Drug crimes in rural areas isn't anything new, and it's not surprising that drugs can sometimes run through and sustain in small communities. Whether it be from boredom and lack of things to do or sometimes the slower economy in slow areas marijuana, meth amphetamines, and other drugs can be quite common. I decided to look into some of the drug problem in my own small community and see how it may or may not be affecting the area.
After spending some time with the EPD (Ellensburg Police Department) and thoroughly questioning some of the officers as well as doing some research online I think the EPD is doing an excellent job working on keeping drugs and high crimes out of the area. I spoke with Sgt. Jim Weed of the EPD during a ride along around the city for almost a full shift as well as dispatchers and a few correctional officers, not surprisingly there are drugs running through our area. The EPD could not obviously share many facts about ongoing cases, but I was told that there were lots of cases and information sharing going on and in fact the investigations going on in the area had promise.
Lately in the local Daily Record I had noticed some cases that were obviously breaking. ( http://dailyrecordnews.com/news/article_fd1a5cdc-1806-11df-90b1-001cc4c03286.html ) I can only hope the individuals arrested in this case find the law to act swift based on the evidence that has been built on the case. I actually spend quite a bit of my time in the area these individuals were arrested at (500 block of S Pine) and I myself would have never have known there was such a problem going on. I'm very glad that the EPD was able to remove the issue from this area because this community is quiet and full of families, elderly and disabled.
It seems in this smaller town a majority of the calls I witnessed coming in were more alcohol related, as well as a few prowler related calls. Sgt. Weed seemed to think that usually the prowler calls they received tend to tie in with the drug problem in the area. Which is another reason it is important for our EPD to continue to do their job. I just want to thank my local PD for the job they continue you to do.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Justice is served
I love it when a case is finally closed and the due process of law serves what is fair to the suspect which is proven guilty. In particular violent crimes and felonies. Felonies are those crimes that are violent or serious enough to be punished in the U.S. for greater than a year of imprisonment. The men and women that commit these crimes are usually picked up on evidence and put through the court system where we can provide beyond reasonable doubt that they committed the crime.
A Wapato man was brought to justice this week. ( http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/01/25/man-gets-prison-for-sexual-assaults ) Thanks to the way our judicial system works and the hard work of police officers and detectives investigating the crime the courts were able to prove that Elwell was guilty of sexual assault. These types of crimes are serious and it's protecting our community from further danger from this individual.
If only all cases ended so easily, but there are many of these types of crimes that go unsolved. That is why it's important that the public stays involved and up to date with what is going on in their communities. Sometimes just a quick internet search can help inform the readers. ( http://www.mostwanted.org/WA/ )
A Wapato man was brought to justice this week. ( http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/01/25/man-gets-prison-for-sexual-assaults ) Thanks to the way our judicial system works and the hard work of police officers and detectives investigating the crime the courts were able to prove that Elwell was guilty of sexual assault. These types of crimes are serious and it's protecting our community from further danger from this individual.
If only all cases ended so easily, but there are many of these types of crimes that go unsolved. That is why it's important that the public stays involved and up to date with what is going on in their communities. Sometimes just a quick internet search can help inform the readers. ( http://www.mostwanted.org/WA/ )
Sunday, January 17, 2010
In response the couple that helped put suspected burglars in jail for burglary in the Ellensburg area ( www.kvnews.com/articles/2010/01/09/news/doc4b47816486d5f404111623.txt ) I thought that this is a good example of how the citizens can help fight and stop crime as well as give our law enforcement extra eyes.
I have worked over the years with an organization known as Citizens On Patrol (C.O.P.) as well as Neighborhood Watch organization and have spoken to many law enforcement officers on ways to prevent and stop crime before the crime is committed. I even spent time with a officer who used to be a burglar and after he turned his life around became a police officer that helps investigate burglary's as well as other thefts in my hometown area of Canyon County, Idaho.
Our judicial system is built on the needs of the people to uphold justice and our law enforcement plays the part of the executors that make sure that the crimnals are brought back to the justice system. This task is huge and daunting and with ratios anywhere from one officer for every 200+ residents (referenced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Police_Department#Limitations ) they can use any extra help that the public can provide for them.
The Breeden's being active in their observations and trusting their instincts that something was strage with their visitors was enough to help catch people that had committed the crime in their community. Just as law enforcement encourages people to be more observant and preventing crime in their own community I also try to promote awareness in my own community to make sure that our neighborhood stays safe. The more aware you are the more criminals will be aware that your neighborhood is being watched by more than just one set of eyes.
I have worked over the years with an organization known as Citizens On Patrol (C.O.P.) as well as Neighborhood Watch organization and have spoken to many law enforcement officers on ways to prevent and stop crime before the crime is committed. I even spent time with a officer who used to be a burglar and after he turned his life around became a police officer that helps investigate burglary's as well as other thefts in my hometown area of Canyon County, Idaho.
Our judicial system is built on the needs of the people to uphold justice and our law enforcement plays the part of the executors that make sure that the crimnals are brought back to the justice system. This task is huge and daunting and with ratios anywhere from one officer for every 200+ residents (referenced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Police_Department#Limitations ) they can use any extra help that the public can provide for them.
The Breeden's being active in their observations and trusting their instincts that something was strage with their visitors was enough to help catch people that had committed the crime in their community. Just as law enforcement encourages people to be more observant and preventing crime in their own community I also try to promote awareness in my own community to make sure that our neighborhood stays safe. The more aware you are the more criminals will be aware that your neighborhood is being watched by more than just one set of eyes.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Crime in Ellensburg
As opening to my series of blogs, I'd like to inform my readers of the process of crime in Ellensburg. Crime is a process that moves in a cycle, where crime is committed but only after the court system deems the act to be a crime, and to enforce the crimes in the area our law enforcement makes sure the laws are being abided for the safety of community. I will be following more with the law enforcement in our community to see how the process of crime is kept in check with the system and what might work or might not work in our community on the streets. Not all laws are easy to uphold and sometimes the process can allow offenders to re offend making more work for our law enforcement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
