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Special Operations Section (S.O.S.)
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"Officers must foster an environment on the streets that is hostile to criminals."
- Chief Richard Word, Oakland PD
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The mission of the Special Operations Section (S.O.S.) is to conduct street level enforcement for the Patrol,
CID and Narcotics sections by targeting criminal activity not amenable to interdiction by the conventional
operations of these units.
The Special Operations Section is authorized four officers and one sergeant.
The Special Operations Section was very
active in 2009 conducting investigations, but
more importantly, through proactive means,
deterred many criminals from carrying out their
crimes in the City of Lynnwood. During the year,
SOS redirected its resources to focus on larger
scale operations. Several of these
investigations did not generate arrests but
provided significant information to deter
criminal activity. Proactive work included:
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Concentrated patrols of the Alderwood Mall
to ensure a safe environment
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Proactive attention in the parks to prevent
and address criminal activity
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Efforts to minimize criminal activity at the
Park & Ride
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Several investigations with efforts aimed at
eradicating graffiti
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Aggressive approach toward gangs in our
community
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Surveillances which provided significant
information for investigations and arrest
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Registered sex offender checks
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Gambling audits
| S.O.S. Statistical Activity |
2008 |
2009 |
% Change |
| Notice of Infraction (NOI) |
157 |
57 |
-64% |
| Criminal Traffic |
244 |
140 |
-43% |
| Criminal Non-Traffic |
191 |
99 |
-49% |
| Reports |
928 |
696 |
-25% |
| Total Activity |
1,308 |
992 |
-25% |
| Other Activity |
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| Arrests/Charges |
897 |
924 |
3% |
| Gun Arrests/Recoveries |
4 |
4 |
- |
| LPD Warrant Arrests |
130 |
136 |
5% |
| Other Agency Warrants |
305 |
251 |
-17% |
| Felony Arrests |
197 |
210 |
7% |
| Search Warrants |
9 |
16 |
78% |
| Narcotics (Misd. / Fel) |
138 |
149 |
8% |
| Prostitution Arrests |
13 |
13 |
- |
| Public Indecency |
2 |
1 |
-50% |
| Graffiti Arrests |
11 |
14 |
27% |
| Liquor Arrest/ Stings |
18 |
22 |
22% |
| Registered Sex Offender Audits |
203 |
180 |
-11% |
| Background Investigation |
9 |
6 |
-33% |
| Gambling Audits |
8 |
6 |
-25% |
| Seized Cash |
$15,392 |
$5,395 |
-65% |
The following incidents are a
representation of Special Operations Section
activities:
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Special
Operations compiled data and
organized a gang emphasis. The
purpose of the emphasis was to
address the significant increase
in gang related activity in
Lynnwood. Our gang enforcement
efforts impacted the operations
of gangs in our community and
overall resulted in the arrest
of 23 gang members for various
charges and disbanded most of
the gangs in our community. Many
members moved away to
escape unwanted police
attention. This operation
involved numerous officers from
multiple law enforcement
agencies and hundreds of hours
for its success.
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Special
Operations conducted a very
successful Craigslist sting
operation targeting subjects
engaging in sex for sale
activities. This operation
required the work of numerous
officers and was a success with
eight prostitutes arrested and
three others arrested for
promoting prostitution. Two
cases are being reviewed for
federal prosecution.
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Special
Operations investigations led to
three residences where the
growing and harvesting of
marijuana was occurring. Search
warrants were executed resulting
in the confiscation of
approximately 700 marijuana
plants.
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Special
Operations did a follow-up
investigation from information
they had received from an
informant. This information led
to an apartment building outside
the City of Lynnwood where a
fully operational meth lab was
discovered. Special Operations
assisted the Snohomish County
Regional Narcotics Task Force in
the investigation which
concluded with the Department of
Ecology confiscating the
property due to significant
contamination.
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Special
Operations conducted two liquor
stings and one tobacco sting in
an effort to minimize the
availability of alcohol and
tobacco products to the youth of
our community. These stings
resulted in 22
violations/arrests at various
business locations. In each of
these arrests the businesses
were subject to review by the
Washington State Liquor Board.
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Special Operations continues to take an aggressive stance toward the enforcement and eradication of
graffiti in the City of Lynnwood. Being one of our top priorities, we made great strides during 2009 with
the arrest of 14 suspects for graffiti crimes. The arrest of these suspects was a key element in combating
many of the graffiti occurrences. Special Operations has also employed creative means for the quick
removal of graffiti, utilizing volunteers and other resources of the City.
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The cases listed here were successful in
part due to strong working relationships
developed by special operations
personnel with patrol, criminal
investigations detectives, narcotics
detectives, school resource officers, jail
staff, and other divisions/units/sections
within the Department. We continue to
also maintain successful partnerships
with Department of Corrections,
Immigration Customs Enforcement,
Drug Enforcement Administration,
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives and other state and
federal agencies.
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