Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts

King County Sheriff’s Office highlights National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week September 15 - 21

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Photo courtesy KCSO
As part of the International Co-Responder Alliance (ICRA) National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week, the King County Sheriff’s Office is highlighting the importance of its Therapeutic Response Unit (TRU).

Formed in 2023, TRU partners mental health professionals with King County Sheriff’s deputies to respond to calls for service where de-escalation support would be most beneficial. These responses may also include behavioral health referrals and social service connections.

Two federal grants of close to $1 million each, will help the unit add at least five more mental health professionals to the current staff of two. Further expansion is planned after this year.

“The Therapeutic Response Unit is a necessary and evolving part of the Sheriff’s Office,” said Susie Kroll, Therapeutic Response Unit Program Manger & MHP. 
“Our goal is to continue to assess the needs of our communities, focus on where we can best serve, and get people the services they need as quickly as possible.”

Currently, the two-member TRU works Tuesday through Friday 7am to 5pm. Ideally, increased staffing will eventually lead to services daily from 7am to 1am, with a concentration on the locations in need of TRU the most.

The American Psychological Association estimates that 20% of all 911 calls are related to mental health and substance use issues.

“This is a program that, during what may be the hardest moment of someone’s life, can help provide the necessary support, while law enforcement can manage the public safety aspect of the situation,” said Kroll.

TRU supports all unincorporated King County, and most contract cities, including Metro and Sound Transit. In less than two years, TRU has met with more than 300 people and organizations to establish community partnerships, analyze needs, and foster social services connections.

See more about the Therapeutic Response Team and their work here.

Anyone with questions about TRU and the services provided can email kcsotru@kingcounty.gov.


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Tommy Collins selected as Shoreline’s new Police Chief

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

New Shoreline Police Chief
Tommy Collins
City Manager Bristol Ellington has selected Tommy Collins of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) to be the City’s new Police Chief. 

Collins replaces Kelly Park who was promoted to Chief of the Patrol Operations Division of KCSO. 

Collins' first day will be September 28, 2024. Captain Brian Angelo is currently serving as the interim Police Chief.

Collins has been with KCSO for over 25 years and is currently the Chief of Police for Maple Valley. (Maple Valley, like Shoreline, is a contract city with KCSO.) 

Prior to becoming Chief in Maple Valley, Collins held numerous positions within KCSO. These include patrol, storefront deputy, school resource deputy, Field Training Officer, Master Police Officer, and Detective for the Joint Transit Anti-Terrorism Team.

In 2015, Collins was promoted to Sergeant for KCSO and served as a patrol sergeant and an administrative sergeant for both KCSO Precinct 2 and the City of Maple Valley. 

During his tenure as a sergeant, Collins was recognized as Precinct 2’s Sergeant of the Year in 2015, and Precinct 3’s Sergeant of the Year in 2018. 

In April 2020, Collins was promoted to Captain and served as the administrative Captain for KCSO’s Sound Transit contract. 

In 2021, Collins was selected to take over KCSO’s Special Operations section, where he served until his selection as Chief of Police for the City of Maple Valley.

Prior to joining KCSO, Collins served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and completed two deployments to the Middle East.

Collins has an Associate of Arts degree from the Florida Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University, and an Executive MBA from Washington State University. In addition, he is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police, as well as from the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Program.

“I look forward to working with Chief Collins,” stated City Manager Bristol Ellington. “He is committed to transparency and leading a police force that everyone in the Shoreline community can be proud of and where everyone feels respected.”
“I am honored that the City of Shoreline has chosen me to be their new Chief of Police,” said Collins. “This is a wonderful community, and I am excited to be here. I am looking forward to serving the residents of Shoreline.”

The City’s Leadership Team, a community panel made up of Shoreline residents and business owners, and the City Manager, interviewed two candidates forwarded by KCSO. 

In addition, the City hosted a virtual public forum to allow the candidates to introduce themselves to the community and to answer questions.

