A security blanket

Navy and Everett police form an ‘eyes and ears’ program

By Theresa Goffredo and Cathy Logg

Herald Writers

EVERETT — Nicole Lov Green’s family was preparing for a funeral when Navy and police officers came to her Grand Avenue home Wednesday. They asked her to be a part of an "eyes and ears" program to boost security at Naval Station Everett.

Despite the timing of the visit, Green welcomed the officers. She said she thinks the program is "absolutely great."

"It shows they’re concerned about the community and want us to be involved. I appreciate it," Green said. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were "definitely a wakeup call" that people need to be more involved, Green said.

There were a range of reactions to uniformed Everett police officers and Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agents going door-to-door seeking help from residents who live on Grand Avenue and overlook Naval Station Everett.

Some people said it was a patriotic duty, while others were concerned about the usefulness of their actions.

Important numbers Police and Navy officials ask residents to call the following numbers if they spot suspicious activities in the vicinity of Naval Station Everett. 911: Everett police, but only if something suspicious is in progress. 425-257-8417: Everett police intelligence unit. 425-304-3220 or 3221: Naval station security, 24 hours a day. 425-304-4300: Naval Criminal Investigation Service.

Officers also hand-delivered letters detailing what they hoped residents would do.

Residents are being asked to report suspicious people or behavior to authorities "in an effort to ferret out any potential threats" to the city or the Navy base, officials wrote in a letter.

The officials also answered questions about what type of activity to report. One example is someone attempting to conduct surveillance of the naval base, the letter reads.

Officials apparently want to target residents with the best views of the base, which would mean about 100 houses on Grand Avenue from Eighth to 25th streets. Grand Avenue park, a public green space with benches and a walking path, also is there.

Navy and police officers were trailed by news reporters and cameras as they went through the neighborhood. The visits drew lots of attention from passing motorists. A handful of residents praised the program and the government for "being on top of things."

Other residents were skeptical.

Valerie Tanaka, who lives about a block from the park, said she has to wonder who she is supposed to be suspicious of. She and her husband, a firefighter of Japanese descent whose parents were interned during World War II, worry about "the racist thing."

Darlene Fox, who lives a few houses away, is also skeptical about the new program.

"My first thought was, why now? Why not initially when it first happened?" Fox asked. "I guess I’m kind of cynical. I’m thinking the Navy with all of its technology, I’d figure they’d have all that covered. But I hope they have it all covered — with all their means of surveillance they should be able to detect the goings on well before it happens."

But several Grand Avenue residents expressed an almost patriotic desire to help.

Even though he didn’t consider the navy base a target, Grand Avenue resident Dan Anderson, retired deputy chief of Everett police, said the city’s call for help made him remember the many times he had to call on the community.

And now, Anderson said he’s happy to reciprocate.

"They aren’t really terrorists, but just plain murderers, so we need to treat this as a criminal matter," Anderson said. "And as citizens we need to partake as a community to bring justice to the bad guys and peace to the neighborhoods."

Joe Cook, who can see Grand Avenue park clearly from his home, said he thinks the eyes and ears program is a good idea because "nowadays you can’t trust anybody."

"I think we can take care of ourselves," said Cook, who often listens to a police scanner when he’s not working. "And me, personally, I think we now need to take care of somebody else."

Claudia Baker, who has lived in the same house on Grand Avenue since 1954, already considers herself the neighborhood watchdog.

"I watch, so I guess I’m the watchdog," Baker said. "And if there’s a suspicious car, I get the license plate number, and I call the police if the car doesn’t belong here."

Many people walk or jog in the neighborhood, said Jene Elliott, standing on her front sidewalk while her two birds squawked for attention.

"Maybe there’s been something that makes them want to be cautious," she said. "Fortunately, they’re taking the fact that there are a lot of homes right above the naval station into consideration. It’s nice that they’re bringing it to our attention."

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.