By Alia Sinclair

Police Chief Troy Smithmeyer reported the Q2 SeaTac crime statistics to the SeaTac City Council on Tuesday night, Sept. 23, showing overall crimes against persons and property have declined in the city compared to Q2 of 2024.

Crimes against persons were down to 119 compared to 130 in 2024. 54 of the 119 crimes against persons committed were assaults, with 35 being related to domestic violence.

Crimes against property also declined, showing a significant decrease of 241 compared to 458 in 2024.

Of these property crimes, 50 were auto thefts.

Response time improved for Priority X calls—those that are considered critical for protecting persons and property—to four minutes and eight seconds from five minutes and nine seconds in 2024.

The times are calculated from the time an officer is dispatched to the time they arrive on the scene.

The largest increase in incidents includes a more than 35% increase in DUI offenses and a significant increase in mental health calls.

In a memorandum included in his report, Police Chief Smithmeyer stated:

“Police statistics are influenced by many factors. Some of these factors include time of year, time of day, political factors, weather conditions, law changes, and staffing. Any one or a combination of several factors can greatly impact one or more of these categories.”

He went on to express optimism in the overall declining rate of crime in the city and the ability of police officers to respond and strengthen the community.

“I am pleased to report that the statistics for crimes against people has fallen for the past two quarters,” Smithmeyer said. “SeaTac police officers are continuing to receive more training on recent court rulings and law changes to respond and adapt to today’s policing environment. As we continue to understand the needs of our community, we will continue to improve the level and quality of our service. Consistent statistical analysis provides us with the necessary data to specifically address the areas of our community who need us the most. We will continue our relentless pursuit of making the City of SeaTac a safer place by building trust with its community members.”