Reader report: ‘Go-cart screams along Lincoln Park,’ no 911 response

The start of that clip shows someone riding a motorized go-cart along the waterfront path at Lincoln Park. It’s one of two clips sent by Steve, who says it happened last night, and that he reported it to police, but …

I was very angry about this: The police never showed for the hour I was there waiting after reporting this incident. What’s the point in reporting and “partnering” if the police don’t show?

The walk along the Lincoln Park beach was teeming with pedestrians at sunset last night, which was when I first called 911. Who else would you call when the law is being broken and people’s health is at risk?

First call was at 9:13 p.m.
Second call: 9:52 p.m.
I left park at 10:15 p.m.

In all fairness I checked the WS blog, of course, to see if there might be competing crimes in the neighborhood that would compromise manpower, or if something really big was going on elsewhere in real time. I could find nothing being reported at the above times.

This has happened twice now at different times when I have called the police to come to Lincoln Park.
They don’t show, or if they do it’s long after the fact.

Are there staffing issues? Locally? City wide? Cutbacks after a busy July 4th holiday laden with no doubt overtime? Inaction raises questions. That’s all.

Or is my concern so silly it shouldn’t be taken seriously? After all, it’s just a go cart flying without lights through the night. It IS silly.

Does anyone know how many officers actually staff and cover West Seattle on any given night?
How many units typically patrol the west of 35th Sector between Frontenac and Brace Point (W3)?

I’m sure it’s sufficient given our crime index. But it’s peak party season in the Park and this is when accidents happen.

To the point of “competing crimes” – there is no way to check in real time what else is happening. If it’s something major, yes, we report on it here on WSB, in real time (like the Alki gunfire incident last Friday night). But there are many “life safety” – the police’s priority – crimes that don’t get to that point. The police “incident response” map shows calls (not all – for example, we have been told by SPD media relations, sexual-assault calls will not be shown) starting about six hours after the fact; you can browse this map right now and see some of what was happening yesterday and last night. (Image added 8:43 am – calls from yesterday afternoon/last night – note that the SW Precinct handles South Park as well as WS)

According to the Seattle Parks Code of Conduct, driving a motorized vehicle on a path like this is a rule violation (see 3.2.22). It is also listed as a violation in the Seattle Municipal Code. We will ask police for a response to this, and add whatever we find out.

61 Replies to "Reader report: 'Go-cart screams along Lincoln Park,' no 911 response"

  • Mike July 10, 2012 (8:50 am)

    LOL, Ken Block Jr.

  • HimAgain July 10, 2012 (8:51 am)

    That’s kind of what parks are for. Looks plenty well-lit and if that’s “teeming with pedestrians” then I’d hate to see it on a slow night. Sorry you’re annoyed, but I for one am not going to sweat the cops for not coming out there. Summer in the city. Relax.

  • old timer July 10, 2012 (8:51 am)

    Hey – let’s open a go cart track in Lincoln Park to go with the Zip Line!
    Think of the money to be made!
    (Sarc off)

  • Rebecca July 10, 2012 (8:53 am)

    I used to volunteer for SPD and did a number of ride alongs. Calls like this often don’t get assigned to a particular officer. They get put into a queue that officers are supposed to claim, in order, as they’re available. What actually happens is that they look through the queue for something they *want* to do, don’t see anything fun, and keep driving around. Someone needs to remind them that they don’t get paid to do what they want, but paid to do what they’re told.

    I once called SPD when living on Capital Hill and reported a six person fight starting in a parking lot. The lot was five blocks from the east precinct and no one showed up. Two weeks prior, someone was killed in this location.

    And they wonder why we have a problem with them….

  • Kyle July 10, 2012 (9:08 am)

    I am the same problem a few nights ago. Called 911 and never showed up in the hour that I was there. Kids were trying to blow up cars with firework mortars

  • DW July 10, 2012 (9:11 am)

    How is this a crime? Seems like there are better uses of police time and resources than tracking down a go cart.

