Hours Fireworks are allowed at approved locations:

• June 28th: Noon to 11 p.m.
• June 29th-July 5th: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• July 4th Extended Hours: 9 a.m. to Midnight
• December 31st: 6:00 p.m. on December 31st until 1:00 a.m. on January 1st of the subsequent year

Fireworks are NEVER ALLOWED at these locations:

• School Properties (Fife High School, Columbia Junior High, School Parks & Facilities)
• City Properties (Dacca Park, 5 Acre Park, Swim Center, and all other City Properties, Parks, & Buildings)
• Many apartment complexes and homeowner’s associations have regulations that do not allow fireworks. Please check with yours before lighting.

Robbery on 54th Ave.

On January 26^th at approximately 5:45 PM, Fife Officers were dispatched to a robbery in the 1200 block of 54^th Ave E.  Officers contacted the victim who relayed to them that he was on a lunch break from his nearby place of employment, and was walking back from a convenience store.  The victim said another male was walking on the sidewalk toward him and when he passed the other male, the male grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and tried to drag him to the ground.  The suspect and victim struggled over a bag of food that the victim had just purchased and the suspect was able to pull the bag away from the victim.   When the victim tried to take the bag back, the suspect pulled out a knife and threatened to stab the victim.  The suspect then demanded the victim’s wallet which the victim gave him.  The suspect fled on foot south on 54^th Ave E toward Pacific Hwy E. 

The suspect was described as a white male, mid-twenties to mid-thirties, medium build, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, and blue jeans.  The suspect was also described as having a “bushy blond beard” and “stained teeth.”  Detectives believe the suspect may be a transient living somewhere in the area.

Anyone with information about the robbery or a possible suspect is asked to call the Fife Police Department at 253-922-6633 and ask for Detective Sergeant Thompson. 

Credit Card theft suspect needs to be identified

Can you help Fife PD identify this suspect? He made numerous purchases using a credit card that was stolen during a vehicle prowl, including this one shown here at a department store in Tacoma. If you know him, contact Detective Nolta, 253-896-8257

Auto Crimes Enforcement (ACE)

Today, the Auto Crimes Enforcement (ACE) auto theft task force of Pierce County concluded a mission called "Operation Cancel Christmas."  Their task was to identify the region's most prolific auto thieves and arrest them for outstanding bench warrants in order to preclude them from committing their crimes over the holiday season.  ACE detectives arrested 7 of the targeted 17 suspects, and today arrested a male subject in Tacoma.  With the Tacoma Police SWAT team serving 2 warrants in the City of Tacoma, the male subject, who was considered the "ACE of Spade" suspect for the warrant sweep, was finally apprehended.  He was wanted for 2 felony warrants for eluding area police in stolen vehicles, a recent car jacking in Tacoma, and a home-invasion robbery.

The task force believes his arrest will be measurable because the male subject admits to stealing up to 7 cars per week, and claims to have stolen a minimum of 700 cars in the past 10 years.

He was booked into the Pierce County Jail.

The ACE Task Force is staffed by detectives from Fife Police (parent agency), Puyallup Police, Tacoma Police, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol, real-time crime analysts from South Sound 911/LARIAT, and a deputy prosecutor from the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.

Sgt. Nestor Bautista
Washington State Patrol
Criminal Investigation Division
253.606.1948

2014 Santa Run

Ho Ho Ho Santa is coming to Fife! The Fife Police Department is partnering with the Tacoma Fire Department 12 for our annual Santa Run. On December 13th, 14th and 20th, Santa will be trading in his reindeer's for patrol vehicles and a fire truck. When you hear us, come on out! We will have a gift for every child in Fife. Our convoy will be cruising slowly down every street in Fife to make sure everyone has a chance to receive a present. Look at the maps below to see when Santa will be coming to your neighborhood.

Our Santa Run will be broken down into 3 days. The first day will be Saturday, December 13th. Santa will start on Freeman Road, south of the railroad tracks at 10:00 AM. We will be going to every neighborhood South of the railroad tracks and North of North Levee Road East.

The second day will be on Sunday, December 14th. Santa will start on 54th Avenue East and 20th Street East at 10:00 AM. We will be going to every neighborhood South of I-5, and North of Valley Avenue East.

