Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia City Council addressed community concerns about federal immigration enforcement action, in which a member of the community was detained.
Interim Olympia Police Department (OPD) Chief Shelby Parker confirmed that immigration agents conducted an operation in Olympia under federal authority. She said the Olympia Police Department was not informed or involved in the operation that occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Mayor Dontae Payne opened the city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, by acknowledging community distress over the incident.
“We are all very troubled by this occurrence happening here in our community. We know that it has rocked many people who call Olympia home, and there’s a lot of fear, anger and frustration over what’s happened," he said.
According to Parker, a 911 call was received about 30 minutes after the incident. When police officers arrived at the location, all parties had already left.
Parker encouraged residents to call 911 immediately if they witness an enforcement action by unknown or masked individuals.
“Officers will work to verify whether those involved are legitimate law enforcement. If verified, OPD cannot intervene but will, if possible, remain in the area, and our Crisis Response Unit will respond to support families and individuals impacted by these incidents,” Parker said.
The police chief reiterated Olympia is a sanctuary city and federal immigration authorities do not have access to OPD systems or data, including the Flock Safety camera network. She said the city’s Flock program is configured with the strictest data privacy safeguards permitted under state law.
“By state law, city resolution, and department policy, OPD does not cooperate or coordinate with federal immigration enforcement,” Parker said.
Payne also addressed public concerns regarding Olympia’s use of Flock cameras, a vehicle license plate reader system that assists in criminal investigations.
He said while some residents have expressed frustration over the technology following the federal detention incident, the city's Flock contract includes explicit legal protections against immigration-related data use.
“We have a legal clause in our contract that states we do not permit usage of any of our data for purposes related to immigration enforcement,” Payne explained.
“We have also run an audit on the software and confirmed that the database has not been accessed by any federal agents or entities at all. That audit confirms that the usage of those cameras did not result in any detainments here in Olympia.”
Payne noted that Flock cameras have played a role in solving serious crimes.
“They have been useful in stopping vehicle thefts and have helped in incidents related to rape cases and murder as well," he said.
“This is not about surveillance, it is about a very specific public safety purpose,” the mayor added.
To further explain the city’s use of Flock technology, OPD will present a public briefing on the system’s privacy safeguards and data protections during a city council study session on Dec. 2.
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The_Armed_Gardener
Olympia is criminal in their inaction. What horrible people you all are, with your suicidal empathy on drugs and criminal activity. What is wrong with you people? What happened? It used to be clean, healthy, and friendly here. It was a hippie-happy-cool place, very vibrant. Why are you supporting the slow death of our beloved city? Why do we let the roads crumble, and why do our schools promote mental instability in our children? It's killing them and us. What is your end goal? Can you not see the direction things are going? Really? Look around. I don't think we can come back from this. You are killing us.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
JW
It's hard to take the city council's outrage seriously after even one casual drive through downtown and Martin Way.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
Took our family 6 YEARS to legally immigrate. Needed a: sponsor, place to stay, job, and health insurance. The rules are the same today. It was worth the wait.
I have volunteered for 3 organizations that help fight Human Trafficking. The number one cause is illegal immigration. In addition, modern day slavery is at an all time high too (ask yourself where do these people go?).
But the Democrats originally brought us slavery and the KKK. Now not wanting help with: crime, murder, mugging, drugs, ****, and more. They assassinated: Lincoln, JFK, MLK, Lennon, Kirk and shot folks like: Reagan and Trump.
Common sense please.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Illegal immigration is breaking federal law. By not supporting the arrest of those who are here illegally, the state, county and city are taking part in criminal activity. This has allowed a significant number of illegal individuals to reside in our area and participate in crime, especially cartel activity. That has been proven time and time again, not only in our area, but throughout the country. I have no problem with people coming to our country, but they have to go through the same process as any other immigrant. If they don’t, they have put themselves and their families in peril. Don’t blame ICE or Border Patrol for doing their jobs. Our local law enforcement agencies are doing us no favors by not assisting the federal agencies.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
hptrillium
There is no clear path to citizenship now. Immigrants who are following all the rules are being detained and deported by ICE. Citizens with brown skin are being detained in the worst possible jail conditions. Immigrants who provide us with food doing their jobs and have never committed a crime are being taken by ICE in a very cruel and disrespectful way. Families are being separated without being told where their loved one’s are taken. This is very wrong and immoral. I am so glad that our police are not aiding in this.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
Porter
Search your own hearts. There are better ways than violence. You should be ashamed of yourselves. They're coming for you next and you won't even see it.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
peterpumpkinhead
Maybe the government should focus on what could be a big driver of illegal immigration; employers who knowingly or through lack of due diligence, hire people who are here illegally. Might be more effective than the gestapo tactics now being used.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
Holley
I know firsthand that the majority of people being snatched from the streets and from reporting to Immigration officials in the middle of following the rules for steps to immigration are not criminals in any way. The way they are being treated once detained at Tacoma Detention Center and other such centers violate basic human rights, Even pregnant women have been held there with very poor nutrition, and no prenatal care. This is a deplorable situation. Racial profiling drives the poorly trained ICE officers who are violent and aggressive. I am glad to live in a Sanctuary City. ICE is not welcome here.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
I see Honestyandrealityguy failed high school history.
Party platforms flipped in 1964 after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, known as the Southern Strategy. This is why you don't see Democrats flying Confederate flags, and why people of color regularly vote Democrat.
Modern Republicans are the party of slavery, the KKK, and neo nazis/neo-Confederates.
https://www.history.com/articles/how-the-party-of-lincoln-won-over-the-once-democratic-south
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
The_Armed_Gardener - No, but masked agents operating without warrants or identification is criminal. Olympia actually cares about people, something MAGA has shown to be the opposite. Fix your heart.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
Snevets
Thank you @CobraCommander for setting the record straight.
If more folks would educate themselves on what immigrants have to go through to become legal citizens they'd think before they speak.
Thank you Mayor Payne and the council.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
Thank you Cobra Commander, you always have a great answer to the MAGA nonsense
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
PissAnt
We aren't ALL distressed over the recent action as Dontae Payne says. Some of us understand that criminals are actively being removed from our society and we like it and welcome it. No American Citizens are being deported. If you are a citizen you have nothing to worry about. If you are not a citizen and you are an illegal alien then you may want to think twice about being here. This works as a deterent more than an active removal. Rhetoric matters, Rhetoric slows down the immigrant rates. Trumps Rhetoric and his border actions have solved the "Border Crisis" that Democrats claimed was unsolvable. Maybe for them it was unsolvable because they aren't strong enough to endure the criticism. Trump can handle the whining, crying and angry criticism of the Religious Progressives.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
StreetCleaner
I think the bigger concern is the latest journalist exposés on this very topic and many city discussions around it all over the country. Feds are gaining access to the Flock data both directly and indirectly... period. It has been reported in King County cities and Yakima County cities discovering there was access without their knowledge within the logs. Many paused their use then. There are reports that the Feds have gained access to data via AWS and Amazon has shared data in the past due to loopholes with not requiring a warrant. No guaranty, no control.
Stop listening to the Flock Sales team and their Communications Director, have seasoned security folks actually perform an third-party independent deep audit. Prove it. Can't trust a company that has something to lose to tell the truth, they need to provide for investors and protect liability at all costs. Especially when everyone in the industry knows they don't enforce MFA by default and that enforcement customers' logins were stolen/exposed (Hudson Rock, Benn Jordan, 404 Media, etc...). Compromised within is what every large agency dreads, internal threat actors.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
ClownPenis88
Thurston County Courts can’t even enforce the state law rcw , yet alone arrest criminals in violation of the state laws that have been proven in the courts. Karma works in mysterious ways and judgement day will come 10 fold against these courts not enforcing the state laws
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
PissAnt - Trump is a pedophile and a serial rapist who should be in prison.
If everyone accused you of *** crimes, and you had a document proving your innocence, wouldn't you release it?
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Arrest and deport the city council, and cobra commander and snevets, too.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
Southsoundguy, I'd like to see you try
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
@ The Armed Gardener. YOU obviously know NOTHING Of The Counter Culture Aka friendly Hippys, They DISLIKE Authoritarianism VERY Much. They Help all People.. Id SAY WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU? Your the Fked up one for sure. Do you Even Know what COUNTER Culture Means? DENSE!!!
Friday, November 28, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
SS GUY hAS HIS Balls in his mouth again!!! FKIN TURD BALL.
Friday, November 28, 2025 Report this