OUR PURPOSE: Words matter, and our Purpose reflects that. If an Officer sees their job as “law enforcement” they will go out looking to enforce the law. But if they were told that their job was “to protect the vulnerable from harm,” would they protect people from those who would break the law?
To protect the vulnerable from harm
Our Mission Statement:The Department’s Mission Statement seeks to describe the organization’s purpose, focusing on what the Department does and its role in the community.
- Preserve life
- Preserve peace
- Preserve property
Our Vision Statement: The vision of the Arlington Police Department is to be a leader in law enforcement through strong community partnerships, professionally developed employees, enhanced technology, and strategic succession planning.
Our Organization Values: Organization Values describe the spirit by which the Department approaches its work. Committee discussion emphasized the importance of these in distinguishing what defines the Department, perhaps distinguishing it from other police departments. To avoid dilution, the Department limited itself to a small number of values that focused on what matters most:
CHIEF’S MESSAGE:
Dear Residents of Arlington,
As your Police Chief, I am honored to present the Arlington Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report. This past year, our department has demonstrated unwavering dedication to our community, underscored by our active engagement in numerous outreach efforts. Our officers have maintained a visible presence at community events, contributing significantly to programs such as the Citizens Academy and National Night Out. These initiatives are just a few examples of our commitment to building trust and fostering strong community ties. In 2024, we achieved a major milestone by reaching our staffing goals, a testament to our commitment to enhancing service delivery and safety for every Arlington resident. Additionally, we proudly achieved state accreditation status, a major professional achievement that underscores our adherence to the highest standards of police practice.
Our department continues to balance investments in our personnel and cutting-edge technologies to not only enhance the capabilities and well-being of our staff but also to improve the safety and quality of life for our community. By integrating advanced technologies like video analytics and artificial intelligence, we are setting the stage for even more effective community policing.
Building upon the trust and strengthening the partnerships we have within our community remain our top priorities. These efforts are essential for making impactful and meaningful differences in the lives of the people we serve.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited about the opportunities to continue this trajectory of success and innovation. Together, we will strive to maintain a safe, peaceful, and thriving Arlington.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in your Arlington Police Department.
Jonathan Ventura
Service Levels:
In 2024, the Patrol Division responded to 27,551 calls for service. They made 121Driving Under Influence (DUI) arrests, conducted 3,121 traffic stops, investigated 719 traffic crashes and issued 1,185 traffic citations (tickets). The Patrol Division continues to work diligently daily to improve the quality of life for all residents and visitors in our community.
Professional Standards:
Complaints may be generated internally or externally to the organization and are often made regarding the quality and manner of service provided. Complaints vary in degrees of seriousness and may include concerns regarding an employee’s demeanor, tardiness, customer service interaction, or the nature of a department practice. The employee’s immediate supervisor typically handles this type of complaint. At times, the outcome of the inquiry will be forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards (OPS), but many times it finds resolution without this need. If an employee has multiple complaints of a similar nature where the conduct has been determined to be unacceptable, then the complaint may be forwarded to OPS to be handled and documented as an internal investigation. In 2024, the police department conducted eleven (11) OPS complaint investigations. Five of these investigations resulted in findings of exonerated, while three were sustained, and the remaining was unfounded or unstained. Sustained findings can result in discipline ranging from verbal counseling up to and including termination.
Vehicle Pursuits:
The police department investigated fifteen (15) vehicle pursuits and determined all were within state law and department policy.
Use of Force:
In 2024, the police department used reportable force in less than 1% of all public contacts (46 out of 27,551 incidents = 0.166%).
Domestic Violence Coordinator:
Our domestic violence victim coordinators play a crucial role in fostering trust and cooperation between law enforcement and victims of crime by acting as a bridge that facilitates communication and support. Grounded in a philosophy that values dialogue and partnership, these coordinators work directly with victims to provide vital information about their criminal cases and available community resources, thereby enhancing the overall response to crime. They offer support that respects victims' autonomy and safety concerns, while also aiming to improve police culture through advocacy for victim-centered policies and practices. Their work not only helps solve crimes by encouraging victims to come forward but also strengthens community trust in law enforcement by promoting a more compassionate, informed, and responsive approach to victim services.
Police K9:
The Arlington Police Department Canine Unit includes two dogs and two handlers. Officer Benner partnered with K9 Reece, a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix trained in tracking, handler protection, and apprehension. Officer Zachman partnered with K9 Riggs, a German Shepherd trained in tracking, handler protection, and apprehension. Our ARO/K9 teams work a 4-day/10-hour schedule, allowing for an overlapping training day with other K9 teams in the region.
In 2024, the Arlington Police Department canine teams completed over 1000 hours of training and were dispatched to over 2300 calls for service. Officer Benner currently fills the role of acting sergeant in the absence of the assigned shift sergeant and is a department defensive tactics instructor. Officer Zachman is presently one of the department's Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructors.
Police Support Services:
In 2024, the Support Services Team processed 29,586 incidents, to include 4,056 cases all of which are digitalized in the Law Enforcement Records Management System. The team completed/processed 1,735 hours of public records requests to include redactions and Body Worn Cameras, 245 Concealed Pistol Licenses using the new Permitium programming, 1,362 Public Records Requests along with numerous answered phone calls from the public.
The evidence room received 2,425 items in 2024 with 1,919 items being disposed of by auction, release, or destruction.
Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is comprised of 4 Detectives, 1 Traffic Officer, 1 School Resource Officer, 1 Community Outreach Officer, 1 Social Worker, 2 part time Department of Corrections Agents and 1 Detective Sergeant who manages the unit.
