COMMUNITY SUPPORT ON FOUR WHEELS: RIVERVIEW BANK DONATES VEHICLES TO MHCC CAMPUS SAFETY
A partnership between Riverview Bank and Gresham Ford provides MHCC's Department of Public Safety with a much-needed patrol vehicle as the college navigates limited funding and ongoing fleet maintenance challenges.
By Morgan McCarraher
The Advocate
A donated Ford Escape is helping Mt. Hood Community College’s Department of Public Safety better serve the campus community, thanks to a partnership between Riverview Bank and Gresham Ford.
The donation comes as the department struggles to maintain its aging fleet of patrol vehicles, with limited funding available for repairs and replacements.
For MHCC Public Safety Director Suzy Tannenbaum, the donation provides much-needed operational support while demonstrating the importance of community partnerships.
When Tannenbaum joined MHCC in March 2025, she quickly discovered that the department’s existing vehicles were in significant need of attention. At the time, Public Safety had five vehicles, all of which required some degree of maintenance or repair. One was immediately removed from service due to safety concerns, while another required extensive transmission repairs that consumed most of the department’s vehicle repair budget for the previous fiscal year.
Officers frequently found themselves sharing vehicles, coordinating availability, and navigating the limitations of an aging fleet. Unable to afford a new vehicle, Tannenbaum began looking outside the college for assistance.
Drawing on her previous public safety experience, Tannenbaum initially approached neighboring law enforcement agencies about obtaining retired patrol vehicles. When no immediate opportunities emerged, she expanded her search to local automotive dealerships.
That outreach eventually connected her with Bess Wills of Gresham Ford. The two discussed the college’s needs, potential partnerships, and possible vehicle purchases. However, Tannenbaum explained that the department lacked the necessary funding.
Months passed before an unexpected phone call in spring 2026 brought encouraging news. Wills had identified a vehicle and brought Riverview Bank into the partnership, creating an opportunity to provide MHCC with a Ford Escape.
“What started as a simple outreach conversation turned into a meaningful community partnership and a wonderful example of what can happen when local businesses, financial institutions, and community organizations come together to support one another,” Tannenbaum said.
The donation was particularly unusual for MHCC’s Department of Public Safety, which had never received a similar donation. Although Tannenbaum had previously worked with departments receiving retired vehicles from law enforcement agencies, she said this was her first experience with a local business donating a vehicle while a dealership also committed to providing parts and labor support.
The Escape’s addition has provided greater flexibility for officers conducting patrols and responding to incidents throughout the college’s locations — responsibilities that extend beyond the main Gresham campus to the Bruning Center, Maywood Park Center and various Head Start locations throughout the community.
“This vehicle will support our department’s patrol and response operations across all Mt. Hood Community College locations,” Tannenbaum said.
The Escape also features updated public safety graphics, helping establish a more recognizable and consistent appearance for the department’s vehicles.
With the donation, MHCC’s Public Safety fleet now consists of five vehicles: two Ford Escapes, two Ford Explorers and a Dodge Dakota pickup truck. One Explorer was purchased used following damage to another department vehicle, while the second was obtained through a separate donation from a neighboring law enforcement agency.
Despite these additions, transportation challenges remain. Vehicles are not assigned to individual officers. Instead, officers use whichever vehicles are available and operational during their shifts. The age and condition of some vehicles further complicate scheduling, with ongoing maintenance challenges and unexpected repairs limiting availability.
The department also faces costs beyond acquiring vehicles. Emergency lighting, sirens, radios, identification graphics, and other necessary equipment must be installed before a vehicle can be fully outfitted for public safety operations. These expenses remain the department’s responsibility, even when a vehicle is donated. Looking ahead, Tannenbaum anticipates needing to replace the older Ford Escape within the coming year, followed by the Dodge Dakota pickup within about two years.
With personnel and campus coverage remaining budget priorities, replacing aging vehicles will continue to require careful planning and community support.
For Tannenbaum, the partnership with Riverview Bank and Gresham Ford illustrates how local organizations can contribute directly to campus safety.
“It truly takes a village, and campus safety is never the responsibility of just one department or one group of people,” Tannenbaum said.
And for MHCC, it serves as a reminder that community investment can extend well beyond the classroom.
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