  • john mcgowan July 10, 2012 (9:18 am)

    Really who cares. This is someone having fun. Might not be the kind of fun you like but so what. Let it be.

  • Moose July 10, 2012 (9:27 am)

    Agree – relax. I think pedestrians “could” get hurt by bikes they don’t see or hear coming… Also – if you have a problem with your call not getting response… go or call the station… Go to the monthly public meetings… Get involved. Get educated and get your voice heard. They started a program call “living room conversations” (I believe that’s the name) the goal is to bridge the gap between ‘us and them’ and to be able to speak directly to some of the officers that work YOUR area about concerns you have. Side note: west Seattle has too small number of officers and they cover a lot. I hate the budget cuts.

  • coyote July 10, 2012 (9:39 am)

    Dont like it. (New York accent)Do sumthin bout it.

    Go to Baltimore. You would see about 30 kids on motorcycles doing the same thing.(But on the street). And it happens everyday.

    This is the city. Not a gated community on the Eastside.

  • M July 10, 2012 (9:45 am)

    Next time tell them the Gokart was driven by a nude woman.

  • Daddy July 10, 2012 (9:47 am)

    There was a police car parked in the stealth high parking lot last nite between 9 and 10 pm. Appeared to be watching the baseball game. Nice to see the presence, but if there’s calls in the area why would you just sit and do nothing? Better things for our police to do? You mean other than sit in a parking lot and watch a baseball game? Seems like a good use of resources as opposed to at least checking a call.

  • stacy July 10, 2012 (9:59 am)

    I don’t know. I’d rather see some little shennaningens like this than a shooting any day. Just sayin. We used to ride mini bikes in our yard and neighborhood in admiral district when we were young.

  • Rachel July 10, 2012 (10:09 am)

    Oh my gosh, big deal!! Did this really warrant a 911 call?? 911 is for emergencies. In no way shape or form was this an emergency. Rather than stopping to video the kid, why not ask him to slow down if it bothered you that much?

  • Patrick July 10, 2012 (10:11 am)

    Those Blue Angels really are annoying aren’t they?

    Unfortunately Seattle has become a city of complainers and I for one am sick of it, if something irks you that bad, either ignore it or do something about it ( LEGALLY ) of course but what is the point in…

    A. Complaining
    B. Reporting a minor city violation to the Police
    C. stewing about something you literally have very little control over
    D. getting riled up over something trivial uses more energy than relaxing or being at rest

    Point being…. Just Chill

  • Jtk July 10, 2012 (10:14 am)

    It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt or killed… then this story would have been about something completely different.. :( The caller was just trying to prevent something bad from happening…

  • DBpooper July 10, 2012 (10:14 am)

    So you called 911 not once but twice over that?

    Really?

    I’m all for serenity but come on, this is not exactly a 911 situation in all respects.

  • WSratsinacage July 10, 2012 (10:17 am)

    Steve – I share your frustration. People need to act civilized and be held accountable. Wish the police had shown up. It’s sad that it takes what it takes these days.. Common sense is no longer common (neither is common courtesy) and if an ordinary citizen asks a fellow citzen to stop an illegal or dangerous act, they get told to f off or my favorite, “sue me.”
    .
    I think these live and let live types would change their tune if they or their loved one was injured by someone acting illegally.
    .
    Grow up people or move somewhere else.

  • Parentof2 July 10, 2012 (10:17 am)

    Not really a true 911 emergency; annoying that some people feel the rules don’t apply to them.

  • Seattleseabug July 10, 2012 (10:19 am)

    People in West Seattle need to chill out. Police have far more important things to be doing than chasing go carts, I really doubt people’s health were at risk! Do you not remember being a kid and doing crazy stuff? Relax and enjoy the summer before you die from stress.

