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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 Annual Report - Police Department 20 20 Annual Report Tukwila Police Department ANNUAL REPORT 2021 K9 Apollo 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. CHIEF’S MESSAGE The Honorable Mayor Allan Ekberg, Tukwila City Council, and Tukwila Community: On behalf of the members of the Tukwila Police Department, thank you for your continued support as we responded together to address the challenges facing our community related to public safety in 2021. The Department ended 2021 down 15% of our commissioned staff. This was a result of budget reductions associated with the pandemic, as well as a trend in law enforcement that saw a decline in recruitment. Despite the reduction in staffing, we still found ways to continue providing a high quality service to the community. We addressed the attrition by rotating staff out of specialty units to cover staffing shortages in the Patrol Division, and utilizing overtime to maintain minimum staffing and coverage for the City. This allowed us to maintain a high-level of response to community issues. At the same time, it diminished the Department’s ability to follow up on felony property crimes and drug related offenses, as well as reduced our ability to be as proactive. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the officers that have contributed to helping maintain our staffing levels. We recognize the added burdens they took on to meet the needs of the Tukwila community. A new state legislation was enacted in the summer of 2021. It elevated the standard for when law enforcement could use force to detain a suspect. Although there are still debates over the changes that were made, the impact was seen by the community as officers were not allowed to detain suspects based on reasonable suspicion alone. The law has since been clarified, allowing for investigatory detentions using force under reasonable suspicion. To best serve our community and address challenges, it is important that we gain input from community members regarding Police Department processes. Learning from our involvement with Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act (LETCSA), in 2021, the Department created a Use of Force Review Board that included four members of the community. Every use of force was reviewed by the Board. Additionally, we included community members in the hiring process by having them participate in the Chief’s interviews, and help make the decisions about who the next generation of Tukwila law enforcement will be. As we move into 2022, we will be including community members on our strategic planning committee. We will also be looking for new ways to include the community with the department processes, to provide transparency and accountability, while improving both our communication and relationship with the community we serve. With community engagement at the forefront, there were many accomplishments in 2021. I defer to the individual division articles in the annual report to address them. The members of the Tukwila Police Department rose to the challenges, and continued 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 engage with the community. MESSAGE In 2021, the Patrol Division faced a variety of distfnct challenges, however, the officers contfnued to provide a high level of service to the community while always stayed in line with the department’s core values. On July 25, 2021, new state legislatfon went into effect that changed how officers could respond to and manage calls for service. The department was required to seek new practfces of policing that allowed for officers to contfnue to provide effectfve and high -quality police services. During the year, officers responded to 31,000 calls for service and took 6,909 police reports that documented a variety of cases. The use of online reportfng contfnued to increase as officers and sergeants completed 1,471 police reports that were filed online. Utflizing the online reportfng system allowed more tfme for officers to patrol the city to deter crime proactfvely and partake in community engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic contfnued to impact patrol staffing and resources across the Tukwila Police Department. The department shifted personnel and resources from other specialty units to back-fill patrol shortages. The patrol division’s primary responsibility was to ensure adequate and tfmely police response to the community’s calls for assistance. The team effort shown by all members of the Tukwila Police Department was tremendous. It contributed towards promotfng a positfve workplace culture. However, the department contfnued to be affected by staffing issues due to injuries, illness, and the departure of officers. Community engagement efforts were at the forefront of the department’s goals in 2021. Officers contfnued to engage in productfve dialog with community members and business owners in order to glean how the police department coud best assist and serve them. These efforts were impactiul and vital in building positfve rapport and long-term relatfonships. In