City adds police to prevent violent crime

MOSES LAKE — Additional police patrols were added since the recent gang-related drive-by shooting on Washington Street in Moses Lake.

During the shooting, a Moses Lake woman was injured, two vehicles were shot and several men were arrested in connection to the shooting.

“We’ve had problems in the Knolls Vista neighborhood,” said Moses Lake police Chief Dean Mitchell.

Several shootings have taken place in the neighborhood. In the past month there were four firearm-related incidents in Moses Lake, he said.

Police are conducting patrol on bicycles, foot and in undercover patrol vehicles canvassing Knolls Vista and other neighborhoods stricken by violence, according to Mitchell.

He said some patrols are conducted by student resource officers. They will primarily work during the late night hours and early morning hours when it seems most crimes are being committed.

Each year during the summer, the two officers are sent to the streets to patrol areas where there is a saturation of youth and young adult crimes related to gang activity, violence and involving weapons.

“These officers will continue to target those claiming gang affiliation or membership, who advocate violence,” Mitchell said. “We’re concerned with innocent individuals being injured. The bottom line is we’re trying to give special attention to the ‘10 percenters’ we deal with.”

He explained there is a saying in law enforcement where police spend 90 percent of the time dealing with 10 percent of the population regularly.

Mitchell said there appears to be an increase in youth crimes with firearms in comparison to 2008. He said it appears firearms are being used more often to resolve conflicts.

“(Police) have been and will continue to patrol areas of Moses Lake residential areas where recent assaults and shootings have occurred,” he said.

Mitchell encourages the public to call 9-1-1 in case of emergencies or 509-762-1160 to report suspicious activity.