HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSS 2024-04-08 Item 1C - Report - 2023 Police Department Annual Report / Overview of Strategic Plan14,
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TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT
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Mission Statement
We, the members of the Tukwila Police Department, are committed to being
responsive to our community in the delivery of quality services. We
recognize our responsibility to maintain order, while affording dignity and
respect to every individual. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for
all through community partnerships and problem solving to promote safe,
secure neighborhoods.
Thursday, May 4th 6PM
IN -PERSON @ THE TUKWILA JUSTICE CENTER 6
VIRTUAL VIA MS TEAMS
MEETING TOPICS
- Recent Crimes in Neighborhoods
- Community Public Safety Strategies
- Q&A with the Chief of Police
Tukwila PD Chaplain and Co -Responders
will also be in attendance
SHARE YOUR CONCERNS
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The Honorable Mayor Thomas McLeod, Tukwila City Council, and Tukwila Community,
On behalf of the members of the Tukwila Police Department, thank you for your continued
support as we worked together to celebrate successes and addressed the challenges related
to public safety in our community during 2023. For 2022 we reported being down 20% of our
staff, which had a huge impact on the services that we could provide to the community.
With 2023 concluded, I am glad to share that, thanks to the support of the community and
Council providing us with the resources to recruit and be competitive with other agencies,
your police department ended the year with job offers out to all budget positions within the
department. In other words, we are fully staffed. An incredible undertaking for just one
year, and our thanks go out to the incredible Police Department recruitment team and our
partners in Human Resources. It will take through the end of 2024 to have all those new
members of our Tukwila family complete training and become fully deployable; however, we
will see the restoration of services grow as we move forward into 2024. A quick recognition
to our Field Training Officers (FTOs), as with new staff comes the requirement to train them.
Our FTOs have been working non-stop to make sure that we set up all our new staff for
success and provide the best possible service to the community. With all the great hiring
that has been done, the FTOs will still be working throughout 2024 to see that same level of
training go into the remaining recruits. Thank you to all our FTOs for the great
accomplishments and hard work in 2023 and for the accomplishments and hard work yet to
be done in 2024. With our first full year after recovering from the pandemic and the addition
of our Community Engagement Coordinator position, we saw our community engagement
opportunities grow in 2023. Beginning with bringing back the Police Community Academy,
where community members and
business members of Tukwila get to
go through several weeks of
training and information sharing on
how the different divisions/units
within the Police Department conduct their operations. We created the City's first SAFE
PLACE program (modeled after Seattle Police Department's SAFE PLACE program), where
businesses volunteer and receive training as a safe place for victims of hate crimes and
harassment. Night Out Against Crime had the largest attendance and participation from
neighborhood groups in City history. All our community's favorite events were in full swing
and full attendance as we continued with Coffee with a Cop, Touch a Truck, Chief's
Community Town Hall, Community Safety Briefs and Gatherings, Shop with a Cop, Battle of
the Badges, and other engagement as we served the community each day. The Department
continued its conversations with stakeholders about restoring the School Resource Officer
program at Foster High School and Showalter Middle School. In partnership with the Tukwila
School District, discussions in 2023 laid the foundation for an agreement in early 2024 where
we will have this valuable resource for the scholars/students and community back in the
Tukwila schools for the 2024-2025 school year. Our Mental Health Professional Co -
Responder program, in partnership with Sound Health, established proof of concept in 2023,
allowing the department to add a second co -responder position with funding from the AWC
Alternative Response Team Grant, broadening our coverage of this service for the
community. Our Co -Responders provide assistance to those in crisis and also offer aid with
providing resources to our homeless population. Your Police Department remained
dedicated to transparency and accountability throughout 2023. We continued our programs
of including community members in our processes. Community members participated with
our Use of Force Review Board, Hiring Process, Independent Investigation Team, and our
Strategic Planning Committee. As we move into 2024, we will continue to find processes
where we can include the community. The members of the Tukwila Police Department
continue to work hard to provide the Tukwila community with the level of service that it
deserves. It is an honor to be a part of the community, and we look forward to continuing to
evolve as a department as we strive to meet our community's public safety needs.
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In 2023, the Tukwila Police Department Patrol Division
grappled with persistent challenges from 2022, but a
positive trajectory emerged as the year unfolded. The
most significant impediment to the division's efficiency
remained staffing issues from the preceding years. To
address this, a major and unprecedented staffing
adjustment was implemented, marking a pivotal move
to ensure adequate coverage.
The "Power -Shift" initiative was introduced, reassigning
detectives from the Traffic Unit and Community Police
Team to bolster the Patrol Division's staffing. The
dedicated individuals, part of the Power Shift, took the
lead in covering patrol shortages while diligently
maintaining their commitment to tasks such as
enforcing traffic laws and addressing homeless
encampments. Concurrently, patrol officers willingly
undertook substantial overtime hours, sacrificing
personal time off to ensure public safety.