the latter half of 2021, the Tukwila Police Department led the region in incorporatfng mental health services with police response to calls for service. The department contracted with Sound Mental Health Services to provide a full-tfme Mental Health Professional (MHP). Patrol officers regularly worked with the MHP and utflized their services on a daily basis. The MHP assisted by offering various support services to individuals suffering from mental health challenges, including those in crisis situatfons. The MHP was also heavily utflized in proactfvely planning for the best way to provide ongoing mental health treatment to those in need. In additfon to mental health services, the police department also hired a full-tfme victfm advocate. The victfm advocate assisted victfms of crime by being a knowledgeable resource to help them with safety planning, navigatfng the often -complicated judicial process, and providing several additfonal resources to help support victfms of crime through their hardship. The victfm advocate also worked closely with the Tukwila Municipal Court to ensure cohesion between the police department and the courts to provide the best possible services offered. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and changing state legislatfon, the Tukwila Police Department’s patrol division always thrived to make the necessary adjustments to best serve the community members, businesses, and visitors in the City of Tukwila. Community engagement efforts were at the forefront of the department’s goals in 2021 SUPPORT SERVICES The Support Operatfons Division is a hub of actfvity. From phone calls to Justfce Center visitors, radio calls and to fingerprintfng, evidence and property release, the Support Operatfons Team performed variety of tasks each day to serve the community and the Tukwila Police Department. The Records Unit processed 6,909 in- person reports and 1,471 online police reports in 2021. They also handled records retentfon requirements and provided statfstfcal data for the Natfonal Incident-Based Reportfng System (NIBRS). They administered 185 concealed pistol licenses, 603 firearm transfers, and three dealer’s license. Staff also processed 3,489 records requests, which took approximately 2,117 hours of tfme. The Evidence Unit ensured the proper security and chain of custody for property and evidence items taken in by the Tukwila Police Department. In 2021, the unit processed 3,234 items of evidence and property. There were 4,638 items destroyed and 353 items were donated, converted or auctfoned. Items were purged as cases got adjudicated, when they were no longer needed as evidence due to expiratfon of the statute of limitatfons, or when they were no longer needed to be held per statute such as found property. The Division’s top prioritfes for 2021 were: PRIORITIES RESULTS Staffing All Records and Evidence positfons were filled Community Outreach Records restarted concealed pistol licenses and public fingerprintfng Evidence contributed supplies to Tukwila Pantry Records Management 2003 and 2004 case files were digitfzed All police department records were moved from the Annex to City Hall Completed all accreditatfon standards Implemented new voicemail policy Created new employee and exitfng employee records check lists. SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION The year of 2021 proved to be a challenging year for the Investfgatfons Division. The strains of the COVID-19 pandemic contfnued to stretch our resources as the division strived to meet the expectatfons of the community members, the department, and the City. The Major Crimes Unit’s mission remained unchanged: contfnue investfgatfon of all types of felony crimes. Due to staffing challenges, detectfves who had previously focused on specific types of crime took on additfonal case types ensuring the tfmely investfgatfon of serious crime. Robberies, aggravated assaults, auto theft, and larceny all saw increases. Detectfves worked closely with prosecutors from the King County Sheriff’s Office, as investfgatfons were completed and filed for charging. Like the Major Crimes Unit, the Tukwila Antf-Crime (TAC) team also faced staffing challenges. Two full tfme detectfves conducted investfgatfons into narcotfcs and human trafficking. One detectfve assigned the Valley Narcotfcs Task Force (VNET) dedicated tfme to the investfgatfon of larger scale narcotfcs investfgatfons within the region while also conductfng actfve investfgatfons with the City. In two joint investfgatfons, more than 12 pounds of methamphetamine, 12,000 fentanyl pills, 1 pound of fentanyl powder, a firearm, and several thousand dollars in cash were seized along with the arrest of mid -level drug dealers operatfng in King County. The unit’s narcotfcs interdictfon K9 Apollo team remained actfve with regional partners following recovery from a significant medical procedure and recertfficatfon through the Washington State Police Canine Associatfon and the Criminal Justfce Training Commission. In additfon to their daily dutfes, personnel from the Investfgatfons Division also attended to dutfes as members of the Valley SWAT Team, Valley Civil Disturbance