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Renton Police outline 2026 engagement calendar, youth and senior programs
Summary
The Renton Police Department told council it has 52 engagement dates on the calendar for 2026, including youth and senior academies, a new 'Let's Talk' series, community academies and the Battle of the Badges on Dec. 12, 2026. Staff highlighted outreach formats intended to reach diverse neighborhoods.
Megan Black, presenting for the department’s community engagement lead, summarized the police department’s 2026 outreach calendar and programs, saying the department has 19 proactive engagements planned and "on the calendar to date, have 52 engagement dates within the police department." She said events are a mix of planned and organic activities designed to reach diverse parts of the city.
Black described school partnerships for Red Ribbon Week, a senior public‑safety mini series addressing elder fraud and scams, and a reduced‑scope youth academy this year with a separate alumni meet for graduates. She highlighted novel efforts aimed at rapport-building: an officer-led Dungeons & Dragons series for middle‑school students and a barbershop program run with Mentor Seattle that creates nonconfrontational settings for discussion.
The department’s marquee event, Battle of the Badges, is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2026; Black said last year’s event drew roughly 4,500 attendees and up to 30 participating public-safety agencies. The department also runs a spring Shredathon and drug take‑back, scout night co-hosted with the Renton Regional Fire Authority, and neighborhood 'Let's Talk' visits by chiefs and command staff.
Councilmembers asked how community groups can request visits, and Black said residents can apply online or email the department; she agreed to make the 'Let's Talk' link more prominent on the city community-engagement page. Questions included offering events at a variety of times, multilingual access and ride‑along policies; Black said the department will accommodate requests when possible and that some activities (ride‑alongs) require case‑by‑case approval.
Council praised the outreach work and suggested widening promotion and scheduling to reach more residents. The committee did not take formal action on any policy during the update.
