Published: July 03, 2007

Area Wal-Mart Will Increase Crime, Police Chief Says

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Internal memo from police chief suggests Wal-Mart Supercenter will lead to more crime in Suisun; Rally against store set for Saturday

A community group here has obtained an internal document in which the Suisun City police chief admits that the "commercial activity" of a Wal-Mart Supercenter has the "potential...for increased vehicle and residential burglaries" in the area.

The memo, written by then acting, and now current police chief Ed Dadisho, will be released at a NEWS CONFERENCE and rally SATURDAY at 11 a.m. at Patriot Park (off McClellan) in Suisun.

Saturday rally sponsor Suisun Alliance, along with the Suisun Citizens League, are among community groups opposed to the Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed along Highway 12 and Walters Road.

The groups have charged the retailer will draw thousands of cars and trucks to a dangerous part of Highway 12 known as "blood alley," where there has been nine deaths along that stretch of road in the past 17 months, and 799 collisions in four years.

The citizen groups also say the future of Travis AFB - which employs 14,000 people and is responsible for more than $1 billion to the local economy - is in doubt because the proposed Supercenter is within "Zone C" of the Travis airport plan, which states that no more than 300 people per acre be allowed. The Wal-Mart would draw 10,000 or more people a day.

judythpiazza@gmail.com