MISSION: The mission of the Mukilteo Police Department is “to provide professional police service for and with the community.”
VISION: To be a model Police Department invested in the growth and safety of our community through innovation and a balanced approach to Law Enforcement.
CORE VALUES
Professionalism – With pride, we enforce the law with compassion, fairness, and respect for all. We strive for excellence in service by being a highly trained, self-disciplined, and motivated team.
Integrity – We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. We hold ourselves to elevated standards of trust, responsibility, and discipline while promoting justice in a fair and impartial manner.
Community – We are committed to partnering with the community to ensure public safety and promote a high quality of life. We value open communication and mutual trust.
Service – We are proactive problem solvers, continuously seeking opportunities to serve and support our community. We prioritize treating each call as if it's our only call for the day, showcasing an unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional service and support to every individual in our community.
In 2024, our staff responded to 24,364 incidents, which annually averages to 1433 incidents per patrol Officer. The city saw a 12% overall decline in crime. Despite a decrease in overall crime, we arrested 29% more individuals than in 2023, ensuring that those who caused harm were held accountable.
Download the "Crime in Washington Annual Report" document. Statistics are broken down alphabetically by County and City.
Traffic continues to be the number one call for service for the department, and is a priority for police and the community. In 2024, the department reassigned one of our traffic officers to work the swing shift, providing a vital resource for DUI enforcement.
Use of force
In 2024, the police department used reportable force in 7 out of 24,364 incidents (.0003%). The low level of force used can be attributed to our community's trust, our realistic and holistic approach to training, and our emphasis on utilizing tactics that provide more time and opportunity for de-escalation.
Pursuits
With legislative changes in 2024, the department modified its pursuit policy to balance the apprehension of suspects with the safety of the public. In 2024, eight pursuits were initiated, with four concluding with an arrest, and four being terminated by the officer or supervisor. The Mukilteo Police Department is an active participant in a University of Washington Research Study on Pursuits to help shape future legislative changes to pursuit laws.
Citizen Complaints and Internal Investigations
The department investigated four citizen complaints, as well as two internal investigations. All of the citizen complaints were unfounded, and both internal investigations were sustained and resulted in discipline. Discipline can range from verbal counseling to termination.
Training
Mukilteo Police Department prides itself in providing creative and cost-effective training to ensure we have a professional staff ready to respond to any situation. In addition to the state-mandated 24 hours of annual training, our officers completed red dot firearms training, crisis intervention training, close quarter pistol course, active shooter incident command training, hostage negotiation, and squad tactics. Our officers averaged 84.3 hours of training in 2024. In addition, Chief Illyn attended and graduated from the 12-week FBI National Academy Program.
PATROL
The Patrol division consists of four squads, which are responsible for responding to any calls that come in during the shift and proactively patrolling the city. Due to a tough hiring climate, the patrol division has not been fully staffed for over five years; despite this, we reduced the time it took them to arrive on scene by 10.6%. The average wait time once dispatched is 4.87 minutes; for a robbery or assault with a weapon, it is below 3 minutes! Below are some of the patrol highlights from 2024.
In April, officers responded to a woman in a motorhome at the ferry terminal who was in crisis. She bypassed the ticket booth and caused a disturbance in the holding lanes. Working with other agencies, officers isolated and immobilized the motorhome and attempted to communicate with the occupant. Ultimately, pepper balls were deployed, and she exited the motorhome and was placed under arrest after causing an extended delay for commuters.
In May, officers responded to a priority fraud complaint at a local grocery store. They located and detained the suspect nearby. During the investigation, it was determined that the suspect had prowled a vehicle in Seattle early that morning and stolen the victim's credit card. He was arrested on multiple charges. Additionally, officers arrested three suspects in relation to shoplifting at a local store. Two of the suspects were wanted fugitives with active out-of-state warrants, and they were booked on their warrants and theft. Officers recovered $7500 worth of stolen makeup. Later that month, officers executed a search warrant related to an investigation of property crimes and made an arrest for Possession of Stolen Property, Burglary 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
In September, night shift officers responded to suspicious circumstances involving vehicle prowls and three stolen vehicles. A 13-year-old juvenile was arrested and booked for Possession of Stolen Vehicle. Officers also responded to a burglary where an ex-partner broke into the victim's home. The suspect fled from the scene, but with the assistance of an SCSO K-9, officers located and arrested the suspect nearby.
