The Hermiston Police Department will work toward implementing a street crime unit to reduce illegal gang and narcotics activity, as well as reducing the number of auto thefts and burglaries in 2014.
HPD Chief Jason Edmiston recently announced the department’s goals for the coming year. Along with the street crime unit, the 2014 goals include enhanced customer service, addressing livability issues and targeting traffic enforcement along the Highway 395 corridor.
“Each supervisor is tasked with meeting individually with employees under their control to develop measurable and attainable objectives,” Edmiston said.
The department’s street crime unit will be a dedicated two-officer team free from routine calls for service with an emphasis on “aggressive targeting” of offenders perpetrating crimes against individuals.
“I envision this unit being an extension of patrol, yet having the flexibility to travel to places outside our immediate jurisdiction for arrest purposes should our department have reason to arrest someone who only comes to Hermiston to engage in illegal activity, yet the live somewhere else,” Edmiston said.
“Some of the wording – like ‘aggressive’ and ‘targeting’ – I have used is very strong, but I believe with the right controls in place with regard to supervision, we can operate in this manner while never compromising our integrity,” he added.
The department’s goals can be read online. (http://www.hermiston.or.us/police/goals)
