Their advice: think twice.

Today, Jan. 24, the Tacoma City Council will address whether to lay off 56 police officers, and possibly another 44 next month, in order to close a $31 million gap in the city’s budget.

But the long-term effects and costs could far outweigh the short-term advantages, according to “Community Policing Strategies and Effectiveness in Reducing Crime: A Position Paper to the Tacoma City Council.

(more...)

(more...)

Image from Stellar Mart robbery.

By Lt. Chris Lawler, Lakewood Police Department

Lakewood Police, Tacoma Police, and the Lacey Police Department are looking for information on an armed robbery suspect who has hit businesses in all three jurisdictions. (Images from Stellar Mart robbery above and below. Video clip can be seen on our Facebook page).

The first robbery that occurred in Lakewood was on December 27, 2011 at 10:29 PM at the Stellar Mart located at 7019 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W.  The victim clerk reported that a mixed race (white/black) male came into the business and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him, demanding money.  The suspect was further described as being 5’10”, 180 pounds, wearing sunglasses, a grey hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, gloves, and what appears to be a bandanna covering his face.  The suspect fled the business on foot and was not located.

(more...)

At approximately 11:22 PM, on December 13th, the 7-11 located at 10814 Pacific Highway S.W. was robbed at gunpoint by three subjects wearing masks.  We believed this to be related to a similar armed robbery to the Union 76 gas station (13100 block of Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W.) that occurred on 12-12-11, where there were three suspects wearing masks.  The victim clerk described one of the males as wearing a Spiderman mask.  A possible suspect vehicle in that robbery was described as a newer silver 2 or 4 door vehicle.

(more...)

Approximately 25 police officers, sheriff's deputies and state troopers will be looking for impaired drivers as part of a special "Night of a Thousand Stars" holiday DUI patrol.

(more...)

Lakewood Police arrest serial robbery suspect after Lakewood Subway robbery.

On 12-11-11, at around 7:00 PM, Lakewood PD arrested the suspect responsible for the string of 30 robberies that started in May and had occurred all over Pierce County.

Lakewood Detectives and Investigators caught Joshua Nitschke and Cassandra Koepke after Nitschke robbed the Subway store located at 10518 South Tacoma Way SW on Sunday night.  Lakewood Detectives and Investigators were watching the Subway restaurant when Nitschke went in to commit the robbery.   LPD was out in Lakewood watching various Subway stores and Little Caesar’s Pizza restaurants, hoping to catch the robber in the act.

(more...)

(Incident took place 11/25/11 around 1:00 pm at our Orchard St. home ... man involved was an extremely short Latino/Hispanic person probably 4' 6"  ... when he left our home he had gotten essentially all of the cash we had (Barbara had just gotten $40 of $75 taken ... at Fred Meyer that morning.)

A Latino/Hispanic man came to our home yesterday, Friday, somewhere around 1:00 pm.  He rang the doorbell a bunch of times before Barbara got to the door.   She did open the door to speak with him.   He began a litany of frantic conversation saying he was our neighbor and he hated to ask but urgently needed our help!  ... said he had locked himself out of his car ... and said police said he must move car immediately.  (he didn't tell Barbara where car was but said police couldn't help him get it unlocked ... police could call whomever they work with but would be more expensive  ...  much cheaper if he called a locksmith directly himself.  He told Barbara he had money at home nearby but if she could give him the money now he would get car unlocked & bring money right back.

(more...)

Two-thirds of the medical services provided to Special Commitment residents are already done through contracts with providers for on-island services. But the SCC serves a unique population in a unique location. The SCC offers treatment to the nearly 300 individuals who have been found to meet legal criteria as sexually violent predators.

(more...)

Pierce County Drug Court is incorporating the use of Skype internet technology to the Review Hearing process for participants who attend inpatient drug and alcohol treatment outside of Pierce County.

Pierce County Drug Court adheres to the 10 "Key Components," developed by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, that are designed to provide courts with a model that can be adapted to fit the specific needs of the community. The seventh Key Component states that "ongoing judicial interaction with each participant is essential."

(more...)

(more...)

