In a typical week, the bulk of the Centralia Police Department’s call volume pertains to security issues at local businesses, with reports ranging from theft to a person acting unusual or aggressive and refusing to leave.
Regardless of the issue they’re dealing with at the time, Centralia Police Chief Stacy Denham has one reminder for Centralia business owners and employees who are debating whether or not to call the police: “Just call us … You’re not bothering us. Unfortunately we can’t always get there right away, but we will get there.”
The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce invited Denham to its monthly chamber forum on Thursday, May 11, to engage the local business community in a discussion on business safety, specifically focused on tips for business owners to help them keep their businesses, employees and customers safe.
The main topic Denham was asked to speak on, he said, is what staff should do if someone exhibiting strange behavior parks themselves inside or in front of their business.
“I’m sure we’ve all seen them: they’re out there standing in the middle of the street, they’re yelling, they’re half naked, they’re yelling at power poles. And we get these calls all the time,” Denham said, adding that issues arise when that person impacts the business’s operation or when someone inside the business becomes the subject of their attention.
“The question becomes, how do you protect yourself and how do you deal with folks like that?” Denham said.
The first thing to do, he said, is call the police and tell them what’s happening.
“We have the ability to help you. We are the ones that are trained to deal with these kinds of folks. We have bulletproof vests, we have tools at our disposal that we can use and can help mitigate some of these folks,” Denham said. “Some of these folks just need help and that’s really what we want to do. We want to get them to people who can actually help them and not necessarily take them to jail, because we want them to get the services that they need in order to hopefully overcome whatever addiction or mental health crisis they may be having.”
The sooner the call goes out, Denham said, the faster officers will get there.
In the meantime, Denham said, if you have the ability to retreat, do so.
“Lock your door, don’t let them in, and retreat,” he said.
If the subject is already inside, Denham advises employees to keep their distance and put something between them and the subject, such as a counter.
“Your personalities are going to dictate what you do next,” Denham said, advising that unless they have security training, employees should maintain distance and speak in a calm voice.
“Don’t get angry. Getting angry helps nobody,” Denham said, encouraging business owners and employees to prioritize their personal safety above all else — even preventing theft.
“There is no amount of product in your store worth your safety. I don’t care what it is. It may feel like it is, but it’s not,” Denham said, later adding, “Our goal is to make you a witness and not a victim. I don’t want you to be a victim. There’s nothing worth that.”
When it comes to dealing with smash-and-grabs, where thieves physically break into a business to grab valuables before making a quick getaway, Denham recommended preventative measures such as installing protective bollards and locking up valuable merchandise in a secure spot.
Security cameras or alarms that can alert business owners of a possible break-in outside of business hours are also helpful, Denham said, as that gives the owner the opportunity to call law enforcement while the crime is in-progress.
“I can’t speak for all agencies, but I can speak for my agency: If you call, we will show up,” Denham said.
Centralia Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch number is 360-740-1105. For emergencies, call 911.
More information on the Centralia Police Department is available online at https://www.cityofcentralia.com/254/Police.
