Kent City Council hears from Police Chief about 300% rise in juvenile crime and gun violence

The Kent City Council meeting on Tuesday night, June 18, 2024, began with a proclamation from Mayor Dana Ralph in celebration of Juneteenth.

Chief Rafael Padilla presented a concerning report on the rise of juvenile crime and gun violence in the city. Padilla also issued a reminder about the city’s fireworks ban and offered information on a safe alternative for celebrating the 4th of July.

The public comment period focused on the ongoing situation with refugees seeking shelter at the vacant Econo Lodge Hotel.

Juneteenth Proclamation

The meeting started with a proclamation honoring June 19th as Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the day, nearly 2 ½ years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, when the news of their freedom finally made it to Galveston, Texas. The war was over, and people living as slaves in the South were finally free on June 19th, 1865.

The mayor’s proclamation was accepted by members of the Kent Black Action Commission (KBAC), who shared that everyone is welcome to attend the Juneteenth celebrations this Saturday at Morrill Meadows Park. The free celebration lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and includes food & music.

Public Safety Report: Juvenile Crime On Rise

Chief Rafael Padilla began with the good news, including swearing in a new officer, Ryan Husby, who graduated at the top of his class from the police academy. Chief Padilla said the police department is fully staffed so they are only bringing on new officers occasionally, as needed to replace outgoing staff.

In a brief update on Washington State Patrol Trooper Raymond Seaburg, who was shot 9 times by a drunk driving suspect in February, Padilla said Seaburg’s recovery is making slow but steady progress. The suspect, who is an eight-time felon, is awaiting trial.

The crime report is where things were less positive. According to the data, the total shots fired in 2023 went up from the prior year, increasing by 3% to 1,707 shots. Total victims hit by gunshot increased by 8% over the same period, to 476. Fatal gunshots increased by 23% to 107 deaths.

Chief Padilla also spent some time talking about juvenile violent crime, and how it has been trending strongly upwards for the past two years. He said 2 of the 4 homicides in 2024 have been perpetrated by youth. For juveniles, the categories of arson, commercial burglary, weapon possession, and eluding the police have increased by 300%.

Padilla said it’s clearly time to ask questions like these:

• Is the juvenile diversion program working?
• Without accountability and consequences for youth crime, how can we expect to see improvements in behavior?
• Is an ankle monitor at home really the best sentence for a violent crime?
• When judges send youth back into the community after violent crimes, are they really considering what is best for the community?

Padilla said that a youth offender has to be caught with a gun five times before they can be brought into detention. So a juvenile could bring a gun to school four times without facing any consequences, according to current law.

4th Of July Fireworks

Chief Padilla reminded everyone that all fireworks are illegal in the city of Kent, and this year there will be more officer teams out in town to ticket offenders, thanks to a fully staffed department. He said neighbors can call the non-emergency line to report fireworks violations: 253-852-2121. They expect hundreds of calls on the holiday, and will do their best to respond to them. Violators will face fines ranging from $250 to $5,000 plus 364 days in jail, depending on the level of the violation. In addition, fireworks will be seized. He said of course police aren’t hoping to fine people for fireworks; rather, they are hoping for voluntary compliance with the law.

Those looking for a free and legal way to celebrate the occasion can go to the Lake Meridian 4th of July Splash. There will be no parking on site; rather, a shuttle bus will take people from parking locations in town to the lake. The shuttle bus will be running every 20 minutes starting at 5 p.m. The fireworks will begin at 10 p.m., with festivities ending and the park gates closing at midnight.

National Night Out Registration Open

Padilla also made a call for neighborhood groups to register if they want an officer or fire truck to come to their event on National Night Out. Mayor Dana Ralph and city council members will also be visiting the community gatherings, which focus on public safety and connectedness. National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug 6.

Free CPR Training At ShoWare Center

Councilmember Toni Troutner shared that there is a free CPR training and career fair at the ShoWare Center on July 13. The job fair features public sector careers like firefighting, and is a family friendly event.

Public Comment: Refugees Seeking Shelter

For the second meeting in a row, many speakers showed up to plead with Council to do whatever they could to expedite and support the use of the vacant Econo Lodge Hotel for the hundreds of refugees living in tents on the hotel grounds. Mayor Dana Ralph explained that the city doesn’t own or control the property or the hotel, which is currently being leased by King County. She said if the county submits a permit application, the city will be happy to process it. She also said that this issue is too big for cities in South King County to face alone, and that the federal & state governments need to step in. She expects some state funds to be available by August.

Many people from the camp spoke, describing their dire living conditions. They mentioned sickness, not being able to wash, as well as being threatened with guns multiple times for camping there. They said they want to be able to work and send their kids to school. In addition, multiple doctors spoke, warning of the problem of disease outbreak when people are living in such poor conditions. They said what these families need the most right now is emergency housing. A speaker from the Low Income Housing Institute said that his organization could help get the building up to code, if that is the issue.