The Lakewood Police Department is investigating an abduction and attempted rape that occurred in the early morning hours of August 14, 2011 in the Woodbrook neighborhood of Lakewood.

The suspect jumped into the victim’s vehicle and forced her at gunpoint to drive to a more secluded area where he attempted to rape her. During the sexual assault, the suspect punched the victim repeatedly in the face causing significant injury. The suspect inadvertently honked the horn in the victim’s vehicle during the assault, alerting a neighbor, and causing the suspect to flee.

(more...)

Story by Joseph Boyle. Photos by Joseph & Kjeri Boyle.

When you bring up the topic of guns, you are likely to garner a wide variety, and at times extreme, reactions.

Some people are thought to be gun nuts.  To them there is no such thing as owing too many guns. Some people hate guns and break out into a pimply rash before they start to hyperventilate at the sight of a gun.

(more...)

The remains found in rural Pierce County in March of 2011 have been positively identified from dental records as Alfred Keith Roberts (left) 02-21-61. Roberts was also known as "Kool Aid" and is confirmed to be the victim in the Lakewood "Torture Killing" case that occurred in July of 2010 at an apartment in the 3500 block of 82nd Street South. Lakewood Homicide Detectives have arrested five subjects in connection with the homicide of Roberts and the case is still ongoing.

I love a glass a wine with a fine meal.  Hey, I love a glass of wine with a McDonald’s burger.

When I was younger, in the 1960’s, I drank professionally and maintained that pace for over a quarter of a century.

That was then and now is now.  Today, each and every one of us should know better than to drink and drive.  Enjoy drinking.  Enjoy driving.  Just do not mix the two.

(more...)

TACOMA, WA – Today Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frederick Fleming sentenced Dorcus Allen, 40, to 420 years in prison for his involvement in the shooting deaths of four Lakewood Police officers on November 29, 2009. This sentencing brings to a close the prosecution of seven defendants who aided Clemmons before and after he murdered Lakewood Police Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Gregory Richards.

(more...)

(more...)

On 05-15-11, at around 0930 hours, an unknown subject entered the Little Church on the Prairie located at 6310 Motor Avenue Southwest.  The church was occupied and a service was in progress.  This unknown male went into an office and stole a satchel containing a computer, a cell phone, and then stole some cash from a purse.  The suspect was captured on the church surveillance system taking the satchel and pulling his hood up over his head as he walked out.  The suspect is described as a white male in his twenties, 5’8”, 170 pounds, medium build, with short blonde looking hair.  The suspect appeared to be wearing a black jacket with a white stripe across the back and purple lining, with light colored pants.  Lakewood Police are looking for any information on this suspect or this case.  Tips can be called into the Lakewood Police Station 253-830-5000 or anonymously at Pierce County Crimestoppers 253-591-5959.

(more...)

The multi-agency patrol shut down three underage drinking parties in recent weeks, which resulted in more than 50 arrests for minor in possession, DUI or providing a house for an underage party. Most of those arrested were age 18 or younger.

(more...)

(more...)

(more...)

This Saturday night, America's Most Wanted will featura the story of Johnnie Brown, an accused child rapist/ drug dealer from Lakewood. Here is the link to the story on our website: http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=66805.

The Lakewood Police Department reported Friday, April 8 that Maalo Samaota was taken into custody Friday afternoon by the U.S. Marshalls in the Portland, Oregon area. He is currently in custody on a Lakewood PD murder warrant in the Multnomah County Jail. Lakewood Homicide Detectives have traveled to Oregon to question him about the homicide.  The extradition process will be started this week. Following is an April 6 news release with a bit more information.

(more...)

Another call was made at 10:30 PM from a group of citizens who stated they had found a body inside Wards Lake Park. Arriving officers located the victim, Elias Lopez Lopez (27 years old), dead inside the park from a gunshot wound.

(more...)

Sometime overnight on Tuesday, March 14, thieves cut through the chains securing a Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat job site located at 1102 South Shirley Street in Tacoma. The development called Founders Circle will soon be home to six low income families who have partnered with Habitat to purchase a simple, decent and affordable home with a zero interest mortgage.

(more...)