Probably not. But, follow me on this one-

A report from The Oregonian this week stated that the incinerator that the Portland Police uses to destroy drugs, guns, and other evidence was due to close in the near future.

The story ran down a list of options that other Oregon police and sheriffs agencies could use to get rid of their old evidence, including building their own incinerator. The story even mentions having to possibly travel to a different state to get the task done!

And this is where I wanted you to follow me to- A few years back, someone I knew who worked for Cascade Steel Mill mentioned doing evidence disposal for the city and/or county in their mill’s incinerator.

Which leads me to wonder… If there is a buring need for evidence incineration across the state, is McMinnville about to be the center of Oregon’s evidence disposal service?

Probably not. However, after calling this morning and and asking this question to a couple Cascade Steel employees (2/10/25 at 10 AM), one employee of the steel mill stated they **used** to do evidence incineration for the police.

Might I have just jump started an odd sub-set of industrial destruction? If I hear back from Cascade Steel again, or if I get comment from the Mac Po-Po or another police force that decides McMinnville is to be the final resting place for their illicit evidence, I’ll certainly let you know.

-Andrew Brunello

PS. Yes, this was just musings and making a local connection to a regional story.