Arlington police report: staffing shortfalls, steep drop in vehicle thefts, and ongoing school-resource challenges
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Summary
The police chief reported four new vehicles, a $125,000 grant for barricade equipment, staffing at roughly 39 of 42 full-time equivalent positions, and a drop in reported vehicle thefts (from 108/109 to 48), which the chief linked in part to changes in pursuit rules and increased camera use; council and chief discussed school resource officer coverage and grant limitations.
Jonathan, the police chief, presented the departmentfourth-quarter report and highlighted staffing, equipment and crime trends. He said the department took delivery of four upfitted vehicles and received a grant of about $125,000 from the Stillaguamish Tribe to buy barricade equipment for special events. "We were awarded, a rather generous grant from the Stillaguamish ... in the amount of about a $125,000," the chief said.
On staffing, the chief said the department had hires and separations and currently faces vacancies: the report referenced roughly 39 of 42 FTE positions filled. He said the department declined to lower hiring standards and recently made conditional offers while several candidates move through background checks.
The chief highlighted a large drop in recorded vehicle thefts: 108 in 2023, 109 in 2024, and 48 in 2025. He attributed the decline to multiple factors, saying a change in the pursuit law and the use of camera systems (automated license-plate readers) have affected recovery and deterrence. "If you tell people you can't chase them, they're gonna steal cars," the chief said; he also urged that camera systems help catch offenders.
Council members pressed on whether contractors (for behavioral-health or DV-related work) are counted in the department's FTE total; the chief said those contractors are included in the department's FTE accounting but are not full-time sworn-officer positions. Members also questioned high call counts from the high school in some months; the chief said many of those calls are medical or behavioral-health related and noted that the school and city collaborate on a resource-officer arrangement when possible.
The chief warned that some federal grant opportunities are currently unavailable because of federal-state eligibility differences, which limits options to fund additional school-resource officers even where the school district has interest. He said the department is monitoring grant opportunities and would collaborate with the school district on staffing if funding were available.
Next steps: staff said it will continue recruitment, pursue applicable grants when eligible and return with operational updates as needed.
