The Renton Police Department reported its 2025 crime statistics through this year, and although the end-of-year results are still uncertain, the department projects some crimes will be lower.
At the Public Safety Committee meeting Aug. 11, the Renton Police Department (RPD) presented crime statistics for 2025 through early August, highlighting data for specific types of crimes and the end-of-year estimates. Notably, RPD estimates that there will be about 1,400 fewer property crimes at the end of the year, but just 16 fewer person crimes.
According to RPD, there have been 1,036 person crimes in 2025, and it projects there will be 1,776 by year’s end. There were 1,792 in 2024.
In 2025, according to RPD, there have been 1,889 property crimes, and it projects there will be 3,239 by year’s end. There were 4,692 in 2024.
According to RPD Deputy Chief Ryan Rutledge, crime rates can be variable, but the department assesses where focusing resources can have a positive effect on crime rates.
“One recent example is with the implementation of our Violent Crime Unit, which has been tasked with investigating, apprehending and filing charges on those violent offenders in our community,” Rutledge said. “In many cases, these are repeat violators as well, or are offenders that have been released from custody pending other charges while they continue to commit crime.”
Crimes that have increased compared to the last five years include pursuits/fleeing/eluding, driving under the influence and assault with a weapon.
Pursuits/fleeing/eluding
• Normal range: zero to 13
• This year: 33
Driving under the influence
• Normal range: 83 to 97
• This year: 115
Assault with a weapon
• Normal range: 30 to 35
• This year: 39
Rutledge said that these numbers are comparable to what the department has seen over the past five years. However, the last five years were unique due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in legislation, so the department considers these factors when examining data, Rutledge said.
“Specifically, when we look at any increase to pursuits/fleeing/eluding we recognize that more recent law and policy changes have given authority to pursue in some cases. The data reflects that police have encountered more pursuits in recent years compared to previous years when legal restrictions were put in place limiting that authority,” whereas many offenders were also aware of that limited authority and many were more likely to flee, Rutledge said.
Crimes that have decreased compared to the last five years include motor vehicle theft, robbery, and burglary.
Motor vehicle theft
• Normal range: 536 to 823
• This year: 336
Robbery
• Normal range: 58 to 90
• This year: 33
Burglary
• Normal range: 314 to 421
• This year: 151
“I would acknowledge that even though these rates may be lower now, there are still victims of crime in our community,” Rutledge said. “RPD empathizes with that victimization and will continue to direct resources at these criminal violations as well.”
Hate crimes and juvenile crimes
Regarding hate crimes, 2025 has had five cases, compared to 12 in 2024, 13 in 2023, seven in 2022 and eight in 2021. According to the RPD, in 2025, three of the hate crimes were race-related, and two were sexuality related. Since 2021, 30 of the recorded hate crimes were race related, seven were religion related, six were sexuality related, and two were gender related.
Regarding juvenile suspects, in 2025, there have been 276 juvenile suspects in reports, 545 in 2024, 694 in 2023, 360 in 2022 and 285 in 2021. RPD estimated there will be 476 juvenile suspects in reports by the end of 2025.
How 2025 is going for the department
According to Rutledge, in 2025, RPD continues to build strong relationships and partnerships within Renton, citing that policing is a community effort. RPD’s partnerships with local neighborhood groups, businesses and outreach groups have had a positive impact on public safety. He also said the partnerships help with information sharing, directing resources and education.
Rutledge said that RPD has been a regional leader in utilizing technology, including drones.
“As drone technology advances, RPD have used the program to help locate missing people, apprehend suspects that have fled, providing real-time information to officers during a critical incident utilizing camera systems, crime scene mapping and searching inside buildings,” Rutledge said. “This technology works well and directly positively impacts public safety.”
Regarding staffing, Rutledge said that RPD currently has 132 of its 137 budgeted officers. The department also has individuals deep in the background investigative process to become an officer, as well as an active hiring list. Rutledge said the department was approved to hire four more full-time employees in 2026, so they will be budgeted for 141 officers in 2026.
“Our background investigations team and human resource partners work hard to create a fair hiring process with high standards,” Rutledge said. “I would like to highlight that our community should be proud of that effort and of those newly hired officers joining the Renton Police team with a passion and common theme of wanting to help others and a service-before-self attitude.”