The third and last day will be on Saturday, December 20th. Santa will start on 70th Avenue East at 10:00 AM. We will be going to every neighborhood North of I-5.

Fife Press Release December 1-8

Fife Police Department

Press Release

December 1 to December 8:

Fife Officers were contacted by members of the Adult Protective Services and asked to conduct a welfare check of a 59 year old female who reported that she was assaulted by her 58 year old brother whom she lived in a Fife apartment with.  Officers contacted the apartment and the brother attempted to hide in a rear bedroom.  Officers found that he had Fife and Milton warrants for his arrest for DUI, DV assault, violations of a protection order, and driving on a suspended license.   When he was arrested, the brother was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.  He was booked into jail for assault and possession of felony drugs. 

On December 6th at approximately 3:00 AM, Fife Officers were dispatched to a report of a possible drunk driver traveling the wrong way on Hwy 509 and heading into Fife.  Officers began a check of the area for the suspect vehicle and a Milton Officer spotted it in the 7900 block of Pacific Hwy E weaving back and forth in its lane of travel.  Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but it took off and a pursuit began.  The vehicle was crossing over the center line and ran a red light.  The driver hit a curb and flattened two of the vehicles tires.  Officers were able to use a PIT maneuver to get the vehicle stopped, but the driver refused to exit the vehicle.  Officers broke out the driver’s side window and opened the door to remove the driver.  They found the driver was a 22 year old female who was wearing nothing but a bra.  She was taken into custody and refused medical aid.  The driver, who was from University Place, told officers she thought she was in Kitsap County.  She was taken to the Pierce County Jail where she was booked for eluding and driving under the influence.

On December 8^th at approximately 5:30 PM, Fife Officers were dispatched to a restaurant in the 5200 block of 20^th St E for a fraud that was in progress.  Officers were told that a male suspect was attempting to cash out phony pull tabs in the bar.  Officers contacted a male in the lobby who immediately became nervous but denied he was there to redeem pull tabs and claimed he was there meeting a friend.  The restaurant staff positively identified the male as the person who attempted to cash out the phony pull tabs and showed the officers that the pull tabs he was trying to redeem were fake.  They advised that the same male had been successful in cashing in two phony pull tabs in November and they recognized him when he returned.  The male refused to answer any question from the officers.  He was arrested and booked into Pierce County Jail for forgery and attempted theft.                

For Immediate Release

Fife Police Department

3737 Pacific Hwy. E.

Fife, WA 98424

(253) 896-8287

(253) 922-6633 (Dispatch)

(253) 922-1220 fax

Sergeant T. Thompson #253

12/08/2014

Press Release November 6th-17th

Fife Police Department

Press Release

On November 6^th at approximately 02:00 AM,  a Fife Officer was conducting patrols in the city parks when he came upon a vehicle backed up to the entrance of a park in the 800 block of 62^nd Ave E.  The officer could see that there were two people inside the vehicle, but both were in the rear seat.  The officer observed that what appeared to be a lighter flickering off and on.  The officer contacted the vehicle and both occupants said they had just come from the casino and were waiting for a friend.  The officer could see drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle but both passengers denied any knowledge of drugs inside the vehicle.  A search warrant was obtained and detectives found multiple items of drug paraphernalia and a large quantity of methamphetamine inside the vehicle.  Both suspects were booked into Pierce County Jail for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. 

On November 9^th at approximately 6:00 PM, Fife Officers were dispatched to a report of a large group of people in a heated argument in the parking lot of a hotel in the 5100 block of Pacific Hwy E.  Officers arrived and found that during the argument, one of the male patrons threatened another patron with a knife.  The suspect was located a short distance away and placed under arrest.  Another female suspect lied about her name and was also arrested.  While sitting in the rear of a patrol car, the female became lethargic and told officers that she had swallowed a bindle of heroin.  She was transported to the hospital then later booked into jail. 

On November 9^th at approximately 11:50 AM, Officers were conducting a security check of an abandoned house on the south side of the city.  The owners of the house had complained that someone had been breaking into the house and causing damage.  The officers located a male suspect inside the residence who claimed he lived there.  The suspect had been previously trespassed from the property.  He was found to have multiple warrants for his arrest out of Orting and Bonney Lake.  He was arrested and officers found methamphetamine in his pocket.  He was booked into jail for possession of a controlled substance and trespassing. 

