Community Education Unit
The Community Education Unit organizes, supervises, and presents several programs/presentations designed to reduce criminal victimization and opportunity for crime. Public Education Specialists coordinate crime prevention and safety awareness programs. As part of the department's Intelligence Led Policing initiative, these staff members have been assigned to sectors of the city. For more information on how you can prevent crime in your neighborhood, please contact the staff member assigned to the area (sector) in which you live:
West Hill/Valley: Sara Wood (253) 856-5851 or e-mail
East Hill/Panther Lake: Stacy Judd (253) 856-5883 or e-mail
In addition to traditional Police services such as patrol, detectives, narcotics investigations, and traffic enforcement, the Kent Police strive to provide a full range of services to our community. Here is a list of the educational programming provided by the Kent Police Community Education Unit:
Auto Theft Prevention
The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA) was formed as a result of engrossed 3rd Substitute House Bill 1001 (the Elizabeth Nowak-Washington Auto Theft Prevention Act) enacted during the 2007 Regular Legislative Session. WATPA resources and auto theft prevention tips.
"The Club"
Protect your vehicle with the club.
Winner International and the Kent Police Foundation (KPF) offer this steering wheel locking device at a discounted price.
- Passenger vehicle size $15.00
- SUV, vans, and pick-up size $20.00
"The Club" is recommended to prevent auto theft and can be purchased at these discounted prices at the Kent Police Department, 220 4th Avenue South. Cash or check only (made out to KPF). All proceeds benefit youth in the Kent community. For more information, call Sara Wood, 253-856-5851.
Auto Theft Prevention Brochure (438KB PDF).
A proven crime prevention program that encourages neighbors to look out for each other. Consider forming a Block Watch today.
Kent Police now offers a free Block Watch 101 class to teach neighborhoods how to start their own Block Watches. Participants will learn about the importance of Neighborhood Watch, when to call 911, how to identify suspicious activity, and how to form a Block Watch in their neighborhoods. Participants will also hear about crime trends and statistics from Kent Police Neighborhood Response Team officers and public educators.
National Night Out 2012 will be August 7th! Online registration will be available in June. Until then, find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KentNNO.
The Kent Community Police Academy is a free six week session offered in the spring and fall. The goal of the Community Police Academy is to develop lasting partnerships by increasing the public’s knowledge about law enforcement. For community members curious about the workings of their police department, this is a unique opportunity to get an inside look at the Kent Police Department.
A program to assist businesses with crime prevention methods to reduce crime. For more information, For more information on how you can harden your business against crime, please contact the staff member assigned to the area (sector) where your business is located:
West Hill/Valley: Sara Wood (253) 856-5851 or e-mail
East Hill/Panther Lake: Stacy Judd (253) 856-5883 or e-mail
Leaders in the Kent community are working to prevent underage alcohol use. It is important to educate ourselves on the facts about underage alcohol use and what we can do to draw that line.
Reducing crime by changing the environment - locks, latches, lighting, landscaping, design, natural surveillance, and encouraging legitimate users of property.
Trespass Program
The City of Kent offers property owners an opportunity to be involved in a Trespass Enforcement Authorization Program. This partnership provides the Kent Police Department authorization to contact and question persons who may be unlawfully occupying the property.
Trespass Program Brochure (188 KB PDF)
TRESPASS AGREEMENT Business-Rental
Safe Tenants And Rentals (STAR)
The purpose of STAR is to encourage landlords to establish the foundation for the provision of safe rental properties to tenants; to avoid the rental of units to those who engage in criminal conduct; and to improve the quality of available rental housing in the city, and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. For more information on this program, contact the Kent Police Community Education Unit at 253-856-5800.
STAR application
Crime Free Housing Addendum
Regional Landlord Training
Kent Police and other South King County police agencies are partnering to bring cureent information to property managers and landlords on how to improve livability and reduce criminal activity in multi-family housing complexes. Class information for the next session will be posted soon.
In 2008, Kent started a Graffiti Removal Program to reduce the prevalence of graffiti and to engage the community in removal efforts. Become part of the solution. Report lingering graffiti on property to the graffiti hotline, (253) 856-GRAF.
Don't Be a Victim
Instruction includes personal safety tips & techniques, ways to avoid being a victim, how to handle situations if you are attacked, how to get help, and how and what to report. Click here for the Personal Safety brochure (144KB PDF) to get tips today on to how improve your safety.
Traffic crashes are a significant source of injury burden in King County each year. From 2006 to 2010, 484 people died in King County in a motor vehicle-related crash and an additional 3,663 people were seriously injured (Washington Traffic Safety Commission, September 2011). Kent Police is home to the South King County Target Zero Teams Manager, responsible for the implementation and coordination of special, high visibility law enforcement emphasis patrols throughout the South King County area. Kent Police and other King County police departments work to prevent traffic crashes and reduce death and serious injury among people who suffer a crash.
Want to know when and where emphasis patrols are taking place in King County? Click here!
Traffic safety topics:
Target Zero
Target Zero is a statewide initiative aimed at building traffic safety partnerships throughout the state to align priorities and leverage resources to improve traffic safety. The state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan has incorporated the Target Zero initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries to zero by the year 2030. Click here for more information on Target Zero.
Got a traffic ticket? You may be able to keep it off your driving record!
The Kent Police Explorer Post #2298 is comprised of youth from in and around the Kent community who are investigating a career in law enforcement. Our goal is to create a link between youth, community and police.
The conference is planned each year by the youth board and adult mentors. Last year's youth board consisted of 25 youth, ranging in age from 13-18. The conference is designed each year with activities for youth to have fun, make new friends and plan projects that will make a difference in their community. For more information, call 253-856-5883 or e-mail.
Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) is a group of community members who assist Kent Police Department employees providing services to the community. These services could not be done without this wonderful group of people who volunteer their free time.
Brochures and Resources
The Community Education Unit has resources available to enhance safety in the community and prevent criminal activity. Here are some available for download:
Crime Prevention for Everyone Booklet (1.28MB PDF) - Gain information on everything from Block Watch to personal safety tips to safety for children. This booklet is intended to educate you on a variety of crime prevention and safety tips and practices. Hard copies available at the Kent Police Department or print the PDF by clicking on the link above.
City of Kent's Graffiti Removal Program Brochure (926KB PDF) - Useful tips on graffiti removal and information on what to do if you are the victim of graffiti vandalism.
My Bicycle Card (145 KB PDF) - Every year Kent Police has close to 100 bikes that we are unable to return to the owner because they didn't report them to the police with the serial number. Record your bicycle information on My Bicycle Card. Then file the card in a safe place so you can report the serial number if your bicycle is reported stolen. You do not need to send the card into the police.
Crime Prevention strategies you can implement to crime proof your business. (64KB PDF) - Learn more about Kent's Business Watch crime prevention program.
Identity theft occurs when a criminal obtains personal identification data and uses it for an illegal purpose - typically theft. The thief takes advantage of good credit ratings and leaves behind bad credit in the victim's name. For more information on how to prevent Identity Theft go to: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.
Prevent Shoplifting (25KB PDF) - If you work in retail or own a retail business, there are a number of steps to prevent merchandise from walking out the door. Check out this brochure to prevent shoplifting.