  • Anne July 10, 2012 (10:22 am)

    Ok-Daddy-how do you know the officer wasn’t on a break?? They do get them you know & if they want to watch or listen to a BB game while on break so what? Rebecca-yeah right they just wait for the “fun” assignments come up!
    When I first read this story & watched the video I too thought-not really” teeming”-also-why not call/go to the precinct to discuss/question??

    • WSB July 10, 2012 (10:32 am)

      Couple more notes: #1 – 911 calls are not dispatched through precincts, so the SW commander is forwarding my inquiry to Communications. Also note, per last week’s announcement, you are not likely to find the precinct front desk staffed if you go there in person – https://westseattleblog.com/2012/07/west-seattle-police-all-hands-on-deck-for-patrolling-this-summer explains. #2 – Re: the SPD car at the stadium. No knowledge of the specific circumstances of that moment BUT one thing that police leadership has pointed out at community meetings, they ask officers to work on reports while sitting in their car someplace visible, when possible, as opposed to going back to the precinct. Just one thing to consider as a possibility if you ever see a car “just sitting there” as opposed to driving around on patrol. And there’s a lot of paperwork – since it’s what in turn goes into the system for prosecutors, jail, judges, etc. – TR
      .
      One more note just after I finished this. Starting this morning, precinct commanders around the city are giving briefings on their “summer patrol plans.” While the link above included that info as announced last week, these are apparently opportunities for more questions about priorities, procedures, etc., and today, they’re starting with the West Precinct, including questions via Twitter. As soon as we hear a date set for the local briefing, we’ll of course announce it here too.

  • Noelle July 10, 2012 (10:22 am)

    911 might have more pressing issues to worry about than these guys.

  • rich July 10, 2012 (10:27 am)

    I’m glad to be reading a story about kids tearing around a park trail on a go-cart and not another shooting. If I were there I would have suggested that he be careful and wear a helmet rather than film him zipping back and forth.

  • KS July 10, 2012 (10:32 am)

    This sound like something I would have done when I was 13 with my old go cart! I also used to ride my off road motorcycle on the street occasionally and get the cops called on me. Old, people relax! Seriously though, no one should ride motorbikes or go carts in lincoln park. Its not set up for it.

  • JanS July 10, 2012 (10:46 am)

    so…kids will be kids, and it’s summer, and why complain about kids having fun, and how dare you be bothered by something being done illegally. Just chill. Does that about cover it?

    So, where do we draw the line regarding an illegal action? It’s just a little illegal, and not too bothersome, so it’s OK? Then there’s the medium illegal action…pay attention, but again…maybe doesn’t warrant a full out police presence. And, then, the heavy duty illegal, where the police had better be there, because it could be dangerous to people? Is it time that we started to delineate the severity of illegal? Or is illegal just plainly illegal, and whatever action it is was made illegal for a reason? You tell me.

  • coffee July 10, 2012 (10:57 am)

    WSB thanks, I was going to ask why there are always squad cars parked at the Boren School Lot at all hours of the day. That explains paperwork and sitting.
    And agreed, as a former trainer for 9-1-1 dispatchers, I have heard almost every call made out there. A large percentage of calls are really not true emergencies. Granted everyone can feel their issue is an emergency, or consider that it could become an emergency, which I understand. Just remember, when you see that police car sitting, perhaps that officer is working on a tip, watching a house, waiting for a known suspect that might be in the area, etc.

  • Lindsey July 10, 2012 (11:00 am)

    I was running through Lincoln Park last night with my husband and we saw this same mini cart. He was very polite and would stop to wait for pedestrians to walk by or would give plenty of room. He even stopped to answer a few questions from people coming by who were interested in the little cart. He wasn’t riding around like a maniac or anything I thought it was a pretty harmless way to have some fun on a warm summer night. I would have to say that he probably should have been wearing a helmet though.

  • alkiobserver July 10, 2012 (11:02 am)

    Totally agree with Rachel. In my opinion, this seems like a case of over reaction to an annoyance. Does not seem 911 worthy at all as there was really no crisis.

