FOLLOWUP: Lincoln Park encampments ‘swept’ today, police say

Earlier this week, a reader report about a frightening confrontation in Lincoln Park sparked a lot of discussion here. Hours later, we asked the Southwest Precinct‘s second-in-command, Lt. Ron Smith, about patrol plans there, and he indicated they would be stepped up now that Alki has calmed down. The next day, we asked City Councilmember Lisa Herbold if Lincoln Park issues were on her radar; she said she’d been hearing about the camper concerns and letting constituents know how to report them. Today, this is just in from WSB reader Chuck, who took his concerns to both Herbold and police – he received this from SW Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis:

Thank you for taking the time to convey your concerns regarding the homeless/camping issues in Lincoln Park and in other greenbelt areas of West Seattle. To date, our Community Policing Teams, The Southwest Bicycle Patrol squad and our district officers have conducted several patrols and social contacts with various individuals in the aforementioned areas.

This morning our officers along with representatives from the Seattle Parks Department conducted a sweep of Lincoln Park and removed several encampments and issued park exclusion notices to the involved subjects. This information was also passed along to our Navigation Team, who will assist us with further follow-up on the Park’s homeless issue.

This matches a bit of scanner discussion we heard this morning about police sweeping a park area (via a frequency that covers both West and South Seattle, and no mention of addresses, so we couldn’t tell which park).

Heather June 23, 2017 (4:14 pm)

Thank you.

Chuck June 23, 2017 (4:27 pm)

I could not be more pleased with this outcome. I’ll admit, I fired off a letter with little expectation of anything much coming of it, such has been my perception of the city’s handling of the homeless issue. There are no easy answers here and fewer easy choices, but at some point our true public treasures have to be protected, and I commend Lisa and her staff for helping to do just that. They provided very prompt and clear communication in addressing my concerns, with links to resources for additional assistance if needed. I am particularly thrilled that Captain Davis and his team were empowered to do their job so swiftly and professionally, I am sure.

This of course did not come about in response to any one letter, but all of our collective comments on the Blog and in community meetings and the like. And frankly, follow up by Tracy who is always working on our behalf in ways we cannot imagine, simply by asking the hard questions when no one else is even at a meeting. Still, I feel just remarkably gratified that our elected officials are indeed, listening. A heartfelt thanks to Lisa and your staff, and to Captain Davis and your officers. Well done, all!!

Meyer June 24, 2017 (8:56 am)

Thanks Chuck!

Alki Resident June 23, 2017 (4:29 pm)

Amen, this will bring back the ones who felt uncomfortable about going there.

Chelle June 23, 2017 (4:43 pm)

Thank you so much! We went last weekend for a Father’s Day picnic and felt a little uneasy with our young kids around. This is great news!

Josh June 23, 2017 (5:17 pm)

I second your comments about Tracy and this blog. We are very lucky – a true community resource!

Double Dub Resident June 23, 2017 (5:47 pm)

That’s great they did a sweep, but kind of disturbing to hear that it was not one, not a couple, not a few, but SEVERAL encampments in Lincoln Park

WSB June 23, 2017 (6:23 pm)

I believe the city definition of “encampment” is more than one camper. Anyway, we went over to the park right after this and walked all around the north end, looking for signs of a swept area, maybe notices left behind, didn’t see anything – hadn’t seen anything on previous park visits either, upper or lower, so I’m still wondering where these were/are. – TR

Seattlite June 23, 2017 (6:27 pm)

A big smooch and a big thanks to you all for the timely cleanup. This afternoon the first thing I noticed when I entered the north path into Lincoln Park and started my trek was that the “picnic table” was vacant! Hooooooray! I felt one of the many clouds over my head evaporate. As a senior citizen, I felt much safer walking the trails today.

Je June 23, 2017 (6:30 pm)

One was right next to the maintenance buildings at the north end just off Fauntleroy. So they would have known about it previous to complaints… There is a large rv type vehicle parked along side the road there near the 76/ taco truck that likely has a few campers living in it as well… I stopped by the maintence office earlier this week and they were already aware of the complaints and had “given notice” to said campers. The person that we talked to said that it is an on going problems and that frequently as soon as they kick them out they are sneaking back in so it seems that the community complaints and reports are key to keeping them cleaned out

Alki Resident June 23, 2017 (6:38 pm)

My main concern now that they’re gone is needles. Do they just kick out the campers or do they search for dangerous stuff?

98126res June 23, 2017 (6:59 pm)

Why are there a ton of homeless and tents back camping out again under the west seattle bridge again? With wood pallets to build fires and who knows what behavior, after the incident that moved the city to remove them???

WSB June 23, 2017 (7:25 pm)

Behind fences? The areas that were swept in the past few months are fenced. Some areas haven’t been swept, such as Spokane/1st.

K* June 23, 2017 (7:38 pm)

Thank you!! So can I calm my surroundings? Not yet!! No confidence to go there yet… and can’t hear what’s behind me!

Je June 23, 2017 (7:39 pm)

Call and report it when and where you see it. The more it’s reported the more it will be addressed. There is s huge problem and no easy or permanent solutions but safety has to be first! The parks eorker said report locally to the parks and the police in that order. But who knows what the official protocol is for freeway areas? Same with graffiti. There is an online form for that and they are FAST to replace signs etc

Ready for Summer June 23, 2017 (9:13 pm)

Thank you! I was in the park this afternoon while it was being swept. Just one worker carefully sorting thru and bagging up while another man nearby seemed to be looking thru items. Families were enjoying the play equipment nearby. This is a big relief!

