source = the columbian.
Wal-Mart isn't just the number-one retailer in the universe. It also leads
the way in calls for help to local police.
No west-county property generates more calls-for-service to the Clark County
Sheriff's Office than Wal-Mart on Northeast Highway 99, according to a
sheriff's report.
And beating out the entire county for police calls to any "retail,
commercial or residential development" is the Wal-Mart retail complex the
anchor store and its satellite storefronts and fast-food restaurants at the
intersection of Mill Plain Boulevard and Interstate 205.
The list of top police calls, and a brief accompanying analysis, was
prepared by Assistant Chief Erin Nolan and crime analyst Brian Salsig "in
response to repeated requests from citizen groups, inquiring about the
impact of Wal-Mart on law enforcement activity in Clark County," the
report's introduction says.
Neighbors are worried about the expected arrival of a Wal-Mart on Northeast 134th Street, near Washington State University Vancouver. Although Wal-Mart itself remains a shadowy presence it is listed as a property owner but not the developer county planners last week approved the generic "Salmon Creek Commercial Center" that's expected to wind up a double-decker Wal-Mart "superstore" offering grocery sales and an underground parking garage.
Plans for the 177,000-square-foot store would make it bigger than the Hazel
Dell store (141,000 square feet and no groceries) but not as large as the
Mill Plain superstore (209,000 square feet with grocery sales) or the
218,000-square-foot store planned for the Birtcher Business Park in
northeast Vancouver.
Here are facts underlined in the sheriff's report.
"Wal-Mart consistently ranks among the top 10 locations locally generating
calls for law enforcement service."
The Mill Plain Wal-Mart, 221 N.E. 104th Ave., generated 490 calls for
service in 2005.
The Hazel Dell Wal-Mart, 9000 N.E. Highway 99, generated 479 calls.
There were 112 arrests made at the Hazel Dell Wal-Mart in 2005.
Fifty-three of those people went straight to jail. Most of the rest were
cited and released with a future court date.
"It's not like they're committing murder every day in the parking lot,"
organizer Bridget Schwarz recently told a meeting of the Fairgrounds
Neighborhood Association, where Wal-Mart opponents were putting their heads
together in search of legal strategies to challenge the county's approval.
"We are not going to be a bunch of hysterical screaming ninnies. We need to
be realistic."
But she also mentioned catching a recent television news report about a
mobile meth lab that was discovered in the back of somebody's car trunk in
the parking lot of the Hazel Dell store.
After factoring in the multiple officers, multiple vehicles, paperwork and
transportation-to-jail time required for felonies and other serious calls,
the sheriff's office estimates devoting 936 hours last year to law
enforcement at the Hazel Dell Wal-Mart.
"The store is not open 24 hours per day, however overnight camping is
permitted in the parking lot," the report says. "Deputies are responding to
calls for service at that location even when Wal-Mart is closed."
The report notes that large retailers employ sophisticated electronic
systems and security agents who make frequent police calls when they've
apprehended someone. That may drive crime numbers up for big boxes like
Wal-Mart.
"It shows you that our proactive safety measures work," said Sharon Webber,
a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart. "They help us prevent and interrupt crime."
Bud Van Cleve, president of the Northeast Hazel Dell Neighborhood
Association, said he'd like to see Wal-Mart abandon parking-lot camping.
"Part of it is the nature of a large parking lot, and it has nothing to do
with the particular business," he said. "But part of it is their policy,
which leads to problems."
According to the report, the Hazel Dell store demands half the time of a
full-time sheriff's deputy.
Does Wal-Mart ultimately present a dangerous drain on local law enforcement?
"In summary, how much is too much? That is a question best answered by the
community," the report concludes.
The Fairgrounds group has hired attorney John Karpinski, who is expected to
appeal the county approval of the "Salmon Creek Commercial Center" before
the May 23 deadline.
Call count
Top 10 police-call generators countywide in 2005:
1. Wal-Mart complex at Mill Plain and I-205: 740 calls (the Wal-Mart store
itself got 490).
2. Southwest Washington Medical Center: 694.
3. WinCo Foods complex at Vancouver Plaza Drive: 651.
4. Westfield Vancouver mall: 609.
5. Village at Bridge Creek apartments, Brandt Road: 484.
6. Wal-Mart on Highway 99: 479. (For west precinct only, this is the top
call generator.)
7. Steeple Chase Apartments, Northeast St. Johns Road: 459.
8. Callaham's Mobile Home Park, Northeast Highway 99: 450.
9. Value Motel on Northeast 78th Street: 445.
10. Springfield Meadows apartments on Northeast 66th Avenue: 442.
Source: Clark County Sheriff's Office
the way in calls for help to local police.
