GIPOA Informational Meeting with Sheriff's Office Representatives, January 24, 2010

President Howard Pellett began the meeting promptly at 6:30 with over forty  people present. He introduced:

1.Chief Deputy Tom Molitor, Chief of Field services (supervises all of the uniformed Sheriff's Office personnel, including patrol division, traffic division, La Conner and Concrete  detachment, Search and Rescue, and SWAT team (former Navy pilot, US Secret Service agent, and City of Bellevue police officer).

2.Sgt. Jennifer Sheahan-Lee, Patrol Sergeant, over 20 years with the Sheriff's Office including corrections, dispatch, and patrol.

Tom Molitor began, "You are our customers and we want to serve you."  Before taking questions, he offered that for our part we can be good witnesses and get on the crime computer site to get reliable statistics: Skagit County Crime Map

Q: How many break-ins last year?
A: Twelve or thirteen reported, which is consistent with most years (a few calls a month) and that in both 2007 and this year there was a spike in the late fall which has now dropped off.

As is also typical, there is at this time no suspect information. Burglars are caught when the police follow up on items they find later (in searches or in pawn shop inventories).

There is a national database for stolen registration numbers. (More on this later.) Fingerprints go into another data base and take a log time to process.

Tom Molitor: "Your crime is astronomically low. It is very important when it happens to you. We have finite resources with one deputy on each shift patrolling from Guemes to I-5 to the county limits." (The Sheriff's Office has lost 6 deputies and is at lowest staffing since 1996 despite the obvious population growth since  that time.) In all of Skagit and Washington state, Guemes is safe. We want to help you learn how to keep it safe."

Q: Are there any stats from the past we can use in comparison?
A: Recent events are consistent in that they look like juvenile events.

Q: How do you determine data?  There were 3 break-ins near my West Shore house--10 within the year.
A: We can only record what you report. Don't be frustrated and fail to  report something/anything.
A: (Jennifer) There are 2 classifications of property crimes--those smaller things and then the expensive stuff that gets reported and makes the person feel victimized.

Q: Any arrests in the last few months?
A: Made arrest on the 11th of the stolen car case. The Deputy did good follow-up on juvenile who was arrested in Anacortes.

Q: Is it possible to have random patrols on the island--to see presence?
A: "Sure, if that's of interest, we can do it.  Zone One patrol is usually too busy on calls to get over because deputies go from call to call.  As you know, if we come to the island, everyone knows it."

Q: The thief seems to know when people are gone.
A: "The word is out. Go to Guemes and you can get by with things. The ferry people are a great help if you tell us you have a problem." Last week's arrest (as reported on LIneTime) had to do with a 2008 theft, pawned stolen property.

Q: Is Crime spiking across the country?  Is Guemes easy because people are well-off and unpatrolled?
A: We don't have such analysis. We don't have as many calls from Guemes as from other areas in county because there is not a drug problem here. Affluent communities are more immune and Guemes is hard to get off. (The same reason it is hard to respond also helps keep criminals away.)

Q: Could you walk us through the process after I call you from Guemes to say my TV was stolen?
A: (Jennifer) I look at screen and see deputies on call and the ferry schedule. We'll call and make an appointment when we can use the regular ferry. (If we use special ferry, the Sheriff's Office is billed for 4 hours.) If I think I'll lose evidence, I'll rush. If we wait until we find out all that is missing and if there are other cases nearby, it is more thorough and useful.

This is the same procedure all over the county--12 to 24 hours before a "cold burglary" is investigated; only unique thing is the ferry.

Q: Are there affordable technologies that could photograph within a house?
A: Night vision, wire-less infrared cameras. In private security sector, anything is available!

Q: On the subject of cost of ferry, why do you pay more than the $350 private trip fee? Could we try to get this lower for you? Could we get a grant?

Comment: On the subject of regular patrols here: Sometimes a patrol comes over to "nail" people --no tabs, no seatbelts. I can't see it being effective.  "Most of us don't want to see police over here."

Person in audience (who did not agree with former comment):  "Show of hands."

Commenter continues: This is small percentage of population in attendance. I think neighborhood watch is better. The bulk of people don't want regular patrol. This sounds like paranoia to me. You could come over here and make a bundle.
A:  We're aware of this (preference for no patrol) and we DO NOT see any money from tickets.  It goes to other funds.

Q: What should we be reporting to you?
A: If it seems suspicious, call. You know what is normal. We would rather clear it up in advance than wake up and find out something happened. If it's weird, call. Nothing is too small.
A: (Jennifer) Neighborhood watch does that. Someone calls in the description of a suspicious car and the ferry crew follows up with the plate number and we can have someone on the other side waiting if it is warranted. Many places do not have this knowledge of neighborhood that you have.

Q: Is there any opportunity for volunteers to fill in for budget decreases by being volunteer patrols (not vigilantes)?
A: Block watch is the opportunity and Jennifer organizes those. She provides speakers on specific topics requested by the neighborhoods such as identity theft or drug-related signs.

The biggest benefit of block watch is that citizens feel empowered to use 911.  It's OK to be suspicious and call. "You are deputized to call 911!"

Q: What can homeowners do to keep their homes safer?

A:  Keep exterior of home visible; have motion sensors, lighting; lock your house and car (Don't leave small valuable visible through windows.); Document what you own with model and serial number as soon as you purchase them. If you don't report the crime, we can't give you back your stuff and there is lots of recovered, unclaimed stuff! The most under-reported category is power tools. Also leave lamps on timers. Alarms are a deterrent although there are so many false alarms without local call outs that the system is desensitized to alarms.

Homeowners also should be familiar with the Skagit County Crime Map which was created in Skagit County in 1989.

Q: What about pawn shops?
A: Every pawn shop nation-wide electronically reports the serial numbers. Every deputy has the password and can look up items or the person who sold them. The top stolen items are GPS systems, iPods, nice TVs, computers, laptops, alcohol.

Q: Is there an officer assigned to search for this evidence?
A: Yes, the deputy does it. Call and leave a message to see where your case stands. (Three years is the limit of time to prosecute property crimes.)

Q: What is the likelihood that a thief would come by boat to waterfront property?
A: "Sure."

Comment by person who self-identifies as crime victim here:  Someone on this island is telling someone who is not home.
A: Don't share widely that you are gone.

Q: How do we start block watch program here?
A: You need a liaison person to work with Jennifer. You already have your names, addresses, phones ready. Find out what you want to know specifically and let Jennifer follow-up with presenters.

Q: What time do most burglaries happen?
A: Usually daytime by people who come to door and pretend to be looking for someone but are actually checking to see if anyone is home. If it's overnight, it is probably juveniles. (Note: 4th of July is usually a crime-prone time.)

Tom: We are glad to come and be here because you are law-abiding people and we set out to protect you. (He encouraged setting up another meeting if there is interest in pursuing block watch.)

- Katherine and Harry Finks

Contacts:

Will Reichardt, Chief Criminal Deputy
Tom Molitor, Chief Deputy
Jennifer Sheahan-Lee, Patrol Sergeant
Skagit County Sheriff's Office
360-336-9450