Sometimes this section of the newspaper is used to rant and rave. I’ve had personal experience in this department. However, on occasion, praise must balance the equation.
Such is the case after the raid in my neighborhood yesterday eliminating the marijuana grow operations being conducted at three houses on my dead-end street.
For those of you on Facebook’s Federal Way Community page commenting that you think that eliminating these houses is a waste of the city’s resources, I refer you to an old adage (paraphrasing); “you need to walk a mile in my moccasins.”
These Chinese nationals, resourced out of Brooklyn, New York, and funded through Hong Kong, have trashed the insides of the homes creating elaborated grow operations. Once a month, for the past several months, we get the indication that harvest is about to take place as it stinks like a skunk for several days in the neighborhood.
The dope-smoking naysayers need to understand that this is not a waste of the city’s resources. As a matter of fact, due to the wisdom of the mayor’s office, the police department and the civil side of the prosecuting attorney’s office, the attempt is being made to take the houses under civil forfeiture laws. If successful, the city will be able to sell the houses and recoup the expenditures for the raids and be able to fund future raids when they come into your neighborhood.
A June 5 article on the Mirror’s website summarized the operation well.
I was lucky enough to watch the raids as they took place. They were done with great care and professionalism. No one got hurt.
I’ll start with you Mr. Mayor, thank you for keeping the promises you made. Chief, thank you for the training you provided to all in question; it was text book. Deputy Chief, thank you for all the coordination that must have been in place. Of course, I don’t know specifically what each of your roles were to make this happen, but it is a great day in my neighborhood once again.
Another huge “thank you” needs to be given to the individuals which we coordinated with. The giving of your time, the listening to our concerns, and the responding to the emails from us gave the reassurance that you would be coming. Please note that I did not get to shake all the hands that I needed to yesterday to personally thank you, please let this letter suffice.
To the men and women that put their lives on the line, those that conducted the actual raids: You are the real heroes. To all of you that were carrying the automatic weapons, I didn’t have the guts to interfere with the jobs you were doing to say “thank you.” Nor did I want to interfere in this critical phrase of the operation. I hope that you understand that although you didn’t get a personal handshake, that my neighborhood truly values the wonderful service you provided. Our city is grateful to have you.
To all the agencies involved that will probably not read this letter because you come from different and multiple parts of the county, your efforts were greatly appreciated as well. Thank you.
Lastly, to all my neighbors that participated in this endeavor. We relied on the strength of each other to get the job done. Congratulations to all of us.
George Adams, Federal Way
