Burglary and theft down, assaults up in Normandy Park, according to Sheriffs & Police Chiefs report

Normandy Park saw a decrease in overall crime in 2023, yet certain areas of concern persist, according to the latest Annual Crime in Washington Report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).

The report – released this week – covers crime statistics from various jurisdictions in Washington State, and indicates that Normandy Park reported a total of 249 Group A offenses* in 2023, marking a –12.9% decrease from the previous year’s total of 286 offenses.

But despite this overall decline, specific types of crime have shown significant increases.

Simple assault cases more than doubled from 10 in 2022 to 21 in 2023, while robbery incidents increased by +50%, from two reported cases to three. Conversely, burglary cases dropped by nearly half, from 26 incidents in 2022 to 14 in 2023, and larceny-theft offenses decreased by –9.5%, from 116 to 105 reported incidents.

The clearance rate for Normandy Park PD stands at 6.4%, with 16 out of 249 reported offenses being resolved. This clearance rate is lower compared to other cities in the region, such as SeaTac, Des Moines, and Kent, which have higher percentages of cleared cases.

In comparison to nearby cities, Normandy Park’s overall crime rate per 1,000 residents is relatively low. However, its rate of motor vehicle theft, with 13 reported incidents, remains a notable concern. By contrast, Burien and Kent reported significantly higher numbers of motor vehicle thefts, with 185 and 235 incidents respectively.

Normandy Park’s Police Department operates with a staffing level of 1.61 officers per 1,000 residents, which aligns closely with other smaller municipalities in the region, but is below the national average.

Crime comparison with nearby cities:

• Burien: 1,335 Group A offenses; motor vehicle thefts: 185
• Des Moines: 528 Group A offenses; motor vehicle thefts: 110
• SeaTac: 912 Group A offenses; motor vehicle thefts: 140
• Tukwila: 1,876 Group A offenses; motor vehicle thefts: 250
• Kent: 2,890 Group A offenses; motor vehicle thefts: 235
• Auburn: 2,100 Group A offenses; motor vehicle thefts: 210

As the city continues to address its crime challenges, residents are encouraged to report suspicious activities and support local law enforcement efforts.

This is the 44th annual publication of the Washington Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program report of criminal offenses, arrests, law enforcement officers killed or assaulted, and full-time law enforcement employees. Funding for the Washington State UCR Program is provided through contract with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) and administration of the program is the responsibility of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) Criminal Justice Information Support (CJIS) Department. The Washington State UCR Program is unique in that it is sponsored, administered, and supported by an organization of contributing agency administrators rather than a bureau or department of state government.

The Crime in Washington 2023 is based on crime statistic data submitted from Washington law enforcement agencies using the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). There are important factors the reader must consider when reading or using this report as well as crime statistic reports available from the FBI or other sources:

1. The data used to compile this report are based on a “snapshot” of our repository database as of March 26, 2024. In NIBRS, there are no “fixed” statistics because law enforcement agencies update their incidents as new information becomes available.
2. The data used in this report are based on the NIBRS method of submitting crime statistics. It is more comprehensive and detailed than the prior Summary Reporting System (SRS) method, so the statistics published in NIBRS and SRS should not be compared.
3. The data displayed in this report should not be compared to the FBI Crime in The United States 2023 report which will be published later this year. The Washington State UCR Program forwards the crime data to the FBI in the NIBRS format; however, the FBI may convert NIBRS to the SRS format, use estimations, or omit agencies that have not submitted all twelve months for 2023.
4. The data displayed per agency in this report should not be used to compare to other agencies or compile “rankings” of cities and counties. There are several variables that contribute to crime in a particular jurisdiction, including the demographics, economic, and cultural make-up of the population, the local industrial and economic base, its dependence on neighboring jurisdictions, the transportation system, its economic dependence on non- residents (such as tourists, shoppers, or other day-time visitors), and its proximity to military installations, correctional facilities, universities/colleges, or state hospitals.

The full report can be viewed/downloaded here.

Reporting every crime is vital to keep these reports accurate, police add.

*A Group A offense refers to a classification used in the NIBRS for reporting crime data, and encompass a wide range of serious crimes and are divided into several categories:

1. Crimes Against Persons:

Offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated assault, and kidnapping.

2. Crimes Against Property: Offenses including burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, and fraud.

3. Crimes Against Society: Offenses such as drug/narcotic violations, weapon law violations, and prostitution-related crimes.