Thursday, October 1, 2026
Olympia Police Department interim Chief Shelby Parker is going to present a public safety update to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
The update is expected to coveri crime trends, staffing challenges, jail services and the use of new surveillance technology.
According to a staff report, year-to-date crime data showed mixed results. The city recorded decreases in trespasses, auto thefts, robberies and burglaries in 2024, but felony and misdemeanor assaults increased.
To address the increase, the Olympia Police Department has launched targeted patrols in areas with high call volumes.
The committee is also going to hear about the police department's corrections contract with the Nisqually Indian Tribe, which began after Olympia closed its municipal jail in 2023.
The Nisqually Corrections Center offers expanded space, an outdoor recreation area, medical care and inmate programs. However, jail and medical expenses are projected to increase by 24% this year.
Staffing remains a challenge for the police department. The department has 88 commissioned positions: one chief, two deputy chiefs, six lieutenants, 13 sergeants and 66 officers.
Fourteen positions are currently vacant. In addition, 10 officers are unavailable due to academy and field training, and nine officers are on various forms of leave.
To maintain safety during staffing shortages, the police department is going to temporarily reassign officers from specialty units to patrol. Staffing is expected to stabilize by December, and hiring incentives are in place to support neighborhood policing needs.
The committee is also going to be briefed on the city’s adoption of Automated License Plate Readers. Funded through a Washington State Department of Commerce grant, the cameras were installed in August 2024 to combat auto theft, burglary and related crimes.
The police department said the technology has already contributed to multiple arrests. The cameras, supplied by Flock Safety, record vehicle information but do not capture personal or demographic data.
The police department's initiatives are expected to raise costs due to staffing, training, technology and corrections services. However, the department argues that effective crime prevention and careful management of demonstrations may reduce overall costs in the long run.
The committee meeting will begin a 5:30 pm via Zoom.
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BettyVerdammt
Is the interim chief also in bed with the assistant city manager?
Saturday, September 20, 2025 Report this
MamaBear
Sheriff Sanders' report on Thurston County is so much better than this report. Maybe Chief Parker could get some suggestions from him.
Saturday, September 20, 2025 Report this
ClownPenis88
I wonder if the judges and commissioners are not counting the laws broken through the court system in thurston county by the rcw laws and crimes and other violations that did happen and seems that they choose not to enforce. Talk about WASTE FRAUD and ABUSE to your own oaths of office. Thurston County is the biggest joke. They suck there own balls
Monday, September 29, 2025 Report this