Council adopts first Stay Out of Drug Area boundary

Monroe Police respond to more than half of all substance abuse calls in a part of the city that covers less than one-half of 1 percent of Monroe’s total land area.

The section stretches from the intersection of North Madison and Main streets to U.S. Highway 2, and encompasses the historic downtown corridor. This month the Monroe City Council unanimously agreed to designate it as the city’s first Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA).

“With this resolution in place, the police and the Monroe Municipal court will have new tools to enforce a clean, safe environment in our downtown area,” according to council documents.

Monroe Municipal Court judges now have the option to ban people being charged for or convicted of some drug-related crimes from entering the area as a condition of the defendant’s pretrial release, post-conviction suspension or deferral of sentence.

Monroe Police believe it will help make the city safer and reduce recidivism. Related activities are expected to decrease within the boundaries of any adopted SODA, according to council documents.

Former Monroe Police Deputy Ken Ginnard reported last year officers responded to more than 6,000 calls in the area, which Main Street cuts right through. Drugs were not found in every single case; that would have required searching each suspect, but crimes of malicious mischief, vehicle prowls and nuisances are all tied to substance abuse.

About half of all burglaries and one in five car prowls reported in Monroe come from the new SODA, according to council documents. Both crimes Monroe Police say are often related to drug activity.

“These calls themselves are taking up a lot of resources and time,” Ginnard told the Monitor.

The city council adopted an ordinance in March that would allow for the establishment of SODAs within city limits. Each proposed zone will be voted on individually. 

North Madison and West Fremont streets form the first area’s border to the southwest, and the highway to the northeast. The boundaries stop short of Al Borlin Park to the east, and extend along North Lewis Street to the west.

Residential neighborhoods were intentionally not included in the original ordinance, according to Ginnard. He stated the department has watched other communities successfully incorporate the policy.

Marysville, Arlington, Bothell and Everett have passed and expanded similar ordinances. The new SODA took effect June 12, according to council documents.