On November 9^th at approximately 2:00 PM, a Fife Officer was on patrol and was conducting a security check at a hotel in the 3500 block of Pacific Hwy E.   He observed a vehicle occupied by a female and could see that the female had what he recognized was a drug smoking device in her mouth.  When the officer contacted the female, he found that she had other items of drug paraphernalia on her lap.  The female was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of heroin, and possession of a schedule 3 narcotic without a prescription.  She was booked into the county jail. 

On November 16^th at approximately 4:00 PM, Fife Officers were dispatched to a report of a fight between two females in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in the 3400 block of Pacific Hwy E.  The officers found that the two females were in a dating relationship and had been staying at the hotel across the street.  One of the females discovered that the other had been engaging in prostitution activity in their room while the other was away.  A fight ensued and ended up at the restaurant.  One of the females was arrested for DV assault and booked into jail. 

On November 17^th at approximately 8:30 AM, A Fife Officer was on patrol and conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 5500 block of Pacific Hwy E.  As the officer approached the vehicle, he could see that the three occupants of the vehicle were moving around in the front and back seats and appeared to be trying to hide something.  The officer asked for additional police officers to help him and other officers soon arrived.  The driver of the vehicle was known to officers from prior cases where he was in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.  All three occupants were convicted felons.  As the officers were speaking to the occupants, one of the officers saw a handgun tucked between the front seat and the center consol.  The suspects were detained and the vehicle was seized for a search warrant.  Detectives located 2 hand guns, 1 shot gun, $4000 in cash, and over a pound of methamphetamine.  All three suspects were booked into Pierce County Jail.       

  

For Immediate Release

Fife Police Department

3737 Pacific Hwy. E.

Fife, WA 98424

(253) 896-8287

(253) 922-6633 (Dispatch)

(253) 922-1220 fax

Sergeant T. Thompson #253

11/19/2014

Crime Prevention Tips - Residential Burglary

Nothing is more unsettling than coming home to find your house is shambles. The first line of defense against residential burglary is YOU. Criminals often look for good targets prior breaking in. Here are some tips that will help slow down and deter criminals from targeting your home.

• Cut Shrubbery - Shrubs should not exceed more than 3 feet high, and prune the lower branches of trees up to 7 feet high to maintain clear visibility of your home. Keep shrubs from blocking vision looking into your house through a window. Often, criminals look for homes that have overgrown vegetation that keep them hidden and out of sight from street view. 
• Lighting - Consider motion sensor lights or lights with a timer that turns off in the morning, and on in the evening. 
• Alarm Signs - Be sure to place the alarm signs in front of all doors that lead into your home. Even if you do not have an alarm system, find some signs to deter criminals anyways! 
• Accessibility - Keep items such as ladders locked in your home or garage. Do not give burglars the opportunity to climb through your second story window!
• House Checks - If you are leaving town for any period of time, whether for business or holiday vacation, you can put your residence on our department's House Check program. Call our non-emergency number at (253) 922-6633 Your home will receive periodic checks by a uniformed officer.

The second line of defense against residential burglary is YOU. Criminals will look for the easiest ways to break into your home. Do not give them this opportunity!

• Locks - Use locks on all windows, and dead bolts on doors leading into your home. Use large strike plates with lots of long screws and door reinforces. Doggie Doors are also a possible entry point. Place locks on your fence doors and/or bells to alert you!
• Alarms - Use alarms with very loud sirens and strobes. Alarm stickers on windows also deter criminals from proceeding to enter into your home.

The third line of defense against residential burglary is YOU. The criminal has entered your home and has taken your valuables. Here is what you can do to help Police identify and investigate your stolen items.

• Serial Numbers - Record the serial numbers on TVs, computers and other electronics. 
• Safes - Safes are a great way to secure important items such as social security cards, passports, firearms and other items. Keep in mind that the safe should be too heavy for the criminal to lift, and too difficult for the criminal to break into. 
• Photos - Keep photos of your property, especially jewelry. Keep your jewelry hidden! Store them in a creative area where you think a criminal will never look.

Lastly, consider Fife Police Department's Block Watch program. Know your neighbors and look out for one another. Click HERE to read more about our Block Watch program.

