'Pokemon Go' gives economy a boost

Staff Writer

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As the app sensation “Pokemon Go” sweeps the nation, it appears to be benefiting local economy while giving local police officers a headache.

Staff photo: Anna George

Pokemon Go players gather at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Portales courthouse to battle the Pokemon Gym leaders and access the Pokestops at the county courthouse.

The game uses GPS signal to allow people to virtually catch Pokemon — creatures from a Japanese television show that was also turned into a manga series, video games and a card collecting game.

The Pokemon characters spawn in the new app based on heavily populated areas, such as Eastern New Mexico University, Wal-Mart and the Clovis zoo.

But according to local police officers, they are seeing a rise in careless behavior due to the app as often as businesses are seeing an increase in activity.

Lt. Shawn Gore of the ENMU Police Department said his officers have seen an increase in people and traffic on campus since the release of the game on July 6.

“The need to catch Pokemon has outweighed their better judgment as far as safety issues,” said Gore, adding that campus staff have seen a flood of people stopping in the middle of the road or pulling into handicapped areas to access “Pokestops” — locations around town where players can get free gifts in the game or catch Pokemon.

The ENMUPD has not seen people breaking and entering for the sake of the app as in other parts of the nation, according to Gore, but he still warns people to not partake in the bad habits caused by the app.

“This is not policy created for ‘Pokemon Go;’ this is the law,” said Gore.

Articles have spread across Internet and television media outlets regarding people being robbed at Pokestops at gunpoint and breaking and entering to access rare Pokemon.

Portales Police Department Lt. Chris Williams said city police have heard reports of people walking into traffic and into inanimate objects.

“I just want to warn people to watch what they’re doing,” said Williams. “Anytime we see kids keeping busy with something legal, it’s a good thing, but they just need to be safer.”

Daisy Martinez, 19, said the most reckless thing she has done while playing is get on the roof of her house in order to obtain better service.

“When I first downloaded it, the servers crashed quite often, but I thought it was my phone, so I got on the roof for better service,” said Martinez.

Multiple Portales players, however, say the only extreme they have gone to in order to play is staying out late into the night, as late as 1a.m.-3 a.m.

Gore said he encourages people to be careful when playing at night, especially since most younger players are paying more attention to their phones than their surroundings.

He also said ENMU campus is an open area with no curfew that welcomes “Pokemon Go” players but should players be out in the early hours of the morning, they should expect to be approached by officers.

“We just have to ask; it is our job to protect students, staff, faculty and property of the campus,” said Gore. “Just explain that you’re playing, and we can all get back to what we are doing; you just need to be safety conscious.”

Hillcrest Park Zoo Director Vince Romero said he has not seen any dangerous incidents at the zoo, which has multiple Pokestops and a surplus of Pokemon.

“We’ve seen a lot of good people come through here, no one hurting the animals or going where they shouldn’t,” said Romero.

But the zoo has seen 200 or more extra visitors at the zoo since Saturday with over 100 players showing up on Sunday alone, according to Hillcrest Zoo clerk Mary-Lou Mcanulla, who has been asking people if they are players when they come in.

According to her observations, roughly 90 percent of the players at the zoo are military so, with their discount, the zoo saw a revenue increase of at least $350 on Sunday.

“We have seen quite a spike in the number of people, especially on the really hot days when not many people would normally come,” said Mcanulla.

Charles Crowson, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart, said he could not speak to the specific numbers but several Pokemon Go players have reported the Portales Wal-Mart as one of their go-to Pokemon places.

“If the game brings more people to our stores, then I hope they have a positive shopping experience, and it is a win-win for everyone,” said Crowson.

Do Drop In Co-Owner Camille Mountjoy said she has seen a massive increase in activity in and around her sandwich shop though not necessarily an increase in revenues.

“I am not a Pokestop or anything, but it is so great to see everyone outside,” said Mountjoy.

Teegan Terry, 22, said the health benefits are one of the reasons he plays.

Terry said he has lost at least five pounds since playing the game because of all the walking he does.

“Pokemon Go has helped me, mostly in that I know that I am doing more than I have in quite a while to better my health,” said Terry.

Martinez, who said she has been a fan of Pokemon games since their first release in 1998, attributes Pokemon Go to helping her begin to overcome depression she has battled since childhood.

“It has made a huge difference; I am getting out of the house, walking, interacting with new people and overall enjoying myself,” said Martinez.