The Sequim Police Department is organized to deliver the highest level of public safety in the most effective manner, utilizing a minimum number of employees.

In 2009, the per capita daily cost of police services is $.93 a day. This rate has dropped annually since 2006.

The Chief of Police is charged with the guidance of the entire agency, as well as representing public safety needs on a host of city, regional, and state committees; budget oversight; conformance with the agency’s Strategic Plan; and leading the policing team.

Patrol Operations is overseen by one Lieutenant who manages the overall, day-to-day field activities of the department. Three Patrol Sergeants supervise the three daily patrol shifts using 11 patrol officers, including one Patrol K-9 Team. Sergeants are working supervisors who also respond to calls for service.

Patrol is assisted by five volunteer Reserve Police Officers who routinely donate about 1,500 hours of service annually.

The Lieutenant also oversees the Crime Prevention and Emergency management Program with the assistance of a civilian coordinator. The agency has an active volunteer program with up to twenty Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) who supplement assistance in both the records and the front office, patrol, enforcement of handicap parking zones, vacation house checks, festival support, and a host of other critical and time consuming duties and tasks. In 2008, the VIPS donated over $80,000 in volunteer labor to the police department.

The Detective Unit is currently staffed by one Sergeant, one Generalist Detective, plus one Detective assigned to the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) The Detectives provide a critical follow-up capability which has helped to maintain case closure rates at twice the national average.

Forensic Services, (computer forensics, fingerprinting, and trace evidence), are being re-built utilizing a specially trained civilian forensic investigator. The program will continue to evolve in 2010.

Support Services includes our records, front counter, and evidence/property functions. Just two employees manage these responsibilities. Support Services performs duties of evidence/property processing and retention, quartermaster duties, and is responsible for the maintenance of all department records, including officer reports, department issued permits and licenses, public fingerprinting, FBI/UCR crime reporting requirements, and a variety of other clerical duties.

The Police Department is following a five-year Strategic Plan, which is updated annually with the City Council. Obtaining law enforcement accreditation through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, (www.waspc.org), is a key goal by 2012. In 2009, two important steps will be completed towards accreditation: (1) the rollout of a new, comprehensive policy manual was accomplished – written to accreditation standards; and (2) a remodel and expansion of the police facility in the fall of 2009 will significantly achieve many standards in which the current facility is deficient.

Traffic Enforcement was routinely handled as a separate function using the partial time of a sergeant and one full-time Traffic Officer. In 2009, budget cuts required these positions to fall back into basic patrol. The department has been very successful in obtaining supplemental overtime grants from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, which has provided periodic emphasis patrols coordinated by the state (see the Target Zero web page).