I also saw several campers this evening parked along Alki, just south of Salty’s, with belongings and garbage overflowing onto the grass parking strip. Sadly also saw several small children playing there. This homeless thing has to end, especially for little ones.

Bradley June 23, 2017 (10:08 pm)

We have to stay on top of this due to our indifferent City cLoWnCiL and incompetent Mayor. The only reason this sweep happened was because of the frightening encounter that was recently reported. Call 911 and the Parks Department EVERY TIME you see a camper/vagrant. I know I will.

flimflam June 24, 2017 (9:18 am)

i agree. the city is reactionary rather than actually looking to stop a problem before it starts.

having drug addicts or mentally ill people camped out with no supervision, consequence, etc is asking for trouble. that doesn’t even get into the trashing of our beautiful parks and greenbelts.

harna deryk June 23, 2017 (10:18 pm)

It isn’t widely known but this is going to be the status quo with trump in office. You might think we have it good in west Seattle (it is beautiful here !!) but congress and government are changing that!

candrewb June 24, 2017 (10:29 am)

I am no fan of Trump, but unless one of the campers was James Comey, Trump played zero part in anyone of their predicaments.

BubbaFide June 23, 2017 (11:06 pm)

Finally!

I live next to the park and I am in LP often and there have been seeing more and more fire and camp sites, campers, used liquer bottles, and garbage

I had reached out to city hall a couple of times but nothing happened. Earlier this year there were camp sites and empty bottles by the 76 station, some of which I picked up from time to time

Sad what has become of our city over the past 3 years – hopefully better city leadership will soon be in place

Bonnie June 24, 2017 (6:35 am)

I’m glad they removed them. I was in the park yesterday afternoon and saw no traces of them. It’s sad that it takes something like this for the city to actually do something. I worry about where they will be moving on to though. Which park will they decide to move into next?

KT June 24, 2017 (8:37 am)

Seems, yet again, a lot of complaints to the city but nothing done in a timely fashion. This makes me scratch my head …”we asked City Councilmember Lisa Herbold if Lincoln Park issues were on her radar; she said she’d been hearing about the camper concerns and letting constituents know how to report them”… So she did nothing other than give someone a phone number or email address? But you landlords better not forget to hand out voter registration info or else.

Steve June 24, 2017 (10:24 am)

Elections have consequences. Remember this when Lisa runs again on her “accomplishments.”

Elizabeth June 24, 2017 (4:11 pm)

Yes! Remember this!

Cheese June 24, 2017 (10:44 am)

Again with the “sqeezing of the baloon”. They are going to pop up somewhere else because they hav to exist somewhere. So no problem has been solved. The question isnt how to keep moving homeless people but where would yall prefer them b cuz if u kick them out of everywhere else, then they will all b sleeping in front of your stores and banks, shooting up there.

M June 24, 2017 (2:46 pm)

True, however, now they are no longer at the park I go to almost everyday with my kids and I feel safe again. So, the problem is at least 99% solved.

i was SO happy to go to the park this morning and see that that space was finally cleaned out. I walked into their little “den” area behind the trees to verify that the trash was gone and there weren’t any needles. For the most part everything has been picked up. Although the place smells SO bad, like beer and urine. It’s going to take some time for that green space to get back to normal.

JoB June 24, 2017 (6:31 pm)

“the” problem isn’t solved.
they aren’t in the park today but they will be back because they will be chased out of wherever they land next…

Church June 25, 2017 (7:24 am)

We need public mental institutions. We need hospitality housing for the indigent. If the Catholic Church were strong still they would be working on this. They have before.

Double Dub Resident June 25, 2017 (9:21 am)

The problem may not be solved and it may never be solved since it is very improbable that people get help who do NOT WANT HELP.

This is the reality that people who think more chemical treatment facilities is the answer don’t see. Professional treatment facilities have a pretty dismal success rate as it is, forcing people into treatment will only make the success rate even more dismal. Though I suppose it will create more jobs for counselors.

This city has spent a great deal of money on a tiny tiny fraction of the population and really has nothing to show for it, except we have now an over paid “homeless czar” along with an over priced city council who comes up with some of the dumbest “solutions” to this problem.

The problem may not be solved, but laws still need to be enforced and the complacent mindset that if enough people are committing a crime, that we will look the other way needs to be stopped.

Example unrelated, people playing stupidly loud music in their cars forcing everyone else to have to listen to their profanity laced garbage. Last I remember, that’s a $300 dollar ticket. Let’s start enforcing that law again so not only to change the arrogant self centered not caring about anyone else behavior, but also raise revenue for the city.

HappyOnAlki June 25, 2017 (11:43 am)

Double Dub — like the police who are already stretched pretty thin have time to check out people’s car radios? Unless the car is parked in front of one’s house, I can’t see this as more than a momentary annoyance.

MAO June 26, 2017 (10:21 pm)

Appreciate Police and Lisa Herbold’s office for acting on this. The one advantage in dealing with overnight dwellers in parks is that there are Park rules and policies which close most parks from 1 or 2 am until 5 or 6 pm, thus officially eliminating camping. Only a couple of parks, like Green Lake, are open 24 hours. If Police & Parks knows about overnight camping, they have more ability to deal with the issue than on a street or parking lot because of the park policy. Call in any and all tent set-ups during the hours the park is closed.

Sorry, comment time is over.