By September 1, 2023, the police department
successfully reinstated detectives to their respective
specialty units, allowing the patrol division to operate
independently. As 2023 drew to a close, staffing
conditions showed consistent and positive future
forecasting. The positive forecast is being facilitated by
the unfreezing of positions and the resumption of hiring
for roles previously frozen during the peak of the COVID
•andemic.
hroughout the year, patrol officers remained the
cornerstone of the Tukwila Police Department,
responding adeptly to over 34,000 911-generated calls
for service. Moreover, the patrol division welcomed
new Mental Health Professionals, who respond to
relevant calls seven days a week, compared to only
several days a week during the previous year. Their
presence has significantly contributed to connecting
those in need with essential resources.
As the Patrol Division gears up for a substantial
transition, with upcoming retirements and movement
to specialty positions, a considerable number of recruits
will transition from the academy to active duty in the
field. To offset the loss of experience, multiple lateral
hires are also underway, ensuring a commitment to
delivering the highest quality of service. Undoubtedly,
the dedicated individuals in the Patrol Division will
persist in offering caring, professional, and responsive
service, maintaining the standard they have
consistently upheld.
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SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
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The Support Operations Division of the Tukwila Police Department in 2023 continued to excel in providing essential services to residents,
visitors, court staff, and officers. Here's a summary of their achievements:
Service Excellence: The team's dedication and compassion ensured that family members were connected, lost property returned, stolen
items properly documented, and various issues resolved promptly.
Records Unit Achievements:
Processed 8,133 in -person and 1,389 online police reports.
Handled records retention and provided statistical data for the National Incident -Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
Administered 242 concealed pistol licenses, 389 firearm transfers, and three dealer licenses.
Processed 4,460 records requests.
Evidence Unit Contributions:
Ensured proper security and chain of custody for 12,509 items of evidence and property.
Facilitated destruction, donation, conversion, or auctioning of 3,337 items.
Participated in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), leading to the matching of 127 leads to other agencies from
Tukwila with casings from other crime scenes in various locations, aiding in case resolution.
Training Initiatives:
Records Unit staff participated in quarterly public records training and attended orders to vacate and disposition training.
Evidence Unit staff completed various courses provided through Tri Tech Forensics to include Introduction to Genetic Genealogy, Forensic
Biology and DNA, Bone or Stone, Collecting and Preserving Entomological Evidence. The Unit also completed the required test to continue to
be certified to enter casings into the NIBIN database through the ATF.
These accomplishments demonstrate the division's commitment to professionalism, efficiency, and continuous improvement in serving the
community and supporting law enforcement efforts.
The Major Crimes Unit was staffed with five detectives and one sergeant. Due to personnel shortages, personnel from the Traffic Unit and the
Tukwila Anti Crime Team were temporarily reassigned to augment the Major Crimes Unit, who's staffing was authorized for 10 detectives, two
sergeants, and one support specialist. Personnel from the Major Crimes Unit are responsible for the investigation of felony crimes that occur
within the city, including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, assault, theft, fraud, forgery, domestic violence, and crimes against children and
the elderly. Additionally, they are also responsible for investigating missing persons, and monitoring registered sex offenders.
In addition to their duties as Major Crimes Unit detectives, personnel from the unit also serve as members of various multi -agency specialty
teams in the region including the Valley Civil Disturbance Unit (VCDU), Valley Special Weapons and Tactics (VSWAT), Valley Hostage
Negotiations Team (VHNT), and the Valley Independent Investigative Team (VIIT). Personnel from the unit are on call 24 hours a day and
respond to callouts for in -progress incidents and crime scene investigations. Between their normal daily duties and the regional teams,
personnel from the Major Crimes Unit responded to more than 100 callouts during 2023, including two homicides that occurred within the
City.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
2023
JOINTUKWILAPD.COM
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TEST DATES
JAN 4
JAN 5
JAN 9
JAN 10
JAN 21
JAN 22
JAN 25
JAN 28
JAN 29
JAN 30
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
WRITTEN/PAT
MOUNT VER
LYNNWOOD
OLYMPIA
TUKWILA
LYNNWOOD
AUBURN
TUKWILA
OLYMPIA
ANACORTES
LYNNWOOD
$90,561 STARTING SALA'
TAKE HOME CAR PROGRAM
490 HOURS PAID TIME OFF PER YEAR
WORKOUT ON DUTY
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The Professional Standards Unit (PSU) consists of a commander, sergeant,
training officer and a recruiter/public information officer. The PSU is tasked
with purchasing equipment, internal investigations, and conducting initial
training to prepare new officers of the department for field training. The
training officer and training sergeant work together to coordinate training,
make travel arrangements, purchase equipment, and make sure the
department maintains the required number of hours of training. In 2023, all
members of the Tukwila Police Department achieved 24 hours of in-service
training required by Washington State law. The Department's instructors/
trainers attend training to maintain their certifications in order to bring the
most up to date information and tactics for the Tukwila Police
Department staff. This has led to an extremely well -trained staff
that continued to identify and respond to the needs of our
community. The PSU also maintains and updates the department
policy manual called Lexipol. Lexipol provides updates based on
legal decisions, state and federal law, and best practices.