Rather than administering its own police force, the City of Shoreline contracts with KCSO for police services. Officers work for King County but are dedicated to Shoreline so they get to know the community. The police chief reports to the King County Sheriff and the Shoreline City Manager.


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Beer, wine, yogurt, onions, cashews, and a rutabaga.

Monday, September 9, 2024

Thefts from Safeway
Photo courtesy Kenmore Police
Kenmore Police recently conducted a theft emphasis at Safeway at 6850 NE Bothell Way, Kenmore, WA 98028, in conjunction with Safeway loss prevention staff. 

In just a few hours, three arrests were made, involving two females and one male, all ages 58 or older. 

Among the items being stolen: beer, wine, yogurt, onions, cashews, and a rutabaga.


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King County Sheriff's Office awarded $963,000 for Crisis Intervention Team

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice programs has awarded nearly $8 million to cities, counties, and nonprofits in Western Washington to enhance public safety, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

The grants fall into two broad categories: support of programs that reduce crime and technological improvements to better serve the public.

“It is a competitive process to get these federal dollars, and I congratulate the departments and organizations on the success of their applications,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. 
“Whether it is personnel on the street to assist people in crisis or DNA processing machines to better identify those responsible for criminal conduct, these dollars will make a difference in our community.”  
 
Susie Kroll, Therapeutic Response Unit Program Manager
The King County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $963,000 for hiring mental health professionals to join the Crisis Intervention Team. The mental health professionals will assist with public safety calls involving the need for mental health services.

“We are extremely grateful for this funding that will help our Therapeutic Response Unit assess and meet the needs of the community, said Susie Kroll, Therapeutic Response Unit Program Manager & MHP

"This money will allow our team of mental health professionals to continue to improve our ability to assist and support people when they need it the most.”

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Notice from LFP PD: Road closure on 28th Ave NE

We would like to inform you about a scheduled road closure on a local street due to an essential maintenance operation.

28th Ave NE—between NE 178th St. and NE Meadow Place—will be closed from 7:00am to 4:00pm the following days:

• Thursday, September 12
• Friday, September 13
• Monday, September 16
• Tuesday, September 17
• Wednesday, September 18

We apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your cooperation.

--Lake Forest Park Police Department

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Lake Forest Park welcomes a new police officer

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Officer A. Johnson and Police Chief Mike Harden

Meet your newest Lake Forest Park Police Officer!

Officer A. Johnson has recently graduated from the police academy, and she is currently going thru additional training so she can be ready for the FTO (Field Training Officer) program. 

Ofc. Johnson navigated the challenging and rigorous police academy program, meeting all required standards with commendable dedication.

We “stole” Ofc. Johnson from the health and fitness industry, where she had a great 17-year career helping clients on their wellness journey. Ofc. Johnson’s approach to health and fitness is evident in every aspect of her life and, among other passions, she loves weightlifting and yoga.

We are excited to see Ofc. Johnson apply her training during the upcoming months and look forward to her working hard for our community.

Please join us in welcoming her to our city, and don’t hesitate to say hello when you see her around patrolling our streets!

--LFP Police


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Department of Justice obtains partial restitution for Shoreline homeowner scammed by Irish nationals

Photo by Alexander Grey on unsplash.com
Two individuals from Ireland pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their theft of more than $400,000 from a Shoreline, Washington, homeowner, and other victims across the country. 

Patrick McDonagh and Matthew McDonagh were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in mid-June and were charged federally in mid-July. 

They are scheduled for sentencing in front of U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on November 25, 2024.

According to records filed in the case, the brothers were part of a group that traveled the country scamming homeowners – especially the elderly – by falsely representing a home needed urgent repairs. One older homeowner in the Shoreline neighborhood north of Seattle, lost about $435,000 to the scheme.

The men first approached the victim in January 2024, claimed they were working in the neighborhood and had noticed that the victim had a hole in his roof. 

The men offered to fix the hole and remove the moss from the roof. Over the course of a few days, they pressured the victim to write them checks for their “services” of $15,000, $20,000, and $26,000. They also claimed that the victim’s foundation was cracked, and they said they would repair that with a “titanium tie rod system.”

