5.3. PCSR 07-13-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/i Ci±y ei Elk -~-, River Police Department MEMORANDUM TO: Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner FROM: Jeffrey A. Beahen, Chief of Police DATE: 7-7-10 SUBJECT: Wapiti Park I have reviewed our calls for service at Wapiti Park as recorded in our records system since 1999. We have had 441 calls for service to that location. This is a very high number of calls for one location. I have attached a copy of a memo written to the Council on April 16, 2002 by the Chief at that time, Thomas Zerwas. His memo reflects his concerns in 2002 of the large number of police calls at Wapiti Park. Please see his memo for more complete details. My personal experience with the park is that over the years we have responded to significant events there that have proven to have endangered the safety of those who stay or frequent there. These calls included: • A camper trailer that exploded when the resident tried to kill himself by allowing propane to leak into his trailer. An ignition source ignited the gas, injuring the resident and destroying the trailer. • A meth lab discovered inside one of the trailers. • ~ resident who fell into a campfire, laid in the fire due to his level of intoxication and burned off his legs, buttocks and genitalia. • Numerous sexual assaults. • ~X~eapons related incidents and assaults. • A significant number of other assaults and violence. • Reports of raw sewage leaks. • Requests to check the welfare of residents who spend the winter in the park, some sleeping in tents-not trailers. Concerns that the trailers are not suitable for winter use, and insulation and heating systems are a danger to those who reside there. In one case, eve were called there in the middle of winter, to check a newborn child who was staying with her parents in a tent. The history at the park is not illustrative of a recreation facility, in fact it is considered a constant source of concern for our officers in terms of the resident's general safety and well being. I have attached a print out of all of the police calls we have recorded. Our system does not allow us to pull statistics prior to 1999. If you need more details on the types of calls, I would be happy to provide that information to you.