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The Portland Police Bureau is adding six permanent positions to the Gang Enforcement Team. The additional positions are being created to address the rising gun violence in the city.
Sgt. Pete Simpson said there have been approximately 70 gang related violent crimes this year. He said a number of those have been shootings. In May of this year alone, there were 25 gang-related shooting investigations in Portland.
"Which is a remarkably violent month," said Simpson. "We haven't seen numbers like that for a decade and a half or longer. And the rise has be steady enough that the bureau decided it was time to shift resources to address the issue."
There will now be 24 officers on the Gang Enforcement Team, along with six detectives and sergeants. Simpson said the extra officers will increase the police's ability to respond to gun violence citywide.
The positions are being reallocated from the three precincts' Neighborhood Response Teams and Street Crimes Units.
