Kent police cite life‑saving actions, report crime declines and new patrol tech

Kent City Council heard a public safety update April 15 that included awards for four Kent Police Department officers, preliminary 2025 crime statistics showing drops in several categories compared with 2024, and descriptions of new patrol technology being put into service.

Chief Padilla told the council that officers Cody Blowers and Ryan Husby received life‑saving medals for responding to a Dec. 22, 2024, shooting at the Action Sports Bar on Second Place Southeast. "Officer Blowers applied a tourniquet" and Husby applied a second tourniquet when the first proved insufficient, Padilla said, and medics later reported the victim’s survival “would not have been feasible without the swift and decisive actions of officers Blowers and Husby.”

Padilla also described a second Dec. 22 incident in which Officers Matthew Litke and James Critichet entered an apartment at the Boulevard Apartments and pulled a woman back from a third‑floor window, preventing an apparent suicide attempt. The officers arranged for the woman to be taken for psychiatric evaluation, Padilla said.

On crime trends, Padilla said early 2025 data compare favorably to 2024, which itself included several five‑year lows. He told the council vehicle thefts were down about 55 percent and shootings down about 80 percent compared with the same period in 2024. He reported one homicide so far in 2025, a Feb. 7 death found on a trail near West Fenwick Park; he said investigators have identified a person of interest and the probe is ongoing.

Padilla briefed the council on two major technology deployments. Patrol vehicles now have front and rear dash cameras with infrared capability and integrated automatic license‑plate readers (ALPRs) that cross‑check plates against national databases for stolen vehicles, outstanding warrants and other hits. "More captured video means more evidence of what happened, more alerts to crimes and the ability to locate vehicles," Padilla said.

He also described department upgrades to the TASER 10. Compared with the department’s previous devices, the new units have a higher shot capacity, increased range and redesigned probes intended to penetrate heavy clothing, Padilla said. The devices include analytics and a warning tone that sounds when the device is activated. "When officers have less‑lethal tools that are effective, that means they don't have to escalate to lethal tools," Padilla told the council. "It is more effective, and it's gonna have better outcomes."

Padilla addressed camera activation and data storage: dash cameras are set to start automatically when patrol cars use lights and sirens and when body‑worn cameras are activated; TASER activation does not automatically trigger video capture, he said, citing the very large data volumes that automatic activation would create. He also said live streaming from in‑car cameras is available to leadership if needed in emergencies.

Council members used the report to highlight upcoming community events tied to public safety: Chief Padilla invited the public to a May 7 "Hops and Cops" community gathering at Harp Bar and Restaurant, and Council Member Michelle noted a drug take‑back event April 26 at City Hall for safe disposal of unused medications.

The council did not take formal action on the items reported; the presentations and awards were informational and ceremonial.

Ending: Council members applauded the honored officers and thanked dispatch and corrections staff mentioned earlier in the meeting. Padilla concluded by thanking the council for budgetary support that helped fund the new equipment.