The roof had no hole, and the foundation was not failing. However, the men dug trenches and poured some concrete to make it appear work was done, and each day they pressured the victim to write more checks. They even demanded an extra $20,000 for “taxes.” 

Ultimately, they demanded the victim wire $200,000 to a third party for building supplies – again far in excess of any work they claimed to have done. In all the brothers stole $435,000 from the victim. 

Quick work by a Shoreline Detective and the King County Prosecutor’s Office resulted in the recovery of some of the wired funds.

The FBI investigation connected the brothers to contractor fraud complaints in Oregon and Illinois. 

In Oregon, Patrick McDonagh represented to three different victims that he was affiliated with a local legitimate construction firm, when in fact he was not. Those homeowners paid as much as $29,000 for foundation work that was never completed as promised. 

In Illinois, Matthew McDonagh claimed he would repave a victim’s driveway and rebuild a retaining wall for $99,000. After the victim paid $75,000, the work was poorly done and damaged the victim’s house. The value of any work done was significantly less than what was paid.

The defendants have agreed to make restitution to the victims in the case. This includes $235,000 to the Shoreline victim, nearly $50,000 to the three victims in Oregon, $75,000 to a victim in Illinois, and more than $673,000 to a victim in Bellevue, Washington.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend 26 months in prison for each defendant. Judge Chun is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence allowed by law.

The FBI is investigating this case and was assisted by the Shoreline Police Department, and the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine and Spokane Sector’s Anti-Smuggling Units (ASU).

The FBI reminds the public of red flags for contractor fraud: The contractor knocks on your door looking for business because they are “in the area” and uses aggressive sales tactics. The contractor pressures you for an immediate hiring decision. The contractor accepts only cash as payment and demands full payment before starting any work. In the sales pitch, the contractor claims to have materials left over from a previous job.

Tips to avoid contractor fraud: Always get multiple estimates for any work you want done. Ensure contractors are licensed and insured. Look them up at Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries website* Check with consumer protection agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Federal Trade Commission to search for complaints against a contractor.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar. Ms. Staniar serves as the Criminal Elder Fraud Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.

To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.

*At time of publication, the website was not responding. 
L&I listed these numbers for Contractor information 1-800-647-0982 OR 360-902-5226 (Option 2)


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Shoreline Police Chief Candidates Virtual Public Forum

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Shoreline is appointing a new Police Chief; meet the final candidates at a virtual public forum!

Thursday, September 12, 2024
6:30 to 8:00pm
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84098627719?pwd=knOwHGFEWnGLhwZWHmIzGMiJDzkocT.1
Webinar ID: 840 9862 7719
Passcode: 95875636

Shoreline City Manager Bristol Ellington will soon appoint a new Police Chief to lead the Shoreline Police Department. 

As part of the hiring process, the City will hold a virtual public forum via Zoom to allow the finalists to introduce themselves to residents and answer questions. 

Natasha Jones, the Director of Customer Service at King County, will moderate the forum.

Residents who wish to submit questions for the candidates can do so online before the forum or during the forum itself through the Q/A feature in Zoom. The moderator will compile questions for the candidates based on the questions submitted.

Submit a question online - scroll down to the bottom of the page

In addition to the public forum, candidates will also go through an interview process involving a panel of the City’s Leadership Team, a panel of community members, and the City Manager. The City Manager anticipates making a final decision on the new Police Chief by the end of September.

Candidates

Thomas P. Collins


Chief Tommy Collins joined the King County Sheriff’s Office in February 1999, just shortly after his honorable discharge from the United States Navy, where he served aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and completed two deployments to the Middle East. 

During Chief Collins’ career he has served in multiple positions throughout the Sheriff’s office. These include patrol, storefront deputy, school resource deputy, Field Training Officer, Master Police Officer, and Detective for the Joint Transit Anti-Terrorism Team.