No west-county property generates more calls-for-service to the Clark County
Sheriff's Office than Wal-Mart on Northeast Highway 99, according to a
sheriff's report.
And beating out the entire county for police calls to any "retail,
commercial or residential development" is the Wal-Mart retail complex the
anchor store and its satellite storefronts and fast-food restaurants at the
intersection of Mill Plain Boulevard and Interstate 205.
The list of top police calls, and a brief accompanying analysis, was
prepared by Assistant Chief Erin Nolan and crime analyst Brian Salsig "in
response to repeated requests from citizen groups, inquiring about the
impact of Wal-Mart on law enforcement activity in Clark County," the
report's introduction says.
Neighbors are worried about the expected arrival of a Wal-Mart on Northeast 134th Street, near Washington State University Vancouver. Although Wal-Mart itself remains a shadowy presence it is listed as a property owner but not the developer county planners last week approved the generic "Salmon Creek Commercial Center" that's expected to wind up a double-decker Wal-Mart "superstore" offering grocery sales and an underground parking garage.
Plans for the 177,000-square-foot store would make it bigger than the Hazel
Dell store (141,000 square feet and no groceries) but not as large as the
Mill Plain superstore (209,000 square feet with grocery sales) or the
218,000-square-foot store planned for the Birtcher Business Park in
northeast Vancouver.
Here are facts underlined in the sheriff's report.
"Wal-Mart consistently ranks among the top 10 locations locally generating
calls for law enforcement service."
The Mill Plain Wal-Mart, 221 N.E. 104th Ave., generated 490 calls for
service in 2005.
The Hazel Dell Wal-Mart, 9000 N.E. Highway 99, generated 479 calls.
There were 112 arrests made at the Hazel Dell Wal-Mart in 2005.
Fifty-three of those people went straight to jail. Most of the rest were
cited and released with a future court date.
"It's not like they're committing murder every day in the parking lot,"
organizer Bridget Schwarz recently told a meeting of the Fairgrounds
Neighborhood Association, where Wal-Mart opponents were putting their heads
together in search of legal strategies to challenge the county's approval.
"We are not going to be a bunch of hysterical screaming ninnies. We need to
be realistic."
But she also mentioned catching a recent television news report about a
mobile meth lab that was discovered in the back of somebody's car trunk in
the parking lot of the Hazel Dell store.
After factoring in the multiple officers, multiple vehicles, paperwork and
transportation-to-jail time required for felonies and other serious calls,
the sheriff's office estimates devoting 936 hours last year to law
enforcement at the Hazel Dell Wal-Mart.
"The store is not open 24 hours per day, however overnight camping is
permitted in the parking lot," the report says. "Deputies are responding to
calls for service at that location even when Wal-Mart is closed."
The report notes that large retailers employ sophisticated electronic
systems and security agents who make frequent police calls when they've
apprehended someone. That may drive crime numbers up for big boxes like
Wal-Mart.
"It shows you that our proactive safety measures work," said Sharon Webber,
a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart. "They help us prevent and interrupt crime."
Bud Van Cleve, president of the Northeast Hazel Dell Neighborhood
Association, said he'd like to see Wal-Mart abandon parking-lot camping.
"Part of it is the nature of a large parking lot, and it has nothing to do
with the particular business," he said. "But part of it is their policy,
which leads to problems."
According to the report, the Hazel Dell store demands half the time of a
full-time sheriff's deputy.
Does Wal-Mart ultimately present a dangerous drain on local law enforcement?
"In summary, how much is too much? That is a question best answered by the
community," the report concludes.
The Fairgrounds group has hired attorney John Karpinski, who is expected to
appeal the county approval of the "Salmon Creek Commercial Center" before
the May 23 deadline.
Call count
Top 10 police-call generators countywide in 2005:
1. Wal-Mart complex at Mill Plain and I-205: 740 calls (the Wal-Mart store
itself got 490).
2. Southwest Washington Medical Center: 694.
3. WinCo Foods complex at Vancouver Plaza Drive: 651.
4. Westfield Vancouver mall: 609.
5. Village at Bridge Creek apartments, Brandt Road: 484.
6. Wal-Mart on Highway 99: 479. (For west precinct only, this is the top
call generator.)
7. Steeple Chase Apartments, Northeast St. Johns Road: 459.
8. Callaham's Mobile Home Park, Northeast Highway 99: 450.
9. Value Motel on Northeast 78th Street: 445.
10. Springfield Meadows apartments on Northeast 66th Avenue: 442.
Source: Clark County Sheriff's Office