Kent reports crime declines and staffing gains; mayor urges more officers and regional homelessness solutions

Mayor Dana Ralph told the audience the Kent Police Department was "fully staffed to budget" in 2024 and that the city saw declines in several crime categories for the first time since 2020.

Ralph provided specific figures: murders were down 36%, shootings down 13%, robberies down 21% and vehicle theft down 39%, and she said increased staffing contributed to faster 911 response times and more proactive patrols. She described a new Crime Reduction Unit targeting hot spots and said the department has expanded detectives and community-based units.

At the same time the mayor said Kent still lacks sufficient staffing for a city its size and called for sustained legislative support: "Simply put, we do not have enough police officers and support staff to provide the level of public safety our city deserves," she said, and added an estimate that about 35 additional officers would bring the city to average staffing levels.

Ralph described the department's use of community partners and co-responder models: Project B Free provides domestic-violence crisis intervention in multiple languages; FD CARES and other partners respond to mental-health crises; and settlement funds from nationwide opioid litigation fund programs such as community court at Kent Municipal Court. She said officers contacted 377 people in 2024 to offer services in outreach to people living unsheltered.

The mayor framed homelessness as a regional issue requiring common-sense policies and more resources and said the city is partnering with Catholic Community Services, Union Gospel Mission and Salvation Army for outreach, housing and services. She urged regional coordination rather than what she described as counterproductive mandates from Olympia.