Unit, Valley Hostage Negotfatfons Team, Valley Narcotfcs Enforcement Task Force, Valley Independent Investfgatfve Team, as well as multfple instructor positfons vital to the training of a modern law enforcement agency. The Professional Standards Unit (PSU) consists of a commander, a sergeant, and a training officer. The PSU is tasked with purchasing equipment, managing internal investigations, and conducting initial training to prepare new officers for field training. The training officer and the sergeant work together to coordinate training, make travel arrangements, purchase equipment, and make sure the department maintains the required number of hours of training. All members of the Tukwila Police Department achieved 24 hours of in-service training required by Washington State law. Officers continuously train to maintain weapons qualifications, overcome physical resistance, and safely operate emergency vehicles, along with many other courses to maintain core proficiencies. Most officers attend extra training to develop and maintain expertise in areas of law enforcement including gang enforcement, interview and interrogation techniques, SWAT, civil disturbance, crisis communications and intervention, as well as online crimes to name a few. In -house instructors/ trainers constantly attend training to maintain their certifications. This has led to an extremely well - trained staff that continue 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.  Two entry level officers were trained in PSU pre and post academy prior to entering the field training program. One lateral officer was hired and trained in PSU prior to beginning field training. The PSU division led by Commander Boyd worked throughout the year on the Tukwila Police Department becoming accredited through the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC). Through hard work by all member of the Tukwila Police Department, the department received accreditation! Accreditation will ensure that the Tukwila Police Department meets the highest standards and is in line with state and national policies and laws. It will not only guarantee quality service but helps with funding opportunities through grants. The division also ensured that officers received their second eight - hour class of patrol tactics instruction. This brought the majority of the officers up to 16 of the 24 hours needed to meet state law requirements in this area. PSU assisted the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) in testing the regional preventative maintenance program allowing departments to stay in compliance with the digital radio warranties. Developing a comprehensive reality-based training program continued to be a significant goal for the training cadre. PSU led the way in expanding outside agency training at the Tukwila Justice Center. This allowed Tukwila Police Department personnel to receive extra training at little to no cost to the agency. A s the pandemic rolled on into 2021, the Community Police Team (CPT) and Community Liaison officer (CLO) pivoted to adapt to the changing policing landscape. Despite the difficultfes and limitatfons due to COVID, the CPT managed to safely partfcipate in a record number of community meetfngs. Some of these meetfngs included the Cascade View and Foster Point neighborhoods, all SHAG buildings, as well as the Marvelle and Airmark Apartments among others. These meetfngs centered around criminal actfvity and nuisance issues specific to their neighborhood. One important goal for a community meetfng was to utflize collaboratfve strategizing to prioritfze and resolve criminal actfvity. During this process, community members worked hand in hand with their police department to determine their most pressing issues as well as develop the plans to combat it, giving the neighborhood a direct voice in how they would like to be policed. Another equally important goal was to put names and faces to badges, getting to know our officers on a personal level. In many communitfes, community members didn’t know the officers that patrol their neighborhoods. The Tukwila Police Department actfvely sought to close that gap through fervent engagement with the community. One important facet of the CPT’s many dutfes was coordinatfng the outreach and engagement with the homeless community for the City. The CPT and CLO spent countless hours throughout the year contactfng over 100 encampments and offering services and assistance to those in need. The CPT brought out partners with the Salvatfon Army, Catholic Community Services, and the Department’s own mental health professional Jackie Harris, during our contacts to offer housing, job training, mental health evaluatfons and addictfon assistance. The Tukwila Police Department was extremely thankful and proud of the wrap-around collaboratfve approach we were able to provide due to our robust partnerships. Special Operations DIVISION Special Operations DIVISION In September of 2021, the City of Tukwila began using fixed school speed zone cameras to enforce the 20 miles-per-hour school zone speed limit at Showalter Middle School and Foster High School. Warnings were issued for the