  • Lura Ercolano July 10, 2012 (11:13 am)

    I absolutely agree that this was an appropriate call to the police, and that responding should be somewhere on the police priority list. And here is why:
    .
    While one go-cart on one night may not, in itself, be a big deal, remember that our parks and streets are made safe and kept safe mostly by having lots of people of ALL AGES out and about. When you have rule violations like this one, ( or private fireworks in the park, or off-leash threatening dogs in the park, or drinking parties, etc), the real damage to our safety happens when other citizens no longer feel safe or comfortable in the park. Eventually you are left with a park full of miscreants and nobody else.
    .
    The police should swing by, at least. There may not be any need to arrest anybody, but a quick drive-through at times like this would help make sure that our parks feel safe for everybody – seniors, families, quiet couples, etc. And their presence helps deter the truly awful events that can happen when the park becomes a place that sensible people stay away. From.

  • DF July 10, 2012 (11:15 am)

    We’d get sometimes half a dozen of us on skateboards ,before the poser longboard skater scene came about, and in the evening start at the top and work or way westbound down Admiral Way. We would get cars honking and others giving us the thumbs up! I am reminded of a great 80’s metal rock tune by Judas Priest.

  • jiggers July 10, 2012 (11:27 am)

    After watching the short video, that kind of looked like fun…. The park closes at around 11: 00 pmish so, the cops aren’t gonna waste their time unless it is after that closing time.

  • pj July 10, 2012 (11:31 am)

    Rebecca, it is not true that there is a que ofcrs can pick from- they are assigned calls by their dispatcher. There are not enough officers in the city to handle emergency calls. Over an hour response on a call on a hot summer night for a complete non emergency is nothing.

  • dsa July 10, 2012 (11:34 am)

    Either the call was appropriate or the law should be changed to allow everyone to use gas motorized vehicles in the park, (I would).
    .
    Police response at the time is up to them.

  • Steve July 10, 2012 (11:36 am)

    Kids-Here are the facts. I took the video. True. It’s not my idea of a big crime that warrants 911. But please understand:
    #1) A law was being broken in a public park.
    (According to the Seattle Parks Code of Conduct, driving a motorized vehicle on a path like this is a rule violation (see 3.2.22). It is also listed as a violation in the Seattle Municipal Code.)
    #2) You call 911 because:
    a)Where else do you report laws being broken?
    b) Local precincts aren’t manned after 5 p.m.
    c) Public health was at risk.
    d) Personal career experience
    Video was shot nearly an hour after sunset and an hour after initial call to police. Therefore, park was “teaming” of pedestrians one hour earlier. Had I known police would not be arriving immediately I would have shot “teaming” video immediately to show pedestrians at risk.

    Lastly, yes, it’s low priority given the range of calls officers receive in an evening.

    But inaction raises questions. And responsible, educated citizens raise questions. –S

  • Rachel July 10, 2012 (11:39 am)

    NON EMERGENCIES
    If the crime happened a while ago and there is no direct danger to you or another person, please call the police non-emergency line at: (206) 625-5011.

    From seattle.gov

  • BigGulps, Eh? July 10, 2012 (11:39 am)

    it is annoying, but he will burn that 2 stoker down in few days. remember all the scooters with weed whacker motors? seized and dead.

  • dmtippy July 10, 2012 (11:40 am)

    Relax! Looks like somebody was out having fun on a nice summer night. As stated above I would much rather see this than kids shooting up the parks. It also looked like the park was pretty empty at that time anyway.

