“I have a question – are there many criminals around here?”
The young boy looked up at Sammamish Police Officer Kelley Kinser and asked the question that many people in the city want to know.
“There are some criminals around here,” Kinser replied. “But the crime rate is pretty low.”
Officer Kinser was one of the many area police officers and emergency services personnel who made themselves available to the general public on Tuesday as part of National Night Out, which was first launched 26 years ago to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, and generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs.
At the Sammamish City Commons children and adults played on, and in, new and old police cars and motorcycles, got some crime prevention tips from a huge talking dog, and took a close look at an Eastside Fire and Rescue fire engine.
The Sammamish Citizen Corps had a stall at the commons to provide information to residents on how they can get involved in crime prevention and community preparedness in their neighborhoods.
The role of neighborhoods in reducing crime and increasing citizen safety is a big part of National Night Out.
On Tuesday evening Sammamish Chief of Police Nate Elledge and Administrative Sergeant Robert Baxter attended a number of neighborhood barbecues around the city, giving them the opportunity to meet with residents and talk about issues in their communities.
The social events also encouraged residents to meet and know more about their neighbors, helping to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
On Wednesday Elledge told The Reporter that for the most part Sammamish residents were happy with the safety of their neighborhoods.
“What I heard a lot of was, it’s a good place to live,” he said. “One neighborhood told me they had an egging vandalism incident, which they handled themselves. Some others talked about speeding.”
Elledge said that a number of residents brought up the potential problem of bears and bobcats roaming the area. Another issue brought up around the city was that of people lingering in the private neighborhood parks.
