3 - Public Safety ReportPolice Department
2023 Public Safety Report
City Council Meeting
November 21, 2023
Andy Hwang, Chief of Police
Overview
Washington State Crime Trends
2023 Federal Way Crime Statistics
Department Staffing Level
Community Policing Initiatives
Next Steps
2
Washington State Crime Trends
Murders- 1980-2022
Murder Numbers per Year, 1980-2022
325
297
302
273
272
264
260
252 --
244
234
236
221
226
220
222
211
217
204
203 210
196
212
185
191
187
195
201
171
182
178
172
160
154
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M O O O
O M O
O O O
O O O O
O O O O
O O O O O
O O O
O O O O
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—1 -- 1-1
—4 -- —1
-- 1-1 -- --
1-1 --
—1 -- -- —1
-- —1 --
N N N
N N N N
N N N N
N N N N N
N N N
N N N N
Officers per capita 1980-2022(total sworn)
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Total Officer Rate per 1,000 in Population, 1980-2022
1.75
1.70
1.65
1.60
1.55
1.50
1.45
1.40
1.35
1.30
O +i N M g m W N W m O +i N M g m W N W m O *i N M g m W N W m O *i N M g m 0 N W m O *i N
Crime in Washeington 2022
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In 2022, 394 murders were reported in Washington State, an
18% increase over 2021, to an all-time high record in the 40+
years these statistics have been kept.
In 2019, there were 201 murders statewide. In just three
years, murders in Washington State have nearly doubled.
In King County, there were 124 murders in 2022.
Violent crime was up 8.9%; robberies increased 18%;
aggravated assaults increased 12%.
Officer assault 2,375 in 2022, an increase of 20.7%.
Crime and murder rates may be down nationwide, but not in
Washington.
The 2022 FBI crime report states the murder rate was down
6.1% from 2021 nationwide. Washington State's murder rate,
however, for the same period was up 16.6%.
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Vehicle theft was up to 47,448 from 35,385 in 2021, a 34.1% increase.
In the past two years, vehicle theft in WA has almost doubled, used to
average about 26,000 yearly. An increase of roughly 90% statewide since the
prohibition of police pursuits for all property crimes.
Vehicles fleeing from FWPD officers:
• 2020: 10
• 2021: 72
• 2022: 431
• 2023: 360 (as of October 31)
Drug crisis is ravaging our region.
• Significant number of crimes have a nexus to drugs.
• 1,088 drug overdoses in King County as of November 1, 2023 (1,001
deaths in 2022).
• Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin.
• Essentially, decriminalizing all drug possession and usage for two years
has contributed to an increase in crime and overdoses.
Crime in Wash*ngton
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What is causing the increase in crime?
• Restriction on law enforcement. The 2021 police reform laws resulted in
emboldened criminals.
• Drug epidemic — the decriminalizing the possession and the use of hard
drugs.
• Upsurge in auto thefts and other violent crimes is a direct result of
prohibiting police vehicular pursuits, July 25, 2021.
• Stealing a vehicle is a precursor for other crimes such as organized retail
crimes, smash-and-grab burglaries, robberies, purse snatchings,
carjackings, shootings, etc. It is happening everywhere!
• Law enforcement staffing shortage. Washington state has been last in the
nation in staffing, and we have lost 600 more officers over the last two
years (10,666 officers — ranked 51St out of the 50 states).
• The State's Department of Corrections has reduced its Average Daily
Population (ADP) by about 30% in the last five years and has closed
facilities while our population increases.
• Unbalanced approach to reducing ADP at the King County Juvenile
Detention Center.
• Failed state mental health system. g
Legislative Agenda — Public Safety
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' Restoring Standard for Police Vehicular Pursuits
Prior to legislative action in 2021, many cities had restrictive pursuit policies
that weighed the community's safety with the reason for the pursuit.
Criminals were not aware of an agency's pursuit policy and, therefore, were
less likely to flee from police or use a vehicle in the commission of a crime.
Offenders are using the state's vehicular pursuit law to their advantage by
using a vehicle in the commission of other crimes.
The legislature is also responsible for monitoring the unintended
consequences resulting from any set of adopted reforms and making course
corrections when necessary.
Removal of the blanket prohibition on police pursuits for auto theft will
improve public safety in our communities and also deliver a much -needed
message that there is no refuge from responsibility for criminal activity
merely by stepping into a stolen car.
The ask is for the pursuit law to be refined to allow for the pursuit of stolen
vehicles, allowing local jurisdictions to allow pursuits if that is in the best
interest of their community.
The lack of action to change the law will continue to encourage criminal
behavior.
Legislative Agenda — Public Safety
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Juvenile Access to Attorney
Many of our communities have seen a surge of juvenile crimes.
The current law requires law enforcement to provide a juvenile with an
attorney before questioning or obtaining consent to search personal
property.
The attorney can usurp parental direction and approval.
It requires police to make arrest decisions without being able to get the
juvenile's side of the story.
The ask is to amend the law to allow parent or guardian to provide
consent for a juvenile to be interviewed by law enforcement to include
consent to search property and/or allow the juvenile to consent after
consulting with an attorney.
