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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2015)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015 LOCAL NEWS HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 A sum greater than its parts Youth services officer at elementary schools yields police- school synergism By SEAN HART Staff Writer Hermiston police and VFKRRO RI¿FLDOV EHOLHYH LW LV EHQH¿FLDO WKDW HOHPHQWDU\ school students have some positive encounters with po- OLFHRI¿FHUVLQWKHVFKRROHQ- vironment. Hermiston’s school dis- trict and police department have collaborated for years to provide a school resource RI¿FHU ZKR URWDWHG EHWZHHQ the two middle schools and the high school. This year, the two entities expanded their partnership to provide an ad- GLWLRQDO RI¿FHU IRU WKH ¿YH elementary schools. 2I¿FHU (ULFD 6DQGRYDO¶V role as crime prevention of- ¿FHUZDVPRGL¿HGWRLQFOXGH new responsibilities as youth VHUYLFHVRI¿FHU Chief Jason Edmiston said with the change the school district is paying half of Sandoval’s salary — in ad- dition to funding 75 percent RI 6FKRRO 5HVRXUFH 2I¿FHU Tim Miears’ position. Neither RI¿FHU¶VUROHLVWUDGLWLRQDOKH said. “It’s not about policing the schools,” Edmiston said. “It’s about building relationships. It’s not just relationships with the kids. It’s relationships with the staff and the parents. There is value in this.” Sandoval said, despite ini- tial reluctance to the idea, she loves being in the schools and the opportunity to make a dif- ference. ³)RUXVDVRI¿FHUVP\VHOI and Tim, being in the non- traditional roles we are in is going to teach these children, who will grow up to be adults, STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY Erica Sandoval, of the Hermiston Police Department, eats lunch with students at Highland Hills Elementary School on 0onday as part of her duties as youth services ofÀcer young age is a great plus for us,” Kay said. “It allows Eri- ca to engage with some of our youngest, potentially at-risk kids. She’s absolutely a rock at that stuff.” Educating students star Highland Hills Elemen- about police tary School counselor Eliza- Hermiston School District beth Morgan said it was great Director of Operations Mike to have a visible police pres- .D\ VDLG 2I¿FHU 0LHDUV KDV ence in the schools. She said been a great resource, helping Sandoval is not only a posi- with truancy issues, criminal tive role model, she can also matters and monitoring ac- help students have a better tivities at the middle and high understanding of what police schools. Those duties, how- RI¿FHUVGR Sandoval said she occa- ever, occupy most of his time. “Just having that extra sionally eats lunch at the dif- set of boots on the ground is ferent schools. She is present wonderful with Erica,” Kay when kids arrive and leave for said. “It allows Tim to be a the day. She visits classrooms little more in depth with what for special events. At a Halloween event he’s doing with relationship building with the secondary about a month after she start- ed in her new role, Sandoval kids.” Kay said Sandoval is great said students’ parents were at connecting with the young approaching her, telling her students. Even before being how much the students were WKH\RXWKVHUYLFHVRI¿FHUVKH talking about her at home. ³7KDW ZDV VLJQL¿FDQW IRU worked well with children through the Hermiston Com- me, because I really didn’t do munity Accountability Board, anything other than going to a program that provides juve- the schools and just trying to niles the opportunity to avoid make a presence there,” she the justice system through said. compliance with the board’s Improving policing directives. “Any time you have an through relationships opportunity to have our kids Edmiston said when interact in a positive manner Hermiston School District with law enforcement at a Superintendent Fred Maiocco a different way of looking at the police,” she said. “I love it, because it’s proactive. It’s positive. I think it’s a win-win on both sides.” STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY Erica Sandoval, of the Hermiston Police Department, visited with students at Highland Hills Elementar\ School on 0onda\ as part of her duties as \outh services ofÀcer SLWFKHGWKHLGHDIRUDQRI¿FHU at the elementary schools, it immediately made sense from a law enforcement per- spective. 