Community Livability and Public Safety Committee Meeting – Public Safety Update

Note: The user-provided date (May 7, 2026) conflicts with the meeting transcript and minutes, which clearly state the meeting occurred on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. This summary uses the correct date from the source material.

The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) of the Olympia City Council held a special meeting on May 6, 2026, at 5:33 p.m. The sole business item was a public safety update from Olympia Police Department (OPD) Chief Shelby Parker, covering 2025 operational data, staffing progress, and employee wellness initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda unanimously.
• Approved the minutes of the March 25, 2026 meeting unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

Olympia Police Department Public Safety Update – Chief Parker presented an overview of OPD’s 2025 performance and 2026 first‑quarter progress.

Operational Data (2025)

• OPD fulfilled over 3,600 public records requests, completed more than 6,600 incident reports, processed 860 civil orders, and handled nearly 54,000 dispatched calls for service.
• The Crisis Response Unit (CRU) responded to nearly 5,900 contacts in 2025, nearly double the 2023 volume. CRU responded independently 81% of the time (up 10% from 2024) and co‑responded with law enforcement in 19% of instances.
• Crime trends showed relative stability. Notable: no homicides in 2025; reported rapes increased to 44 incidents (attributed to improved reporting options, including the Seek Then Speak tool); commercial and residential burglaries declined; trespass arrests increased to 257 incidents.
• A proactive policing unit launched in July 2025 with the Lacey Police Department arrested more than 22 chronic offenders in its first six months.
• Juveniles accounted for 2.2% of all OPD arrests in 2025 (nearly 98% adult enforcement).

Staffing & Recruitment

• OPD is authorized 129 full‑time positions (88 sworn, 41 non‑commissioned). At end of 2025, 22 positions were vacant (including 13 officers, 1 sergeant, 4 CRU staff, 2 CSOs, and the chief position – since filled).
• Despite hiring 15 staff in 2025, vacancies persisted. As of Q1 2026, vacancies stood at 13, with 6 new hires in the quarter. Two conditional offers for lateral officers were pending, potentially reducing vacancies to 11.
• In Q1 2026, 129 individuals applied for officer positions; only 7 advanced to the oral board due to high standards (screening for theft, deception, aggression, substance use, etc.).
• Chief Parker noted that staffing recovery is not linear: a new officer takes about 12 months to become fully operational. Lateral hires impact field staffing faster.
• Recruitment incentives (lateral hiring bonus, employee referral program) are working; two additional officer applicants were added the week of the meeting.
• Compared to other Washington agencies, OPD is not alone in facing staffing challenges; some large agencies have long waits for field training due to trainer shortages.
• Resignations occur when the job is not a good fit or officers seek different policing models.

Wellness Initiatives

• OPD has a 14‑member peer support team (commissioned and non‑commissioned).
• Partnership with Counseling Team International (TCTI) provides immediate access to culturally competent clinicians; every employee receives 10 confidential counseling sessions per year.
• Partnership with Ready Rebound for injured employee medical care and recovery.
• Through a WASPC grant, OPD partners with Sigma Tactical Wellness for intensive cardiovascular screening to detect early signs of heart disease and stroke.

Committee Questions & Discussion

• Committee member Kelly Green asked for clarification on CRU staff (non‑commissioned, unarmed). She also inquired about the decline in crime categories from 2023–2025; Chief Parker cited accountability of chronic offenders, technology improvements, and the special investigations response team.
• Committee member Yến Huỳnh asked about retail theft; Chief Parker acknowledged it is a regional issue and that OPD is working with the Washington State Fusion Center. She noted that private security at large stores serves as a deterrent and that OPD has positive relationships with those security teams. She will provide more data at the next update.
• Committee Chair Madrone asked about Community Service Officers (CSOs): they are specially commissioned, non‑academy trained; primarily transport inmates to jail and court, handle property, traffic control, and equipment needs. A reorganization is underway due to court changes.
• Chair Madrone also asked how OPD’s staffing compares to similar agencies; Chief Parker said most are struggling, and that retention is challenging because many officers have other skills and may leave. OPD offers a team environment, full‑service policing, and 96 hours minimum training per year (state standard is 24 hours), which attracts laterals.

Key Outcomes

• The committee received the OPD public safety update (no formal vote required).
• No further action items or referrals were made.
• The next regular CLPS meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.