The Tukwila Police Department experienced a staffing shortage
during and post COVID. The PSU was tasked with increasing the
department's recruiting efforts. The goal was to be fully staffed by
the end of 2023. Due to the team's effort, the department was
able to meet this goal. The increase in personnel meant
numerous officers coming through the PSU for training prior to
attending the Basic Law Enforcement Academy and/or entering
the Field Training Program. Seven entry level officers were
trained in PSU pre and post academy prior to entering the Field
Training Program. One certified entry officer and four lateral
officers were hired and trained in PSU prior to beginning field
training.
The PSU division worked throughout the year on maintaining
accreditation through the Washington Association of Sheriff's &
Police Chiefs (WASPC). In 2024 PSU will be working toward all
accreditation standards being proofed for reaccreditation in the
spring of 2025. Reaccreditation will ensure that the Tukwila
Police Department continues to meet the highest standards and
remain in line with state and national policies and laws. It will not
only guarantee quality service but helps with funding
opportunities through grants.
PSU worked with the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network
(PSERN) in testing the regional preventative maintenance
program allowing departments to stay in compliance with our
digital radio warranties. In 2023 all officers were issued new
portable digital radios through PSERN.
Developing a comprehensive Reality -Based Training program
continues to be a significant goal for the training cadre. The cadre
continues to evaluate and develop ways to implement this type of
training in our yearly training schedule. Reality -based training
prepares officers for real -life situations more effectively than
theoretical or classroom -based training. This promotes increased
situational awareness and confidence for our officers when
managing the different types of calls they may encounter.
'Special Operations
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The Community Police Team (CPT) continued to
play an integral part throughout the City and
region. They worked closely with local and
regional partners to target hot spots within the
city. The Team continued their partnerships
with Tukwila businesses and community
members as they navigate through the
different challenges throughout 2023. One of
the challenges they faced was the continuation
of the rising homeless population and criminal
activity occurring in the vicinity of the
homeless camps. Despite the challenges, the
CPT diligently worked with the regional
partners such as the Salvation Army, Catholic
Community Services and the mental health co -
responders to obtain resources to help this
population towards becoming self-sufficient.
The Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC)
hosted our Community Police Academy again
from 4/18/23-6/20/23 after being absent for a
few years due to the pandemic. She continued
to have regular meetings with the different
watch groups such as SHAG, Confluence
Apartments, Mariblu At Southcenter, etc. to
address safety concerns and provide solutions.
—N.. She coordinated community events such as
lob Resource Fair at Thorndyke Elementary, Touch
A Truck, Gun Lockbox Giveaway, "Back to
school" haircuts, etc. The CEC also coordinated
National Night Out Against Crime that took
place on August 1, 2023. This year, there were
19 parties throughout the City, which is the
highest number of National Night Out parties
that has taken place in Tukwila.
The Traffic Unit remained operational,
however, due to staffing shortages within the
Patrol and Investigation divisions, Traffic
Officers were tasked to assist those divisions in
order to maintain the appropriate level of
service to the community. Additionally, they
continued to manage the school zone speed
cameras deployed near Foster High School and
-F�,g."'� ',.; .4;,e� , — f Showalter Middle School. In 2023, the total
speed zone tickets issued was 2,646.
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4 $tOPI1 addition to the day-to-day duties, personnel
l assigned to the Special Operations Division are
also active members of the Valley Civil
Disturbance Unit (VCDU), and instructional
cadre for department training teams including
Firearms, Defensive Tactics, and the Emergency
Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC).
DIVISION
Emergency Management prepares for, responds to, and assists in the recovery of
disasters. This is accomplished by:
1. Preparing the city to respond to a disaster through the development of plans,
training, and exercises.
2 Preparing the community to respond to a disaster through preparedness education
and outreach.
3. Building relationships with community organizations, other governments, and private
entities through engagement, training, and expanding knowledge.
Preparing the City to Respond to an Emergency or Disaster
Building from best practices and work accomplished last year, in 2023 Emergency
Management facilitated the development of the City's Continuity of Operations Plan
(COOP). The plan ensures that departments can continue to provide critical services
following a major disruption to government. In collaboration with Parks and Recreation,
they prepared the City for emergency sheltering by providing shelter
supplies, training, and exercise to City staff. They also purchased a
second shelter cargo trailer so supplies are portable, as well as
emergency hygiene kit components that were assembled at an
event they hosted
for the seniors of
Tukwila.
Emergency
Management also
facilitated two
table -top exercises with the City's Leadership Team.