In 2015, Chief Collins was promoted to Sergeant for KCSO and served as a patrol sergeant and an administrative sergeant for both KCSO Precinct 2 and the City of Maple Valley. During his tenure as a sergeant, Chief Collins was recognized as Precinct 2’s Sergeant of the Year in 2015, and Precinct 3’s Sergeant of the Year in 2018.

In April 2020, Chief Collins was promoted to Captain and served as the administrative Captain for KCSO’s Sound Transit contract. In 2021, Chief Collins was selected to take over KCSO’s Special Operations section, where he served until his selection as Chief of Police for the City of Maple Valley.

Chief Collins has an Associates degree in Liberal Arts from Florida Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Washington State University, and an Executive MBA from Washington State University. 

In addition, he is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), as well as from the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Program.

Chief Collins is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his wife, Julie. They have been married for 26 years and have two adult daughters.

Steven Lysaght

Steve Lysaght brings over twenty-two years of experience with the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), following his initial service as a peace officer in Colorado. 

Since his appointment as Chief of Police in Sammamish in 2022, Steve has demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement and employee wellness. 

His previous roles include serving as a patrol supervisor in the city of Shoreline, as well as a detective sergeant in KCSO’s Internal Investigations Unit and the King County METRO Transit Police Criminal Investigations Unit. 

Additionally, he has held positions as a Community Service Officer, Field Training Officer, Master Patrol Officer, and Detective.

Steve holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science from Colorado State University. He has also contributed to the local academic community as an instructor in Community-Police Relations at Highline Community College. 

Outside of his professional life, Steve, and his family of seven enjoy traveling, hiking in the Cascades, and exploring the beautiful beaches of the Pacific Northwest.

Background

Effective August 31, 2024, Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park will begin a new position within the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) as the Patrol Operations Division Chief. 

With Chief Park’s promotion, Shoreline City Manager Bristol Ellington has started the process of finding a new Police Chief. 

The City contracts with KCSO for police services. Although officers work for King County, KCSO assigns them to work specifically in Shoreline and focus on building relationships with the Shoreline community. 

The Police Chief reports to the King County Sheriff and the Shoreline City Manager.

As a contract city with KCSO, King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall selects candidates for the Shoreline Police Chief position from within KCSO ranks. She will forward potential candidates to the City Manager. After the City Manager reviews the applications, he will choose candidates to move forward in the interview process.

Interpretation

Interpretation in Amharic, Tigrinya, Mandarin, Spanish, and ASL will be provided.


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KCSO adds new K9 team to Metro police unit

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Roland (human) and Bodhi (K9) are KCSO
explosive experts assign to Metro Transit

Put your paws together for our new K9 team who just passed the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Certification.

Meet Roland (the human) and Bodhi (the K9)

They work Metro Transit as Explosive Detection Handlers.

And we couldn't be prouder.

--King County Sheriff's Office


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Suspect arrested for stabbing in Bitter Lake, knife recovered

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Knife recovered from scene of stabbing
Photo courtesy Seattle Police Dept.
By Seattle Detective Eric Muñoz

Seattle Police arrested a male for stabbing another man in the Bitter Lake neighborhood two and 1/2 weeks ago.

On July 31, 2024 at 5:02pm, patrol officers responded to reports of a possible stabbing near Aurora Ave N and N 143rd St.

Police located a 29-year-old male suffering from a laceration to his right arm. 

The Seattle Fire Department arrived on scene and provided medical treatment. The victim was transported to Northwest Hospital in stable condition.

Officers determined that an argument ensued between the two males prior to the stabbing. The suspect threw the knife at the victim, and it struck him in the arm causing injury.

The knife was recovered from the scene as evidence.

The 28-year-old man was arrested for Investigation of Assault and transported to King County Jail (KCJ). He was denied booking by jail staff for a complaint of narcotics ingestion and transported to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation.

Police later transported him back to KCJ and booked him into jail. Charges were referred to the City Attorney’s Office for Assault 4th Degree and Unlawful Use of Weapons.

