How about one that works at the airport, or on the waterfront, for the Port of Seattle?

Well, the Port of Seattle Police Department is holding its own “Citizens Academy,” which is a unique opportunity to learn up close and personal about the many challenges facing local law enforcement.

This is a once-a-week, 10-week program that is open to the public at no cost. That’s right – it’s FREE.

It will be held at Sea-Tac Airport on Mondays, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., beginning April 12th and continuing through June 28th.

Police officers and civilian personnel who are experts in their fields will teach classes at the Citizens Academy. Each instructor has years of training and street experience, providing insights not ordinarily available to those outside the department.

Subjects include patrol, community policing, recruitment and training, domestic violence, narcotics, dispatch, investigations, crimes scene analysis, SWAT, explosive detection and narcotics detection K-9, and the bomb squad.

All classes are free of charge and open to the public. The class is limited to 25 participants, so get your application in early.

Want to participate? You’ll need:

• The ability to commit to attending a two-hour weekly class for ten weeks
• A background check

Port employees who wish to participate must have their manager’s permission.

Ready to Apply? Download, print and fill out the application (PDF file) here, then return it to:

FAX: (206) 787-5741

or Mail:

Port of Seattle Police
Attn: Citizens Academy
PO Box 68727
Seattle, WA 98168

For more information, please contact Detective Dan Breed, at breed.d@portseattle.org, or Officer Kyle Yoshimura at yoshimura.k@portseattle.org.

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Together with the King County Sheriff’s Office, SeaTac and Burien Police are continuing their twice-yearly “Citizen’s Police Academy” program with an orientation on Thursday, March 11th, and classes on Wednesday nights from 6pm-9pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Citizen’s Police Academy Training

WHEN: Starts Thursday, March 11th and continues through April 24th. Classes are held on Wednesday nights from 6pm to 9pm at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.

Classes will run for 13 weeks, plus a graduation ceremony including a certificate of completion and pictures with police staff. A light meal will be provided for students. There are presentations by many of the Sheriff’s Office Units and several opportunities for hands-on experiences, plus a field trip to the King County Communications Center.

The training sessions are held twice a year in the spring and fall. The sessions require approximately 20 hours to complete. There is a minimal fee for tools supplied to students, enabling them to build their own emergency response kit.

WHERE: Orientation meeting will be at the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Station, which is located at 15100 8th Ave SW in Burien; subsequent classes will be at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.

COST: FREE!

INFO: From a press release:

Graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy will have a better understanding of the law enforcement role in the criminal justice system and an appreciation for the many challenges facing law enforcement in today’s complex society. They will also be better able to assist offices in improving their neighborhoods and communities.

The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations or workplaces in basic preparation and response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area.

SeaTac and Burien Fire and Police Departments partner in offering this eight-week training held on weekday evenings, with a Practical Fianl Exercise held on a Saturday. Sessions require approximately 20 ours to complete. There is a minimal fee for tools supplied to students, enabling them to build their own emergency response kit.

Training is designed to cover the following:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Safety
• Disaster Medical Operations (Triage, Treating Life Threatening Injuries, and Assessment, Treatment and Hygiene.)
• Light Search and Rescue
• Team Organization
• Disaster Psychology
• Terrorism

Graduates will also be eligible for the Ride-Along program, in which you can spend up to an entire shift riding with an officer.

This course is an unforgettable experience and it’s completely free for anyone who lives or works in the cities of SeaTac or Burien!

There are two sessions each year and they fill up fast, so register early with your local Community Service Officer.

If you are interested in attending the next session and would like an application sent to you by mail, please contact CSO Mechee Burnett at mechee.burnett@kingcounty.gov or 206.973.4917 (you can also download a PDF application here).

• SEATAC: If you are from the SeaTac area, please contact: CSO Eloise Kruger: 206-973-4915 or ekruger@ci.seatac.wa.us
• BURIEN: If you are from the Burien area, please contact: CSO Nicki Maraulja: 206-296-3333 or nicki.maraulja@kingcounty.gov

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Francisco went missing after leaving his work at an ad agency in Seattle two years ago; he was supposedly heading home to bake cookies with his children. His car was found abandoned at a condominium complex a few days later in Federal Way, and an extensive investigation was conducted to see if he had been a victim of foul play.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of volunteers spent days looking for him, and thousands of dollars was spent in the search as well.

Nothing ever turned up, and subsequently his wife divorced him in absentia after having his third child – that is, until last November when King County Sheriff’s Department detectives found him alive and well, living under a new name in another state.