month of September and then, on October 1, 2021, warnings stopped, and notfces of infractfon were issued. In September, there were 1441 warnings issued. In October, there were 701 notfces of infractfon issued. In November, 632 notfces of infractfon were issued. In December, 369 notfces of infractfon were issued. The school speed cameras only operate when the school zone flashing beacons are in operatfon, during normal school hours, in which students and staff will be coming and going from the area. If the flashing beacon is actfvated, then the cameras are operatfng. SCHOOL SPEED ZONE CAMERAS EMPLOYEES OF THE QU Lisa Harrison Training Officer Steve Donnelly Detective PROMOTIONS Detective Phil Glover was promoted to the rank of sergeant effective 7/23/19 Officer Andi Delic was promoted to the rank of sergeant effective 7/23/19 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Sergeant Zach Anderson Marcus Chin System/Network Administrator Jon Long Police Support Officer LIFE SAVING MEDALS Officer Kenneth Etheridge Deputy Police Chief Eric Lund Sergeant Josh Vivet Police Chief Eric Drever DISTINGUISHED SERVIC EMPLOYEES OF THE QUARTER Zach Anderson Sergeant Andi Delic Acting Commander Ryota Akimoto Detective Ambra Durbin Records Specialist Ryan McAdory Officer LIFE SAVING MEDALS Sergeant Adam Balcom Sergeant Isaiah Harris Officer Dakota Hodgson Officer Jarrett Wells Officer Aaron Zwicky Officer Kenneth Etheridge Officer Chris Daugherty MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL Officer Jon Thomas VALOR MEDAL Officer Josh Hinson CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION Officer Howard Kim Officer Ryan McAdory Officer Joseph Zaehler Officer Joseph Tran Detective Randy Rusness DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL Officer Eric Hines CRIME IN TUKWILA BUDGET The Tukwila Police Department submits its crime data through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). WASPC then sends 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 same categories are used, and the 2017 and 2018 data was updated to NIBRS standards in this report. The numbers reported here are pulled from the WASPC website; additional data points are researched for analysis. ONLY INCLUDES GENERAL FUND Expenditures 2021 Expenses Police Operations $ 15,485,743 Jail $ 1,276,212 Dispatch $ 1,160,308 King County Animal Control Services $ 99,017 Total Expenditures $ 18,021,280 Revenue Category 2021 Revenue Contracted Services $ 373,188 Grants $ 27,605 Response Generated $ 194,895 Total Revenues $ 595,688 Budget Category 2021 Budget Police Operations $ 15,927,973 Jail $ 1,087,076 Dispatch $ 1,133,816 King County Animal Control Services $ 137,800 Total Budget (Post Amendment) $ 18,286,665 *During the year, the department operated with seven frozen commissioned positions and one frozen non 2021 2020 2019 Population 21,299 21,229 20,198 Calls For Service 29,985 28,646 30,189 Crimes Against Persons Murder 2 3 2 Rape 25 31 24 Robbery 77 64 70 Aggravated Assault 72 50 61 TOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS 176 148 157 Crimes Against Property Arson 16 13 1 Burglary 220 223 184 Larceny 2,573 2,295 2,744 Auto Thefts 609 547 488 TOTAL CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY 3,418 3,078 3,417 COMPARATIVE TOTALS WITH 3- YEAR COMPARISON BUDGET ONLY INCLUDES GENERAL FUND 2021 Expenses 2020 Expenses 2019 Expenses $ 15,485,743 $ 15,323,581 $ 16,078,989 $ 1,276,212 $ 1,069,946 $ 1,626,355 $ 1,160,308 $ 1,174,997 $ 1,152,470 $ 99,017 $ 113,507 $ 105,182 $ 18,021,280 $ 17,682,031 $ 18,962,996 2021 Revenue 2020 Revenue 2019 Revenue $ 373,188 $ 98,904 $ 108,939 $ 27,605 $ 133,142 $ 240,355 $ 194,895 $ 158,082 $ 195,616 $ 595,688 $ 390,128 $ 544,910 ANNUAL BUDGET FIGURES 2021 Budget 2020 Budget 2019 Budget $ 15,927,973 $ 16,946,733 $ 16,502,365 $ 1,087,076 $ 1,100,146 $ 1,626,355 $ 1,133,816 $ 1,212,591 $ 1,177,353 $ 137,800 $ 131,250 $ 125,000 $ 18,286,665 $ 19,390,720 $ 19,431,073 *During the year, the department operated with seven frozen commissioned positions and one frozen non-commissioned position. 2021 2020 2019 Population 21,299 21,229 20,198 Budget 18,021,280 17,682,031 18,962,996 Police Staff: Commissioned 78 78 * 78 Non-Commissioned 21 21 * 20 Calls For Service 29,985 28,646 30,189 Traffic Citations/Infractions Issued 586 838 1,890 Reported Vehicle Accidents: Injury 154 149 209 Fatal 2 4 2 Non-Injury (not including hit-and-run) 383 292 428 Injury hit-and-run 17 7 23 TOTALS 556 452 662 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 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. 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. Police Administration Eric Drever, Chief of Police Eric Lund, Deputy Chief Todd Rossi, Commander Kraig Boyd, Commander Dale Rock, Commander Andi Delic, Acting Commander Rebecca Hixson, Senior Manager City Administration Allan Ekberg, Mayor David Cline, City Administrator 2021 City Council Council President Kate Kruller Council Member Verna Seal Council Member Kathy Hougardy Council Member De’Sean Quinn Council Member Thomas McLeod Council Member Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson Council Member Zak Idan