2024 remained a very busy year for the Detectives. We were able to add an additional Detective; Jason Metcalf in October who has helped lower the case count for each detective. Most of the CID’s case load consist of violent crimes such as homicides, felony level physical assaults, sex assault, child crimes including sex assault, physical assaults, and child pornography, elderly crimes, burglaries, and robberies. We will investigate other low-level crimes when numerous lower lever crimes are committed by the same suspect, or the crime involves numerous suspects and/or a large loss to a person or business. Some cases we investigate are reported as violent crimes and are investigated as violent crimes but may later be downgraded due to the legal element of the violent crime not being met.
In 2024 the investigations unit was assigned or assisted in the investigation of 479 cases and arrest 151 people for their crimes. 2024 was on par for 2023 with caseloads, but we saw a slight decrease in number of cases closed by arrest.
The following is a graph representing the number of cases assigned per Detective. In general, it is preferable to maintain no more than 120 cases per Detective per year as this helps with mental health, burn out, and focus. When a Detective has too many cases assigned, they can become overwhelmed, feel a lack of accomplishment, and may have less pride in their work. In 2023, 4 Detectives managed 139 cases for the year. In 2024 with the additional investigator, we were able to lower that case load to 96 case per Detective.
Training
In 2024, Arlington Police Department staff completed a total of 4,288 training hours, maintaining consistency with historical annual training totals. Commissioned staff participated in over 40 hours of 'In-Service' training annually. Additionally, newly hired police recruits are required to complete a 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) before certification.
Out of the total training hours, 1,560 were mandated by the State of Washington, which included 840 'In-Service' hours and 720 hours from BLEA training for a newly graduated officer. The department also focused on leadership development, with the Sergeant Cadre receiving over 200 hours of training in first-level and critical incident management.
In 2024, the department made significant technological advances by adopting and implementing a new software system for field training. This system has greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of evaluating new-hire patrol officers' performance and managing the Field Training Program, marking a significant step in maintaining excellence and modernizing the agency.
Accreditation
In a momentous achievement, the Arlington Police Department has attained State Accreditation, as bestowed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) Accreditation Commission on May 22, 2024.
The Arlington Police Department started a journey toward accreditation in 2022 under the direction of Police Commander Peter Barrett, demonstrating a commitment to follow industry best practices and standards. This accomplishment is not merely a badge of honor but a testament to the collective effort of every department member.
Accreditation represents the pinnacle of achievement for the Arlington Police Department, affirming its commitment to excellence in every facet of its operations. It symbolizes adherence to stringent standards and a dedication to continuous improvement and professionalism.
Chief Ventura emphasized this milestone's significance, acknowledging every department member's dedication. "This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our officers and staff, who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence," he remarked.
In celebration of the Arlington Police Department's accreditation, we commend their dedication to excellence and unwavering commitment to serving and protecting the community they proudly serve. "We are very proud of the hard work and dedication of our police officers and staff, and we look forward to continuing to build trust and partnerships within the community," said City Administrator Paul Ellis.
Co-Response / Community Outreach Team
The Embedded Social Worker Program is a vital resource within the City of Arlington Police Department. This team can focus on issues affecting community members directly or indirectly. This can include unhoused individuals and families (homelessness), substance addiction and mental health (that are largely interrelated).
This is a two-member co-response team, one full time City of Arlington Police Officer (Ken Thomas) and one full time Social Worker (Calei Vaughn). The combination of skills and resources between the two team members is highly effective.
This outreach team is visible and pro-active within the community. The team takes both an outreach and enforcement role to address identified problems. They work collaboratively with City of Arlington, local, and state services. They are available to assist and educate community members and participate in community education.
During the 2024 period the Community Outreach Team tracked the following data:
- 37 unhoused (homeless) were housed
- 400 camp, car, park, business checks completed
- 362 contacts
- 144 enforcements related to trespass, parking, camping, other arrests
- 110 transports to required services
Flock Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
The City of Arlington Police Department has embraced FLOCK Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology as a pivotal tool in enhancing public safety and law enforcement efficiency. Deployed across high-traffic areas since July 2023, these sophisticated systems scan license plates automatically and provide real-time alerts to officers about stolen vehicles or individuals with outstanding warrants within city limits.
The impact of ALPRs has been significant and measurable: between July 1, 2022, and March 1, 2023, prior to their introduction, the department recovered 52 stolen vehicles; following their deployment, this figure more than doubled to 109 recovered vehicles, marking a 200% increase. The subsequent year saw a notable 27% reduction in auto thefts compared to 2023.
In Arlington, Washington, where property crime rates rank among the highest nationally, the strategic use of ALPR technology not only maximizes limited resources but also acts as a force multiplier, enabling the police force to combat criminal activity more effectively. The Arlington Police Department remains committed to the responsible and impactful application of this technology, aiming to further reduce crime rates and improve the overall quality of life in the community.
2024 New Hires:
- Officer Mac Braniff
- Officer Mike Adrian
- Officer Monte Wallace
- Officer Chandler Dean
Department Awards / Recognition
- Employee of the Year: Officer Abigail Black
- DUI Enforcement: Officer Abigail Black
- Traffic Enforcement: Officer Andrew Goedl
- Life Saving Award: Officer Timothy Zachman
- Life Saving Award: Officer Devon Benner
- Life Saving Award: Officer Sarah Althuisius
- Commendation: Officer Zachary Marshall
- Commendation: Officer Dustin Bartlett
- Commendation: PSO Inci Yarkut
- Twenty-Five Years: Sergeant Mark Pennington
- Twenty-Five Years: Sergeant Kay Schander
- Twenty Years : Commander Peter Barrett
- Ten Years: Officer Justin Olson
- Five Years: Officer Timothy Zachman
- President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA): Ed Krell, Allan Lehman, Rich Strommel, Yvonne Hoover