EMERGEN
Preparing the Community to Respond to an Emergency or Disaster
1 In 2023, the Team attended over 20 community events to hand out
j preparedness information and kit supplies. They launched an
Emergency Management Book Club, continued their Preschool
Preparedness Program at Tukwila Community Center, and launched
two preparedness campaigns — a spring campaign related to
emergency communications and a fall campaign about general
preparedness. The Emergency Management Team applied for and
was awarded a grant that allowed them to build 185 emergency
preparedness kits for low income and limited English proficiency
families in the Tukwila School District. From the high school interns
that assisted in building the kits, the partnership with the school district, and Lowe's (a
generous community donor), this project would not have been a success without the help
of the entire community. Emergency Management partnered with King County
Emergency Management to build a booklet entitled, "Get Ready King County." This guide
was created to provide step-by-step instructions for individuals and families to prepare
for any disaster.
Building Relationships & Expanding Knowledge
Every year, relationships are the cornerstone of everything the Team does in Emergency
Management. To further their relationships with the community, they grew their social
media presence by creating a profile, Tukwila EM, and developed relationships with the
Administrators of Tukwila's Facebook Groups (Tukwila Talk, Tukwila Real Talk, Tukwila
Neighborhood, and Allentown Advocates). Developing these relationships has allowed
Emergency Management to be accepted as a trusted source of information where our
residents are having conversations on social media. Outside of Tukwila, Emergency
Management lent their subject matter expertise to the region by partnering to develop a
curriculum "Integrating Access and Functional Needs into Emergency Management".
They hosted student interns interested in getting hands-on experience. They're looking
forward to a busy and productive 2024 as they continue to build community partnerships
and serve this amazing community.
Y MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Detective Ryota Akimoto
Deni Delic Jermaine Castillo
Detective Officer
Danielle Burnett -Roberts
Evidence Technician
MPLOYEES
Ryota Akimoto
Detective
ISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
30 Years Of Service
Sergeant Phil Glover
F THE QUARTER
Dakota Hodgson Justin Wilson Elias Hiatt
Officer Officer Officer
Teresa Hinscr
Disp. Research Specialist
Expenditures
Police Operations
Jail
Dispatch
King County Animal Control Services
Total Expenditures
Revenue Category
Contracted Services
Grants
Response Generated
Total Revenues
Budget Category
Police Operations
Jail
Dispatch
King County Animal Control Services
Total Budget (Post Amendment)
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POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES
2023 Expenses 1
$ 18,597,042 $ 16,453,228 $ 15,485,743
$ 996,081 $ 1,104,288 $ — 1,276,212
$ 1,430,699 $ 1,202,737 $ 1,160,308
156,198 $ 108,26A 99,017
$ 21,180,021 $ 18,868,518 $ 18,021,280
Mrri
ONLY INCLUDES GENERAL FUND
r 2023 even' 2022 Revenuenue —
$ 406,658 $ 429,300'" 373,188
178,2M 134,755 M.. 27,605
$7,463 $ 64,866 AM 194,895
$ 622,336 $
628,921
r
$ 595,688
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
2023 Budget
$ 20,214,598
$ 1,005,192
$ M 11r28,971
$ 119,182
$ 22,767,943
2022 Budget
$ 17,412,014 $
$ 1,087,076 $
$ 1,169,251".m$
$ 144,700 $
$ 19,813,041
2021 Budget
15,927,92A
1,087,076
130
$ 18,286,665
CRIME IN TUKWILA
Population
Calls For Service
Crimes Against Persons
Murder
Rape
Robbery
Aggravated Assault
TOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Crimes Against Property
Arson
Burglary
Larceny
Auto Thefts
TOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY
2023
33,352
2
97
2022
33,078
2021
29,985
4 2
90
77
187 169 176
2
4 16
319
2736
3184 2,573
1
3964
932 609
4439 3,418
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The Tukwila Police Department submits its crime data through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). WASPC then sends
egg,
the state's crime data to the FBI. The FBI has mandated that all reporting starting in 2021 is done via the National Incident -Based Reporting System
(NIBRS) rather than the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) standards. In previous annual reports, UCR data was reported, but in compliance with the FBI,
we are now reporting NIBRS data. The numbers reported here are pulled from the WASPC website; additional data points are researched for analysis.
COMPARATIVE TOTALS WITH 3-YEAR COMPARISON
Population
Budget
2023
21,200
2022
22,402
2021
21,299
$21,180,021 $18,868,518 $18,021,280
Police Staff:
Commissioned
Non -Commissioned
Calls For Service
Traffic Citations/Infractions Issued
Reported Vehicle Accidents:
Injury
Fatal
Non -Injury (not including hit-and-run)
Injury hit-and-run
TOTALS
77 77 78
ir24
33,352 - 33,078
374 - 737
29,985
Mr-
2 0 2
383
12 17 17
Millw 556
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As I go about my duty, God,
Every step along the way,
Help me make a difference
In this world each passing day.
Give me a heart to be concerned,
A mind that knows what is right,
Give me the eyes and ears to see and hear
The truth as in Your sight.
Give me protection from things unseen,
Strength to face each test,
Help me to stand for law and order,
To daily do my best.
Give me the courage to defend the weak,
Compassion for those oppressed.
Help me lift up the ones who've stumbled,
Give a hand to those who are distressed.
