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Milton public safety briefing: red-light program pending, shooting arrest, life-saving awards and staffing request
Summary
At the Sept. 2 Milton City Council meeting, staff updated the council on pending administrative-court approval for red-light enforcement, an arrest in a drive-by shooting, multiple life-saving responses by officers, and a request for a traffic enforcement position in the next budget.
MILTON, Wash. — City staff briefed the Milton City Council on multiple public-safety developments at the Sept. 2 meeting, including progress on a red-light enforcement program, a recent arrest in a drive-by shooting, several officer life-saving actions, and a forthcoming staffing request for traffic enforcement.
Pete Fernandez provided the update on the red-light program, saying the city is awaiting administrative-court permission and that staff has completed the required steps. He also described a recent drive-by shooting near a Spirit gas station (near Eleventh and Spirit), in which officers identified and took a suspect into custody after a short search; staff said officers recovered a firearm and booked the suspect on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment and an associated residential burglary in Bonney Lake.
Staff recounted multiple life-saving actions by officers: two officers were credited with performing CPR and administering Narcan at a suspected drug-overdose incident; two officers located a firearm used in the shooting and were recognized; and others received accommodations for bravery. Officer Wilcox, who was injured, remains in physical therapy and is expected to be light duty for two to three months.
Staff said they will propose an additional traffic-enforcement officer position in the next budget cycle to support the red-light program and overall traffic enforcement.
Discussion versus decision: The briefing was informational; council did not take formal action on staffing or enforcement policy at the meeting.
Context: Police and staff stressed the value of interagency cooperation; Fife and Edgewood officers assisted during the shooting response, staff said. Council members and staff encouraged residents to thank officers and drive carefully with schools resuming.
