Sweeps Keep Felons Out Of Seattle Crime Hotspots Merchants Applaud Stepped-Up Patrols

It’s a pattern police see too often: A person commits a crime, does his time, and then returns to the sordid haunts where he got into trouble in the first place.

But for the past year, Seattle police and officers of the state Department of Corrections have been teaming up to try to discourage convicted felons from hanging around downtown’s crime hotspots.

During the monthy sweeps, undercover officers confront people who are known felons on parole, people known to have arrest warrants out for them, or anyone engaged in suspicious activity.

Half of those stopped have been on parole at some time, officials say, with 30 percent to 40 percent currently subject to restrictions on their freedom.

More than 50 arrests have been made, and many others have been ordered to report the following day to take a drug test.

“It’s kind of like a scarecrow,” said Tina Bueche, a Pioneer Square restaurant owner. “You know how a scarecrow scares off birds? It has that effect. I’d like to see them do it every day.”

The joint patrols began after Police Chief Norm Stamper received complaints from downtown business owners about rising numbers of unsavory characters in the area, and called the Corrections Department for help.

“The emphasis is not on arresting these people, but in getting them off the street and away from drug locations so they don’t re-offend,” said Ken Pinkerton, Department of Corrections fugitive warrants supervisor.

During one recent sweep, officers stopped 18 people and made five arrests in four hours.

One 21-year-old parolee who had failed to report to his corrections officer sprinted away when officers approached him. When they caught him, officers found he was carrying a crack pipe and a screwdriver.

“The streets aren’t the same any more,” the man said as he was taken away.

Another man, surprised at recognizing two women in the group that detained him, blurted, “The whole posse is working.”

A search of another parolee - a man with eight drug convictions - turned up a crack pipe. He was told to see a corrections officer the next day and take a drug test.

Two men who saw that exchange nervously walked away.

“At this hour, the only people hanging out downtown are people up to no good,” said police Sgt. Doug Vandergiessen, commander of the West Precinct Anti-Crime Team.