Give me grace to face my final hour,
To give my life in service.
Let your strong hand and loving heart
Protect the ones that I hold dearest.
2023 City Council
Council President Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson
Council Member Kathy Hougardy
Council Member De'Sean Quinn
Council Member Kate Kruller
Council Member Thomas McLeod
Council Member Mohamed Abdi
Council Member Tosh Sharp
Police Administration
Eric Dreyer, Chief of Police
Eric Lund, Deputy Chief
Todd Rossi, Commander
Kraig Boyd, Commander
Dale Rock, Commander
Andi Delic, Commander
Rebecca Hixson, Senior Manager
64
March 2024
Tukwila Police
Department
2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN
The Tukwila Police Department
strives to be a department that is
CONNECTED to the life of our
diverse community,
EFFECTIVE in preventative and
responsive law enforcement, and
COLLABORATIVE with other
agencies to improve the safety and
quality of life for all.
TUKWILA
POLICE
65
City and Police Department Tukwila Police Department
Mission, Vision and Values
COMMUNITY VISION
The City of opportunity, the community of choice.
CITY MISSION
To provide superior services that support a safe,
inviting and healthy environment for our residents,
businesses and guests.
CITY STRATEGIC GOALS & OBJECTIVES
A Community of Inviting Neighborhoods & Vibrant
Business Districts
A Solid Foundation for All Tukwila Residents
A Diverse & Regionally Competitive Economy
A High -Performing & Effective Organization
A Positive Community Identity & Image
Mission, Vision and Values
OUR MISSION
As an involved part of the Tukwila community, our
mission is to provide public safety services that are
professional, compassionate and transparent.
As individuals and teams, we are committed to
earning the public's trust with skills, professionalism
and collaboration.
OUR VISION
Our vision is that all Tukwila neighborhoods and
communities feel protected and respected in their
times of need.
WE VALUE
Serving the community so that all members of the
public are safe, secure and thriving. As community
needs evolve, so will police services.
Building positive, strong teams within the
department and with the community. When we invite
a variety of perspectives and experiences, we improve
mutual respect and support.
Being accountable to the community and each
other by working with determination, thoroughness,
openness, honesty and skill. When we can be
transparent about challenges, we can develop lasting
solutions.
Growing in competency and empathy by constantly
developing skills and relationships.
"I love it when we can make
someone feel safe and let them
know we care."
— POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE
66
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN I 1
Introduction/ Purpose of the Plan
Tukwila is a thriving community and a special place to live and work.
Like other Puget Sound cities, Tukwila is growing. Since 2010, the (nighttime) residential
population has increased about 12 percent to more than 21,0001, and more growth is
expected. We also have an unusual daytime population that includes more than 47,000
who work in Tukwila plus over 150,000 who visit the city on a daily basis.2
Also similar to other cities, Tukwila is currently working
to address issues related to homelessness, addiction
and mental illness. These are regional problems
that need regional solutions and cooperation. This
is especially true in Tukwila, where both victims and
offenders tend to be from elsewhere. Residents
understand the challenge, and expect that we will
work with other agencies on solutions. We are
committed to compassionate responses, while
still addressing the quality of life issues that affect
residents, such as theft, property damage and
malicious mischief.
Within the larger context of community safety in the
U.S., law enforcement agencies are being challenged
to do better. It's important that the community know
and see TPD's commitment to constant improvement;
it's also important that new practices become so
embedded in our practices that they are second
nature.
As we look forward to the next five years, we do so
from a stronger position than just a few years ago.
The City Council has funded needed positions, which
allowed us to hire quickly and avoid a true staffing
crisis. We're preparing to continue our strong hiring
and onboarding process through the next few years
of planned retirements, always with the goal of
ensuring Tukwila has well -trained, responsive officers
who are focused on the quality -of -life issues that
residents care most about.
Throughout this plan, you will see quotes from both
community members and TPD officers and staff. When
thinking about the kind of police department we
wanted to become, we talked to people inside and
outside the department about their vision for us.
It was an inspiring process: The community members
expressed confidence and hope, and both sworn and
civilian staff expressed a strong commitment to the
community and to excellence in their professions.
With this plan, we hope to continue to build a
department that contributes to the high quality of life
valued by Tukwila neighbors.
rthink what makes Tukwila
unique is it's very diverse.
Culturally, linguistically; [even] the
businesses are diverse. We have
one of the biggest malls in the
state, we're close to the airport.
I see more businesses opening
up in Tukwila. People always have
a connection to Tukwila.
' https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/tukwilacitywashington,US/PST045216
https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-of-tukwila/about/
— COMMUNITY MEMBER
2023 INTERVIEW
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN 267
Contents
City and Police Department Mission, Vision and Values 2
5-Year Strategic Plan 6
Improve Public Safety Through Partnerships and Data -Based Prioritization 7
A. Build Strong Community Relationships and Partnerships 7
B. Target Hot Spots and Habitual Offenders 8
C. Strengthen investigations to support successful prosecutions 8
D. Increase Public Safety Awareness Among Community Members 9
E. Continued disaster preparedness and emergency management efforts
for community and City staff 9
Build a High -Performing Organization 10
A. Leadership and staffing 10
B. Community -based accountability 10
C. Healthy, supportive, accountable work culture 11
D. Training and tools 11
Effectively Manage Our Resources 12
A. Plan for Facilities that Meet the Department's Needs 12
B. Improve Technological Capacity and Upgrade Key Systems 12
C. Pursue Grant Funding 12
STRATEGIC PLANNING APPROACH
Locally and nationally, we all need to work together to ensure that people feel respected, heard and
protected —especially by their local police departments. We do that with good learning, good training
and good community partnerships.
To develop this plan, which will guide our annual work plan and budget requests, we started first with
a reconsideration of what our mission, vision and values are, and what we hoped to accomplish. These
conversations were across the department and with a diverse selection of community leaders. All of the
community member quotes are from interviews conducted in late fall 2023.
With our mission and value -based pillars in place, we reflected on what it would look like to live those
values. This strategic plan sets the direction for the next 5 years, and prioritizes those services most
needed and valued by the community. j
1
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TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN I 3
5-Year Strategic Plan
At its most basic, a strategic plan seeks to answer the question:
"Who do we want to be in 5 years?"
To meet the safety needs of Tukwila residents and visitors, TPD must be a skilled, value -driven organization with
the people and tools to do the job. This is true for both the sworn and the civilian workforce, who work in teams
to take care of the community.
We achieve our goals of being good community members, law enforcement and partners by:
1) Improving public safety through
partnerships and data -based
prioritization
a. Build strong community relationships
b. Target hot spots and habitual offenders
c. Strengthen prosecutions
d. Improve public safety awareness of residents,
businesses
e. Improve disaster preparedness for community
and City staff
2) Building a high -performing organization
that is
a. Well -staffed
b. Well -trained (community -based policing,
spending time with community, learning about
new populations)
c. Well -prepared (mentally and physically)
d. Visible and present in the community
3) Effectively managing our resources
a. Facilities
b. Technology
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN 1 t9
Improve Public Safety
Through Partnerships and
Data -Based Prioritization
One of the strongest learnings coming out of the
pandemic was that no city is isolated and we're better
able to solve big problems when we work together.
This is true for public safety issues as well; people,
their resources and their problems all flow across
borders. It's a hopeful sign that the counties and the
states are looking at problems such as homelessness
through a regional lens; we are looking at safety in
the same way. As Tukwila has a high proportion of
daytime visitors, in addition to having a significant
amount of retail and access to multiple freeways, we
must work in partnership with other regional agencies
and closely monitor trends and changes in crime.
A. BUILD STRONG COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
AND PARTNERSHIPS
Police departments do the most service when they
are visibly part of the life of both retail and residential
neighborhoods. Community members stated that
they appreciated approachability of officers and felt
good about partnerships with other institutions and
organizations. As Tukwila continues to grow, especially
with an anticipated increase of multi -family housing,
TPD will continue to adjust programs and strategies to
enable neighbors to feel comfortable and protected.
Visibility is good because it
gives a certain fear factor and
deterrent to criminals and
gives the community a sense of
security or safety.
— COMMUNITY MEMBER
Community -based partnerships that support a safe
environment include:
» School District Partnerships: Community -police
relationships begin in elementary school and
often continue for decades. TPD provides the
DARE program and school resources officers, who
provide a protective presence while also allowing
children to be comfortable with people in uniform.
The program was paused during the pandemic,
recently updated, and is set to return.
Neighborhood and business districts: TPD
is engaged in multiple projects that build
relationships at the neighborhood level, for
example, the Apartment Managers Network,
central business district stakeholders, Co -
Responder Program, Homeless Engagement,
Block Watches, and National Night Out.'
Individual volunteers: We have many ways for
individuals to engage directly with the department
as well, including the Community Police Academy,
which educates the community on the role of the
police department; the Bulldog Academy, which is
similar and geared towards teenagers; and many
individual roles, such as on COPCAB.
TPD also participates in key regional organizations
that provide avenues for both professional
development and regional coordination. While our
involvement has been curbed during times of low
staffing, we will continue to utilize these groups as
needed.
»
Police 2021 Goals edit (002).docx
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TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN I 5
A few examples:
Valley Communications Operations Board
Valley Narcotics/DEA Enforcement Team
SCORE Operations Board
Valley Special Weapons and Tactics Team
PATROL Auto -Theft Task Force
» Valley Civil Disturbance Unit
Valley Crisis Communications Unit
» Valley Independent Investigations Team
» King County Police Chiefs' Association
• Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police
Chiefs
» International Association of Chiefs of Police
Washington Chapter of the FBI National Academy
Associates
» King County Prosecutor's Office and other local
partners on the Buyer Beware sex trafficking
initiative
Federal agencies, including ATF and DEA
» WA-ORCA
Residents and visitors alike value officers who are
visible and accessible in the community
4 https://www.tukwilawa.gov/wp-content/uploads/Mayor-Hazelnut-
Newsletter-02-23. pdf
I'd like to see more CERT
training, more citizen
involvement in helping the city
in any way we can. I think citizen
police academy just happened,
and that's good. The more
people can take that, the better.
Night Out against crime, block
watch is good. Encouraging
citizen involvement.
— COMMUNITY MEMBER
B. TARGET HOT SPOTS AND HABITUAL
OFFENDERS
TPD uses crime data and responds to the community
to provide emphasis patrols in areas where there's a
need for more police presence4. We want our public
spaces to be safe for everyone to use, and that means
being attentive to hot spots such as transit hubs
and retail areas. Individuals are often responsible for
multiple crimes across the city, so we also use data to
identify repeat offenders for prosecution.
To improve our ability to respond to changing
circumstances, we reorganized internally and
established a "special emphasis unit." This unit gives
us the skills and ability to target hotspots and address
multi -faceted quality of life issues.
County -wide efforts are also recognizing the need for
identifying individuals who are regularly involved in
crime, and working together for successful arrests and
prosecutions.
C. STRENGTHEN INVESTIGATIONS TO SUPPORT
SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS
Good policing is an important first step in the justice
system, but not the only one TPD is responsible for.
Our evidence -gathering, analysis and record -keeping
teams help ensure that offenders can be prosecuted.
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN I 671
D. INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AWARENESS
AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TPD partners with other organizations, but also
with residents themselves, to deter crime. We are
increasingly using social media to inform the public
of dangers, trends and tips, but the best work comes
from meaningful interactions at block watch and other
crime prevention meetings. Supporting neighborhood
groups is a highly valued body of work for TPD, with
benefits in the areas of crime prevention, response
and emergency preparedness.
A key goal for the next several years will be to
increase the use of technology in investigations to
secure successful prosecution.
E. CONTINUED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EFFORTS FOR
COMMUNITY AND CITY STAFF
As the newest division to the Police Department —
added mid -pandemic, in 2021— Emergency
Management is responsible for leading the City's
disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts.
Over the next five years, TPD will continue to
integrate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
and its functions into the rest of the department. Even
more importantly, however, we will work to train all
City staff on emergency response. Large disasters
require significant coordination between departments
and often, individual staff are in different roles in
the EOC than they have outside of a response. It's
important that all staff not only learn their EOC jobs,
but get practice in interacting in new ways.
These dynamics are also more challenging when a
disaster is regional, and requires that we be part of
a multi -agency response. Learning and drilling on
new skills does take time out of a "regular" week or
month, and is often de -prioritized. However, TPD will
be working to make preparation a normal part of City
life so that in a disaster, staff can get right to work.
https://www.tukwi lawa.gov/wp-content/uploads/Mayor-H azel nut-
Newsletter-02-23. pdf
rgrew up being taught that I
am who I am in part because of
the communities around me.
I've been given opportunities
and assistance from areas that I
never would have touched had
I not met certain people. I enjoy
helping people and connecting
people. My coworkers.
Community members. My
favorite days at work are the
ones where I am making good
connections.
— POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE
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TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN 7
Build a High -Performing
Organization
In Tukwila, our vision for a high -performing police
department is an organization of compassionate,
community -centered individuals who are committed
to serving and protecting residents and visitors.
Having a fully staffed department of qualified and
prepared employees is not normally included in
a strategic plan, but locally and nationally, police
departments are losing officers faster than they can
hire new ones'. We enter 2024 in a strong position.
The City's 2023/2024 budget brought staffing back
to pre -pandemic levels, and we continue to hire and
train new officers and staff at an accelerated pace.
As we get new and mid -career recruits trained and
ready, we're also planning for the future as we work
to stay ahead of normal attrition and retirements
anticipated over the next five years.
TPD has a strong foundation of community -based
work, and as the department adds new officers and
civilian staff, we will work to make the most of those
projects and work with the community to make them
continuously more effective.
Police 2021 Goals edit (002).docx
I'd like to see more officers
hired, I would like to see
more diversity.
— COMMUNITY MEMBER
A. LEADERSHIP AND STAFFING
Hiring front-line officers and staff is important, but
the work doesn't stop there: we must also have a
strong approach to developing the next generation of
leaders.
With a significant percentage of employees
over the age of 50, and retirement eligibility for
commissioned officers at 53, it is important that our
upcoming leaders be ready to take over. This involves
developing new leadership standards and clear
development paths that include training, mentorship
and project management opportunities.
B. COMMUNITY -BASED ACCOUNTABILITY
In the last several years, TPD has found innovative
ways to bring community members into the
department. There are designated seats for
residents in key positions, including the Use of Force
Committee, COPCAB, Civil Service, and the Hiring
Panel, the regular presence of community members
within departmental functions helps build a spirit of
connection, accountability, and transparency between
officers, staff and residents.
Community relations isn't just patrol officers. Every
police department division is developing a community
outreach plan. These plans allow divisions to find their
own unique ways of building relationships, refining
their processes to meet community needs, and
helping the community access TPD support.
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN I t3
C. HEALTHY, SUPPORTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE
WORK CULTURE
Public safety jobs are stressful and physically
demanding. Officers encounter dangerous and tragic
situations on a regular basis, which can cause long-
term trauma. Investigators, records and support staff
also encounter difficult situations.
Health and resiliency allow our highly trained officers
and staff to do their best work, year after year.
Building emotional and physical resiliency involves
multiple strategies, including6:
Wellness Application Acquisition and
Programming
Health and Fitness Programming
» Resilient Leadership
D. TRAINING AND TOOLS
Officers and staff are clear in their desire to continue
to train and improve their skills. In addition to the
existing cycle of training opportunities, we will also
seek to increase the amount of "reality -based"
training available. These trainings involve more live
practice of different scenarios, and their interactive
elements make them highly effective.
We are proud that officers and staff are actively
seeking to improve, and we'll be working at all levels
of the organization to identify mentoring opportunities
and to give more people the opportunity to exercise
leadership.
Other important training components include:
Shift Briefing Training Topics
Legal Training
» The Law Enforcement Training and Safety Act
(LETCSA) Training Curriculum
» CIT Continuation Training
» Core Training Requirements
Records and Evidence Training
17 good police department
is accountable, transparent,
courteous, professional. Bad
things happen, and when it
does, you want a department
that is reliable and attempts
to stay within the law to
conduct its business. When the
department makes mistakes,
the expectation is that it does
not shy away from responsibility
and is honest and direct with
the public.
— COMMUNITY MEMBER
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TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN 9
Effectively Manage
Our Resources
As a public agency, TPD takes seriously our
responsibility to be a good steward of City resources.
A. PLAN FOR FACILITIES THAT MEET THE
DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS
In the last several years, we have made good
investments in our building and other physical
infrastructure. In the next five years, however, we
will need to solve one significant storage issue: a
permanent location for evidentiary vehicles. Cars,
trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles are often held
by TPD during investigations, which could be years.
Space is temporarily being used in a city facility
nearby, but it does not meet the current needs and a
permanent location would be preferable.
B. IMPROVE TECHNOLOGICAL CAPACITY AND
UPGRADE KEY SYSTEMS
Council -supported investments in technology are
allowing us to improve the allocation of resources in
multiple ways. For example, the purchase of body
cameras improves accountability and public trust;
renjoy being the safety net
for the community, for the
victimized, for those who don't
have the ability to do this for
themselves.
— POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE
While resources aren't infinite and technology is
changing rapidly, it's crucial that we continue to make
progress in key areas. Our considerations are based on
resources, risk management and impact on the public.
»
Records digitization and continued improvements
and replacement to the records management
system will allow for greater analysis of trends and
improved prosecutions.
Enforcement -related technology, such as school
speed zone cameras, interview -room recording
and unmanned aircraft system (drones), are all
parts of modern policing. Speed -zone cameras
can both discourage reckless driving and improve
enforcement; recorded interviews improve
prosecutions and drones provide critical information
in dangerous situations such as major collisions,
high -profile cases, or natural disasters.
C. PURSUE GRANT FUNDING
Although we cannot anticipate grant availability for the
next five years, TPD is committed to pursuing grant
funding from federal, state and other outside funding to
expand departmental capabilities and meet our strategic
goals. Grant funding comes available to meet emergent
needs; for example, to support training, provide
equipment or expand technology.
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN 1Q5
TUKWILA
POLICE
Conclusion
The City Council made critical investments in TPD
staffing at just the right time, which stabilized the
department and our services. As we think about
what the department and what the community need
in the next five years, the need for continuous skills
and leadership training is top of mind. A wave of our
most experienced officers will be retiring, and it's
incumbent upon us to ensure that the next generation
is well prepared to serve the community.
We are proud to serve Tukwila's residents, workers and
visitors. We have a diverse and welcoming community,
and while we are taking on some complex, regional
quality -of -life issues, our core purpose is always
to ensure people feel safe and welcome. This is a
deeply rewarding mission, and we are grateful for the
opportunity to work together.
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TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT I 2024-2029 STRATEGIC PLAN 111
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1 1 I I_hl l I f, 'a
TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT
15005 Tukwila International Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Emergencies: 9-1-1.
Non -emergencies requiring a police response: (206) 241-2121.
Business Calls: (206) 433-1808
Anonymous Tip Line: (206) 431-3689
FAX: (206) 244-6181
Email:
PDcommendations@TukwilaWA.gov
PDcomplaints@TukwilaWA.gov
Tips@TukwilaWA.gov
For the most up to date information related to the Tukwila Police
Department, please visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
pages @TukwilaPD and our Tukwila PD news site http://www.
tukwilapolice.com
TUKWILA
POLICE
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