In October, officers responded to a woman in crisis at the ferry terminal who had jumped into the water in front of the ferry loading ramp. Officers communicated with the woman for about 45 minutes while she was in the water before convincing her to exit. She was then transported to the hospital.
Investigations
The investigations division consists of three detectives led by a detective sergeant. The investigations unit is responsible for major crime scene processing, following up on complex, serious, or time-consuming investigations, planning special operations, and conducting pre-employment background investigations. Over the year, detectives conducted investigative follow-ups on over 200 cases. During 2024, the investigations unit participated in several special operations with the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, pursuing those who try to exploit our children. In addition, detectives conducted 11 pre-employment background investigations, each lasting several weeks to months. Detectives participated in several multi-agency teams, including the Snohomish Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART) and the US Marshal Violent Offender Task Force. Detectives introduced mobile fingerprint scanners into the department and provided training on major crime scene response, search warrants, and report writing.
Domestic Violence Coordinator
Our Victim Services Coordinator saw an annual 13% increase in domestic violence-related criminal cases in 2024. However, we were still below our historical average of 100-110 criminal cases annually. The victim services coordinator was requested to assist our detectives in various cases to support victims during the investigative and recovery journey. She also continued her efforts to engage in community outreach events with our Youth Academy, Community Academy, Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County’s Chocolate Lovers Gala, Dawson’s Place Luncheon, and Shop with a Cop.
Support Services Division
The Support Services Division is responsible for the records management, evidence, public disclosure requests, firearms checks, and handling phone calls and walk-in calls for service for the police department. They also have the critical task of informing Chief Illyn when his outfits don't match.
Community Services Division
The Community Services Division consists of Two Park Rangers, One Animal Control Officer, One School Resource Officer, and One Crime Prevention Officer. The division is supervised by the Community Services Sergeant. For all of 2024, one Park Ranger position remained vacant.
In collaboration with our City Council, we have designated our Park Rangers and Animal Control Officers as Special Code Enforcement Officers. This designation grants them the authority to enforce park rules, impound vehicles, and assist with animal investigations. Throughout 2024, the division responded to 422 parking complaints, issued 687 parking citations, addressed 87 animal-related calls, and our School Resource Officer handled 249 incidents across six local schools. Parking infractions issued were below the historical average due to the switch to digital parking permits, which resulted in pausing enforcement from January until April.
Crime Prevention
Throughout 2024, Crime Prevention Officer Fabia worked closely with local businesses and residents, providing valuable crime prevention tips and safety guidance. Fabia visited various businesses to offer tailored strategies on theft deterrence, surveillance system recommendations, and securing premises after hours. Additionally, Fabia was involved with LEAD and other social services, hosted safety workshops on topics like neighborhood watch programs and home security, and launched several social media campaigns on community safety. These efforts helped build stronger relationships between the police department and the community, empowering them with the tools and knowledge they need to protect themselves and their property.
Community Outreach
Connecting with and serving our community is at the core of what we do. The Community Services Division plays a key role in organizing major community events, with each police department division also planning and hosting its own community event. This year, our staff participated in events such as Walktober Wednesday, Cuts with Cops, Chowder with the Chief, Chief for a Day, Coffee with Cops, Shop with a Cop, Cram the Cruiser, and many more, fostering meaningful interactions and building stronger community bonds.
Chief's Message
As another year of service comes to a close, I find myself humbled and grateful for the opportunities and trust bestowed upon me by our incredible community, dedicated elected officials, and my exceptional team. Your support has truly made leading this department one of the greatest honors of my life.
As we look forward to the adventures, achievements, and challenges that 2025 will bring, I am confident that together, we will continue to build a safer, stronger, and more connected community. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and work alongside such remarkable individuals. Let's embrace the journey ahead with unwavering commitment and pride.
Regards, Andy Illyn -Chief of Police