CPPD reports drop in serious crimes
By Terry Murry on Thursday, April 21st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
COLLEGE PLACE – College Place Police Chief Troy Tomaras has released the crime statistics for the city in 2021 and there was a reduction in serious crimes. The statistics show burglaries were down 12 percent, theft decreased 24 percent and domestic violence dropped 10 percent.
“I attribute this to the hard-working professional staff of the College Place Police Department in partnership with members of our community,” Tomaras said.
The pandemic and remote learning did create additional challenges to local students and School Resource Officer Joey Langlois. According to the report, Langlois assisted College Place School District staff with remote learning classes, home visits, and welfare checks. Student isolation and quarantine presented additional challenges for parents and schools in the community, along with Officer Langlois.
In 2021, the school resource officer statistics showed dramatic increases in several categories. There were 73 incidents last year, compared to 32 in 2020. In 2021, there were 22 criminal investigations, compared to nine in 2021. A total of 14 charges were filed last year, compared to none the year before.
“We are keeping our school resource officer,” Tomaras adds. “Andrew Schild has been selected to replace Joey Langlois beginning next September.”
As for other statistics, Tomaras reported an increase last year in warrant apprehension, motor vehicle thefts and shoplifting, compared to the year before. He also acknowledged that police reform laws did impact how the department performed certain duties in 2021.
“A big change affected our narcotics arrests,” he said. “Due to the State v. Blake decision on simple possession, we are not able to arrest until third offense. I also believe arrests were down because we had to work out some changes in how we could respond.”
Tomaras said some of that has been rolled back now so officers may again conduct investigative detentions.
