A five-day long high visibility mission in different neighborhoods within Central Precinct has wrapped up with significant results, including dozens of people brought to the Pathway Center for deflection.
This mission focused on a variety of criminal behaviors, but was specifically focused on drug users and getting those who were eligible to the Multnomah County Coordinated Care Pathway Center, which is the deflection program designed to keep drug users out of the criminal justice system and in a place they can obtain addiction services and other support. Over the course of the week, 78 people were taken to deflection.
The mission utilized PPB’s Mobile Command vehicle, a specially outfitted RV used by a variety of PPB Units. The vehicle served as a center of operations for the day, but also a highly visual indicator of the police effort. The goal was to address crime and the fear of crime, to reassure the community that criminal behavior was being addressed, and dissuade lawbreaking. The mission moved to different areas that officers have documented a significant amount of criminal activity and where community members have asked for enforcement attention.
On Monday, May 19, the mission was based at West Burnside Street and Southwest 12th Avenue. There, officers did walking beats, stopped pedestrians and vehicles for violations, and made 7 arrests (both probable cause and warrant arrests). Thirteen people were taken to deflection. Officers also recovered over 17 grams of fentanyl and $788 in recovered stolen merchandise.
On Tuesday, May 20, the effort was centered around Couch Park, 551 Northwest 19th Avenue. During dozens of police stops, officers arrested 3 people, seized 1 unlawfully possessed firearm and 1 replica firearm, and almost 7 grams of methamphetamine. Twelve people were transported to deflection.
On Wednesday, May 21, they were in the Old Town neighborhood. They took 20 people to deflection, made 2 arrests and served 19 arrest warrants, did 3 campsite cleanups, and recovered stolen items worth almost $400.
Thursday, May 22 was in the Central Inner Eastside, where they arrested 6 people for crimes (Felon in Possession of Restricted Weapon, PCS fentanyl/meth, Trespassing, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Failure to Register as Sex Offender-Felony), arrested another 9 people who had arrest warrants, and did 13 deflections.
And on the last day, Friday May 24, the team went to the South Park Blocks and Goose Hollow neighborhood area. For this mission, Governor Tina Kotek dispatched the Oregon State Police to assist. The inclusion of OSP Troopers was a force multiplier for police resources. We had many excellent interactions with the community and had a perceptible effect on visible criminal activity in the area according to mission officers. And the statistics were astounding.
The teams did 36 subject stops, 9 traffic stops, and assisted patrol on a variety of calls. The total between Portland Police and Oregon State Troopers included 39 arrests and 20 deflections, resulting in the most productive days of the week. One especially impactful traffic stop near Southwest 11th Avenue and Southwest Columbia Street, resulted an arrest, a towed vehicle, and the recovery of almost 22 grams of methamphetamine. PPB extends its sincere gratitude to our OSP partners for helping us out again.
Source: Portland Police