Private security firm to clean up crime-ridden encampments along the Tacoma corridor

TACOMA, Wash. — Business owners fed up with crime and violence outside their stores hired a private security team to clear their parking lots, where people hang out and scare off customers.

The operation took place along the South Hosmer Street corridor in Tacoma, an area with numerous homeless encampments and ongoing drug activity.

Tema Woods, owner of Blue Falcon Tactical Solutions, led the team through all private lots from S 84th St to S 96th St along S Hosmer and Steele St S, clearing any encampments or people hanging out outside businesses in the area.

“We’re going to take that traffic to the 96th, where we have all the resources, from treatment to housing,” Woods said. “We’re trying to get them off the streets and into a better life.”

Before the action, Tacoma police said they only planned to get involved if someone along the route called 911 for help. Although police officers have the authority to rob people of private property, troublemakers cannot always be found by the time they respond, and business owners want a dedicated team to resolve the issues.

The area around South 96th Street is a hotbed of crime and Woods said local business owners have had enough.

‘A gentleman was murdered there. There have been five shootings in the last two and a half weeks, right in that same area, right in front of the daycare,” Woods said. ‘From prostitution to violence, weapons, shootings, to robberies, burglary’ ins. You name it, it’s happening.”

According to the Tacoma Police Crime DashboardThere have been 47 crimes reported in the area immediately surrounding the intersection of Steele St and 96th St, including a fatal shooting, aggravated assaults, armed robberies, weapons violations, burglaries, drug violations, car thefts and property damage.

“Normal people who would come here are scared because they have that stereotype,” said Elgin McCoy, a handyman who owns Keyes Property Preservation.

McCoy regularly comes to the neighborhood to offer odd jobs to the homeless and others in the area.

“I’m trying to teach some of these guys the business so they can make an honest living,” McCoy said.

Blue Falcon has cleared the area before, but now they plan to conduct more intensive patrols for 30 days to try to keep the area going. McCoy doubts it will work.

“They’re going to push them out of here, and they’ll be right back. That has been the case for a year and a half. They move them, and then they’re in the side road,” McCoy said.

Kevin Woods is an outreach worker at the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center and the Tacoma Recovery Center. He had mixed feelings about the cleanup, but acknowledged the neighborhood has more than its share of problems.

“I mean, like a lot of drug activity. It’s a sketchy place at night, even during the day,” Kevin Woods said. “You can look and see why they’re getting fed up with it. It’s understandable, but I think a better approach is needed to help people. “

In the weeks leading up to the cleanup, Blue Falcon’s owner worked with housing providers, detox facilities and outreach workers to try to connect people to help who want it.

He said the neighborhood deserves better, and he’s trying to make a difference.

“We can secure this entire area for 30 days, reduce the amount of police coming here to deal with lower-level crimes, and then we can show how this model works. Hopefully it can lead to a long-term goal,” Woods said, “that allows this place to thrive again, allowing kids to get up and actually go outside and walk to the bus stop without having to walk through it.” a cloud of fentanyl or worry, they will be shot.”