New Mutual Aid Agreement - Harrisburg & Coburg

PRESS RELEASE

TO: All Media

FM: City of Harrisburg

RE:  New Mutual Aid Agreement, Harrisburg/Coburg

RESPOND TO:  John Hitt, City Administrator, Harrisburg, OR  541/995-2200.  Email:  jhitt@ci.harrisburg.or.us

RELEASE DATE:  January 15, 2020.

Last night, at their respective City Council meetings, Harrisburg and Coburg approved a Pilot agreement to enhance future support and cooperation between the two area cities. As a first step, Coburg will assist Harrisburg in traffic enforcement patrols.  These patrols will be for approximately 25 hours per month, beginning February 1, 2020.  Their primary purpose is to allow more regular enforcement of traffic rules and safety regulations, especially near Harrisburg schools and the more heavily trafficked roads and streets.

Harrisburg Mayor, Bobby Duncan, a strong supporter of the agreement, commented, “We frequently get complaints concerning speeders and drivers not obeying stop signs and traffic signals.  While the Linn County Sheriff has done a great job for us for many years, they simply do not have adequate personnel to focus on traffic related issues.  The new Mutual Aid agreement with Coburg does not increase Harrisburg public safety costs, but simply allows more effective allocation of these resources”

Harrisburg anticipates renewing its long-standing agreement with the Linn County Sheriff's office to continue their work with residential and business patrols, criminal investigations, crime prevention, and overall law enforcement. All Harrisburg citizens are asked to continue to call 911 in any emergency, or the sheriff’s business number, (800-884-3911) if they have crimes to report or other public safety questions or concerns, including traffic enforcement.

Mayor Duncan added, “Coburg officers while on patrol here in Harrisburg will wear Coburg uniforms and drive patrol cars with both Harrisburg and Coburg markings.  We hope this doesn’t confuse any of our residents as they may be stopped by either Linn County Sheriff deputies or Coburg police officers.  Both are here to protect our citizens and make Harrisburg a safer place.  Since the Linn County Sheriff will continue as our primary public safety resource, all requests for assistance or service must be directed to them alone.”

While the current agreement is scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2020, there is a requirement for representatives for both cities to meet in November to assess the pilot program for possible changes and/or to continue it.

Any questions or concerns about this agreement should be directed to City Administrator John Hitt at 541-995-2200.