Published: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Merchants reject security for downtown Snohomish
SNOHOMISH — Late night action outside taverns on First Street in Snohomish will not be captured on video surveillance cameras anytime soon.
Police Chief John Turner said his proposal to install the cameras in an effort to reduce alcohol-fueled violence is dead.
Putting cameras on First Street required money and support from the Historic Downtown Snohomish board, the chief said. He didn't get what he wanted.
“The historic organization would have to give their blessing,” Turner said. Now, “We're not pursuing it because they haven't indicated they wanted it.”
Historic Downtown Snohomish took a survey of its merchant members before voting, said Andy Papadatos, the board president and owner of the Snohomish Bakery and Cafe.
“The final decision came after the survey,” he said. “We work for the merchants and we do what the merchants want us to do because it's their money.”
Papadatos said he thought the historic district's money could be better spent on other initiatives.
“There's a large percentage of us that believe that lighting of downtown would be a better use of funds and would also help with crime,” he said.
Turner has been talking about cameras ever since a July 19 brawl on First Street during Kla-Ha-Ya Days left three police officers with injuries.
The fight was the latest in a series of violent incidents. It spurred the state Liquor Control Board in August to designate Snohomish a “strategic location of interest.”
State agents working with Snohomish police in September held two well-attended workshops for bar owners and employees, said Tom Dixon, a liquor control board enforcement captain. The classes teach best practices to prevent overservice and reduce problems.
Several times in October and November, agents visited First Street bars, including during undercover operations, Dixon said.
Two bars, the Time Out and Stewart's Place, were cited for overservice, he said.
Stewart's is disputing the ticket, said David Osgood, an attorney for the Snohomish Hospitality Association, a cooperative of First Street bars.
Bar owners have in the past opposed the cameras, calling them a “solution in search of a problem,” Osgood said. Many of the bars already have video cameras installed in their businesses and the group is willing to work with the police to provide access, if needed.
Experts who study alcohol-related social problems have said cameras do little to prevent problems.
Still, the effort to install cameras has been the centerpiece of Turner's plan to make First Street safer.
Last month, police staged a demonstration of how the $34,000 cameras work.
The police department was prepared to pay more than a third of the cost with a $14,000 federal grant, the chief said. That money instead will be used to purchase police equipment and to pay for training.
Turner said the bar brawls and other alcohol-related problems still exist.
Crowds lined up to get into bars the night before Thanksgiving, he said. Extra foot patrols that night prevented serious problems.
Turner said he'll plan to schedule emphasis patrols along First Street as frequently as budgets will allow.
“I don't know what's next,” the chief said. “We'll regroup, re-evaluate and see what we can do.”
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Police Chief John Turner said his proposal to install the cameras in an effort to reduce alcohol-fueled violence is dead.
Putting cameras on First Street required money and support from the Historic Downtown Snohomish board, the chief said. He didn't get what he wanted.
“The historic organization would have to give their blessing,” Turner said. Now, “We're not pursuing it because they haven't indicated they wanted it.”
Historic Downtown Snohomish took a survey of its merchant members before voting, said Andy Papadatos, the board president and owner of the Snohomish Bakery and Cafe.
“The final decision came after the survey,” he said. “We work for the merchants and we do what the merchants want us to do because it's their money.”
Papadatos said he thought the historic district's money could be better spent on other initiatives.
“There's a large percentage of us that believe that lighting of downtown would be a better use of funds and would also help with crime,” he said.
Turner has been talking about cameras ever since a July 19 brawl on First Street during Kla-Ha-Ya Days left three police officers with injuries.
The fight was the latest in a series of violent incidents. It spurred the state Liquor Control Board in August to designate Snohomish a “strategic location of interest.”
State agents working with Snohomish police in September held two well-attended workshops for bar owners and employees, said Tom Dixon, a liquor control board enforcement captain. The classes teach best practices to prevent overservice and reduce problems.
Several times in October and November, agents visited First Street bars, including during undercover operations, Dixon said.
Two bars, the Time Out and Stewart's Place, were cited for overservice, he said.
Stewart's is disputing the ticket, said David Osgood, an attorney for the Snohomish Hospitality Association, a cooperative of First Street bars.
Bar owners have in the past opposed the cameras, calling them a “solution in search of a problem,” Osgood said. Many of the bars already have video cameras installed in their businesses and the group is willing to work with the police to provide access, if needed.
Experts who study alcohol-related social problems have said cameras do little to prevent problems.
Still, the effort to install cameras has been the centerpiece of Turner's plan to make First Street safer.
Last month, police staged a demonstration of how the $34,000 cameras work.
The police department was prepared to pay more than a third of the cost with a $14,000 federal grant, the chief said. That money instead will be used to purchase police equipment and to pay for training.
Turner said the bar brawls and other alcohol-related problems still exist.
Crowds lined up to get into bars the night before Thanksgiving, he said. Extra foot patrols that night prevented serious problems.
Turner said he'll plan to schedule emphasis patrols along First Street as frequently as budgets will allow.
“I don't know what's next,” the chief said. “We'll regroup, re-evaluate and see what we can do.”
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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