3ROLFHDQGVFKRRORI¿FLDOV have together conducted ta- bletop exercises annually for several years to prepare for catastrophic events, he said. 7ZR RI¿FHUV ZLWK ¿UVWKDQG knowledge of the schools and district policies would make the department even more prepared to respond in a cha- otic situation, he said. Through positive po- lice-student relationships, he said many poor decisions may even be prevented. “A lot of people may not see the extreme value in this,” Edmiston said. “We are getting into the schools and having positive interactions, making positive changes with the youth, before they real- ly start getting into decision making on their own.” Sandoval said many stu- dents she met through the STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY Erica Sandoval, of the Hermiston Police Department, eats lunch with students at Highland Hills Elementary School on 0onday as part of her duties as youth services ofÀcer Community Accountability Board maintained relation- ships with her after they com- pleted the program. Some have returned to Hermiston with college degrees and told her they chose a new path, so as not to disappoint her. Sandoval’s direct super- visor, Capt. Travis Eynon, who is also a member of the Umatilla School Board, said he believed adding the youth VHUYLFHVRI¿FHUZDVWKHVLQJOH PRVWVLJQL¿FDQWDFWLRQWKHGH- partment has taken all year. “It’s an opportunity for synergism with the schools and the police department,” he said. “The two parts to- gether are stronger than the two parts apart.” pies, rolls and bread. Money raised helps pro- vide scholarships for stu- dents in medical programs and miscellaneous hospital equipment. For more information, contact June Rosenberg at juner1942@gmail.com. at 2:15 p.m. at 101 Olson Road, Boardman. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. Ad- mission includes a bag of popcorn. Water is available for purchase. People are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the spe- cial holiday light show. The show, which is set to music, is broadcast on 106.9 FM. The light display remains through the end of the year. The SAGE Center is open Monday through Sat- urdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.visitsage.com or call 541-481-7243. IN BRIEF Classes provide driving refresher course bers and $20 for non-mem- bers. For more information or to register, call Rose Emer- son at 541-667-5092. A pair of AARP driving classes are offered next week in Hermiston. The sessions provide information on defensive driving skills, a refresher for rules of the road and how to manage age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. While the class is geared towards older adults, all licensed drivers are welcome to at- tend. The class is available Thursday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the Bob Shannon Safety Center, 330 S. First St., Hermiston. The cost is $15 for AARP mem- Umatilla chamber hosts open house A holiday open house is planned at the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center. The public is invited to enjoy food, fun, friendship and an opportunity to win prizes. The free holiday open house is Thursday, Dec. 10 from 2-6 p.m. at the Welcome Center, 100 Cline Ave., Umatilla. For more information, contact Executive Director Karen Hutchinson-Talaski When they say “It’s Cold Out!” and you say “You Don’t Have To Shout” It’s time to call us! Sound Advantage Hearing Aid Center 541-567-4063 at karen@umatillachamber. net or 541-922-4825. New Hope sets Christmas program A Christmas Special is planned at New Hope Com- munity Church. The event includes singing Christmas carols, watching the kids’ Christ- mas program and enjoy- ing Christmas cookies. The music features Louise Sundvall on piano. Everyone is welcome to come celebrate the season Sunday from 6-7 p.m. at the church, 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston. For more information, call Doug Fehrenbacher at 541-561-8327. Hospital auxiliary sets bake sale A sweet selection is avail- able during the Good Shep- herd Auxiliary Bake Sale. The event is Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the pharmacy lobby at Good Shepherd Medi- cal Center, 610 N.W. 11th St. Items available include Christmas candy, cakes, SAGE Center rings in Christmas A weekend movie at the SAGE Center helps rings in the holiday season. “The Grinch that Stole Christmas” is Friday at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday New H ope Christmas Special D ec. 6 th • 6:00 - 7 :00 pm Join u s in the San ctu ary 405 N. 1st St., Suite #107, Hermiston Ric Jones, BC-HIS Verna Taylor, HAS Forrest Cahill, HAS 541-215-1888 246 SW Dorion, Pendleton Come and Celebrate! Sin g Christm a s Ca rols Kid s Christm a s Specia ls E n joy Christm a s cookies Rachel Dagley Business Health Farm Life Lou ise Su n d va ll on the P ia n o Rachel Dagley 541/276-2302 • 800/225-2521 The Stratton Agency Pendleton / Hermiston • stratton-insurance.com Commercial & Farm Agent C all D ou g Fahren b acher 541-561-8327