It has been a year marked with changes for the Hermiston Police Department, including shifts in personnel and the creation of new positions and programs.

I keep hearing from the officers, these are exciting times, said Jason Edmiston, chief of Hermiston Police. And they are because were building something here that we know could, if we do it right, have lasting impact 20 years down the road.

Edmiston was referring to the growth of the department from 23 to 26 sworn officers since last summer, as well as a shift of employees to new roles.

We have created positions, we have added personnel and we have formed our first ever official chaplain program, Edmiston told Hermiston City Council on Aug. 27. During the meeting, Edmiston presented the departments four new sergeants.

Under the new personnel plan, Bryan Maess and Scott Clarke became patrol sergeants, and former person crimes detective Bill Osborne and code enforcement officer Kelly Parsons also assume sergeant roles.

Our sergeants truly are our first line of defense for the city, our citizens and our department, Edmiston said. The role of a sergeant is difficult because they are tasked with many things.

Sergeants take the lead on decision-making and rotate shifts with officers. They also act as role models, Edmiston said. Hermiston PD assessed internal candidates in mid-July for the positions.

I cant imagine it happens in an agency our size, he said. Here we have an opportunity for four new sergeants to mold them, make sure that we all are on the same page, that our priorities are in line with the citys, with the citizens. Patrol officer Randy Studebaker has also been promoted to person crimes detective.

Hes got exceptional people skills, has the ability to talk to people, not necessarily at or down to people, Edmiston said. A lot of what that position deals with is sex crimes, and that takes a certain person thats tolerant.

Hermiston PD created a gang intervention detective position approved in January. Will Jons, previously dedicated to gang enforcement, started in the role in April. The department also created a communication manager position, assigned to dispatcher Amanda Hartsteen.

Patrol Sgt. Travis Eynon was promoted to administrative lieutenant in mid-July. Former Patrol Sgt. Tim Beinert took a job outside the department.

Change is uncomfortable, but not entirely unhealthy, Edmiston said.