This week, KIRO-TV tracked him down and interviewed him – watch it here (it’s a very compelling video).

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The King County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday (Jan. 19th) that they have arrested two men they allege committed numerous “takeover” robberies, including the Jan. 13th one of the Silver Dollar Casino in SeaTac.

The men were alleged to be involved in robberies of casinos, a bank, and a check cashing business in SeaTac, Renton, Shoreline, Lynnwood and Snohomish County.

According to Sgt. John Urquhart, during these takeover robberies, the men would typically wear masks and gloves, as well as often carrying shotguns in each hand. These types of crimes are dramatic, and are considered especially dangerous to victims, witnesses and bystanders.

The two bad guys were arrested Friday morning (Jan. 15th) around 1:45am, after a Shoreline patrol sergeant noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near two casinos on N. 167th. He pulled in behind the car and the driver quickly drove off. A short pursuit ensued until the sergeant used a PIT maneuver and the car was stopped near NE 163rd and Ashworth. The driver took off running and the passenger was taken into custody. The arrested man is 46 years old from Seattle.

The driver initially escaped, but evidence recovered led detectives to believe these two were involved in numerous armed robberies.

After further investigation, the second man was arrested at his home in Edmonds late Friday afternoon. He is 34 years old.

Detectives from at least four jurisdictions were looking for these two armed robbers who “takeover” the business being robbed.

Takeover-style robberies are considered especially dangerous to victims, witnesses, and bystanders. These robbers are considered armed and dangerous!

In some of the robberies one of the suspects carries a shotgun in one hand and a shotgun the other.

Robbery Details: Both robbers wore masks and gloves. A puffy black jacket was worn in several of the robberies. One of the robbers fires his gun into the air during two of the robberies.

Here’s the dates and locations of the robberies:

• October 26th 1:40pm. Check to Cash in Renton on Rainier Ave South. A shotgun and pistol were displayed.
• October 29th 3:00pm. Bank of America in Lynnwood along SW 196th. One suspect has guns in both hands, a shotgun and pistol. The other man is armed “only” with a pistol. A shot is fired as they exit the bank.
• November 13th 6:30am. Goldie’s Casino in Shoreline. Only one suspect inside the casino, armed with a shotgun and pistol. He robs the casino’s cash cage and gets into a waiting vehicle driven by another suspect. A shot is fired as he flees the area.
• December 2nd 7:00pm. Royal Casino, Snohomish County, along SR99. Lone robber armed with a shotgun and pistol.
• January 13th 5:00am. Silver Dollar Casino, City of SeaTac along International Blvd. Two suspects, one armed with a shotgun and pistol, the other with a pistol.

In addition, other area robberies may be related but have not yet been linked.

Formal charges are expected later this week.

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Just got off the phone with Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department, who reports Monday (Nov. 9th) that Nicholas Francisco, a SeaTac man who went missing in Feb. 2008, has been found alive and well, living in another state, living under a new name.

Francisco was last seen leaving his work at an ad agency in Seattle on Feb. 13th, 2008; he was supposedly heading home to bake cookies with his children.

Francisco’s car was found a few days later abandoned at a condominium complex in Federal Way, and an extensive investigation was conducted to see if he had been a victim of foul play.

Nothing turned up, and subsequently his wife divorced him in absentia.

Last week detectives developed information that he was in fact alive, had changed his name and was living outside of Washington.

“Since he did nothing illegal and this case is basically closed, we won’t reveal where he was found,” Urquhart said to The B-Town Blog. “But let me tell you – there was something incredibly unique about this guy that made bloggers go crazy. In all my years, I have never seen such a reaction. I’m glad this case is closed.”

And yes, the King County Sheriff’s Department has indeed closed their investigation, so we may never know where he lives and why he left so suddenly.

Read previous coverage of this story on our sister site The B-Town Blog here.

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The Port of Seattle Police Department announced Thursday (Oct. 8th) that they arrested three and seized 11 kilograms of cocaine as part of the biggest drug bust ever at Sea-Tac Airport.

Port Police worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the operation last week, and the three suspects were indicted today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“Last week’s seizure and arrests represent good police work, and I’m very proud of the officers and detectives who participated,” said Port Police Chief Colleen Wilson. “I’m also grateful for the ongoing partnership with our colleagues at the TSA.”

On September 30, the suspects checked-in bags prior to boarding a flight to Alaska. TSA officers discovered five kilograms of cocaine in one bag during routine X-ray procedures for all checked baggage and notified port police. The bag owner was located at the departure gate and, with the help of airline personnel, was determined to be traveling with other companions. Further investigation by police – including assistance from Officer Lilly, a member of the port’s K-9 unit – led to the search of two more bags where an additional six kilograms were discovered.