Detectives with the Homicide & Assault Unit investigated this case.


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Washington State man arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for actions during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Thursday, August 22, 2024

WASHINGTON — A Washington State man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.


Thomas Hobbs of
Snohomish WA
Thomas Hodo, 47, of Snohomish, Washington
, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds.

The FBI arrested Hodo on Aug. 20, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, and he made his initial appearance in the District of Arizona.

Codefendant Derek Noftsger was previously charged for his role in the events of January 6, 2021. (see previous story)

According to court documents, Noftsger and Hodo were identified in open-source video standing near a line of police officers on Jan. 6, 2021, on the West Plaza of the U.S. Capitol grounds. 

At approximately 1:37pm, Hodo allegedly joined with a group of rioters who attempted to pull a bike rack barricade away from police as Noftsger stood nearby and watched. About one minute later, Hodo walked over to Noftsger and appeared to place a flag in Noftsger's backpack. Hodo then appeared to take an item from Noftsger's bag and threw the item in the direction of the police line.

About six minutes after throwing an item in the direction of officers, Hodo approached the police line and began to speak using a megaphone. 

In part, Hodo stated, "it is our constitutional duty, we have to stand up to a tyrannical government, we are not supposed to secede to a tyrannical government," then went on to claim that he supported the police, before proclaiming that "every treasonous traitor will be hung . . . . we will take our country back." 

After handing off the megaphone to another rioter, he looked at the officers on the police line and said, "you guys are a f— disgrace."

At approximately 2:26pm, multiple rioters began to push against the police line near the two defendants. Officers on the police line pushed the rioters back, and, in response, it is alleged that Noftsger picked up a police officer’s riot shield from the ground and faced a Metropolitan Police Department officer. When officers pushed back a rioter near Noftsger, he allegedly lifted the riot shield above his head with both hands and threw it at the officers.

It is then alleged that Hodo picked up an object off the ground that appeared to be a canister of pepper spray and attempted to spray it at the officers; however, the canister was not deployed. Hodo then allegedly threw the canister in the direction of the police officers.

At about 2:28pm, rioters on the West Plaza overran the police line and Noftsger and Hodo climbed onto the Southwest Scaffolding. The two men then made their way to the Lower West Terrace and unfurled the flag that they had been carrying. 

In an open-source video, Hodo can be heard stating, "It could get a lot worse, we came in peace this time, it could get a lot worse, believe me we are well armed if we need to be."

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Seattle and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.


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Kenmore Police would like to chat with this person...

Kenmore Police say "We would like to chat with this person, who believes that tagging our beloved Log Boom Park with spray paint is acceptable."

If you know him, contact Kenmore Police Non-Emergency Line: (206) 296-3311.


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‘Operation Safe Transit’ initiative focused on transit and transit locations

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

To deter and respond to security challenges, Metro more than doubled the number of Transit Security Officers, expanded their areas and routes, and moved to 24/7 coverage. They are adding more Metro Transit Police officers, too. Photo courtesy Metro Transit

King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) announced four arrests as part of a larger public safety initiative to make transit safer, combat crime, and provide behavioral health supports and resources, particularly along the transit corridor in downtown Seattle.

The larger initiative, known as “Operation Safe Transit,” was launched by KCSO on May 1 as a pilot program focused on targeted work on transit and at transit locations such as bus stops and station platforms.

The enforcement completed on Wednesday is an example of the type of efforts Operation Safe Transit includes and resulted in arrests of four individuals, three of whom are known drug dealers. The fourth suspect had a warrant for assault. Deputies also recovered drugs and two handguns, one of which was stolen.

Operation Safe Transit leverages years of experience and knowledge from security officers, co-response teams, and law enforcement to effectively increase public safety and combat crime. 

The Seattle Police Department, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other partners are collaborating with KCSO on this initiative. At the request of KCSO, the King County jail has made exceptions to bookings for misdemeanor crimes committed in the transit system since the operation began in May.

