approach to policing left a lasting impression on her.
“When I became an officer, I wanted to be like my dad,” she says. “He treated everyone with kindness and respect, even those he arrested. That’s how I want to serve my community.”
Woodburn Police’s harm reduction efforts reflect that philosophy — balancing enforcement with empathy, ensuring that every community member is treated with dignity.
