A14 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2015
FROM PAGE A1
CRIME:
continued from page A1
ed in 2014, 35 percent less
than the 801 in 2013, with a
10-year average of 869.
“The numbers are en-
couraging any time you
see double-digit declines in
crime,” Edmiston said in an
email. “Inasmuch as I am
pleased with several cat-
egories, it shows us some
areas of improvement.”
VIOLENT CRIMES
Of all the crimes re-
ported, only the number
of robberies reported
were higher than the 10-
year average.
In 2014, robberies
reported doubled from
seven in 2013 to 14 in
2014 and were 40 percent
higher than the 10-year
average of 10 incidents.
Edmiston said, however,
six of the robberies were
“simple shoplifting mat-
ters where the suspect
attempted, threatened or
used physical force to es-
cape loss-prevention em-
ployees,” which elevates
the crime from larceny to
robbery.
Additionally, two of
the incidents involved
marijuana being stolen
from a person. Edmiston
said he anticipates higher
robbery rates in the future
stemming from the legal-
ization of recreational use
of the substance in Ore-
gon, which takes effect in
July.
“I believe, inasmuch
as people want to believe
marijuana will be regu-
lated through the Oregon
Liquor Control Commis-
sion, we will see a spike
HPD goals
The Hermiston Police Department’s
goals are the same this year as in
2014. Chief Jason Edmiston said it
made sense to keep the same goals
because they represented much of
what the department does.
Customer Service: “Provide police
services consistent with the vision
and values of our community-based
policing organization and serve as
ambassadors of the city of Herm-
iston with an increased presence
of employees at city meetings and
functions. Place an emphasis on
service delivery to our customers
through the establishment of ob-
servable, measurable, targeted and
specific performance objectives for
each employee of the department.”
Predictive Policing Strategies: “The
department will utilize any policing
strategy or tactic that develops and
uses information and advanced
analysis to inform forward-thinking
crime prevention. This includes
utilization of available intelligence
in the black market sell
of the substance,” he
said. “The trickle down
will impact the livabili-
ty of our citizens. I think
we will see more rob-
beries where one person
is stealing a controlled
substance from another
and possibly more bur-
glaries where one person
invades another’s prop-
erty to steal a controlled
substance.”
Aggravated
assaults
also doubled to eight inci-
dents from 2013 to 2014,
but that number is still 70
percent less than the 10-
year average of 27.
Two rapes were report-
ed in 2014, down from
five in 2013 — a 60 per-
cent drop — and half of
the 10-year average. Ed-
miston said in both inci-
dents the suspect and vic-
tim knew each other.
There were no homi-
cides in 2013 or 2014
and only four in the last
10 years. Although the
robbery and aggravated
assault incidents con-
tributed to 24 total vio-
lent crimes — 50 percent
more than 2013’s total of
16 — the 2014 number is
43 percent less than the
10-year average of 42.
PROPERTY
CRIMES
Although the number
of arson incidents dou-
bled to two from 2013 to
2014, matching the 10-
year average, the numbers
of the other three proper-
ty crimes were less than
last year and the 10-year
average.
Only 34 auto thefts
were reported in 2014, 53
percent less than the 72
“The numbers are encouraging
any time you see double-digit
declines in crime.”
Jason Edmiston
hermiston police cheif
in 2013, with a 10-year
average of 65. Edmiston
said a nine-year prison
sentence for “a person
well known to us and no-
torious for stealing vehi-
cles” contributed to the
decline.
Although larceny ac-
counts for the largest
number of crimes, only
388 were reported in
2014, 37 percent less than
617 in 2013 and 38 per-
cent less than the 10-year
average. Edmiston said
he was unsure what led to
the decrease.
“This department con-
tinues to be a full-service
agency, meaning no mat-
ter how minor the theft
is, we generate a report
and criminal investiga-
tion,” he said. “With offi-
cer self-initiated activity
up 18 percent in 2014 as
compared to 2013, I am
hopeful a contributing
factor could be having
more availability to be
proactive versus reac-
tive.”
Burglaries declined 21
percent from 95 in 2013
to 75 in 2014, which is
45 percent less than the
10-year average of 137.
Edmiston said these num-
bers were encouraging
because he put more em-
phasis on criminal inves-
tigations when he was ap-
pointed chief in 2012.
Total property crimes
dropped 36 percent, down
from 785 in 2013 to 499
in 2014, which is also 40
percent less than the 10-
year average of 827.
OTHER MEASURES
OF SUCCESS
Edmiston said, al-
though the crime numbers
are encouraging, the de-
partment also measures
its success by how well
it accomplishes its annual
goals.
He said HPD focused
on four goal categories
in 2014, and they encom-
passed the department’s
activities so well the same
goals are being used for
2015. The categories are
customer service, predic-
tive policing strategies,
traffic issues and livabil-
ity issues.
“The index crimes are
just one component in the
overall service delivery
of what we do,” he said.
“We know our citizen
complaints have declined
steadily over the years,
which could be a sign of
good customer service.
We experienced an 8 per-
cent increase in traffic
stops, which could mean
we are addressing traffic
issues. And then overall
livability issues are so
important: Our violent
crime is still relatively
low, our property crime
decreased significantly,
etc., etc.”
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and data, deployment of resources
such as a dedicated street crime
unit implementing a zero-tolerance
stance for all incidents involving
elements of gang activity in a timely
and targeted fashion specific to each
shift or assignment. The continual
nurturing of existing partnerships
established through Neighborhood
Watch, Business Watch and the
Community Accountability Board
will be critical to successes.”
Address Traffic Issues: “Provide
for a structured approach in
dealing with the traffic-related
issues experienced in the city by
utilizing engineering, education and
enforcement strategies in dealing
with these problems. Targeted
enforcement of traffic along the
Highway 395 corridor will be the
priority of a dedicated traffic unit.”
Livability Issues: “Focus on those
issues which impact the livability
of the citizens we serve will be a
high priority. This includes noise
complaints, animal complaints,
drug enforcement and all code
issues including areas of blight.”
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Tickets $35 per person
Special Olympics
Doors open at 7:00, Show starts at 8:00
Tickets available at
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce
for more info: 541-561-7488
No refunds
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