Violent crimes increasing in Kent (Washington)

by Noel S. Brady
Journal Reporter

Violent crime in Kent rose substantially in 2005, according a new statewide crime report.

At the same time, the preliminary report released this week by the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs says violent crimes, including murder, rape and robbery are up across the state by 2.7 percent. Property crimes, such as auto theft, burglary and arson, rose 2.5 percent.

Bellevue police and the King County Sheriff's Office reported slight decreases in both violent crime and property crime.

Kent police say the marked increase there is at least partly due to a change in the way crime statistics are calculated, but they agree violent crime is increasing.

``I don't think anybody would deny that the numbers are going up,'' said Capt. Jim Miller, who heads the Kent police patrol section.

According to the report by the sheriffs and police chiefs association, Kent police responded to 479 reports of violent crime in 2005 compared to 302 reports in 2004 -- an increase of nearly 59 percent. And there were 6,195 reports of property crime last year compared to 4,888 reported in 2004.


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