PPD gets ready for a new beat

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton Police Department hopes to have its new community policing initiative up and running this summer. Police Chief Chuck Byram said that now that the department is fully staffed, it’s time to form the new patrol area and prepare for reaching out in a way the department has not been able to in the past.

The beat will be comprised of the Pendleton River Parkway, adjoining parks, and the downtown core. Byram said patrols won’t be comprised only of police officers. It will also involve Community Counseling Solutions, Umatilla County Community Corrections, and the Pendleton Downtown Association.

“We will form a team to go out and interact with the mentally ill, addicted, and homeless population,” Byram said. “We want to either divert them into services, hold them accountable, or provide a presence to deter the activity that everybody’s seeing on a daily basis.”

Byram said the officers will be on bicycles, on foot, and in vehicles. He admits that it’s hard to not be concerned when he sees light at the end of the tunnel.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “That’s when I really start getting concerned. It’s trying to keep the train on the tracks and get us to where we need to be so that the community sees a positive impact for the investment that they’re allowing me to make in this.”