Detective Thomas Garrett Arrested for Assaulting the Mother of his Child

A Milwaukie police officer is facing potentially career-ending charges, accused of assaulting the mother of his child while her other children watched.

Detective Thomas E. Garrett was arrested by Clackamas County sheriff's deputies Tuesday at the Milwaukie Police Station.

Garrett, 36, of Southeast Portland, is a six-year Milwaukie police veteran. If convicted of the charge, a Class C felony, he would be barred from possessing a firearm, which would make it impossible for him to continue as a police officer.

He was placed on immediate paid administrative leave.

Detective Jim Strovink, Clackamas County sheriff's spokesman, said a 30-year-old woman acknowledged to be the mother of Garrett's 1-year-old child visited the sheriff's Clackamas-area headquarters at 8 a.m. Tuesday to report that Garrett assaulted her with one or more of her three other children present. The woman, whose name was not released, said the assault occurred at her home in an unincorporated area outside Milwaukie.

The woman did not require medical care, Strovink said. Garrett and the woman are not married.

After conducting interviews, the sheriff's Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team, with cooperation from Milwaukie police, arrested Garrett at work without incident.

Oregon's domestic-violence laws require police to arrest a suspect accused of assault by someone who claims to be a victim. Physical evidence of an assault is not required.

Garrett was hired by Milwaukie police in April 2004. He began as a patrol officer and then worked as a school resource officer, mostly at Milwaukie High School, before most recently joining detectives.

"As far as our experience with him, he's always done a commendable job as an investigator," said Officer Ulli Neitch, Milwaukie police spokeswoman.

Police Chief Bob Jordan said Garrett was recognized for his work investigating the case of Christopher John Klitgord, a Milwaukie High math teacher convicted last year of second-degree sexual abuse for his relationship with a 16-year-old student.

Garrett also was recognized for instituting a truancy court at Milwaukie High to deal with chronically absent students.

He has no disciplinary actions on file.

Garrett was booked into the Clackamas County Jail on accusation of fourth-degree assault. He posted bond against $15,000 bail and was released. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 15 in Clackamas County Circuit Court.