Crime up in Pullman, an officially welcoming city

The Pullman City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night reaffirming Pullman’s commitment to being a welcoming city after language regarding immigration laws in the original proposal considered one month ago was altered.

The resolution, headed by Councilor Nathan Weller, initially included a statement which read “our emergency services including Police will not act as federal immigration agents or assist in incarceration or deportation unless required by legal action.” That language was deleted from the approved resolution.

When asked by Weller how the Pullman Police Department handles immigration laws during his presentation of the PPD’s 2016 annual report during Tuesday night’s council meeting, Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins said, “It is our practice that we will only enforce criminal immigration warrants that are signed by a judge. Any other type of poll or request for detention, we would not engage in.”

Jenkins added that victims contacting the police are not inquired of their immigration status.

The resolution’s co-writer, Councilor Ann Parks, said last month she did not want to place police “in a possible compromising situation” by including the language, a feeling Councilor Pat Wright echoed.

Councilor Al Sorensen cast the only nay vote against the updated resolution.

Sorensen said the bill gives the impression Pullman is not a welcoming city and that it has not been welcoming in the past.

“I am very involved with people of all races and backgrounds completely and I have not had any one of them say anything to me that they have not been welcomed here – as a matter of fact, they go, ‘This is a great place,’ ” Sorensen said.

Weller addressed concerns that the resolution would declare Pullman a sanctuary city, which he denied, saying the bill will reaffirm Pullman as being a welcoming city, but will essentially do nothing.

“I encourage you to take these words, and I know I will, I’m sure many of us here will as well, and use that as a personal philosophy – be welcoming or continue to be welcoming,” Weller said.

Crime up in Pullman

Total crime in Pullman increased 56 percent between 2015 and 2016, according to the PPD’s 2016 annual report presented to the council Tuesday.

Crimes against property offenses in Pullman increased 92 percent, compared to a 16 percent increase statewide, according to the report.

Crimes against society decreased by 17 percent, compared to a statewide increase of 25 percent. Crimes against person offenses increased by 7 percent.

Jenkins said Pullman’s increasing population was one factor of explanation for the increase in crime.

The report also appeared to include some errors. A report of arsons in Pullman since 2000 released to the Daily News by the PPD earlier this year indicated 10 more arsons occurred between 2007 and 2016 than the 2016 annual report indicates. Most significantly, the report lists zero arsons were reported in 2013, the year the Grove Apartment complex faced an arson attack that caused approximately $13 million in damages.

Jenkins acknowledged that an arson did in fact occur in 2013 and said he would look into why the attack was left out of the report.

Overall, the crime rate in Pullman increased by 54 percent, in stark contrast to a statewide decrease of 9 percent.

The council discussed and approved other resolutions, including:

A resolution to approve a preliminary plat for the Sundance South Subdivision, which divides 21.5 acres of farmland into 79 lots and streets for residential development.

A resolution authorizing the execution of a site license and right of access agreement between the city and Avista for an electric vehicle charging parking facility.

A resolution authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement between the city and Design West Architects, PA for a City Hall boiler replacement.

A resolution authorizing Pullman Transit to apply for a federal low-or-no-emission grant to update the city’s main transit facility to accept all-electric bus charging systems.

A resolution authorizing Pullman Transit to request an exemption that would allow the transit to provide bus service to the Pullman School District.

A resolution authorizing a two-year fare increase matrix for all Pullman Transit services.

A motion to authorize an extension date of Dec. 31, 2018 for performance security and sidewalk construction for a Paradise Hills subdivision.