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Community Safety System
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Police staffing levels have remained flat, despite a growing population and public safety needs
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Community Court was launched in 2016 as a program for those committing non-violent offenses in the downtown area
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Park Ambassadors work with EPD in City parks to help promote safety and quality experiences
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Cahoots provides 24/7 mobile crisis intervention
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911 calls for Eugene Police have increased 21% in the past four years, while staffing levels have also remained flat
Keeping the Community Safe
Many people face challenges. Our compassionate community wants to keep everyone safe, while also dealing with situations that are criminal and/or life threatening.
The Community Safety System works to keep the community safe. This system is made up of interdependent City departments and community partners. Each relies on the other in different situations.
A 3-pronged Approach
This system uses a three-pronged approach:
- Respond: Our priority is to respond to situations.
- Resolve: We strive to resolve every situation in a way that is best for the people involved, as well as the community.
- Prevent: We see many people repeatedly. We want to reduce those interactions and help people deal with their challenges. Our community partners are an integral part of that effort.
Struggling to Meet the Need
Right now, the Community Safety System is stressed:
- In the past 5 years, 911 calls for Eugene Police have increased 21% while police and 911 staffing have remained flat.
- Police are unable to respond to 1 out of 3 calls due to lack of patrol resources (when there is no immediate threat to life).
- It takes officers an average of 20 more minutes to respond to these calls for service.
- Response times for life threatening emergencies (cardiac arrest, stroke, trauma, breathing) have also increased because more people experiencing chronic conditions call EMS due to the fact that they don’t have any other options.
- Municipal Court cannot meet current demand.
- The number of youth diagnosed with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety continues to rise.
While many creative programs have been applied to this problem to maximize resources and meet community needs, the growing demand continues to outpace capacity causing critical gaps in community safety and services.
- A Collaborative Approach
- Seeking to Improve
- Timeline
- Council Presentations / Media Coverage
- Community Surveys
- Community Outreach
The City uses a collaborative approach to connect people to social services and medical care that can help turn lives around and reduce demands on the Community Safety System.
Upramps to Outside Services
- The City provides funding for CAHOOTS, which responds to 17% of 911 calls, freeing first responders for other calls.
- Community Court uses supervised community service and direct connections to social services providers to move people out of the criminal justice system – 91% of Community Court graduates have no new offenses.
- The Eugene Police Department's Community Outreach Response Team (CORT) helps connect frequently contacted individuals with appropriate resources and services proactively.
- Eugene Springfield Fire utilizes Basic Life Support (BLS) to allow Advanced Life Support (ALS) to better respond to life threatening emergencies and better serve all of the needs in our growing community.
- The City’s Recreation department provides youth inclusion services that engage parents, school staff and other professionals in identifying the most effective strategies for a youth to be successful in programs and activities.
These programs have demonstrated success in reducing arrests and the need for emergency services. They also rely on grants, one-time funding, or reallocating existing resources and need stable, ongoing funding to continue or expand.
On December 10 the City Council (unanimously) approved Opens a New Window. a one-time, 18-month funding strategy for $8.6 million. This “bridge” funding will support prevention efforts and services for youth and people experiencing homelessness, as well as police and emergency response services through June 2020.
Council has also committed to finding a long-term solution to this problem. A Revenue Team of community members and Councilors was established in November. This team reviewed funding options that could provide on-going support for community prevention, response and resolution services. All of these services must work together to ensure efficient and effective use of these critical resources.
Learn more
2018
- February: City Council Work Session Opens a New Window.
- May: City Council Work Session Opens a New Window. and Budget Committee Meeting
- July: City Council Work Session Opens a New Window.
- September: City Council Work Session Opens a New Window. - Review of Strategy and Funding Options
- December: City Council Meeting Opens a New Window. - Council approved Fiscal Year 2019 Supplemental Budget, which includes $8.6 million in community safety system funding through June 2020
2019
- January: Community Safety Revenue Team meetings
- February:
- Revenue Team to complete recommendation for long-term funding strategy
- City Council Work Session
- City Council discussion about the Revenue Team's recommendation
City Council Presentations
- February 13, 2019 Work Session Webcast
- February 13, 2019 Work Session PowerPoint
- Opens a New Window. December 10, 2018 Meeting Webcast Opens a New Window.
Opens a New Window. - September 26, 2018 Work Session Webcast Opens a New Window.
- September 26, 2018 Work Session PowerPoint Opens a New Window.
- July 18, 2018 Work Session Webcast Opens a New Window.
- July 18, 2018 Work Session PowerPoint Opens a New Window.
- May 16, 2018 Work Session Webcast Opens a New Window.
- May 16, 2018 Work Session PowerPoint Opens a New Window.
