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Police present staffing gains, expanded training and drone results in annual report
Summary
The police department reported improved staffing (to 16 sworn officers), expanded training (607 officer-hours in 2025), a growing volunteer program, and 79 total drone missions last year (72 in-city) with 12 mission 'successes'; the department also reiterated limits on immigration enforcement and described declines in reported level‑1 use‑of‑force incidents.
The Port Townsend Police Department presented its annual report to the council, highlighting staffing gains, training increases, new programs and crime-data trends.
A department official (speaker 8) said the force currently totals 16 sworn officers and described hiring and attrition during the previous year: 4 new hires and 7 resignations, including lateral moves and retirements. The department also reported recruits in training and plans to fill additional positions this year.
Training totals were emphasized: "In 2025, we had 607 hours of officer training," the official said, and the department cited roughly 2,750 hours of academy and field training related to new officers. Department staff said training improvements contributed to increased confidence during stops and investigations.
The department described program growth: a volunteer program that now counts 7 volunteers contributing 381 hours last year, and a drone program with two certified operators. Officials reported 79 drone missions in 2025 (72 in‑city), assisting other agencies in several missions; the department said 12 missions resulted in locating a person or leading to an arrest.
On use-of-force metrics, presenters said the department documented 34 level‑1 incidents in 2024 and 29 in 2025, with minor injuries in a subset of cases. The department emphasized increased documentation starting in 2023 and said some increases earlier reflected more complete reporting rather than worse outcomes.
The report also reviewed crime-statistics and operational goals: traffic stops and DUI detection rose alongside proactive enforcement, collisions reported to the state declined, and a 66% clearance rate for certain case types was described as notable given long periods of reduced staffing.
On immigration policy, the department reiterated that officers do not inquire into immigration status in noncriminal matters and will not provide nonpublic personal information to federal immigration authorities except as required by law. "Enforcement of immigration is not what we do," the presenter said.
During public comment, Julie Ackren (speaker 10) praised the library presentation and urged greater deployment of navigators or mental-health practitioners on responses involving individuals with behavioral health needs; officials acknowledged navigator roles and noted a hired navigator (AJ Fike) is working with the department.
The presentation concluded with department goals for 2026, including creating a community advisory board, expanding bike and drone certifications and training, and seeking accreditation.
