I moved to Eugene a year and a half ago. Like many residents, I expected to feel safe using public spaces — walking, running and enjoying the city’s extensive trail system.

That expectation has been shaken.

One afternoon last year, I and multiple other residents called police to report ongoing public sexual behavior in a public space. This was not a brief or ambiguous incident. It was prolonged, visible and deeply disturbing.

Despite repeated calls over the course of two hours, no officer was dispatched. The behavior continued uninterrupted and ended only because a police officer happened to drive by independently.

What followed exposed an even deeper problem.

The individual involved was later put on trial and acquitted. The acquittal was not based on a finding that the conduct did not occur, but on the prosecution’s inability to prove subjective sexual intent, a requirement under Oregon’s public indecency statute.

This reveals a serious gap in the law. When accountability hinges on proving someone’s mental state rather than observable conduct and public impact, communities are left vulnerable.

The problem becomes more acute when altered mental states are involved. If a person is impaired by mental illness, intoxication or another condition, proving specific intent becomes even harder. Paradoxically, the more disordered or alarming the behavior, the less likely police are able to respond. This seems like a failure of statutory design.

I no longer feel safe using many of Eugene’s city trails, despite the city’s thoughtful investment in public infrastructure meant to promote health and connection. Public spaces only succeed when people feel safe using them.

City leaders should review 911 dispatch protocols to ensure prolonged public sexual conduct is treated as a public safety issue. State lawmakers should revisit Oregon statutes to consider whether requiring proof of subjective intent — especially in repeat or impaired cases serves the public interest.

Public safety should not depend on coincidence or legal loopholes. It should depend on systems designed to protect the people who live here.

Crystle Ardoin
Eugene