In 2016, the Bend Police Department working with the Downtown association identified an increase in crimes and associated disruptive behavior that was significantly impacting the livability and overall family atmosphere in our Downtown area to include Drake Park and Mirror Pond parking lots.
The Police Department, The City of Bend City Council, City of Bend staff and the Downtowners Association, the Bend Parks and Recreation District collaborated to help make our downtown area more family friendly. The use of crime data correlation and mapping, the use of the City ordinance allowing for the exclusion of those committing crimes from downtown area, the Problem Oriented Policing Team working with City Staff to reengineer the Mirror Pond parking lots, and the Community Enhancement Program focusing on problem areas we have now seen the results in the form of significant reductions in crime and police calls in our key summer period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The Police Department was given permission to increase staffing and then used that staff to help targeted areas of high police calls and crimes, increased foot patrols, and worked closely with downtown merchants as a team to improve the downtown area. This proactive policing model approached increased traffic stops by 14.4% and increased Community Enhancement Program downtown time by 7.8%.
Between 2017 and 2019 reported calls for service reflect the following decreases in crime and calls:
The Bend Police Department is very appreciative of the support we receive from our community members and partners to help in the success of making our downtown area family friendly and a place that continues to be visited by many.
Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey