Don’t be Afraid to Call in Crime

Residents of the lower part of Alabama Hill have consistent crime complains, however, it is up to their reporting to slow the crime rates down.

To bring neighborhood crime to police awareness, Alabama Hill residents must become involved and report the suspicious acts they witness, officials say.

Jeeter Brock, a resident on the lower half of the hill, has been living in the area for three years. He summed up his time in the neighborhood as “absolutely terrible.” There have been multiple instances of gunfire in the early morning, yet Brock said that police never arrive during these occurrences.

When asked about his conversations with the law enforcement, Brock admitted that he has never actually called in the crime he has witnessed. Brock's reasoning for not doing so is his safety. The way he put it, he doesn't want his name leaked for the wrong reason.

The reason of “not getting involved,” is a major issue for residents like Brock, and for officials trying to keep the neighborhood safe.

“When there is suspicious activity in the neighborhood, the police can't do anything about [the mere suspicion],” noted Dean Haskins, a real estate agent and neighborhood representative.

“People must continually, repeatedly and always call in what they see,” he said.

Haskins described how individuals might witness suspicious activity and call it in the first time they see it. However, through pattern, the chances of the resident calling in a similar act a second time is not likely.

Past experiences
Jimmy Kelsey, assistant chairman of the neighborhood association, talked about recent, long-term police stakeouts.

“The Bellingham Police Department told me about stakeout groups at the 7-11 who were part of a ‘lookout’ system being used to keep track of any cars going into the area,” Kelsey said of Brock’s residential streets.

With successful drug busts in Alabama Hill this past year, neighborhood officials are hoping to encourage residents to take action in order to prevent the emergence of additional—particularly drug-related—crime.

Near Brock’s home at a small store outlet, is the Little Bugs Consignment shop. Sarah Blethen, an employee, said that immediate police response in the 7-11parking lot is not a rare occurrence.
However, she has witnessed suspicious individuals on the nearby residential streets, where police do not commonly show up. As with Brock, Blethen prefers not to involve herself with these suspicious incidents.

Police involvement
Haskins, whose real estate office is located a few doors down from Little Bugs, disagrees with the common residential attitude of Brock and Blethen.

“I would say they're doing a good job,” Haskins said of the Bellingham Police. The police, judges and other law enforcement are repeatedly invited to the neighborhood's quarterly meetings in order to hear the concerns of the residents, he said.

Brock admits that he has seen police cars with their lights off, parked along his street in the early morning. Brock’s point is that stakeouts are not the same as in-the-moment police arrival. He believes there is not enough being done to rid of the criminal and drug activity in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood officials argue that there is no police arrival because there are no residents calling in the crime. Without residential reporting, nothing can be done about neighborhood situations like Brock's. While people like Kelsey and Haskins advocate citizen patrol, Brock would prefer that all patrolling be left to law enforcement in order to protect the resident’s safety.

How to fight off suspicious activity
“Right now it's about deterrence,” said Brock. “I'll do what I can to keep it all away—I've installed cameras and used lithium grease for the fence—but I don't want to be involved in something bigger. I have my wife to protect.”

Neighborhood representative, Doug Bestle, encouraged residents at the most recent Alabama Hill meeting to wave ‘hello’ to those they find suspicious.

“In a tight-knit neighborhood, we know when someone doesn’t belong,” Bestle said. He argued that a friendly approach is an alternative and much safer way of tackling the situation, as he understands how terrifying confrontation can be.

The Bellingham Police Department has always offered ways to report suspicious activity. When reporting to the police department directly, residents will be asked for their name and contact information. However, there are various tip lines listed on the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office website in which callers can remain anonymous.

Report suspicious activity to:

• Whatcom County Sheriff's Office anonymous criminal activity tip line:
  (360)715-7459 and 1-866-456-2157
• Whatcom County Sheriff's Office anonymous drug activity tip line:
  (360)676-6952