5 articles about law enforcement staffing and funding challenges in Washington
Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization
This list of stories illustrates the pressure on law enforcement staffing and funding in Washington state. Agencies like the Pierce County Sheriff's Office face staffing gaps, contract tensions and calls for more competitive pay.
Local debates continue about technology use, such as Tacoma's adoption of ShotSpotter, and how public safety money should be spent. Many stories point to Washington's low rank for officers per capita and rising demand for police response.
Former Seattle police captain Keith Swank took his oath of office and was sworn in as sheriff in a crowded room Wednesday evening in Graham. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Peter Talbot
'It should come as no surprise that the number of law-enforcement officers in Washington has not kept pace with its growing population.' Opinion | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sen. Jeff Holy
ShotSpotter uses sensors to detect gunshots and dispatch police officers. Police officials say it will save lives when gunfire goes unreported. | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Peter Talbot
'I think this is about the sentiment that it shows toward police officers on the street: that we recognize that we're way far behind and we need to get caught up,' said Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter
Staffing levels at the Sheriff's Office haven't kept pace with the growth of the county's population, census and county data shows. | Published May 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Peter Talbot
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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