Lynnwood Police Department | Special Operations Section (S.O.S.)

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Special Operations Section (S.O.S.)

Mission

"Officers must foster an environment on the streets that is hostile to criminals."

- Chief Richard Word, Oakland PD

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.

Personnel
The Special Operations Section is authorized four officers and one sergeant.

Activity and Accomplishments
The Special Operations Section was increasingly busy in 2008 conducting investigations, but more importantly, through proactive means, was able to deter many criminals from committing crimes in the City of Lynnwood. Several of these areas that may not have generated arrests but required significant SOS resources include:

Concentrated patrols at the Alderwood Mall to ensure a safe environment.

Proactive patrols in the parks to monitor public indecency activity and gang activity.

Patrol of the Park & Ride to minimize crime and gang activity.

Several investigations with efforts aimed at eradicating graffiti.

Quarterly Registered Sex Offender checks.

Gambling audits.

Multiple new employee candidate background investigations.

Underage liquor sales enforcement with Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB).

Prostitution enforcement (Craigslist).

During 2008 SOS operated with three officers and one sergeant until a vacancy was filled in June bringing the unit back up to full staffing. During the course of the year officers were periodically tasked with collateral assignments such as field training of new patrol officers, range/firearms instruction and background investigations for new hires. Over 1,500 hours were spent on these temporary assignments which impacted overall unit productivity.

S.O.S. Statistical Activity 2007 2008 % Change

Notice of Infraction (NOI) 144 157 9%

Criminal Traffic 134 244 82%

Criminal Non-Traffic 159 191 20%

Reports 639 928 45%

Total Activity 1,076 1,308 21%

Other Activity

Arrests/Charges 719 897 25%

Gun Arrests/Recoveries 6 4 -33%

LPD Warrant Arrests 108 130 20%

Other Agency Warrants 259 305 18%

Felony Arrests 174 197 13%

Search Warrants 9 9 0

Narcotics (Misd. / Fel) * 138 NA

Prostitution Arrests 7 13 86%

Public Indecency 0 2 200%

Graffiti Arrests * 11 NA

Liquor Arrest/ Stings 22 18 -18%

Registered Sex Offender Audits * 203 NA

Background Investigation 3 9 200%

Gambling Audits 9 8 -11%

Seized Cash * $15,392 NA

The following incidents are a representation of Special Operations Section activities:

SOS conducted a very successful Craigslist sting operation in conjunction with targeting subjects engaging in prostitution. This operation required the work of numerous officers and was extremely successful with ten prostitutes and three male pimps arrested.

In January 2008, SOS officers arrested a prolific crack cocaine dealer that supplied numerous drug houses in Lynnwood. The suspect was arrested on several felony warrants and was in possession of approximately 23 grams of cocaine. He was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison.

In March 2008, the arrest of two active vehicle thieves was made. While arresting the pair on warrants, a large quantity of car dealership keys were located. An SOS officer interviewed one of the suspects which led to locating three vehicles that had been recently stolen from a used car lot in Seattle. Seattle P.D. took over the case and the suspect assisted them in recovering a total of nine additional stolen cars valued at over $105,000.

The suspect was sentenced to 60 months on the King County charges along with Snohomish County charges still pending. SOS officers worked in a collaborative effort to locate a suspect in an armed robbery involving a firearm with one person being shot. Over the course of several days SOS was able to track down and arrest the suspect after a short foot pursuit. The combined effort of SOS resulted in a positive outcome in this case.

In August of 2008 SOS received an anonymous complaint referencing a crack house in the 21100 block of 44th Avenue West. A search warrant was obtained and executed resulting in the arrest of three people. Thirty-seven grams of crack cocaine and over $2,200 was seized.

Follow-up contacts with the homeowner quickly resulted in the eviction of the drug dealing tenants resulting in the elimination of a crack house from our city within two weeks of the initiation of the investigation.

SOS has been quite aggressive in the enforcement and interdiction of graffiti in the City of Lynnwood making great strides during 2008 with the arrest of 11 suspects for their graffiti crimes. The arrest of these suspects was a key element in combating additional graffiti occurrences. SOS has also employed creative means for the removal of graffiti utilizing volunteers and other resources in the City to ensure its quick removal.

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