Issue Spotlight: With Fewer Than Half of Washington's Violent Crimes Solved, Officers Need Every Tool to Close Cases

A recent analysis by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center found that Washington law enforcement solved just 44% of reported violent crimes in the most recent year of FBI data. That means that most violent crimes in the state go unsolved, including about two-thirds of robberies and three-quarters of reported rapes. This low clearance rate is a direct result of the state’s peace officer staffing crisis which has strained resources and translated to longer response times, less available time to follow-up, and fewer detectives available to bring cases to justice.

That makes reliable access to the tools officers need to solve crime even more important. Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are among the most useful. They help officers recover stolen vehicles, locate missing and endangered people, and identify cars tied to violent crimes – work that would otherwise take hours of investigative time that our officers do not have to spare. With more than half of violent crimes going unsolved due to a short-staffed force, officers need access to technology that increases efficiency, identifies suspects, closes cases, and keeps our communities safe.

This year, the Legislature passed the Driver Privacy Act (SB 6002), Washington's first statewide framework for ALPRs. While the law preserved the crime solving uses of this technology and set guardrails around data retention and privacy, it also created problems it didn’t need to: confusion over where officers can use the technology and a new misdemeanor charge that can fall on an officer for operating the system. These issues do nothing to protect anyone’s privacy – they only deter officers from using this critical tool and give more reason to walk away from the profession. This is why WACOPS needs to be at the table as these laws take shape. As lawmakers weigh future changes to ALPRs and the tools officers depend on, we ask that they keep this technology within reach, resolve the provisions already causing confusion, and bring the officers who understand its nuances and value into the conversation before making decisions.

Read More from the Washington State Standard

Public Safety by the Numbers

49,000

The estimated number of violent crimes that remain unsolved in Washington, including over ~7,000 rapes, ~29,000 aggravated assaults, and 400 homicides.

Read the CSG Report

WACOPS in Action: Investing in the Next Generation Through Our Youth Scholarship Program

Washington's peace officers serve communities in every corner of the state, and each year WACOPS' Youth Scholarship Program invests in their families. The program recognizes students across Washington who are connected to our membership and have shown strong academic records, involvement in their communities, and clear plans for their future.

This year, the Scholarship and Awards Committee reviewed 47 applications through a blind process, weighing each student's achievements, activities, and goals. The WACOPS Board of Directors and the Scholarship and Awards Committee are pleased to name the recipients of the 2026 Youth Scholarships, each of whom will receive $1,000 toward university tuition.

 See the Recipients

Meet Our Team: Jeff DeVere, Contract Lobbyist

Jeff DeVere is WACOPS' contract lobbyist – representing our members in committee hearings, negotiations, and the day-to-day relationships building that shapes public safety policy. He brings a uniquely deep background to this work: nearly three decades of experience in state and local government affairs, including a full career with the Washington State Patrol, where he rose to the rank of Captain and served as the agency's public spokesman. That first-hand experience means he understands both sides of the table – the on-the-ground realities officers face in the field and the legislative process that impacts the profession. Whether the issue is officer safety, collective bargaining, pensions, or the tools officers need to do their jobs, he is a key resource for information on and understanding of Washington State Law Enforcement. He can be reached at jeff@deveregov.com.