From gun law to property protection

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake police offered tips and answered questions on a range of personal safety and home security issues.

Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell, police Sgt. Mike Williams and Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee spoke Tuesday during the third in a series of talks Mitchell arranged to increase public awareness.

Mitchell began by highlighting the fact that, contrary to popular belief, state and local crime rates are steadily falling.

Statistics show major violent crimes - murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault - as well as property crimes - such as burglary, larceny, vehicle theft and arson - have decreased over the past decade, some dramatically.

Moses Lake saw a 15 percent drop in violent crime from 2009 to 2010, and while the city's property crime statistics aren't quite as appealing, Mitchell said his department is making headway in combating the problem of local burglaries, of which there were nearly 300 last year.

Mitchell pointed to a renewed focus on following up on burglary investigations, maintaining a consistent police presence and supporting crime prevention programs such as community block watches.

"Of course, the biggest thing for us is having the personnel to follow up on crimes," he said. "If you don't have the personnel and you just go from one call to the next, things fall through the cracks."

About 15 attendees asked a range of questions throughout the evening, from the finer points of gun law to the difference between burglary and larceny.

In response to one woman's question on the demographics of the average burglar, Mitchell said males in their late-teens or early 20s are often involved. He added certain time periods are far worse for property crimes and usually the warmer the weather the more active opportunist thieves become.

"A good share of these people have drug abuse issues and they're supporting their drug habit," he said.

An elderly man complained he and other farmers are consistent targets of rural theft.

"It's pretty rampant," he said. "I feel like its going down a little this past year but they're out there ... They may take $100 worth of wire but it takes thousands to repair it."

Lee suggested setting up a silent alert system on the equipment or a motion activated video camera that can film in infrared.

"That's not going to necessarily stop something from being stolen but what it is going to do is create some good documentation of who stole it and make it better to prosecute them," he said.

Lee presented a number of use-of-force situations based on real case law and led a discussion on whether use of force was lawful in each hypothetical instance.

The use of force is typically considered lawful when a person who reasonably believes he or she is about to be injured uses no more force than necessary at a time when no reasonably effective alternative exists, he explained.

"Does that mean if someone is breaking down my door in the middle of the night I have to retreat?" asked one man.

While some states do impose a duty on citizens to run away rather than use force, Lee said that isn't true in Washington, whether someone is in their own house or anywhere else they legally have a right to be.

"Every case is fact-specific and depends on a whole variety of factors," he said; adding anytime someone exercises lethal force or any force there are civil ramifications separate from what criminal law may hold true.

Williams spoke on personal safety, telling the audience the best tool for keeping safe isn't pepper spray or a gun, it's a constant awareness of what's happening around you.

"It wasn't that many thousands of years ago humans were hunters and gatherers and our survival depended on our instincts," he said. "We're pretty soft in society now but we still have those instincts and if the hair on the back of your neck is sticking up you've got to pay attention to it. If you see something that looks odd, there's a very good chance it is."

Criminals tend to home in on potential victims who act like victims, Williams said, such as people who are looking down, walking without purpose or unnecessarily drawing attention to themselves.

He encouraged people to plan ahead to avoid potentially sticky situations and never to hesitate to call the police if danger seems imminent.

"The earlier you can call us when you see something going on the better off you're going to be," Williams said. "If we get there and there's no problem, we like those calls. Granted, we're busy, but this is why we're here."

Police won't always be in a position to arrive within moments, Williams said before discussing various personal defensive tools, including firearms and non-lethal options such as pepper spray or electric stun guns. His primary pieces of advice? Be familiar with the tools you decide to carry and be prepared to use them.

"If I need to use this gun to defend myself, I need to know in my heart that I can pull that trigger and if I do so I can live with that decision," he said. "If you pull that trigger there are very high odds someone is going to get hurt or dead."

Finally, he urged people to be prepared, but not paranoid.

"Don't let the fear of something happening to you ruin your life or reduce your enjoyment, but use a little common sense," he said. "The reality of the situation is there's a very low chance you're going to be randomly assaulted."