SPD to White Center: “It’s the County’s Problem”
Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day, so the chronic alcoholics, that live on the streets, felt emboldened. Two drunks wondered down 16th Ave. SW, malt liquor in hand (no bags). Clearly having imbibed a good deal already, one of the pair starts screaming at the top of his lungs. Concerned that a fight was about to break out between these two drunks, I called 911 and explained that there were two intoxicated men, drinking malt liquor and being belligerent. The dispatcher asked for description and said he would “call it in.”
My friend and I waited outside of the cafe and placed wagers on whether SPD would respond at all and if so would it be within the hour. “These calls are just one step above noise complaints on their radar,” he said. One of the drunks finished his liquor and flung the 20 oz can like a baseball. The other one continued to nurse his beer. Finally, about a half hour later a Seattle Police Department patrol car shows up with two officers. Not bothering to get out of the car they pull up to the individual with the can of malt liquor in his hand. “Toss it out,” they direct, although he had already started draining the can as he saw the patrol car approach. He flings his can to the ground. “Now move along,” says the officer. The drunks get up and start heading south towards Roxbury.
My friend approaches the patrol car and indicates he wants to talk to them. The police officers look bothered. He tells them that the other fellow had just tossed his can on top of the roof of building. “So?” came the reply from the officer, who had by now exited the car. “Well, we have lots of problems with these chronic drunks and we are concerned that nothing is being done to rid the area of them.”
“Look buddy, it’s not my issue. I can cite him for public intoxication, but that’s just a small fine.” We do not mention that he could have checked their ids and checked for outstanding warrants.
“But they are just going to get another round of malt liquor and continue to blight the area.”
The officer hems and haws and says, “they’re gone ok. Buddy, we gotta go.”
And as the two drunks cross Roxbury into unincorporated King County, the officer looks over and says, “look, they’re the County’s problem now.” And with those parting words, the officer gets in his squad car and drives away.
Tags: Seattle Police Department
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March 18th, 2009 at 10:25 am
This is a great story for all those who believe that unicorporated White Center will be better served by SPD – I imagine if these drunks were walking the streets of Laurelhurst the response would have been a little different – but it was only White Center – and apparently we do not matter that much.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:07 am
That is so frustrating. I hope it’s just because the line is so close there between King County and Seattle that was the reason they were so lackadaisical about it…but something makes me think that wasn’t it. In the cops’ defense, I bet they all HATE St Patrick’s Day…but that still doesn’t mean they should ignore public drunkenness.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
This is so interesting on those paticular SPD officers part. I am wondering if they are aware of the interlocal agreement between KCSO and SPD. It was created many years ago and surely they have heard of the S.W. weed and seed where both KCSO and SPD officers talk about community crime. Maybe they need to be re-educated on the subject. On behalf of other SPD officers, I do see them take advantage of that interlocal agreement and handle situations in KCSO juristiction.
A call to the S.W. precint office about the incident should be reported of the non-community policing attitude.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
King County Parks regulations state alcohol usage in their parks is prohibited yet illegal alcohol usage flourishes in Lakewood Park / Hicks Lake. Contacted our KC Executive and KC Division Director of Parks they claim they have no authority to resolve.Contacted three difernt KCSO Commanders SW Precinct reponses they do not have sufficent officers for traffic control meaning no enforcement in the park. With the amount of empty Alcohol containers found in the parks Garbage cans leads me to beleive drivers leaving the park are a little impaired.Contacted State Liquor control board response doesn`t beleive this falls into the control boards area. With SPO response to the drunks in White Center now article just who is responsible and who do you contact?
March 18th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
This story sort of illustrates what I have long suspected about downtown White Center: The Seattle cops herd the lowlifes south, Burien cops herd them north and the King County cops just sit and watch and make sure there’s no actual blood shed.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I’ve dealt with SPD in the SoDo area as well as the White Center area. I hate to draw with such a wide brush, but I’ve found them to be less than helpful to say the least. I’ve found them downright arrogant and power hungry on many occasions. On the other hand, I have found the King County Sheriff’s Dept. to be quite helpful, if overworked.
I would agree that the basic idea in this area seems to be to keep the “troublemakers” confined to White Center. It’s a shame that all areas aren’t created equal, isn’t it?
March 19th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I hate to say it but there seems to be a clash of cultures at work here. I live in the Center and work in Chinatown. The county deputies who work for Metro Transit Police in Chinatown are all over the drinkers and crack dealers. I see the same thing on the county side of the center. Drunks getting their beers dumped, searched and arrested for warrants. I see SPD conduct mostly drive-by policing in both areas.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:57 am
KCS has added bike patrol over the last few days to deal with drug dealing and public drunkenness. Wahoo
March 21st, 2009 at 9:07 am
bout time. Now if they can just move the fella’s who hang out across from Big Al’s away, I’d raise a glass.
I think we need nighttime parties where we beat on their cars where they sleep, get them to move to three tree:>)