BEND, OR -- Police officers in Bend are getting training this week on Oregon's new drug re-criminalization law that took effect September first. Bend PD's Sheila Miller says it's important everyone understands the implementation of House Bill 4002, "But also, the opportunities that they have to help people. It's really a carrot or stick approach and so making sure they understand those options that they have." Miller tells KBND News, "Quarterly, our officers actually do an inservice, that's a full day of training. The first hour and a half of this month's inservice that's happening this week is the chief, the jail captain, som DAs are all spending about an hour and a half with officers, going over what this program looks like, what the police officer's role is, making sure they know the law and know how to properly apply it."
The enforcement of drug offenses has changed a lot in recent years, "First there was PCS, possession of a controlled substance, then there was Measure 110, and now there's this new house bill," says Miller, "So that's a lot of moving parts and we want our officers to understand their role."
Police can now offer people caught with user amounts of drugs deflection, which means criminal charges are dropped if they complete a treatment program. But Miller notes, "They can also say, 'I'm not dealing with this, you're going to jail.' And, that's well within our officers' rights. That's their opportunity to determine what is the best move. Our officers have to make these types of decisions every day."
Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels says this weeks training is important, "To let patrol officers know, 'These are the criteria for admission to this program.' And, 'this is the path that an individual would take if they're referred into the deflection program.'" He says the jail will also present it as an option during booking, and it's offered again during the court process, for those who qualify.
According to Gunnels, several people have accepted deflection, since the program began almost two weeks ago.
