Petty crimes increase in 2022
By Terry Murry on Thursday, December 15th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – A big jump in aggravated assaults isn’t the only crime trend concerning Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston. He said that the current shortage of services for the addicted or those with behavioral challenges also evidences itself in lesser crimes. In the last year, HPD has seen a 38 percent increase in thefts.
“I think it’s very common, and I’m sure Pendleton PD would say they’re experiencing the same thing, just a huge increase in shoplifting,” he said. “People are feeding habits, and Lord knows what.”
Edmiston said that shoplifting isn’t considered a major crime, but he believes it is a major indicator of a troubling cycle of criminality.
“We are seeing it at all of our retail businesses, which is not considered a person crime and perhaps treated differently across the boards, but back to the accountability component, it’s a frustrating cycle we’re going through right now,” he said.
The chief hopes to see laws changed to give judges more power to require treatment for addicted offenders. He said that wasn’t perfect, but neither is decriminalizing drug possession.
“We’re removing accountability out of absolutely every single system we have in society,” he said.