  • jiggers July 10, 2012 (11:53 am)

    You guys should go to here and see what the city has to deal with all day long. And this isn’t even half of the stupid non-emergent calls they receive.

    http://www2.seattle.gov/fire/realTime911/getRecsForDatePub.asp?action=Today&incDate=&rad1=des

  • Lura Ercolano July 10, 2012 (12:19 pm)

    Another reason that police should respond to calls, is that when they don’t respond, the person who called the police is less likely to get involved the next time they see something illegal.
    .
    Sure, dispatch may decide that a particular call is lower priority than other calls that are coming in. That’s their job. But then at least thank the caller for the information they called in about, and tell them that unfortunately nobody is available. And certainly log the complaint in a database of some sort, so if it is an ongoing pattern it doesn’t get ignored day after day.
    .
    After all the hoop-la about keeping Me Kwa Mooks safer, I called 911 about a growling, threatening, off-leash dog and the scary-ANGRY person who was with him. The dispatcher told me that the police wouldn’t come unless the dog has bitten somebody. That sort of dismissive police non-response keeps me from that park in a way that the recent murder did not. Of course I wouldn’t have expected police to rush in with sirens on or anything, but I’d certainly think that if there was a patrol car nearby, a drive down the block, and using the car speaker to remind the gentleman that there is a leash law would have been reasonable. Or even just logging it in a database, to respond to when/if there are a certain number of calls.
    .

    .

  • pj July 10, 2012 (12:50 pm)

    police and dispatchers don’t make the rules or laws, they just have to work within them. don’t blame them for being what you perceive as dismissive. all 911 calls are taped, but having a data base of every call and someone to look for patterns would be nice, but try to find the funding for it. this city cannot find the funding for enough officers to keep the precincts open 24 hours.

  • Km July 10, 2012 (2:00 pm)

    .. but there’s enough money in a budget to entertain some ape thingie. Maybe we need to create a new position for some type of first response for those non-emergency calls and leave the police to tend to the emergencies and high risk situations. That in itself may be a savings.

  • Craig July 10, 2012 (2:02 pm)

    To echo a few thoughts already expressed, I’d suggest if any of us encountered something like this, either lighten up or man up.

  • Evelyn July 10, 2012 (2:04 pm)

    There’s plenty of other things that can be done in between calling 911 or just ignoring actions that may be illegal, immoral, mean or possibly putting others at risk. Call it the “You kids get off my lawn!” act or that it takes a village to raise a kid, but it’s the same idea. If you’re a responsible adult and not otherwise feeling threatened in the situation, in the same way that you’re not going to call the cops if they race across your lawn, speak up and tell the kids to straighten up and fly right. They dump trash, tell ’em to pick it up and not do it again; harassing or bullying someone, step in and tell them to stop; trying to sneak a smoke, remind them of their stupidity; speeding along a park walk in a go-kart, flag them down and let ’em know it’s dangerous (for them and others) and by the way, put on a helmet. Sure, you’re not going to solve all the problems and you’ll probably get some nasty comments in return, but some kids just need that reminder from adults that they’ve stepped over the line.

  • Rachel July 10, 2012 (2:13 pm)

    Can you imagine if we all called 911 EVERY time we saw someone doing something illegal?? Jay walking, speeding etc? Again, 911 IS FOR LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCIES!

    • WSB July 10, 2012 (2:45 pm)

      Rachel: Police actually have said, call 911 whatever you are reporting, if you believe laws are being broken – it all goes to the same operators, who will quickly route the call. They have said that over and over again. – TR

  • Maggie July 10, 2012 (2:49 pm)

    Those who think that this is what public parks are for are sadly misinformed. It is a rule violation and a violation of the Seattle Municipal Code. In addition to wrecklessly endangering others, the extreme noise interferes with the right of everyone to enjoy this public park.

    I would suggest that this activity be taken to the street where those practicing it live.

  • skeeter July 10, 2012 (3:00 pm)

    Interesting discussion. Here is part of the problem. The nearest place to ride an ORV (offroad vehicle) such as an ATV/gokart/dirtbike is about 80 miles from Seattle. That is WAY too far. King County must have a million people and thousands of acres of undeveloped land, yet I am not aware of a single mile of public trail where it is legal to ride. ORVs are a great recreational activity if used responsibly, and I am disappointed there are no places within a reasonable distance to ride. I’ve contacted Joe McDermott’s office twice to discuss this issue and he did not respond to either of my inquiries.

