Public safety is paramount

Various surveys conducted around the state over the last year continue to show that public safety is high on the list of concerns for the average Washingtonian. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone living in downtown Bellevue or someone residing in the 9th Legislative District. People are feeling less safe and less secure in their homes and communities.

According to annual statistics compiled by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), the numbers support this feeling of unease. Violent crime increased by 12.3% in 2021, murder increased by 6%, and aggravated assaults incr...