Portland Police wrapped up what they call a five-day “high-visibility mission” on Saturday, May 24, with a focus on getting people with addiction into a Multnomah County deflection center.

The Multnomah County Coordinated Care Pathway Center is the deflection program designed to keep drug users out of the criminal justice system and in a place they can obtain addiction services and other support.

“The goal was to address crime and the fear of crime, to reassure the community that criminal behavior was being addressed, and dissuade lawbreaking,” according to a weekend press release. “The mission moved to different areas that officers have documented a significant amount of criminal activity and where community members have asked for enforcement attention.”

The mission began Monday, May 12, according to the release. Using a mobile command vehicle, a team of officers moved through specific neighborhoods, looking for public drug use. Sites include West Burnside Street and Southwest 12th Ave., where 13 people were taken to deflection. Police made seven arrests and recovered 17 grams of fentanyl and $88 in stolen merchandise.

On Tuesday, May 20, the operation moved to Couch Park, 551 N.W. 19th Ave., and 12  people were transported to deflection. Police made three arrests and seized one firearm and almost seven grams of methamphetamine.

On Wednesday, May 21, the operation moved to the Old Town neighborhood. Officers took 20 people to deflection, made two arrests and served 19 arrest warrants. They also cleaned up three homeless camps and recovered stolen items worth almost $400, according to the release.

On Thursday, May 22, they moved to the Central Inner Eastside and transported 13 more people to deflection. They arrested six people for crimes such as being a felon in possession of a restricted weapon and possession of fentanyl or meth. They also arrested another nine people who had arrest warrants.

And on Friday May 24, the team went to the South Park Blocks and Goose Hollow neighborhood area. For this mission, Gov. Tina Kotek dispatched the Oregon State Police to assist. Together, they made 39 arrests and 20 deflections. One arrest included the recovery of almost 22 grams of methamphetamine.