EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Eugene city councilors agree a rising tide of downtown crime is unacceptable. They're debating the proper balance between providing social services and law enforcement.
Mayor Kitty Piercy says there seems to be broad council support for considering specific actions, such as more security personnel downtown and stronger restrictions on alcohol.
Monday was the councilors' first opportunity to discuss the topic since an anonymous citizens group called the Eugene Advocates sent e-mails and photos of public drunkenness and other downtown ills.
The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission says between 2007 and 2008, violent crime in Eugene was up 16.4 percent and property crime was up 25.8 percent. Crime rates in both categories dropped in Portland, Salem and nationwide.
Police Chief Pete Kerns told the council he'd need 10 to 12 more officers and three supervisors to do an adequate job of protecting the downtown area, where crimes range from loitering to robbery, sex offenses and fights.
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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com
