ISLANDERS VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME, DRUGS

Vashon's top law enforcement official told Islanders Monday night
that the perceptions many hold are correct: Crime on the Island has
risen considerably this year and is likely tied to increased drug use.

Sgt. Calvin Beringer, invited to Vashon for a special forum on crime,
told the crowd of roughly 100 at McMurray Middle School that crime on
Vashon, including burglary and larceny, is already up about 50
percent from last year. "Keep in mind still October, November and
December haven't been added in," he said.

The officer, Vashon's administrative sergeant who is based in the
King County Sheriff Office's Burien precinct, also offered up good
news to those in attendance. He said the office has been
investigating the recent string of burglaries on Vashon and has
narrowed its focus to a few key suspects, some of whom have been
arrested for unrelated misdemeanor crimes.

"We're relatively sure we know who these people are, but I have to be
careful what I tell you," he said.

When asked by one audience member why arrests haven't been made,
Beringer explained that the department takes caution before
apprehending suspects, waiting until it has sufficient evidence to
charge them with a crime.

"I don't want to put them in jail for two days without a hammer on
them. . I want to have good quality information to keep them in jail," he said.

During a spirited question-and-answer period, Islanders raised a wide
variety of issues, many of them questioning officers' handling of
specific situations.

One man said an officer's failure to contact him when his trailer was
stolen resulted in a $500 impoundment fee. Another claimed that an
officer refused to make a report of a burglary that happened to him.
And a bartender from the Sportsmen's Inn complained about the
police's failure to respond when she discovered a syringe outside the
restaurant and raised concerns about a specific officer who frequents
the bar while on duty.

Beringer attempted toaddress each person's concerns, noting in some
instances - the officer who frequents Sporty's, for instance - that
he wanted to continue the conversation privately after the meeting.
He also apologized several times for officers who may have acted
inappropriately but emphasized that specific complaints should be
handled by him.

"If you feel you're not being treated by a deputy accordingly, then
you call me. . The buck stops with me," he said.

Beringer also assured Islanders that the sheriff's department covers
Vashon just as well as the rest of King County - better, in fact,
than some parts of unincorporated King County. At any given time, he
said, two officers are always on duty.

And when Claudia Gross Shader raised a concern about officers who
don't seem to know the Island well, Beringer said that was a common
misperception. Currently, he added, eight of the nine officers who
serve Vashon work full time on the Island and are here because they want to be.

"Pretty much they are the same officers who come over here all the
time," he said.

Other Islanders raised concerns about drug use, which many believe
may be on the rise on Vashon.

When Susan McCabe asked if the recent increase in burglaries on the
Island was tied to increased drug use, Beringer answered with an
emphatic "yes." Traditionally, he said, most burglaries are committed
by addicts looking for items they can sell - from a cheap cell phone
to an expensive laptop. In addition, he said, drug use has been
statistically linked with rising unemployment rates. "I truly believe
it's all tied together," he said.

Dep. Joel Anderson, one of two deputies on hand for the meeting,
added to the conversation, saying use of both methamphetamines and
heroin has grown on Vashon, and heroin use is especially high. "In
the last six to nine months there has been a big increase in heroin
use," he told The Beachcomber after the meeting.

Beringer emphasized throughout the meeting that the most valuable
role Vashon residents can play to help the department solve crimes
and prevent future crime is to report any suspicious activity they
observe, as any small tip could aid in an investigation or lead
police to a suspect.

Crime on Vashon has actually dropped significantly in the past few
weeks, Beringer said, in part because Islanders have been giving more
tips to the sheriff's department. "More Islanders have been stepping
up because of recent events that have been going on," he told The
Beachcomber after the meeting.

Beringer said that Vashon residents should report any circumstances
that seem suspicious or out of the ordinary by calling or e-mailing
him, or simply dialing 911 and stating that there is no emergency.
"Don't worry about tying up a line, because you won't," Beringer said.

Whenever possible, he said, those who call should give vehicle
descriptions and license plate numbers as well as descriptions of any
individuals.

"You know what belongs over here. . We need your help," he said.

Sgt. Calvin Beringer can be reached at 255-8203 or at
calvin.beringer@kingcounty.gov.

The King County Sheriff's Office encourages those who see suspicious
activity to always call 911, even if it's not an emergency.

A follow-up meeting on crime on Vashon will be held at Vashon Island
Fire and Rescue's main station on Bank Road at 7 p.m. Oct. 28.