WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Package taken; burglary followup; police hiring update; local officer ridealong video

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch this evening:

PACKAGE TAKEN: The video was sent by a reader in North Admiral in hopes someone recognizes this person:

(2200 block) California Ave SW, happened around 4 am Thursday night. Temporary report number: T00035482

BURGLARY FOLLOWUP: On Saturday morning, we briefly reported police investigating a burglary at Zeeks Pizza in Morgan Junction. Today we obtained the report with details. The person who reported the break-in was a produce-delivery person who saw the shattered glass on arrival. Police say the register drawer was damaged but it didn’t appear the burglar(s) had gotten anything from it because, the officer who filed the report wrote, “the business operated on credit/debit cards only.” However, staff told police that it appeared “10-15 bottles of whiskey were taken.”

POLICE HIRING: Back in May, city councilmembers got an update on Seattle Police hiring (WSB coverage here) and were told it was moving at an “unprecedented” pace. An announcement late today suggests that pace is continuing, with the news that they’ve hired more than 100 officers so far this year. That’s more than projected in the May briefing, which suggested SPD was likely to hire 132 to 169 officers this entire year.

OFFICER RIDEALONG VIDEO: The news release touting the hiring numbers mentioned that among other things, the department is now producing “compelling content on YouTube.” So we clicked through to see what they were referring to and found this recently published SPD video, scenes from a ridealong with a Southwest Precinct officer, featuring mostly West Seattle calls:

This includes some of the revived traffic enforcement that officers have been doing lately (as evidenced by radio calls and online logs).

CarDriver July 28, 2025 (7:35 pm)

WSB. Is SPD-and KCSO doing ride alongs? Would be a WONDERFUL opportunity for the keyboard 2nd guessers to see real life.

Derek July 28, 2025 (9:15 pm)

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Wait are we not supposed to second guess when they laugh about hitting someone? Or when they go to January 6? Or do a sick out for a raise using taxpayer funds? We are allowed to second guess. It’s a freedom.
Ken July 28, 2025 (9:41 pm)

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That’s also my question. Would love to do a ride-along with SPD.
Elton July 29, 2025 (4:35 pm)

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I think the ride along here is for marketing purposes – that was my read on it (meaning: a documentarian recording a ride along to attract prospective applicants for SPD jobs)

Brian July 29, 2025 (8:15 am)

Very cool to see motorists getting pulled over for vehicular crimes that endanger the community. Need way more of that.

Emm July 29, 2025 (9:07 am)

Thanks to the police department for all they do.The officer was polite and respectful. I would ask that police officers would spend more time patrolling Alki beach where speeding ,dangerous driving,parking violations and excessive noise occur on a daily basis.

Person July 29, 2025 (9:25 am)

That was great. Wish he would have ticketed the lady with the expired tabs.

Peter S. July 29, 2025 (9:48 am)

I have to say this was more interesting and less of a PR exercise than I expected. As mentioned above, I too was surprised that the officer chose to give her a ticket for speeding instead of expired tabs. I get that he was willing to give her a “break”, and I don’t know which ticket is more expensive, but it seems to me the expired tabs was the greater offense as it can affect insurance coverage.

Insurance companies will generally pay out on claims as long as your policy hasn’t lapsed even if your registration has expired, but not all will and it’s a bit of a gray area. Not having insurance coverage could be a real problem for the other party if she’s involved in an at-fault accident.

Jed July 29, 2025 (12:25 pm)

This was one slickly produced curated PR piece for me.The officer ‘ridealong’ is enjoyable and his shift yielded positive outcomes.It felt more like Mayberry than West Seattle and remarkable for the casual pace of the shift. This portrayal contrasts with some of the neighborhood association meetings where SPD responds to citizen concerns about of scant enforcement with lack of officers.I recall being pulled over by SPD motorcycle for expired tabs (I had been out of town working for months and inadvertently lapsed).I was stopped solely for tabs. The officer cited me despite my excuse. I deserved the fine and paid it. I also have been cited, and paid, while parked for not having a front license plate.Apparently these codes are amongst those no longer enforced by SPD and their PEO unit (others: parking on the wrong side of the street, blocking curb skirts, blocking alleys, parking within five feet of driveways, double parking, parking in front of fire hydrants, blocking sidewalks, parking on planting strips…). The intentionally speeding ferry commuter of the Audi was let off of a citation. Why?I am chagrined by the dramatic shift towards lawlessness we are experiencing on our once quiet law abiding peninsula.But this SPD ridealong brings back that Mayberryness of our memories.

Delridge Neighbor July 29, 2025 (4:33 pm)

Cops- West Seattle, I would watch more episodes. This episode features an extremely mello night. When I did ride along with the Tacoma police, the first night the Sargent took me around personally to other officers scenes, which were all very calm, safe interactions. Once he figured out he could trust me, the next two nights I got to go on a high speed chase, watch them question professionally organized teenage bike thieves, and chase crack dealers. It was intense and I learned alot. The police are such keen observers, they see things everyone else misses.