Pandemic impacts PPD crime stats

By Terry Murry on Monday, March 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The COVID-19 pandemic had a big influence on some of Pendleton’s crime statistics for 2020. The most obvious increase was in burglaries.

“Our burglaries went up by 56 percent,” Police Chief Chuck Byram said. “That’s something that I’m really taking a hard look at. We’re going to have to develop strategies to try to reduce that.”

Byram hopes that the diminishing novel coronavirus case numbers will take a bite out of that crime.

“Hopefully, when these businesses are allowed and start reopening and we have more people in the downtown core, we will see those numbers drop again,” he said.

There was a 100 percent increase in murders with one this year after none were recorded in 2019. Aggravated assaults were down 46 percent and simple assault saw a nine percent drop. Sex crimes (excluding forcible rape) were up 29 percent.

Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle is up by 64 percent. Arson increased by 77 percent. Counterfeiting and forgery increased by 43 percent while embezzlement was down 44 percent. Motor vehicle crashes dropped by 31 percent.