eastprecinct.jpg

East Precinct officers, who found it odd that Officer Devonna Dick missed several days of work without notifying her supervisor, conducted a welfare check at her Portland home and found her dead in her Portland residence on Saturday morning, police said. Police say it appears Dick, 47, died after falling down a flight of stairs in her home. (Portland Police Bureau)

Updated April 24

A Portland police officer was found dead in her home Saturday morning after she failed to report to work for three days.

Officers went to Devonna Dick's Portland home to do a welfare check because it was unusual for her to miss work without contacting her supervisor, police said. Officers had to force entry into the home, where they found her body.

Dick appeared to have fallen down a flight of stairs and broken her neck, her co-workers were told.

Her cause of death was blunt force trauma to head and neck, according to the state medical examiner's office.

Dick, 47, a 23-year bureau veteran who worked patrol at East Precinct, died of a "tragic accident,'' Chief Mike Marshman wrote to bureau members in an email.

"At this point, there are no suspicious circumstances,'' Marshman wrote. "I ask that you keep Devonna's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.''

Survivors include her parents, retired Portland Police Detective Daryl Dick and Anita Dick, a sister and brother.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at City Bible Church, at 9200 N.E. Fremont St.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian