Washougal police report higher call volume in 2024, emphasize fentanyl dangers and jail capacity pressures

Chief Zane presented the Washougal Police Department’s 2024 annual report at the council’s April 14 work session, saying department workload increased substantially in 2024 and that several operational pressures will shape 2025 planning.

Lede and nut graf

The chief told council the department’s calls for service rose into the upper 12,000s in 2024 — a level similar to 2019 — and that the department had two homicides in 2024. He attributed part of the workload increase to population growth and to legislative changes that restored enforcement of some drug‑related offenses in 2024. “Our workload went up quite a bit in 2024, and I would expect that to continue to increase in 2025 and moving forward,” the chief said.

Key findings and numbers reported

- Calls and crimes: The department reported calls moving from the 10,000s into the upper 12,000s in 2024; Daniel (who later accessed records) noted 2019 calls were about 12,500. The department recorded two homicides in 2024 (both incidents with arrests, the chief said).

- Theft and vehicle crime: Theft remains a substantial portion of call activity. The chief noted a downturn in some theft categories after enforcement and disruption of organized catalytic converter theft operations in the region; police said arrests and manufacturer changes reduced that trend.

- Drug enforcement and fentanyl: The chief explained that some drug offenses returned to enforceable statutes in mid‑2024, but noted Washington law requires progressive referrals to treatment before some prosecutions; he described fentanyl as an acute and “extraordinarily deadly” risk in the community. He said officers now avoid presumptive drug‑test kits for safety, use sealed containers and carry naloxone (Narcan) for overdoses.

- Arrests vs. incidents and evidence workloads: The presentation distinguished incidents from arrestable crimes and explained why some incidents do not result in arrests (insufficient probable cause, victim decisions, or no known suspect). The department is seeing more public‑records requests for body‑worn camera footage (23 requests), which require time‑consuming redaction work; staff has added a records position to handle the volume.

- Jail capacity and custody: Chief Zane described persistent overcrowding at the Clark County Jail and said the county facility now holds a smaller inmate population than in prior years; as a result Washougal sometimes uses post‑trial housing contracts with other counties for longer incarcerations. The chief said the county’s constrained capacity affects local pretrial and sentencing detention options.

Operational priorities and equipment

The chief listed 2025 priorities including reaccreditation (four‑year cycle), developing replacement schedules for overdue critical equipment, a fleet study and a multiyear vehicle replacement plan (current city policy replaces patrol vehicles at six years). He also emphasized patrol response goals: the department aims to keep first‑officer-on‑scene times for Priority 1 and Priority 2 calls under five minutes and continues to prioritize urgent calls when staffing is limited.

Council questions and areas for follow‑up

Council members asked about the effect of tunnel cameras on vandalism investigations and whether arrests resulted from camera evidence; the chief said upgraded tunnel cameras had led to useful investigative images and at least one arrest but are not routinely monitored unless there is a police incident. Council also raised speeding concerns on residential streets; the chief recommended a mix of enforcement, radar trailers and engineering solutions and noted the city’s collision data is maintained by Washington State Patrol.

Ending

The chief said accreditation, equipment replacement schedules and fleet planning will be part of the department’s work in 2025. He thanked staff and noted that while some crime categories improved, fentanyl and jail capacity remain significant operational challenges for the department.