240 Tri-Citians show up to patrol parking lots to thwart vandals. Some worry it goes too far
About 240 Tri-Citians showed up Tuesday night to stand outside businesses as a visual deterrent to vandalism.
Some of the members of the newly formed “Defend the Tri” were armed with rifles and dressed in camouflage. Others were in shorts and unarmed.
Several had military and security training.
They were stationed at businesses large and small from the retail hub of Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick to businesses in downtown Pasco and uptown Richland.
“The group was created on the foundation of helping the community by deterring property damage,” founder Dylan Tafoya told the Herald. “In no way are we against protesting. ... We believe that reform should happen in this country.”
However, some in the community are concerned the group could make matters worse if an armed volunteer were to get into a confrontation.
But Tuesday night turned out to be quiet in Kennewick, said police Lt. Aaron Clem.
Pasco police asked the group to provide security only to businesses that ask for it, Sgt. Rigo Pruneda said. They’re also asking them not to confront anyone, only to observe and report.
“We do not have them patrolling, but some may stop by businesses in the dark hours for security,” he said.
Facebook group
The Facebook group started Monday after some vandals converged Sunday near Columbia Center mall and began throwing items at police cars and breaking windows at two stores and a bank. A 19-year-old was arrested and the group was dispersed.
The damage followed peaceful protests earlier in the weekend in Pasco and Richland over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota.
Tafoya said he wanted a way to help business owners, many of whom are already reeling after months of being shut down to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Within a day, the group grew to more than 5,800 members.
They’ve turned down more than 1,000 people and still have 1,500 requests to join waiting for review.
He said he needed to take control of posting in the group, and now requires people to answer a series of questions before joining. A collection of moderators are working a part-time job of policing the comments for hate speech or messages about harming other people.
“The group started with me and two other friends, and as of right now, we have seven moderators and admins that were hand selected,” said Tafoya, the marketing and digital operations director at a tire store in Pasco and Richland.
Adam Brault Avenir, the publisher of the Tumbleweird, is concerned about what could happen if protesters and members of Defend the Tri meet. He joined when the group was only hours old and saw several concerning posts, including one that suggested it was OK to drive through protesters if they are stopping your car.
He believes most of the members do have good intentions, but could potentially create a problem.
“My concern is that do show up with the intent of trying to police the way that people are protesting,” he said.
He noted Black Lives Matter protests are about systemic racism and police brutality. Police with extensive training and equipment make mistakes.
“Now bringing out amateur hour where people are out doing Rambo cosplay, it’s hard to imagine that there is no risk,” Avenir said.
Another reader who contacted the Herald said, “Why is it okay to accept these weapon displays in a volatile environment? ... Endorsing this behavior is like walking around a dynamite factory with a lit cigarette.”
Working with the police
Tafoya said he met with Kennewick and Pasco police leaders about what the group can do, and what they can’t. He complimented them for giving advice on making each group successful, efficient and effective.
“They’ve done a great job of respecting the rights of each individual group,” he said.
Police officials have helped with developing guidelines that they can follow. They’re not supposed to stop people from entering parking lots or getting out of their vehicles.
If people encounter problems with either the protesters or Defend the Tri, Clem urged them to call police at the time rather than sharing it on social media.
“We can’t deal with it a day later,” he said. “We need to know when it occurs.”
Tafoya said businesses interested in the group’s help have either been sharing their information in the comments or have been contacting him directly. Then each afternoon he runs a poll to see who would like to go to which areas. The process is completely voluntary.
Public response
The reaction from the community has been encouraging, Tafoya said. They’ve received dozens and dozens of cards thanking them and a ton of comments.
“On the flip side, there are some people that don’t fully understand the intention of the group,” he said. “We want to come together as a community.”
While detractors have ascribed a variety of labels to the group ranging from calling them weekend warriors to labeling them white supremacists, Tafoya said the truth is they are people from many racial and social backgrounds who care about their community.
They simply want to help businesses that are already struggling after having been closed for months, he said.
Among their members, they have people trained in crowd control, certified in using Tasers, people with law enforcement training or some level of military background.
They’re only there as a visual deterrent, and unless they are personally threatened they’re not going to engage with people protesting, he said.
“This is like a city park. It doesn’t have a political agenda,” he said. “It’s just a park for the city to go to.”
