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Fife police cite proactive enforcement gains, WADEPs compliance in quarterly update
Summary
Fife Police Chief Newman told the council the department is seeing declines in serious crime so far this year, increased proactive traffic enforcement and compliance with the statewide WADEPs use-of-force reporting system; buildings classified as chronic nuisance (Kings Motor Inn) are being pursued with property management and legal staff.
Police Chief Newman told the Fife City Council on May 26 that the department’s first-quarter metrics show improved proactive enforcement and that the agency is in compliance with Washington’s WADEPs reporting requirements.
“Data is great when it's on your side,” Newman said, noting Fife had recorded no homicides year-to-date in 2026 and describing substantial increases in enforcement activity compared with the same period last year: vehicle stops were up about 87%, vehicle infractions up 129% and criminal traffic citations up 159% for January–April comparisons.
Newman emphasized that the department’s proactive posture — including targeted operations such as “Operation Pacific Sweep” on Pacific Highway — has resulted in seizures and enforcement actions the chief described as contributing to community safety. He displayed one example of large amounts of contraband seized during operations.
On WADEPs, the statewide data-collection mandate for reportable uses of force, Newman said Fife was an early adopter and that from January through April the department had “no reportable uses of forces” recorded in WADEPs.
The chief told the council the Kings Motor Inn had exceeded the city’s chronic-nuisance threshold; staff have engaged property management and the city attorney’s office to begin the legal process for nuisance designation and to reduce calls for service at that location.
Newman also outlined World Cup (FIFA) planning at a regional level, saying Fife had no blocked hotel rooms and no intelligence suggesting a large influx to Pierce County, but he and the department were coordinating with regional and federal partners on contingency planning. He noted staffing remains a focus as some retirements loom and the department continues lateral and academy recruitment.
Community-outreach staff Danny summarized positive public events (Hooping for Heroes, polar plunge, Torch Run) and urged councilmembers to help promote event information to increase attendance.
Next steps: the chief said staff would continue enforcement work, engagement with property managers for chronic nuisance properties, and interagency planning for regional events; councilmembers asked for more detail on chronic-nuisance thresholds and operational metrics.