“Public safety requires a multi-faceted approach, with agencies, branches of government, and jurisdictions working in concert, and that is the approach we are taking to challenges at or near transit facilities in downtown Seattle,” said Executive Constantine.
“Seattle streets host Metro bus stops and Sound Transit rail stations, and we are building seamless collaboration across local governments, departments, and agencies to ensure those stations, stops, and streets are clean and safe.”

“We recognize how the situation in this part of downtown is affecting the public, as well as employees and we are taking every step possible to help improve safety in this area,” said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindal. 

“The ultimate goal here is to abate crime and fear of crime on our transit system. We are doing whatever we can to remove potentially threatening and harmful situations and take the most dangerous people off the streets, the trains, and the buses. We want our message to be clear – if people don’t behave lawfully, there will be consequences.”

Transit riders will see increased police and security presence around Third Avenue, the King County Courthouse, Metro bus stops, and the downtown transit tunnel. Bike teams from Metro Transit and Sound Transit will also play a significant role, as their visibility often serves as a crime deterrent.

Over the past year, Metro has successfully implemented several key strategies to improve safety on transit. The agency engaged with thousands of people through the Safety, Security and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Initiative, and heard a clear desire for an increased safety presence and appropriate support for community members in need.

Metro’s “Care and Presence” approach includes more than doubling the number of transit security officers to 170, establishing a group of 17 Metro Safety Ambassadors to assist riders, and coordinating with King County’s Department of Community & Human Services to deploy a team of 14 behavioral health specialists. Since its launch, the behavioral health team has made over 7,621 contacts and responded to 396 crisis or de-escalation events.

“Communities have made it clear to us that there is a need for both security and compassionate support for those who need it,” said Metro General Manager Michelle Allison.
“Based on what we heard from you, we developed an approach to keep riders safe that focuses on ‘Care and Presence.’ We have more than doubled the number of Transit Security Officers and added Metro Safety Ambassadors to engage with riders. We also deployed Behavioral Health Specialists, who provide de-escalation, resources, and support.”

Aside from Wednesday’s work, Operation Safe Transit has resulted in 82 arrests. Half of those came from deputies who viewed criminal activity directly and made arrests in real-time. This operational work will continue to ensure those who live, work, and visit downtown see and feel the enhanced public safety impacts.


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King County Sheriff's Office takes down another drug trafficker

Friday, August 16, 2024

K9 Quinn. Photo courtesy KCSO
On August 7, 2024 Detectives from the Special Emphasis Team in Burien Precinct 4 (with an assist from the teams in Shoreline Precinct 5 and SeaTac Precinct 6) busted a major drug-trafficker, pulled many pounds of drugs off the street, and seized a firearm.

Search warrants served in Auburn and SeaTac led to the arrest in Auburn.

Naturally, Quinn the K-9 was key.

Seized:
  • 17.62 lbs of methamphetamine
  • 7.35 lbs of fentanyl powder
  • 6.42 lbs of cocaine
  • 68,000 M/30 pills seized
  • Over $44,000 in drug proceeds
  • 1 firearm
  • 1 vehicle
"Hard work pays off"


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LFP Police: Be cautious in school zones

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
A friendly reminder from Lake Forest Park Police:

The new school term begins in two weeks on Tuesday, August 27th. Please be aware that school zone cameras will be active Monday through Friday during the hours of 7:30am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4:30pm.

On Wednesdays with early release, the camera times will adjust to 7:30am to 9:30am and 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Half Day enforceable times are 7:30am to 9:30am and 11:00am to 12:30pm.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
We kindly ask that you remain extra cautious when driving through school zones, keeping a sharp lookout for pedestrians and school buses. 

Be prepared for potential delays during drop-off and pick-up times.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and dedication to keeping our children safe. 

While we may not always be able to respond to social media posts, please don't hesitate to contact us at 206-364-8216 with any questions.


