Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT)
The Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT) was founded in 1986 by the Pendleton Police Department and the Oregon State Police. The Drug Task Force started with no official operating budget just the will, desire and fortitude of Pendleton Police Department Detective James “Jim” O’Grady and Oregon State Police Detective Mike Davis. Based on there experiences and recommendations the team grew in size with more participating agencies. The team has had numerous members come and go but has remained a solid resource in the battle of narcotics trafficking.
The Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team has a long proud history and has had numerous detectives assigned to it during the years. Those individuals relish the years they were able to serve on the team and often comment it was the best years of their career. The privilege of being able to serve a broader population base across jurisdictional lines is truly an honor.
BENT now serves specifically Umatilla and Morrow Counties with participation of the following agencies and members:
| Pendleton Police Department | 1 Detective Sergeant ½ time & 1 Detective |
| Oregon State Police | 1 Criminal Sergeant & 3 Detectives |
| Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office | 1 Detective |
| Morrow County Sheriff’s Office | 1 Detective |
| Milton-Freewater Police Department | 1 Detective |
| Umatilla Tribal Police Department | 1 Detective |
| Hermiston Police Department | 1 Detective |
| Oregon National Guard | 2 Data Analyst |
BENT has received numerous awards including Task Force of the year on a State level and Regional level including the whole west coast of the United States. Individual members have also been recognized as Investigators of the Year.
As time has progressed, so have the challenges with new technologies and the criminal mindset. Even though BENT focuses on Umatilla and Morrow counties drugs and illegal activity do not respect nor stop at jurisdictional lines. BENT all too often finds themselves traveling all over the State of Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho with information sharing and criminal ties to other states all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and other foreign countries. Due to the significant types and quantity of cases especially with national and international ties Umatilla County was one of three counties designated as a High Intensity Drug Traffic Area by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2005.
It is “sad” that the times and society has changed so much that we have received this designation, but yet it is beneficial as we now receive federal funds, better cooperation with Federal Law Enforcement Agencies and a priority with federal prosecutions of our cases.
For more information or questions
If you have information on narcotics use, drug trafficking or just questions or concerns you can reach our BENT Representative Detective Rick Jackson at 541-276-2663 or email at Rick.Jackson@ci.pendleton.or.us.