In the News - Public Safety
Below are recent news articles that MRSC has collected about public safety issues, with an emphasis on local governments in Washington State.
All links go to external websites. The dates listed below indicate the date they were re-posted to the MRSC website, not necessarily the date of original publication. Please note that these links were valid at the time of their original posting, but because websites and addresses may change, we cannot guarantee that all links still work.
Whatcom County releases data tracking site in line with Justice Project objectives (My Bellingham Now, April 16, 2026)
Seattle police begin Neighborhood Resource Officer program after successful pilot in park (MyNorthwest, April 9, 2026)
Spokane may need to hire dozens of public defenders (The Center Square, April 2, 2026)
Washington adds safeguards for Flock cameras (Washington State Standard, March 31, 2026)
Some Bellingham alleys may close to curb crime, with nearby businesses at a ‘tipping point’ (Cascadia Daily News, March 24, 2026)
Five years since the Blake decision in Washington state (Cascade PBS, March 18, 2026)
Sunnyside to raise monthly utility fee to $22.40 as emergency service costs climb (KIMA, March 11, 2026)
Kennewick police to propose ordinance on Bitcoin ATM regulation (NBC Nonstop Local News, March 9, 2026)
Graffiti-removal effort targets downtown Ellensburg (Ellensburg Daily Record, March 6, 2026)
Bellevue reports major crime drop in 2025 as police-community partnerships expand (KOMO, March 3, 2026)
Winthrop asks WDFW for help with trapping, relocating wild turkeys (Methow Valley News, March 3, 2026)
Lynnwood becomes one of the 1st in the state to terminate Flock contract (Everett Herald, February 24, 2026)
Whatcom County Council hears update on flood recovery plan ahead of key presentation (My Bellingham Now, February 17, 2026)
Everett ordinance would make unpermitted food stands a misdemeanor, allow seizures (KOMO, February 9, 2026)
Program embeds mental health professionals with first responders (Snohomish County Tribune, February 4, 2026)
‘A chance to give back’: Safety City remains a Lewis County tradition for students, public safety professionals (The Chehalis Centralia Chronicle, February 3, 2026)
Illegal pop-up taco stands are coming back, WA health officials have a plan (Tri-City Herald, January 28, 2026)
South Whidbey Fire/EMS unveils new training structure (Whidbey News-Times, January 28, 2026)
Some 911 calls in SnoCo being triaged with AI (Snohomish County Tribune, January 23, 2026)
Ban of kratom comes back before Cle Elum City Council (Ellensburg Daily Record, January 16, 2026)
DNR grants NCW fire districts surplus wildfire engines (NCW Life Channel, January 14, 2026)
SnoCo offers programs to assist in flood mitigation and recovery (Everett Herald, January 8, 2026)
How Bainbridge Island prepares for extreme winter weather (Bainbridge Island Review, January 5, 2026)
Toppenish Police Department’s new building improving its operations (Apple Valley News, January 5, 2026)
Governor Ferguson outlines significant flooding impact statewide (NBC Nonstop Local News, December 18, 2025)
Whatcom, Skagit floods resurrect painful memories of past disasters (Cascadia Daily News, December 12, 2025)
Oak Harbor maps out ‘stay out of designated area’ (Whidbey News-Times, December 9, 2025)
Wenatchee Police Department shuts off Flock cameras after public record ruling (NCW Life Channel, December 8, 2025)
King County sees rise in unpermitted food vendors (Kent Reporter, December 4, 2025)
Washington lawmakers want to regulate license plate readers (Washington State Standard, December 2, 2025)
‘Gold standard’: Vancouver’s regional police academy receives highest score ever recorded by governing organization (The Columbian, December 1, 2025)
Washington state cities turn off license plate reader cameras amid ruling on data access (GeekWire, November 18, 2025)
In 2021 an ambulance ride in Spokane was $975. Next year it will be more than 5 times higher (The Spokesman-Review, November 17, 2025)
AI tools for law enforcement are proliferating. Now cities and states are setting guardrails for their use. (Smart Cities Dive, November 14, 2025)
Pre-arrest diversion program for low-level crimes debuts in Poulsbo (Kitsap Daily News, November 12, 2025)
Federal Way approves expansion of Flock Safety cameras (Federal Way Mirror, November 7, 2025)
Chelan County Fire District 3 launches Community Fire Brigade (The Leavenworth Echo, November 6, 2025)
Olympia and Tumwater eye expansion of CARES Program (JOLT, November 3, 2025)
Spokane City Council outlines plan for funding distribution after mayor declares emergency (KREM2, November 3, 2025)
Skamania County eyes penalties as it ties rescues record (The Chronicle, October 31, 2025)
Lewis County Juvenile Court engages with youth early and often (The Chronicle, October 29, 2025)
Flock Safety setting allowed U.S. Border Patrol access to Wenatchee Valley license plate data without police knowledge (NCW Life Channel, October 28, 2025)
Immigration enforcement agencies accessed WA license plate data through city Flock cameras, report finds (KUOW, October 23, 2025)
Police chiefs say the nation’s rhetoric has become dangerous. They’re calling for a reset. (Smart Cities Dive, October 22, 2025)
Whitman County Sheriff’s Office receives $15,000 grant (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, October 22, 2025)
Broad, bipartisan task force in Spokane County hopes compromise criminal justice tax could succeed where jail tax failed (The Spokesman-Review, October 2, 2025)