PUYALLUP — The Puyallup police station lobby is back to being just a waiting room. It’s no longer an unofficial homeless shelter because starting this week the department will begin locking its doors at night.
The News-Tribune reported that for years the lobby had been used by homeless people to get out of the elements at night because of its benches and bathroom.
The police department decided to start locking the door after hours because of deteriorating conditions in the lobby. And two times in recent months, people tried to set fires in the bathroom.
Citizens were complaining and officials decided it would be safer for staff members to not allow unfettered access to the building after hours.
The change comes as advocates for the homeless are lobbying the city to step up its social-service spending.
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