Anti-cop sentiment impacts HPD
By Terry Murry on Friday, February 26th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Anti-police sentiment across the nation is being felt locally. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said that Sgt. Kelly Parsons is retiring April 1.
“He has been in public service for over 30 years, and he has made the decision to get out of law enforcement altogether,” Edmiston said. “Frankly, I don’t blame him.”
Filling vacancies is harder than before.
“We used to experience 70 or 80 applicants, along those lines,” he said. “Now we’re seeing 20 or less.”
The chief said a number of those applying for the job don’t make the first cut – a check on social media.
“We wash a lot of people out immediately based on some things that they post on social media,” he said. “People just don’t realize that you can post something that could haunt you for the rest of your life.”
Graphic by Ashbeck Design