The suspects have been indicted for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The penalty is a mandatory maximum 10 years to life in prison and up to a $4 million fine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes the 11 kilos of cocaine is one of the largest seizures of its kind in the region.

So remember folks, next time you travel – not only can you not bring aboard more than 3 ounces of toothpaste, but 11 kilos of cocaine is illegal as well.

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You may remember “Snaps,” the pit bull that was used as a “weapon” by a Burien teen and her friends in an attack on two different women in SeaTac on June 21st (last week, the 16-year old female suspect plead “guilty,” and her sentencing will be Oct. 8th).

At one point, this dog was very close to being put down, as he was considered dangerous and not a candidate for rehabilitation. However, due to a huge outpouring of public sentiment, which included numerous Comments left on this blog, as well as phone calls, numerous online polls and emails sent directly to the King County Animal Shelter, “Snaps’” story has a happy ending – he has a new home at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, where he will live out the remainder of his life.

So a story that began with human ignorance, abuse and downright cruelty seemingly is headed toward a happy ending for a poor, innocent animal – just take a look at the “before” and “after” photos above (on the left, Snaps in his cage at KCACC; on the right, his current state at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary).

Here’s a note from the folks at KCACC Exposed, a website devoted to “stopping the taxpayer-funded suffering of animals at the hands of King County Animal Care & Control”:

Betrayed and abused by his owner(s), authorities would’ve easily destroyed him but for the dedication of people who saw the the unfair treatment and judgment and quickly sprang into action. With them, a caring public who would not stand for another misunderstood and mislabeled animal being killed. For Snaps, his future looks bright. He has gone to Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, Washington. Thank you to all the Snaps advocates who kept up with the story and spoke out. Please remember there are many more like him. They silently suffer and endure whatever humans choose to do with them.

Snaps … has been released to an animal sanctuary where he will be allowed to live out his life in peace. Steve Markwell, executive director of Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, Washington, picked Snaps up from King County Animal Care and Control (KCACC) on Friday afternoon (Sept. 11th) and transported him to his new home.

By Saturday morning, Snaps was getting his first chance to stretch his legs in nearly three months, romping with Mr. Markwell in a sanctuary exercise yard. Snaps then took a ride in the cab of Mr. Markwell’s truck (with his head in Mr. Markwell’s lap) and shared an order of French Fries.

“Snaps is a sweet dog who has been through hell. He has likely been in fear most of his life, and his behavior has been a testament to all of his suffering,” said Mr. Markwell. Mr. Markwell adds that he believes the aggressive behavior Snaps reportedly demonstrated at KCACC came largely as a result of his lengthy confinement in a kennel.

Mr. Markwell says the reputation of Snaps as “vicious” has taken on “mythical proportions,” but “he’s really just a dog who’s been hurt, and deserves better.”

“He’s still learning to trust people again, but he’s not the most difficult dog I’ve worked with, and he’s not the most difficult dog at the Sanctuary. I believe Snaps will not only thrive in this environment, but that he will be an ambassador for misunderstood dogs everywhere,” he said.

The release of Snaps comes after a long battle with King County authorities, who had insisted on keeping the dog in inhumane conditions at KCACC from the time that he was involved in the June 21 incident. An informal, grassroots campaign to “Save Snaps” was launched after his owner, a 16-year-old Burien girl, was arrested for beating and kicking the dog until he participated in her assault on two Good Samaritans, who had stopped to try to save Snaps from abuse. Last week, the girl pleaded guilty to charges of assault and possession of alcohol – although she was never charged with animal cruelty.

Since the day that Snaps was seized from his owner, he has been kept in a tiny indoor kennel at the KCACC shelter in Kent, with no exercise, social contact, or fresh air. Soon after he was impounded, KCACC Exposed learned that KCACC Interim Manager Nancy McKenney had warned KCACC staff members that they were not to “make friends” with Snaps, telling compassionate staff members that they were not to visit Snaps, or give the dog anything more than the minimal level of care, such as food, water, and cage cleaning once a day. Only after KCACC Exposed wrote a letter protesting the conditions in which Snaps was being held did KCACC managers relent and allow the dog to have a bed and toys, but staff report that he still was never allowed to leave his kennel, except to be dragged at the end of an animal control catchpole.

Although Snaps has now been released from KCACC, other animals on long-term holds continue to be housed in similar conditions in the Kent shelter – albeit with far less public awareness of their plight.

