The following press release was issued by the King County Sheriff’s Office (KSCO) on March 10, 2026. City of Newcastle contracts with KCSO for police services.
KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT: CRIME RATE DOWN MORE THAN 20% YEAR OVER YEAR
New numbers from the King County Sheriff’s Office crime analysis unit show a 22% drop in the 2025 crime rate compared to 2024.
The most notable decreases are in homicides, down by almost 19%, which include investigations by the Major Crimes Unit, and the Major Accident Response and Reconstruction Unit. Property crime, including auto theft, was down by almost 50%, which equates to 1200 fewer victims than the year before. This in part can be attributed to more proactive police patrols and focusing limited resources on areas where crime is most prevalent.
Onviews, or arrests made when a deputy sees a crime happening in real time versus responding to a 911 call, increased by 600. Since 2021, the Sheriff’s Office has increased onview activity by 14%. This is part of an ongoing effort to empower deputies to make contacts and arrests when they see a crime in progress.
“This is nothing short of the incredible work done by both our commissioned and professional staff, spanning across the unincorporated areas and contracts we serve,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “Results like these are what happens when everyone in the agency comes together with the same priority and goal: reducing crime and the fear of crime. We are thoughtful and strategic as to where we assign our deputies with the belief that a highly visible police presence will continue to deter criminal behavior. These numbers show what we’re doing is working.”
Also important to note was the recovery of more than 2800 firearms, an increase of 91 from the previous year. This includes 52 seized specifically by The Gun Violence Reduction Unit (GVRU), a team in the Sheriff’s Office committed to removing illegal firearms from the streets and addressing gun violence in the community.
Some of those guns were recovered in the Southwest Precinct, the recipient of $100,000 in overtime funding for an anti-crime emphasis patrol, approved last year by the King County Council when Executive Zahilay served as President of the Council.
“Every resident in King County deserves to be and feel safe,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “Our public safety investments, both law enforcement specific and upstream interventions, are helping us address instances of crime, take guns off the street, improve safety for transit riders and foster safe environments for everyone. Community has been clear on the public safety improvements they want to see, and we are fully committed to continue our progress in making King County a safe place to live, work, and explore.”
Adding to this downward trend, is the continued ‘Operation Safe Transit’ initiative. Launched in May of 2024, this program focuses on targeted work to make transit safer on buses, trains, bus stops and train platforms. In less than two years, deputies have made 280 arrests across the key transit corridor in downtown Seattle. Metro Transit and Sound Transit both contract with the Sheriff’s Office for police services.
Other notable numbers:
- Aggravated assaults fell 22%
- Commercial burglaries fell by 47%; this means 404 fewer victims than in 2024
- Larceny offenses, which range from shoplifting to theft from buildings or vehicles, fell by 21% and robberies fell by almost 40%
“Though this data is encouraging and trending in the right direction, it in no way means we are taking our foot off the gas,” added Cole-Tindall. “In 2026 we are focused on decreasing these numbers even more and we will do that with visible public safety efforts that strengthen community trust and confidence.”