After receiving an increasing amount of complaints from businesses and residents, Mayor Barb Tolbert met with Police Chief Ventura and City Administrator Paul Ellis to see how the
City could better focus on the Smokey Point Area. They initiated a targeted enforcement plan using support and resources available from multiple city departments.
Smokey Point businesses were invited to meet with Arlington Police Lieutenant Gilbert and Lieutenant Barrett and the Outreach team, Officer Thomas and Social Worker Heather
Ekins this week. These are the faces of the department to help businesses deal with issues they are having in Smokey Point district.
The meeting began with Lieutenant Gilbert stating that they share the businesses’ concerns about crime, there is data to back up the concerns, and they want to partner for a
solution. The City and Police Department has a strategic plan for the Smokey Point district and the meeting was a kick-off to introduce businesses to this plan.
With targeted enforcement in the area, law enforcement will deal with the people committing crimes, and the Outreach Team (social worker and police officer) can help the homeless
or addicted people that will accept resources. Those people that follow the program and accept resources are likely to go on to productive lifestyles. The targeted enforcement is
based on crime data – where higher volumes of crime is located.
The plan has been implemented; businesses and the community should see outcomes as we move forward. You will see more police cars in the Smokey Point area. Lieutenant
Gilbert has put together an interdepartmental city team to focus on the goal of decreasing crime and homelessness in Smokey Point. Working together with code enforcement, city
maintenance, the Mayor and legal, plus businesses, should make an impact.
Recent State legislation has put roadblocks for dealing with crime issues, but the City is working on municipal code to take action inside the city; however, legal process takes time.
Arlington Police work directly with Marysville Police and the State rest stops to prevent pushing issues back and forth through jurisdictions.
Officer Thomas gave an overview of the Outreach Team’s progress over the years, which has resulted in hundreds of people off the streets. The City has eliminated big camps, and
are continuously looking for and helping the homeless. Arlington is committed to continuing the Outreach Team, which closes the gap between detox and housing so that a person’s
drug and homeless cycle can end.
Lieutenant Barrett explained the current staffing of the Arlington Police Department and how businesses should expect to see more patrol and new staff on the roads within the next
several months. The ability to respond may have been difficult in the recent past due to staffing limitations, but with new recruits and lateral hires, the Smokey Point targeted plan will
really take shape.
Tools to combat crime were discussed at the meeting. The SODA order, or Stay Out of Designated Area, forbids anyone charged with drug crime to enter the area. Smokey Point is
a designated SODA area.
Businesses are encouraged to have a blanket trespass agreement with Arlington Police Department so they can act on your behalf if you are away from your business, but need to
have a person removed.
Other important tools for businesses to consider are video cameras, lighting, security doors, marking valuables and noting serial numbers, landscaping that eliminates concealment,
and litter and graffiti removal. The Police are available to evaluate business properties for crime prevention.
Businesses should call 911 or the non-emergency police phone number to report all crimes and to start a record of the issues they are having.
Original source can be found here.
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