Kent Police to upgrade security at substations

Kent Police plan to make security upgrades at two substations to help protect officers from potential attacks.

“High profile police uses of force incidents across the nation have ignited tensions between social justice groups and law enforcement, inspiring many to commit violence against police officers,” according to a report by Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Feb. 14 about the need for $57,000 in security upgrades.

An unknown suspect fired five shots into a Pierce County Sheriff’s Department substation in December, Thomas told the committee. Two deputies were inside but nobody was injured.

“With what we are seeing throughout the country, there is a need to upgrade the security at these facilities,” Thomas said.

The funds would be used at the Woodmont substation along Pacific Highway South on the West Hill and the Panther Lake substation along Southeast 208th Street on the East Hill.

An enhanced digital video system – an estimated $22,000 per substation – would give officers a better view of their surroundings while working at the offices. A ballistic wall ($4,500 per station) would help protect officers from small firearms and rifle rounds.

New decorative window wraps ($2,000 per station) will limit visibility into the substation from the outside to provide an extra layer of security to officers.

“It is clearly something we have to do,” Councilman Jim Berrios said. “It’s important to note why we have substations typically in high crime activity areas, so putting officers closer to the action and in doing so sometimes we put them at risk. I commend your command staff to fortify buildings so officers are safe.”

The funds are part of a $479,200 package Thomas presented to the committee using money from the school zone traffic camera fund that has a balance of $949,722. Kent has cameras near three elementary schools to catch speeding drivers when students are present. Police issue a $124 fine for a vehicle exceeding the 20 mph school speed limit by 1 to 9 mph and issue a $248 fine for speeds of 10 mph or faster above the speed limit.

The proposals go to the council’s Operations Committee on March 7 and then to the full council later in the month.

Last year, police received approval to spend more than $115,000 of the school traffic camera funds on a glass ballistic barrier on the city parking garage floors near police headquarters next to City Hall.

In addition to the substation upgrades, police also plan to spend this year:

• $106,000 for a 3D crime scene scanner:

The scanner can process crime scenes in about 15 minutes while it can take investigators hours to photograph and measure all the contents of a major crime scene, according to the police staff report.

• $85,000 for technology updates:

This would enable officers to receive Department of Licensing photographs in real time delivered to an officer’s in-car laptop to help with officer safety and investigations.

• $60,800 for marketing:

In an effort to update officer uniforms and bring them in line with the more contemporary mission and values of the department, the money would buy new uniform badges ($51,200) and uniform patches ($9,600).

• $100,000 for emergencies:

The city administration or council would use the funds to address unforeseen needs in order to swiftly address important issues related to public safety.

As announced last week, school traffic camera funds also will be used to purchase two drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) at a total cost of $50,400 for all of the equipment and software to use at outdoor crime scenes and major traffic collisions and with SWAT operations; and $20,000 for portable surveillance equipment, cameras that police can move around the city to high crime areas or large city events, such as Kent Cornucopia Day.