The Bend City Council ended 2016 taking a stand against bullying, harassment and hate crimes. With its strongly-worded proclamation, the hope is to foster tolerance and acceptance into 2017 and beyond. “Be it resolved that the City of Bend stands up against bigotry and hate-based violence of all kinds and declares that no one shall […]
Bend police
Posted inNews
Problems on the Plaza
Bend’s downtown is a gathering place for the city—but business owners, officials and loitering youth all differ on how the area should be used
In 2010, the historic Rademacher House—home to Bend’s first mayor—was the site of Arts Central’s educational programming. That year, the organization opted to close down classes in the space, after “a vile act was committed in full view on the porch.” Inside, a group of young children were gathered for an arts class when the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Liz Lawrence
Bend Police Department’s finest
On a recent ride along with Sgt. Liz Lawrence of the Bend Police Department, the integrity, honesty and caring nature of the officer comes across clear as day. Lawrence, who has been a part of Bend's police force for 25 years, makes herself available 24/7 to help people, leading BPD’s mental health unit, called the […]
Posted inNews
Bend Fire Department Awards Teen for Saving Life
New CPR and PulsePoint App help increase chances for survival
On Friday, the Bend Fire Department recognized Israel Hawley, 17, for saving the life of his grandfather, Donald Sandretzky, who went into cardiac arrest while driving his family to church. Israel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for about eight minutes while waiting for Bend Police to arrive. Hawley, who did not have prior CPR training, followed […]
Posted inNews
Interview: Bend Police Chief Jim Porter on the expansion of the civil exclusion zone
The Bend City Council recently approved an ordinance expanding the civil exclusion zone to cover downtown. We talked to Bend Police Chief Jim Porter to get the inside scoop on how the ordinance came about and how police plan to execute it. Source Weekly: Where and how did the conversation about expanding the civil exclusion […]
Posted inNews
Smoke Signals 5/20-5/27
Bend Police Dogs
The legalization of recreational weed in Oregon brings about many changes, at least one of which is hard to celebrate. Police dogs are losing their jobs in states where pot is now legal, in large part because their ability to sniff out weed can now invalidate any arrest made where marijuana is present among other […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 10/14-10/21
VOTE YES ON MEASURE 92 TO LABEL GMOS Don’t be taken in by the opponents’ deceptions on Measure 92. Consumers will NOT spend more for food items. Labeling has already occurred in 64 countries with no increase in prices. A current 14-page Consumer Union report last week found that a potential cost to the consumer […]
Posted inNews
City Appoints Bend Police Chief Jim Porter to Permanent Position
City Manager Eric King announced today that he appointed interim Police Chief Jim Porter to a permanent position as head of the Bend Police Department. Porter stepped into the interim role after the firing of former Chief Jeff Sale, who was removed from his position following the sex scandal involving then Public Information Officer Lt. Chris Carney. “Upon […]