Olympia Police Department reports lower crime rates, staffing shortages persist

The Olympia Police Department (OPD) reported declines in several major crime categories in 2025, while continuing to face staffing shortages, data showed.

Police Chief Shelby Parker presented a public safety update to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, May 6, discussing crime data, staffing challenges and employee wellness initiatives.

According to the crime data presented during the meeting, several categories declined between 2023 and 2025. Auto thefts dropped to 110 reported incidents in 2025, while commercial burglaries fell to 120 incidents. Residential burglaries decreased to 117 incidents.

Parker attributed the downward trend to improved vehicle security technology, increased use of investigative technology and collaborative regional enforcement efforts.

“Our Special Investigations Response Team, the unit that we developed in the middle of last year, is having a significant impact on our regional crime trends,” said Parker, adding the unit targets chronic offenders, who commit hundreds of crimes across the region.

The team was launched in partnership with the Lacey Police Department in mid-2025. The unit focuses on felony assaults, robberies, fraud and organized retail theft across the region. Parker said the team arrested more than 22 chronic offenders during its first six months of operation.

The department also reported no homicides in 2025.

Reported rape incidents increased to 44 incidents. Parker said the rise may reflect improved survivor support and expanded reporting options through the Seek Then Speaking reporting tool, which allows survivors to privately document incidents and explore support sources before deciding whether to formally report to police.

According to the OPD data, 74 percent of assault and rape cases involved suspects known to the victims.

Juveniles accounted for only 2.2 percent of all arrests in 2025. Parker said the data suggest youths are not the primary driver of overall enforcement activity in Olympia.

Staffing, recruitment

Parker said the OPD continues to face staffing shortages despite ongoing hiring efforts.

The department is authorized for 129 full-time positions, including 88 commissioned officers and 41 noncommissioned staff, who support records, evidence, administration, outreach and other specialized services.

At the end of 2025, the department had 22 vacancies across the organization. By March 2026, vacancies decreased to 13 following recent hires, including police officers and Crisis Response Unit (CRU) staff.

Parker said the number could drop to 11 if two additional officer applicants successfully complete the hiring process.

She said staffing recovery remains difficult because newly hired officers typically require about 12 months of academy and field training before becoming fully operational.

She also described the department’s stringent hiring standards. She noted out of 129 applicants in the first quarter of 2026, only seven advanced to the board interview stage.

“While that level of interest is encouraging, we have retained our high standards,” Parker said. “We believe that our community deserves the very best in policing, and we are not going to reduce those standards.”

Parker said applicants are frequently screened out for issues involving dishonesty, aggression, substance use, domestic violence disclosures or impulse control concerns.

Despite staffing pressures, Parker said employees continue to maintain essential public safety services, often working long hours to cover minimum staffing requirements.

The department handled a total of 53,664 calls for service in 2025, more than 3,600 public records requests and about 6,642 reports filed.

One of the largest areas of growth involved the CRU, which responded to 5,904 contacts in 2025. It was almost double the number recorded in 2023.

The CRU, which consists of noncommissioned and unarmed behavioral health professionals, responded independently in 81 percent of the incidents in 2025.

“These teams often resolve behavioral health crises without criminal justice involvement,” Parker said. “This work helps reduce repeat calls for service, improves outcomes for vulnerable individuals, and allows patrol officers to remain available for emergent public safety.”

Committee Chair Dani Madrone, who represents the Olympia City Council, inquired how OPD’s staffing challenges compare regionally.

Parker said staffing remains widespread nationally and statewide, with many officers reconsidering the profession because of its stress and risks.

“We are at a time where folks are evaluating the risks of this profession and what other options are available," she said.

Parker also emphasized the department has been investing in officer wellness, saying first responders regularly face traumatic situations and chronic stress that can affect both mental and physical health.

The department maintains a 14-member peer support team, and partners with the Counseling Team International to provide crisis support and confidential counseling services for employees.

OPD also works with Ready Rebound and Sigma Tactical Wellness to provide medical care, injury recovery support and cardiovascular health screenings for staff.