Officer Colleen Ann Waibel

Colleen Ann Waibel

Officer Colleen Waibel was shot and killed and another officer was shot and seriously wounded while conducting a drug raid on a house with a marijuana grow at 2612 SE 111th Avenue.

Both officers, along with others, had knocked on the front door and identified themselves but nobody answered. As they attempted to knock the door down, automatic gunfire erupted and Officer Waibel was struck above and below her vest.

The second officer's vest was penetrated by the armor-piercing rounds. She was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and underwent several hours of surgery. A third officer was shot in the hand as he returned fire in order to allow for the two wounded officers to be extracted. The suspect, who had been shot and wounded, exited the house approximately 2-1/2 hours later after several canisters of tear gas were launched.

The subject committed suicide in jail in late February 1998 by hanging himself with a sheet from his bed.

Officer Waibel had served with the Portland Police Bureau of seven years. She is survived by her husband.