WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
COMMUNITY
Hermiston crime rates on par with last year
years until this year.
“Of the 100 incidents, we cleared
the matter via arrest 65 times, which
is an incredibly high clearance rate,”
Edmiston said. “Per the FBI, the na
tional
average for clearance of lar
BY SEAN HART
ceny is 21 percent, so we are three
HERMISTON HERALD
times that.”
Last year, 35 percent fewer total
He said he was encouraged by
crimes were recorded in Hermiston the burglary incidents, which were
than the previous year, and statistics also the lowest in the last 10 years.
IURP WKH ¿UVW WKUHH PRQWKV RI WKLV Nine burglaries were recorded this
year show a continued reduction.
year, compared with 16 last year and
According to Hermiston Police D\HDUDYHUDJHRI
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“We have focused resources on
for eight index crimes reported to burglaries and solid investigations,
the FBI, 125 total incidents occurred HQVXULQJ RI¿FHUV KDYH WKH WLPH WR
from January through March, com dot the I’s and cross the T’s, the last
SDUHGZLWKIRUWKHWKUHHPRQWK three years,” he said.
period last year.
Auto thefts increased 500 percent
With one homicide, one rape, from last year’s two to a total of 12
one aggravated assault and no rob LQWKH¿UVWTXDUWHUWKLV\HDUEXWWKDW
beries so far this year, the three vi ¿JXUH LV VWLOO OHVV WKDQ WKH
ROHQWFULPHVHTXDOODVW\HDU¶VQXP year average of 13.
ber, when only three robberies were
“This category is historically
recorded. On average over the last very cyclical and is evident by the
10 years, no homicides, one rape, previous year’s numbers, with a
three robberies and six aggravated \HDUORZRIWZRDQGDKLJKRI
assaults were recorded during the IRU WKH ¿UVW TXDUWHU FRPSDUD
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tively,” Edmiston said. “Of the 12
Hermiston Police Chief Jason we experienced, we cleared four
Edmiston said he is encouraged by via arrest, which is a 33 percent
the property crime statistics.
clearance rate. Per the FBI, the
Of the 122 total property crimes, national average for clearance of
100 were larceny cases, compared auto theft is 12 percent.”
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One arson case was recorded,
erage of 133. The 2014 number was compared with two last year and
the lowest on record in the last 10 D\HDUDYHUDJHRIRQH
Total crimes 34 percent
less than 10-year average
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ter department statistics show
calls for service were 37 percent
less than 2014 and 30 percent
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“This does cause me concern
because the decision to consoli
date our dispatch center may be
a variable in play,” he said. “We
have made our stance to the Uma
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clear: If a citizen wants to speak
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a call for service is to be created
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With the reduction in calls
for service, Edmiston said of
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project recommendations
through the city, water
tower painting, decora
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enlarging Hodge Park by
assuming control of an
The city of Hermiston existing train display and
is looking for ways to en installing and maintain
hance the aesthetics and ing decorative plantings
livability of the commu in existing median boxes
nity, and people can sub on Highway 395 south of
mit their own ideas.
town. The full draft list of
The Community En recommendations can be
hancement
Committee found at www.hermiston.
has developed a prelim or.us/news.
inary draft of ideas for
The “Enhance Herm
projects to enhance the iston” plan is intended to
community and is solicit provide a logical, system
ing additional ideas from atic and financially viable
the public before making approach to implementing
a recommendation to the projects to improve the
City Council, according visual appeal of the city,
to a city press release. according to the press
Residents may submit release. City officials re
their ideas through the ceive many recommenda
city’s website at www. tions for various projects
hermiston.or.us/feedback to benefit the community,
by 5 p.m. May 7.
and many of them are ex
Enhancement projects cellent ideas, but the costs
currently in the “Enhance and planning necessary
Hermiston” draft phase to implement them often
LQFOXGH D UHGHVLJQHG prevent them from gain
downtown entryway, in ing traction. The Enhance
creasing pedestrian path Hermiston plan will get
ways through the city, viable projects onto a list
creating visual buffers with preliminary project
near railroad right of way scope, intention and cost
Proposals to beautify
town due May 7
estimates. Creation of
this list of viable projects
then will allow the city to
plan for future funding or
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vantage of opportunities
if they arise because much
of the initial planning has
already taken place.
The enhancement plan
was one of several proj
ects the City Council
gave to the Community
Enhancement Committee
when it was created in
2014. The committee has
since been brainstorming
and vetting various proj
ects for the plan but has
not yet made a formal re
port to the City Council
because the group want
ed to get some additional
public input first.
After public proposals,
or comments on existing
proposals, are received,
the committee will review
them and discuss adding
them to the draft plan at
the May meeting. Once a
draft plan is finalized, it
will go to the City Coun
cil for consideration.
creased 81 percent and reports
taken have increased 33 percent
from last year.
He said total arrests have also
increased 38 percent from last
year, which is a “good sign of an
active department trying to posi
tively impact the livability of our
citizens.”
Financial report wins
another award
The city of Hermiston
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cate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial
Reporting from the Gov
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Association for the city’s
Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report for the
23rd year in a row, accord
ing to a city press release.
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highest form of recog
nition in governmental
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reporting, and its attain
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cant accomplishment by a
government and its man
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report has been judged
by an impartial panel to
meet the high standards
of the program including
demonstrating a construc
tive “spirit of full disclo
sure” to clearly communi
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motivate potential users
and user groups to read
the report.
Current and historical
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able for review under the
Finance Department tab
of the city of Hermiston’s
website, www.hermiston.
or.us.
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