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Shoreline seeks volunteers to interview Police Chief replacement candidates

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Shoreline’s Police Chief Kelly Park
shown in a photo from the city’s website. 
By Oliver Moffat

Shoreline City Manager Bristol Ellington is seeking a new Police Chief and is looking for volunteers to help interview candidates. More information is available on the city’s website.

The city of Shoreline announced Police Chief Kelly Park was promoted by King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall to Patrol Operations Division Chief effective August 31, 2024. 

In her new position, Chief Park will be part of the Executive Leadership Team of the King County Sheriff’s Office. 

Chief Park has been Shoreline’s chief of police since October of 2022 and has served with the Sheriff’s Office for 23 years.

Park will be replacing Jose Marenco who has served as Patrol Operations Division Chief since January of 2023 and will be replacing former Shoreline Police Chief Shawn Ledford who is retiring.

Shoreline contracts the King County Sheriff Office to provide police services and the Sheriff will select a list of candidates for the City Manager to choose from.
A screenshot from a presentation by Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park shows the structure of the department and vacant positions.

Park’s departure adds to Shoreline’s police staffing shortages. In April, Chief Park presented the city council with the 2023 police services report in which she said police staffing shortages were impacting the department. 

At the time, the department had nine vacancies. In 2023, average police response times for the highest priority 911 calls in Shoreline increased by more than two minutes to 6 minutes and 21 seconds from 4 minutes and 11 seconds in 2022.

Because of staffing shortages, the traffic unit was reassigned to 911 calls and, as a result, traffic citations decreased from 2022 to 2023, from 312 to 289. The report also said that between 2018 and 2022 the city averaged 394 car crashes reported to police per year. But in 2023, the police responded to 651 crashes - an increase of 65%.


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Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park promoted to Patrol Operations Chief with KCSO

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park
Photo courtesy KCSO
Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park has accepted the position of Patrol Operations Division Chief for the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), effective August 31, 2024.

As a new Division Chief, Chief Park will be part of the Executive Leadership Team leading the important department level work of the Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Park has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 23 years and became the Shoreline Police Chief in October 2022. 

King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall promoted Chief Park to Patrol Operations Chief for her breadth of experience, knowledge in law enforcement, and leadership.

Chief Park will be filling the position resulting from Chief Shawn Ledford’s retirement. Chief Ledford has served the KCSO and its communities for 35 years and was the Shoreline Police Chief from 2012 to 2022.

Police Chief Park and Fire Chief Cowan
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
With Chief Park’s promotion, Shoreline City Manager Bristol Ellington will be seeking to appoint a new Police Chief. 

Shoreline contracts with KCSO for police services. Although officers work for King County, they are assigned to work specifically in Shoreline and focus on building relationships with the Shoreline community. 

The Police Chief reports to the King County Sheriff and the Shoreline City Manager.


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4th Annual Safety Day a Success

Sunday, August 4, 2024

The ever popular Dunk Tank with police
chief Hardan cooling off on a hot day
Saturday, July 13th, the Lake Forest Park Police Department hosted its 4th Annual Safety Day. 

The event was a great success, drawing 400 - 500 attendees throughout the day. Over 130 life vests and more than 100 bike helmets were distributed to the community. 

Kids enjoyed free "safety bags", a bounce house, and a cotton candy machine. A big thanks to the LFP Rotary for funding the helmets and vests!

The fair provided a fun-filled day of outdoor safety education for children, featuring biking and water activities.

Goodie bags,bicycle helmets, and life vests for the kids
On this hot and beautiful day, Shoreline Fire used their truck fire hoses to cool off the kids (and parents!). 

The children participated in a bicycle obstacle course to learn about traffic safety and considerate cycling, ending with a "Bike Wash", which was a huge hit!
  • Representatives from King County Search and Rescue and LFP Police Officers discussed outdoor and water safety while giving away bicycle helmets and life jackets.
  • NEMCo joined the event to go over emergency management and show off their search and rescue tools. 
  • The Northsound Police Foundation and the Regional Crisis Response Agency also participated, adding valuable information and support.
  • Fish and Wildlife attended to provide educational material and answer questions. 
  • The US Coast Guard assisted with their interactive robot boat, 
  • Shoreline Fire offered tours of the fire truck, and 
  • LFP police cars were showcased. 
  • Food vendors Macho Burgers and Nekter Juice Bar provided delicious refreshments.
One of the highlights for many kids was throwing softballs that dunked Mayor French and Police Chief Harden in the water, watching them submerge in the cold, refreshing water while wearing safety life vests!


