Federal Way experienced a 25% decrease in overall crime between August 2024 and August 2025, marking one of the city’s most significant year-over-year improvements in recent memory, according to Federal Way Police Department data.
The substantial decline builds on an 11% crime reduction from the previous year, though homicides have doubled from four total cases in 2024 to eight so far this year, creating a mixed picture of public safety trends.
Mayor Jim Ferrell attributed much of the improvement to modified state laws affecting police operations, particularly regarding vehicle pursuits, while acknowledging continued challenges.
“While these numbers are good, they’re not good enough,” Ferrell stated. “We’re going to keep getting these numbers as low as we possibly can.”
Several crime categories showed dramatic reductions, with motor vehicle theft leading decreases at 55%. Commercial robberies fell 68%, while residential burglaries dropped 32%. Aggravated assault declined 33%, and larceny and theft decreased 22%.
Ferrell highlighted the vehicle theft reduction as particularly significant, linking it to relaxed restrictions on police pursuits. “Almost every major crime in our community was being done in a stolen car. And so, when we were unable to pursue stolen cars, it really dramatically impacted our community and our region,” he explained.
The mayor also credited improved security measures for reducing property crimes. “One of the things that’s happened is people have really hardened a target, so to speak. Almost everybody has ring cameras, which is very helpful,” Ferrell said.
Drug-related arrests increased 38% this year, which Ferrell praised as a positive development following new possession laws that classify the offense as a gross misdemeanor, enabling prosecution in district courts.
“Anything that involves addiction and chemicals and that kind of thing, you want in an environment like a municipal court or a district court where probation can be utilized to get people treatment, to get people help,” he said.
However, the doubling of homicides from four to eight cases presents a concerning trend. Four of the eight homicides were domestic violence-related, according to the mayor.
“Hard to predict, but there are key indicators, and we’re doing our absolute best to make sure that we identify lethality,” Ferrell said regarding domestic violence cases.
The Federal Way Police Department currently operates at record staffing levels with 154 officers, representing an addition of approximately 20 positions since the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting law enforcement recruitment nationwide.
The crime reduction occurs as many Washington cities struggle with public safety challenges, making Federal Way’s improvement notable within regional trends.
The mixed result, significant overall crime reductions alongside increased homicides, reflect complex public safety dynamics that require targeted approaches for different types of criminal activity.