    • WSB July 10, 2012 (3:26 pm)

      SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen has gotten some info from Communications, after my inquiry this morning: “Communications received the calls, reported as Noise. Our Units were tied up on other calls. We had sufficient staffing, but we were busy on numerous other calls. We check Lincoln Park on a regular basis and it is part of our summer emphasis.” I will add this to the story in a few mins too.

  • Rachel July 10, 2012 (3:36 pm)

    I get that they “tell us that” (re: calling 911 ANY TIME a crime is being committed) over and over again, and yes, that is the general rule (and is in place so people won’t hesitate to call 911 in an ACTUAL emergency), however, that clearly depends on ALL of us taking that advice and using our own discretion. No one wants 911 calls over every slight infraction (littering, someone riding without a helmet, speeding, not signaling etc). We decide what does and does not warrant use of the 911 system.

  • T-Rex July 10, 2012 (4:21 pm)

    Now that was funny!

    Some of you people need to flipping relax!!

  • Oh man July 10, 2012 (4:54 pm)

    I guess it’s not life-threatening until a small child or crosses this loud, stinkin’ PITA’s path. By that time it’s too late.

    There’s a time a place for everything. A quiet summer evening in one of our city’s few natural wonders is not the time or place.

    If this was in your sidewalk, and you were going to get the mail, would you be so complacent? Maybe you would go inside and hope someone else reported it so you could leave your house again.

  • Tracey July 10, 2012 (5:06 pm)

    I have seen police patrol/drive through the Lincoln Park parking lots. But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one literally down in the park area, unless they were in plain clothes and I didn’t realize it.

  • Moose July 10, 2012 (7:22 pm)

    Man… With all I read of those that said they “should respond”… Maybe you should have cast your vote better on where we spend our budget. Check it out… Mayberry and West Seattle not equal. The only opinion I see on these comment that make sense are ones that actually have knowledge. I had suggested (complained if you will) that cops are simply more visible and hanging out at a game is FANTASTIC! Bad things happen with harmless fun ALL the time. Sometimes I go 70 mph on the freeway. Stop and get involved instead of b”/$@ and moan. The police can improve – yes. BUT they are trying… Are you helping? Ug. Wow was that a bit of a rant. Stepping down from my soap box now.

  • Mat July 10, 2012 (7:33 pm)

    I appreciate that not everyone agrees with the person that called 911, but I have to say I’m disappointed in how harshly some folks have responded in the comments.

    I understand this is the Internet and all, but I guess I hoped that West Seattle’s little corner was a little more in line with the friendly faces I see when I’m out and about here. I guess some of those smiles cover up seething contempt for their neighbors?

  • WTF July 10, 2012 (7:53 pm)

    Holy crapola! If you’re uptight about that…just wait until the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, woo hoo and cheers of a zipline come roaring through OUR park.

  • cr July 11, 2012 (9:07 am)

    seething contempt for all the complainers Mat

  • ME July 11, 2012 (9:22 am)

    Pretty scary when the police don’t respond! I’ve had it happen twice!
    Last time was about a month ago … domestic disturbance in my building … don’t know what ever happened! Lots of screaming and banging went on for hours! Guess no one died, but what about next time!

  • anotherone July 11, 2012 (4:15 pm)

    I live near Brace Point. From what my blockwatch was told, there is only 1 (sometimes 2) officers covering our area in evenings. Sad, but true :( i would hope the City Council hires more police officers soon.

  • Oh man July 11, 2012 (5:47 pm)

    I vote for every GD police and fire levy on our ballot. Don’t lay that *%#$! on me.

  • evergreen July 11, 2012 (7:37 pm)

    Does this topic really warrant all these posts?

  • Gary July 12, 2012 (10:40 am)

    I gotta say that rippin that cart around looks like fun. Growing up in Issaquah we kids could ride this stuff in the neighborhood and to trails up into the hills, now the trails are only open to hikers and the kids stay inside and play video games.

Sorry, comment time is over.