- Feb. 20, 2018 Work Session Webcast Opens a New Window.
- Feb. 20, 2018 Work Session PowerPoint Opens a New Window.
Recent Media Coverage
- Eugene to consider payroll tax for public safety expansion (Register-Guard, Feb. 13, 2019)
- Public Safety Funding Plan (KVAL, Feb. 13, 2019)
- Payroll Tax for Public Safety (KEZI, Feb. 13, 2019)
- New app to fight human trafficking in Eugene Opens a New Window. (KEZI, Jan. 22, 2019)
- Q&A: The retiring judge who built Eugene's 'second chance' court Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, Dec. 21, 2018)
- Police Camera Response Opens a New Window. (KVAL, Dec. 10, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - CAHOOTS: 24-hour service makes a difference Opens a New Window. (KLCC, Dec. 10, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Judge Wayne Allen: Retiring after 43 years at Eugene Municipal Court Opens a New Window. (KMTR, Dec. 5, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Eugene police aspire to be a 21st century partner Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, Nov. 28, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Eugene PD Steps Up Recruiting Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, Nov. 13, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Special Report: Requesting Backup Opens a New Window. (KEZI, Nov. 7, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Q&A with Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, Nov. 2, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Public Safety Funding Opens a New Window. (KMTR, Sept. 28, 2018)
- City Council Eyes More Police Funds Opens a New Window. (KEZI, Sept. 28, 2018)
- Eugene City Council to commit $8.6 million to public safety Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, Sept. 27, 2018)
- Eugene Police Release Video About Community Safety Opens a New Window. (KEZI, Sept. 12, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Police Seek More Funding Opens a New Window. (KEZI, Aug. 9, 2018)
- City of Eugene launches public safety survey Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, Aug. 4, 2018)
- Lack of patrol officers has new Eugene Police Chief facing tough problems Opens a New Window. (KMTR/KVAL, July 11, 2018)
Opens a New Window. - Eugene police chief orders review of patrol operations Opens a New Window. (Register-Guard, July 6, 2018)
Both a phone and online survey were conducted this summer to gain a deeper understanding of the public's thoughts and feelings about community safety.
Phone Survey
Strategy Research Institute conducted a benchmark scientific survey of 408 residents in July 2018.
Online Survey
We also received more than 2,400 responses to an online survey between July 27 and September 10, 2018. A summary of these responses was shared with the Eugene City Council at their September 26 Work Session Opens a New Window. .
Results
- Summary of phone survey results Opens a New Window. (July 2018)
- Analysis of online survey and comparison with phone survey Opens a New Window. (July-September, 2018)
- Qualitative answers to online survey:
- Question 3: "Please share your thoughts about your feelings of safety in Eugene." Opens a New Window.
- Question 17: "Are there any other outcomes that you think are important for the City Council to Consider?" Opens a New Window.
- Question 18: "Is there anything you would like to add about community safety in Eugene?" Opens a New Window.
This summer, the City reached out to the community in a variety of ways to get a better understanding of people's concerns and priorities as they relate to community safety and services.
Community Input
We attended the following events throughout summer 2018 to discuss community safety and services.
Event Booths (2018):
- June 26: Farmer's Market Family Day, Park Blocks, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- July 10: Party in the Parks, Churchill Sports Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- July 12: Touch-a-Truck, Petersen Barn, 5-7:30 p.m.
- July 17: Party in the Parks, Maurie Jacobs Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- July 29: Sunday Streets, Downtown Eugene, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- August 5: Cal Young Neighborhood Block Party, Wesley United Methodist Church, 12-3 p.m.
- August 7: Party in the Parks, Bethel Community Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- August 8: Whiteaker Community Council Ice Cream Social, 6-8 p.m.
- August 14: Party in the Parks, Washington Jefferson Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- August 16: Family Fun Night, Petersen Barn, 5:30-7 p.m.
- August 21: Party in the Parks, Arrowhead Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- September 6: 2018 Pearl Street Block Party, 5-7 p.m.
- September 7: Fiesta Cultural, Kesey Square, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
- September 9: Southwest Hills Neighborhood Association Annual Picnic, 4-7 p.m.
2018 Speaker Series (2018):
- July 18: League of Women Voters Wednesday
- July 24: Eugene Chamber of Commerce Board
- August 7: Eugene Rotary
- August 20: Grupo Latino Accion Directa (GLAD)
- August 22: Jewish Community Relations Council
- August 24: Eugene Chamber of Commerce Greeters
- September 7: LatinX Alliance
- September 11: Jefferson Westside Neighbors
- September 17: Northeast Neighbors Association
- September 18: Active Bethel Neighborhood Association
- October 17: Integration Network
- October 25: Friendly Area Neighborhood Association
- November 13: Fairmount Neighbors Association