During Snaps’s stay at KCACC, authorities claim he underwent two “independent behavior assessments,” from “outside experts” who reportedly determined that Snaps was dangerous and could not be rehabilitated. KCACC has refused to release either assessment, or identify the groups or individuals who performed the assessments, although KCACC Exposed has now filed a public disclosure request to obtain those records. However, KCACC staff have informed KCACC Exposed that the first assessment was by a regional rescue group with no expertise in abused dogs or behavior assessments, and that the representative of the group did not even go inside the kennel when performing the evaluation, but simply looked at Snaps through the fence.

Mr. Markwell, who was provided a copy of this assessment, confirms that the assessors “never even observed the dog outside of his kennel, and thus did not conduct a single test before determining that he was dangerous and recommending that he be killed.”

Mr. Markwell was not given a copy of the second assessment that was reportedly done on Snaps. However, KCACC Exposed has been told that the second group of evaluators asked that Snaps be released into their custody for a week, so that he could relax and be evaluated outside the stressful and terrifying environment of the KCACC shelter, but that Ms. McKenney refused that request.

KCACC staff members have reported that although Snaps clearly has issues resulting from his troubled past, he responded to treats, affection, and kindness while impounded at the shelter.

Nearly twelve weeks later, and following the guilty plea of Snaps’s former owner, KCACC and the prosecuting attorney’s office agreed to release the dog after relentless pressure from the public, local animal advocates, and members of the King County Council.

Of course, KCACC has been shameless in taking credit for Snaps’s happy ending, with Ms. McKenney going so far as to claim in a press release that “This is an example of the hard work our staff does to ensure that every animal has a chance.”

Ms. McKenney made this claim despite the fact that KCACC did nothing to facilitate the transfer of Snaps – in fact, it was KCACC Exposed Co-Chair Kim Sgro who contacted Olympic Animal Sanctuary and secured Mr. Markwell’s consent to take the dog. Meanwhile, KCACC staff and volunteers report that Ms. McKenney and other shelter leaders repeatedly complained about being told that they had to allow Snaps to be transferred, and insisted that the dog should be killed even if there was a sanctuary that was willing to take him.

In taking all the credit for itself, KCACC management ignores the real heroes of this story who should be recognized: You

KCACC, King County Executive Kurt Triplett, and the King County Council were bombarded with letters and phone calls from the public, as well as multiple public petitions with thousands of signatures, pointing out that Snaps was as much of a victim as the women he was forced to attack, and demanding that every effort be made to save him. Although KCACC answered these letters with dismissive boilerplate, others were listening. There is no question that the outpouring of compassion for Snaps got the attention of public officials, and caused them to take a careful look at his case. Once these officials learned more about Snaps, the abuse that he had suffered, and the neglect that he was continuing to endure, several compassionate public officials and their staff intervened on the dog’s behalf.

As Councilmember Kathy Lambert acknowledges, this happy ending occurred in large part because of the public’s involvement: “I would like to congratulate the research and advocacy of all the animal welfare supporters who contacted my office and the animal shelter on behalf of Snaps,” she says.

King County Council
As has become all too common, it was the King County Council that had to intervene to force KCACC to do the right thing. This time, it was the intervention of Councilmember Lambert that was critical. After KCACC Exposed co-chair Sgro contacted Olympic Animal Sanctuary, and the sanctuary agreed to take Snaps, Councilmember Lambert worked directly with King County Executive Kurt Triplett, and his advisor Noel Treat, to facilitate the transfer.

“This animal is a victim of abuse and did not deserve to be euthanized just because of the irresponsibility of his owner, if any other appropriate options are available,” says Councilmember Lambert, who was present at KCACC when Snaps was transferred in order to make sure that things proceeded smoothly. “It is unfortunate that people were injured before this dog could be rescued from abuse, and I hope that the women who were injured have a speedy and complete recovery. In the case of Snaps, I believe this is a positive outcome.”

Councilmember Lambert has earned a reputation for her compassion for the most vulnerable members of society – children who get lost in the system, and jail inmates who are mistreated in custody. We are delighted that she is now also working to protect animals who are abused, neglected, and forgotten. (Check back here soon for articles on Councilmember Lambert’s efforts to ensure that King County plans for pets during disasters, and her legislation to force KCACC to allow transfers of animals to local shelters and rescue groups.)