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King County Sheriff's Office updates pursuit policy effective August 1

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

“I have confidence in the good judgement
of our deputies," said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall
The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has updated its Pursuit of Motor Vehicles policy. 

The Washington Legislature’s revision of law enforcement vehicle pursuit laws earlier this year prompted this change.

The change applies to Shoreline and Kenmore police departments, which are contract agencies of KCSO.

In June of 2024, Initiative 2113 lifted certain restrictions on vehicle pursuits, restoring the authority to pursue a fleeing suspect when there is reasonable suspicion the suspect has violated the law, but retaining many of the risk reduction requirements found in the previous legislation. 

This impelled the Sheriff’s Office to evaluate modifications to its policy.

Effective August 1, the revised policy continues to restrict vehicle pursuits to dangerous felonies and DUI, while modifying the definition of dangerous felony to include burglary. 

The policy also allows pursuits for felony crimes, and non-felony crimes against a person, under extraordinary circumstances where there is an imminent and ongoing threat to persons or the community at large.

The most important factor when deciding whether to engage in a pursuit remains the risk to the community. Deputies are required to continually weigh the danger of failing to apprehend a suspect against the danger to the community created by the pursuit.

“I have confidence in the good judgement of our deputies when weighing the dangers of a chase against the potential threat to the people of King County,” said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. 
“We have given these adjustments careful consideration. We understand the vital importance of striking a balance between holding people accountable for their actions and the well-being of the community.”

The more restrictive law, passed in 2021, only allowed law enforcement to chase suspects involved in a narrowly defined set of serious, violent crimes and required probable cause (a higher legal standard than reasonable suspicion) to chase.

Between 2018-2021, the King County Sheriff’s Office averaged just over 15 pursuits per quarter, compared to 14 per quarter from 2021-2023, after the more restrictive legislation went into effect.

In contrast, prior to the 2021 legislation, 41 suspects refused to stop for deputies every quarter, while 138 refused to stop after the 2021 pursuit legislation.

Additionally, the number of pursuits that resulted in injuries stayed static and vehicles damaged went down only slightly from almost 4 a year to 3 respectively.

The new policy lays out what factors deputies should consider when initiating a vehicle chase including communication protocol, supervisor responsibilities, when to terminate a chase, and training.

“KCSO’s vehicular pursuit policy has historically been more restrictive than the state law and that’s worked well for us,” said Undersheriff Jesse Anderson. 
“It was important for us to listen to community members asking us to go after dangerous criminals putting people at risk. That really helped drive our decision.”

The new policy covers all unincorporated King County, as well as the 12 cities that contract with the Sheriff’s Office.

The updated King County Sheriff’s Office Pursuit of Motor Vehicles Policy will be available in the public General Orders Manual here on August 1, 2024.



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Raven statue stolen from 145th trailhead

Saturday, July 20, 2024


The Emissary Raven sculpture has been stolen from its pedestal located at the 145th Street Interurban trailhead. 

Donated to the City by the Shoreline Rotary in 2005, the sculpture was created by artist Tony Angell and was conceived as a welcoming form for travelers moving along the Interurban Trail into Shoreline.

If you have any information about the theft of the art or its current location, please contact Shoreline Police Sergeant Scott Fitchett at 206-801-2756 or email scott.fitchett@kingcounty.gov. Reference case number C24023871. You can remain anonymous.

We will accept the return of the sculpture with no questions asked. Please contact Public Art Coordinator Mylinda Sneed at 206-801-2661 or msneed@shorelinewa.gov to coordinate its return.


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