All eyes turn to Suquamish

Published 6:00 pm Saturday, May 20, 2006

SUQUAMISH — All eyes will soon be watching for criminal activity in Suquamish.

“Neighborhood Watch” signs will be soon posted in the community, alerting potential criminals that they won’t have an easy go at homes and businesses. Even so, the signs are just the first step.

“The sign doesn’t mean anything unless people give it life,” Community Resource Officer Pete Ball told those who attended a Thursday night meeting on the issue at Suquamish Elementary School. All seemed enthused to make the area safer.

“I’m beginning to feel nervous,” said Suquamish resident Frances Malone. “There have been break-ins and mail box theft in my neighborhood. (A watch group) is important, especially with retired folks.”

Ball spent the better part of an hour explaining ways neighborhood watch groups can help reduce crime. He said it’s not about being best friends with neighbors, it’s about pulling together as a community to force criminals out.

“In a lot of neighborhoods, no one sees anything, because they’re not paying attention,” Ball said, after describing a scenario in which a man comes home from work to find his house was broken in to, and his neighbors know nothing about it. “I don’t know about you, but I want to live somewhere were someone’s paying attention.”

Ball went on to describe how having a simple phone tree and a connection with neighbors can help police find out what happened. For example, he said, if a suspect is lurking suspiciously in a neighbor’s yard. The resident across the street notices, and calls someone in one of the homes adjacent to the one being stalked. The suspicious person kicks the door in. One of the neighbors calls 911 while the other neighbor keeps an eye on the suspect. The robber leaves the house, and walks down the street. Then the first two neighbors can call others to track the robber’s progress, all the time keeping the police updated as to where the person is going. It helps the deputies do their job, and can keep the neighborhood safe, as everyone home will know there’s someone breaking into houses.

“This is a perfect-world scenario,” Ball said. “Unfortunately, we don’t live a perfect world, and often people like that get away.”

“Suquamish is starting off fresh,” Suquamish Officer Lori Penner said. “But people are afraid of stepping into the new light. We are trying to alleviate fears, and we need help from people who live here.”

“I’m happy because two other people from my neighborhood were here tonight,” said Suquamish resident Sandra Senter. “Crime is hidden, and we need to work together against it.”

Suquamish Tribal Police Chief Mike Lasnier was also in attendance, answering questions and giving advice for starting neighborhood watch groups.

Forming the groups is easy, Ball said, noting that he just needs those person interested to send in their names, phone numbers, and addresses.

Ball said he would send information for the neighborhood to form a group, then it’s up to the residents. He said he will have a meeting with the new group to give them advice on how to set up and handle a phone tree, contact police for maximum response, mark valuables so they can be returned if found and stay safe as a community. The one requirement Ball has is that the residents must meet at least once a year, otherwise, he doesn’t consider them an active watch group.

For more information on setting up a watch group, contact Ball at the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, (360) 337-7074.