2022 Federal Way Crime Statistics
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Total NIBRS
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015 2016 2017 2018 20192020 2021 2022 7023*
*01/01/2023 - 10/31/2023
Data as of 11/09/2023
Crime Statistics
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Jan -Oct 2022 vs. Jan -Oct 2023
Overall Crime up 6%: 2022 = 7,313; 2023 = 7,718
Murder up 25%: 2022 = 8; 2023 = 10 (80% solve rate)
Manslaughter down 100%: 2022 = 1; 2023 = 0
Forcible Sex Offenses down 6%: 2022 = 78; 2023 = 73
Robbery up 54%: 2022 = 126; 2023 = 194
Aggravated Assault up 6%: 2022 = 272; 2023 = 288
Simple Assault down 2%: 2022 = 666; 2023 = 652
Burglary — Commercial down 5% 2022 = 366; 2023 = 347
Burglary — Residential down 21%: 2022 = 201; 2023 = 158
Motor Vehicle Theft up 74%: 2022 = 11134; 2023 = 1,976
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Success Stories
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Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested
On October 18, 2023, a 57-year-old transient male suspect was arrested who was
responsible for several armed robberies in a span of a week. Detectives and
patrol officers were able to track down the suspect vehicle at a motel on Pacific
Highway S. The suspect was arrested and booked into jail on robbery charges.
Purse Snatching Robbery Suspects Arrested
On October 19, 2023, two juveniles, a 13-year-old (female) and 14-year-old
(male) suspects, committed a robbery at Fred Meyer and a short time later at
WinCo Foods, where elderly female victims were assaulted and injured by the
suspects as their purses were taken. On October 28th, the juvenile suspects were
arrested for a string of purse -snatching robberies in Federal Way and surrounding
jurisdictions.
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Success Stories
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Murder Suspects Arrested
On October 25, 2023, a 26-year-old victim was shot and killed at O'Reilly Auto
Parts during an attempted carjacking. The following day, the people of interest,
18 and 19-year-old males, were taken into custody for a string of violent crimes in
the region, including carjackings and home invasions.
As the carjacking suspects remained in custody on Kent charges, Federal Way
detectives continued their homicide investigation and several days later filed
murder charges against the suspects. The men responsible for the victim's death
were in custody within 24 hours of the shooting.
Our thanks go out to the Kent Police Department and other regional law
enforcement agencies whose collaboration was vital to quickly arresting these
dangerous suspects.
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Murder
2015 2016 2017 2018
In
7
4
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2019 2020 2021 2022 2023*
* 01/01/2023 — 10/31/2023
Data as of 11/09/2023
Tacoma
Auburn
Kent
Federal Way
Renton
2022 NIBRS Data - Murders
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
17
111
100
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Auto Theft
1976
015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023*
*01/01/2023 — 10/31/2023
Data as of 11/09/2023
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Burglary- Commercial
014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023*
* 01/01/2023 — 10/31/2023
Data as of 11/09/2023
Burglary - Residential
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023*
* 01/01/2023 — 10/31/2023
Data as of 11/09/2023
L ATotalTraffic Collisions Jan -Oct
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I }2022 -4-2023
225
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
154 152 148 15
140 145
5 29 132 127
125
/23 0 124 124 125
116
103
86
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Traffic
Traffic Unit
Traffic Accidents
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
**2023
Fatality Accidents Investigated
8
3
5
5
7
5
Injury Accidents Investigated
722
572
444
576
507
424
Non -Injury Accidents Investigated
1,444
1,227
957
1,073
1,086
746
Total Accidents Occurred
2,174
1,802
19406
1,654
1,600
19175
Sub Cata ories for above Accidents
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
**2023
DUI Accidents
52
56
25
45
51
42
Hit and Run Accidents
344
288
293
310
371
265
Car vs. Pedestrians
66
64
51
56
53
47
Car vs. Bicyclist
15
17
16
20
17
11
**2023 is for January - September 2023
Department Staffing Levels
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Department Staffing Levels
Authorized Police and Transport Officer Positions: 150
• Vacancy: 2
Authorized Civilian Positions: 33
• Vacancy: 2
Federal Way officer ratio is 1.49 per thousand in
population.
The total number of commissioned officers statewide ratio
is 1.36 per thousand (10,666 officers with a WA population
of 7.87 million).
13 new police officers were added to the 2023-2024
budget.
epartment to i n evels
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FWPD Historical Sworn Staffing
October 2006
• 118 police officers
November 2006, Proposition #1 (Public and Community Safety
Service Improvement Package)
• 136 police officers (added 18 police officers)
2008-2011 - Recession
• 122 police officers
2014 (steadily increase the number of officers)
• 137 police officers
2023-2024
• 150 police officers (added 13 police officers)
Community Policing Initiatives
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Nat*ional Accred'ite
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One of three law
Enforcement agencies in the
State of Washington to be
nationally and state
accredited.
Representing the highest
standards of best practices
in law enforcement.
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THE COLD S11MAR u IN PUBLIC SA ElY
Washington Association of
SHERIFFS &
POLICE CHIEFS
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Mobile Surveillance
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Using integrated
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Rapid deployment
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Automated License Plate Readers
Graffiti Abatement Program
Illegal Encampment Initiative
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Emphasis Operations
Since August 16, 28 drug
arrests/referrals
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infractions issued
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NIL What's Next
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Respond to calls for police service and prosecute matters to the
fullest extent possible.
Pass safety -centric laws to protect the community and to provide
the tools to provide justice for victims.
Support additional funding sources for adequate staffing for police
at the state level for safer communities.
These problems have solutions - they require leadership, resources,
and consequences for criminal behavior.
Strategically assess and adjust our policing model to maximize public
safety in addressing quality -of -life crimes.
As law enforcement officers, we have sworn an oath to uphold the
Constitution and enforce the rule of law. We will continue to
advocate for victims of crime.
As others seek to change our procedure in policing, we need to
thoughtfully ensure that the proposed solutions are not worsening
the problem. We must get the balance right and support changes
that advance public safety, not criminal conduct.
34
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POLVC-
QUESTIONS?
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