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La Grande says police staffing gaps persist; city declined a federal grant tied to ICE access
Summary
Officials reported the police department is understaffed and that the city faced a grant offer that would have restored a position but reportedly required allowing ICE access, a condition city leaders said conflicts with Oregon law and prevented acceptance.
John told the town hall the city cut one police position in a recent budget decision while pursuing grants to restore personnel. He said the city had been negotiating a grant that would have helped restore staffing but that new federal requirements linked to the grant would have required cooperating with immigration enforcement in a way that conflicts with state law.
"We found out this last week that the federal government is going to attach with that requirements where we have to let ICE come in and do whatever they want in our... community, if we sign the dotted line... that's in conflict with Oregon law," John said. He said because of that apparent legal conflict the city cannot accept that condition and must continue seeking alternative funding.
City police-related staffing numbers presented at the meeting showed the patrol authorization at 12 positions with 10 currently available (two are in training) and several vacancies in recruitment. City staff said they are pursuing other grant opportunities and stressed the trade-offs the city faces in funding public-safety personnel amid constrained general-fund resources.
