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Lake Forest Park Police present 2024 annual report; department marks retirements, promotions and new programs
Summary
Chief Harden and commanders reported falling property crime, staffing challenges and new programs including a canine unit, a UAV program and accreditation through WASPC; the council joined ceremonial retirement and a swearing-in for a promoted officer.
The Lake Forest Park Police Department presented its 2024 annual report to the City Council on May 8, highlighting declines in many property crimes, continued staffing pressures and program investments including a reintroduced K-9 unit, a UAV (drone) program, and a fourth WASPC accreditation cycle.
Chief Josh Harden (first reference) told the council the department recorded strong response times — averaging about two minutes — and credited community partnerships and proactive policing for a multi-year reduction in burglaries and other property crimes. Commander Diego Zanilla reported the department handled roughly 9,634 calls last year, a 2.5% increase from the prior year.
The department described three staffing challenges: recruiting qualified applicants, an aging officer cohort with several eligible to retire and the administrative burden of hiring. Harden said the department had 16 patrol officers, about 1.18 officers per 1,000 residents, and noted seven officers were eligible to retire within two years. “We must be mindful of asking too much of our staff,” Harden said.
Law-enforcement programs highlighted in the report included a canine unit funded by community donations — a Belgian Malinois named Bella — and the purchase of five drones to support search, investigation and public-safety missions. Commander Ross Adams said the investigations unit closed 84 cases in 2024 despite prolonged detective staffing shortages and that 61% of closed investigations resulted in arrest or filing of charges.
Harden also noted the department earned reaccreditation through WASPC (Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs) after a four-year process and described a continuing partnership with the Regional Crisis Response (RCR) program for mental-health crisis co-response; RCR reported 59 encounters in the city in 2024, 44 of which were linked to police-initiated calls in the department’s records system.
The council observed two personnel items during the meeting: a ceremonial retirement recognition for Sergeant Jason Becker, who the chief described as a 27-year department veteran, and the promotion and swearing-in of Officer Jason Benson to the rank of sergeant. Benson was administered the oath and given insignia in a ceremony at the council meeting.
The department also briefed the council on traffic enforcement and camera programs. Cameras operating at three red-light sites and two school-zone locations were credited as force multipliers; a 24/7 school-zone enforcement pilot near Brookside Elementary reduced average speeds to 22.84 mph and reported average violations at about 33.5 mph, while the new traffic unit — including a sergeant, two traffic officers and a traffic support officer — will increase enforcement capacity in 2025, the department said.
Chief Harden requested the council continue to evaluate vehicle replacement, staffing support and facility improvements — including a long-term solution for the department’s sally port and aging HVAC — to maintain response capacity and officer safety.
Why this matters: The annual report inventories public-safety performance, staffing risks and technology investments that affect response times, community policing and the city’s budget planning.
