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Newcastle police chief to retire; quarterly crime report shows declines in several categories, detective details multiple recent arrests
Summary
Chief Kajahiro announced this was his final meeting before retirement; the police quarterly report showed declines in property crimes and crimes against persons, and Detective Ford summarized several investigations including a significant burglary spree solved with flock camera evidence and cases involving identity theft and fraud.
Newcastle Police Chief Kajahiro told the council on Oct. 21 that the meeting would be his last before retirement; council members and staff thanked him for his service.
Chief Kajahiro and Detective Ford presented a quarterly crime report with data through the third quarter. Patrol statistics showed declines in several categories compared with the prior year: property crimes down about 32% (from 292 to 199 reports), crimes against persons down about 30% (from 37 to 26), and reductions in vehicle-theft reports when compared to recent years (24 reports this year). Burglaries were mixed: combined residential and commercial burglary counts were reported as 30 this year, with storage-locker burglaries identified as a notable component.
Detective Ford provided case summaries for several investigations that resulted in arrests or active charges. He described a multi-agency investigation of a series of burglaries in which a vehicle identified through flock camera footage was tied to more than 40 burglaries; investigators followed the vehicle into neighboring jurisdictions and developed leads that resulted in a suspect charged with multiple felonies and gross misdemeanors. Ford also described break-ins at the Newcastle Starbucks and the library, a case involving hot liquid thrown at an Overlake clinic employee, several identity-theft cases where suspects attempted to use victims’ cards at local businesses, and an occupied burglary where suspects left a crowbar that will be DNA tested.
Ford highlighted the department’s community programs launched or continued during the quarter, including a newly implemented Police Explorer Program for ages 14–21, the Renton youth police academy (grades 6–8), “Sundays with a Cop,” block-watch meetings, national night out and Newcastle Days.
Council members thanked Chief Kajahiro for his service and praised Detective Ford and department personnel for investigative work. Chief Kajahiro and Detective Ford encouraged residents to guard against fraud schemes commonly reported in the quarter, such as PIN-solicitation scams and mail-based schemes.
