The City of Lakewood is breathing a collective sigh of relief as it reports a full calendar year without a single homicide, a first in at least two decades. Highlighting the efficacy of municipal efforts, Lakewood Police Chief Patrick Smith conveyed, “Zero homicides in a year in any city is a great accomplishment,” in a statement obtained by KING 5.
Alongside this decrease in extreme violence, Lakewood saw a significant drop in other crimes. Burglaries plummeted by 42,8%, larcenies decreased by 18.1%, and motor vehicle thefts fell sharply by 53.8%, according to details shared by KOMO News. Smith attributes the decrease to various factors, including the implementation of new technology, more strategic officer work hours, as well as more robust community partnerships and policing strategies.
The tactics deployed by the Lakewood Police Department are varied but seem to center on technology and data to guide their hand. In a detailed description given to MyNorthwest, Chief Smith explained, “We added new technology, as in the Flock Safety system, to make sure that we are getting the alerts for stolen vehicles as they enter our city.” Acknowledging how a stolen vehicle often serves as a linchpin in further criminal activity, the department’s holistic approach tackles such root issues head-on…