The Pierce County Council has approved spending $2 million to open a Sheriff’s Department precinct in the Parkland-Spanaway area aimed at reducing crime.
The council voted Tuesday night to pay for land, two buildings and renovations where about 35 deputies will be based.
The facility near Pacific Avenue South and 141st Street Court South is at the epicenter of the highest crime area in unincorporated Pierce County, said Sheriff’s Department Chief Rob Masko.
“We will have a much faster response to our citizens who are living and working in the Parkland-Spanaway area,” Masko said. “We want to be more effective in fighting crime in that particular area.”
Burglaries, auto thefts and assaults are the most common crimes in the area, he said. The precinct is projected to open by the end of 2013, serving a population of about 80,000.
It will draw some deputies from the department’s only other precinct located on South Hill. A small detachment at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway also will move to the new precinct, Masko said.
While most council members were enthusiastic, Roger Bush, R-Frederickson, objected that the full council wasn’t briefed on the purchase. Although he supports the area having a precinct, Bush said the project was hurried and other locations should be considered.
Bush said he first learned about the purchase at a council study session earlier Tuesday.
“I think it’s too quick,” Bush said. “It’s rushed. It’s not transparent.”
Council chairwoman Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup, said Bush’s concerns were valid but Bush cast the lone no vote in a 4-1 decision. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake, and Stan Flemming, R-University Place, were absent.
Council members Rick Talbert, D-Tacoma, and Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, both said the $2 million price tag is a great deal for the county and will enhance public safety.
“We’re getting a very nice piece of property – even with renovation – for a very low price,” Muri said.
The project will be financed with a $2 million loan from public works’ equipment rental and revolving fund. Next year, the county will sell $2 million in bonds to pay back the loan.
Thank you and welcome to the Ghetto! I would love to see some improvements to the community.
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We are hearing what the down payment is costing the taxpayers,apparently they will have to wait to find out what the payments on this great purchase will be.There are a lot of costs connected with certain purchases.A good example is buying an old Jalopy and thinking for a few dollars you can make something usable for very little money.Then the bills come pouring in for,new tires,motor,transmission,differential,windshield,Etc,you get the picture.Too late you find you could have purchased a new auto for what the junker wound up costing you.But it seems there are people who enjoy helping other people spend their tax free dollars.
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Good deal!
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Oh dear god, I just realized why. It’s next to Franks donuts! Lol look at Google maps
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Testing 123 testing 123 test
ing
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Close enough to hear the gun shots when a drugged idiot tries to break into my house. I like that.
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Here is a chance to start the first NON-UNION sheriff’s office. How about a break for taxpayers and make this precinct a non union office.
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All politics aside, this is a GODSEND for those of us living in this hellhole.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to the Sheriff and Pierce County Council for recognizing how bad the situation really is.
Now maybe, just maybe, I won’t need to dump my house just to get away from this area.
I am very glad they’re moving on this, and FINALLY feel like my tax money might be being spent wisely.
Again, thank you.
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While I am for trying to restore sanity to the neighborhood I grew up in, will someone please explain how a building will accomplish that, What does a building have to do with presence? Deterrence? Arrests? convictions? Jail time?
Or will this just be “Fort Apache-PARKLAND”?
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The city of Tacoma, thought putting a sub-station on McKinley hill would curb crime in the area. Well, according to a friend on the force McKinley hill hood is worse than Hilltop.Also if the Sheriff Dept waits long enough they can take over a County owned building located on 112th near the state police there radio shop is already located there the property even comes with fuel pumps which if the Deputies can purchase in bulk I believe it would save on fuel cost.
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if the Sheriff Dept waits long enough they can take over a County owned building located on 112th near the state police there radio shop is already located there the property even comes with fuel pumps which if the Deputies can purchase in bulk I believe it would save on fuel cost.
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I think having the building in tge area WILL have a positive effect in crime. Right now a few officers come through every day making their rounds. If every officer has to come through the area every day multiple times, the chances of catching a crime in progress are probably multiplied 10 times.
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This has always been the forgotten part of Pierce County.
A solid Police presence will hopefully make a big difference.
Tired of waiting for someone to come from Puyallup.
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Parkland high crime? Yes. Spanaway? Not so much. This will be good for Parkland but I wonder if the criminal element will just move south from there into my neck of the woods.
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Hey, did anyone else notice that it will be located right next to a doughnut shop?
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Considering this is coming on the heels of Tacoma closing a fire station, and cutting 217 job poisitions, it’s kind of odd. I know it is the difference between the City of Tacoma and Pierce County, but the timing is strange.
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I watched the Council meeting on TV. Bush has many good questions. One is why the huge rush? The normal purchasing process has been skipped. The buildings are a dive. The ingress and egress sucks. Try turning left onto Pacific Ave anytime of the day is a nightmare.
No access to the back street. Just 1 blocking vehicle locks all others into the site.
I see future requests for $800,000 to install a traffic signal.
No secure parking for vehicles.
Build on the Sprinker/Spanaway Park property or add to Sprinker.
Any more questions?
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