KCACC Staff Members
Too often, the KCACC staff is implicated in the failures of KCACC management and the obstructionist policies of the KCACC Guild. It becomes all too easy to forget that many of these staff members have their hearts in the right place, and are doing their best to help the animals caught in the failing shelter. Through this experience, it has again become clear that many staff members are compassionate, caring people. They did their best for Snaps even under orders not to give him any special care, showed clear affection and sympathy for the abused dog, and were overjoyed when they heard that he was going to be released to a sanctuary. Without their care, we’re sure that Snaps would have been in much worse shape when he was finally released. (How sad is it that we cannot name these staff members, because they would be in danger of retaliation from King County for their compassionate behavior?)

Steve Markwell, Olympic Animal Sanctuary
Mr. Markwell of Olympic Animal Sanctuary is the ultimate hero of this story. Very few sanctuaries or shelters are willing to take a dog that another shelter has decided should die. Sanctuaries and rescue groups all over the country were contacted about Snaps, by private citizens, KCACC Exposed, and county officials. None agreed to take the dog. When Best Friends Animal Society ultimately refused to take Snaps, Ms. Sgro contacted Olympic Animal Sanctuary, and was thrilled to finally receive a “yes.”

With the motto “We Save Dogs You’d Rather See Dead,” Olympic Animal Sanctuary focuses on dogs such as Snaps who are considered unadoptable by other shelters, including former fighting dogs, street dogs, and dogs that have attacked other animals or bitten people. These dogs are given lifetime care (with no possibility of adoption, due to safety concerns), along with exercise, affection, and freedom from fear and stress. Says the sanctuary website: “People made them monsters; Olympic Animal Sanctuary lets them be dogs again.”

Although Snaps will never have contact with the general public, he will get plenty of exercise, including a chance to enjoy a swimming pool. Most importantly, he will get a chance just to be a dog.

Mr. Markwell says that his goal with Snaps “is the same as it is for every dog at the Sanctuary – I want him to be healthy, happy, and safe.”
“Walking on a leash is a bonus. Not biting is a bonus. I’d like him to be able to play with other dogs, but we’ll have to wait and see how that goes,” says Mr. Markwell. “Truthfully, I’ve already reached my goal with Snaps, so everything we accomplish from here is gravy.”

Note: We will be visiting Snaps at Olympic Animal Sanctuary next week, and hope to return with more photos and videotape showing his progress. Please check back soon!

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A Motel 6 in SeaTac was closed down indefinitely Tuesday (Sept. 8th) after pepper spray was released inside a room, sickening several people.

Police say that around 11:40am, a caller reported the presence of a “chemical odor” at the motel, which is located at 18900 47th Ave South. The odor had caused “respiratory distress” for one motel employee, the caller said.

Firefighters responded to the location, utilizing HazMat suits, to evacuate residents.

In all, eight people reported being affected by the chemical discharge. Six were taken to local hospital while the remaining two were treated at the scene.

Police are currently looking for the former occupants of the room as the main suspects.

Firefighters from Kent, South King Fire and Rescue, Tukwila, Renton and the Port of Seattle assisted SeaTac’s finest. Seatac Police, deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Department, units from Medic One and Hazardous Material Response Teams (HMRT) were also involved.

No word yet on when the motel will re-open.

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Hey we know times are tough, so when you find a good thing you stick with it, but this is ridiculous – the King County Sheriff’s Department says a man robbed the same Wells Fargo Bank twice!

The bank is located inside the Safeway Store at 4011 South 164th in SeaTac.

The robber first struck about 5:50pm on June 17th. He presented the teller with a robbery note, then fled with the cash. No weapon was seen.

Tuesday of this week (Aug. 25th) the same bad guy struck again just after 5pm. He again used a note, was given the cash and walked out. No weapon was seen.

No one saw a getaway car after either robbery.

The robber is a Hispanic male in his 30, between 5’8” to 5’11” tall with black hair. He wore dark sunglasses and a tan zip-up jacket in both robberies. He wore a white baseball cap in the most recent incident.

Here are his pics from the surveillance camera – recognize him?

If anyone recognizes this suspect they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 911 immediately.

The tellers there are getting tired of seeing him.

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The King County Sheriff’s Department reports that a stabbing overnight left a 21 year-old SeaTac man in critical condition.

The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Shannon South Apartments in the 3500 block of South 180th about 4am Monday morning (Aug. 24th). Several men were apparently arguing in the lot just before the stabbing, and the suspect fled before police arrived.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was taken to Harborview Medical Center with several stab wounds. He was in critical condition when transported, and is a resident of the Shannon South.

The investigation is continuing and no one has been arrested.

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