U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said he urges Wal-Mart to examine its internal security protocol to reduce the burden on local police.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey is calling on Wal-Mart to review its security procedures after Colonial Regional's top cop raised concerns his department is responding to too many of the retailer's calls.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is calling on Wal-Mart to look into its security procedures after Lehigh Valley police complained the retail giant is draining its resources. (Lehighvalleylive file photo) Chief Roy Seiple last week said the calls to big box stores are increasingly taking away the department's manpower and costing taxpayers. From April 2015 to April 2016, Colonial Regional police officers responded to 296 calls at Wal-Mart alone.
That's an average of at least one call a day for retail theft. Out of 555 total arrests in 2015, Seiple said 187 of those arrests were for retail theft.
Casey, D-Pa., wrote in a letter, dated May 27, to Wal-Mart CEO and President Doug McMillon change is needed.
"I write to request that Wal-Mart conduct a review of its internal security protocol to ensure adequate security staffing and procedures at stores in Pennsylvania and around the country," Casey wrote.
Big box stores eating manpower, taxpayer money, cops say
"Of course, police protect and serve every member of our communities, but the significant volume of calls from Wal-Mart stores raises serious questions about whether the company's current security infrastructure effectively deters crime without overburdening local police departments, many of which already operate on stretched budgets."
Erica Jones, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said representatives for the retailer plan to meet with Lehigh Valley elected officials and police in coming weeks to discuss security measures.
"We have invested, and continue to invest, in robust technologies and crime prevention efforts while also working with law enforcement and security professionals," Jones said. "We are working aggressively to address this issue."
Seiple had said all the hours spent at Wal-Mart cut into how often law enforcement can patrol other neighborhoods, combat speeding and prevent larger crime. Last year, Seiple told Casey's staff the department responded to 296 Wal-Mart calls --more than three times as many calls than the next largest retailer.
"A discrepancy this large requires close scrutiny," Casey stated in the letter.
Colonial Regional's entire force consists of 24 officers, who should not be forced to divert resources to responding to waves of theft calls, many of which could likely be prevented with more comprehensive in-house security, Casey said.
Large retailers such as Wal-Mart, bear responsibility to have in place reasonable security measures to assist in the deterrence of frivolous crimes, he added.
Casey told lehighvalleylive.com this week that he understands the need to call local law enforcement and it goes without saying police should be notified during crimes, but petty police calls should be handled better by large corporations.
"Local police keep our communities safe, and they should be able to expect the cooperation of business owners and community leaders in working together to create a safe environment," he said.
Letter written by Sen. Bob Casey
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.