Press Release

Fife Police Department

Press Release

On November 5^th the Fife Police Department served search warrants at three massage parlors on the Pacific Hwy E corridor in Fife.  The locations were in the 4800 block of Pacific Hwy E., the 5100 block of Pacific Hwy E., and the 1400 block of 54^th Ave E.  The warrant service came after an ongoing investigation that began when the department received complaints about prostitution activities at the locations.  The investigation and warrant service were conducted by Fife Police Detectives and Officers, Lakewood Police Detectives, Detective from the Pierce Metro Crime Response Unit, and Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations. 

Undercover detectives acting as customers went to the massage parlors and were offered sex and sex related acts in exchange for money.  Detectives also found that the massage parlor employees were performing massages without a Washington State Massage license.  Detectives arrested 7 women who were cited and charged for prostitution or practicing massage without a license.       

Press inquiries can be made to Assistant Chief Woods at 253-896-8248.  

For Immediate Release

Fife Police Department

3737 Pacific Hwy. E.

Fife, WA 98424

(253) 896-8287

(253) 922-6633 (Dispatch)

(253) 922-1220 fax

Detective Sergeant T. Thompson #253

10/06/2014

Halloween Carnival Success!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to help our local food bank!

Safe Street of the Week!

This week's safe street of the week is 48th Street East from 70th Avenue East to Freeman Road East.  The posted speed limit is 25MPH. Drive safe!

Protect Yourself Against Email Scams

Four of the most common email scams are:

• The Imitator – Many scams imitate legitimate companies in an effort to fool consumers. The simplest way to avoid these fakes is to never click on a link sent in an unsolicited e-mail. (For example, if “Comcast or Bank of America” sends you an email about your account and asks for your information.) Find the company link on your own using a search engine, or, if you know the company address, type it in yourself.
• The Urgent Offer – These scams are the “if it sounds too good to be true” - it probably is, partnered with a time factor wanting you to rush to get the deal.
• The Official Notice – These are very similar to the Imitator, but are trying to convince you to take action to solve an issue. A common one we have seen is that “your email is full” and you have to enter your information to enlarge your inbox. Another example is an email that states your account is overdue and asks you to send money to pay the balance.
• The Lottery - Foreign lottery scams are rampant. If you did not enter a lottery, you did not win a lottery. (We know, we know – we wish we could win the lottery, too.) If you did enter the lottery, you still are very unlikely to win, and you would not be notified via e-mail. (You’ve seen prize winners. They get HUGE checks that couldn’t possibly fit into an email.) This is a straightforward scam to get your information.

So what can you do? Here are some ways to spot the scam:

• Threats - The scam goes from apologizing for any inconvenience to threatening the recipient in an effort to scare you into responding. Companies are not going to threaten you and certainly won’t send threats in an e-mail that randomly selected you for maintenance.
• The offer is from a company you’ve never heard of - This is really the only identifier needed to know that this is fake. The second clue is that their e-mail address does not match the company. Look after the  @ symbol.  If the email is from TMNT it should show @TMNT and not anything else.  Hackers like to steal people email accounts and send out thousands of emails so frequently you will see a person’s personal email account.  Again this is a scam and just delete.
• The name of recipient isn't yours - If the name on the To: line isn't yours, then you’re one of the thousands (maybe millions) of names hidden on the Bcc: line.
• The email is urging you to make a financial transaction under time pressure - If you feel you have to act quickly, you are more likely to react without thoroughly investigating. Take the time and investigate!
• You are singled out for an ‘exclusive’ opportunity - Ask yourself: why would a company you don’t know single you out?
• You are asked to enter financial information - They want you to enter financial information so they can instantly show you your adjusted mortgage rate. In fact, entering personal financial information on sites you aren’t absolutely sure are safe is almost sure to result in someone stealing from you.
• Increased urgency, more time pressure is applied - Notice that they can only guarantee this great rate ‘for three more days’, but no actual dates are given.
• The sender is a person - No organization is going to send a notice from a personal e-mail, and they will use their organization’s e-mail, not a free e-mail service.

Halloween Carnival

Friday, October 31st 2014 - Halloween Carnival
     Boo! The Fife Police Department is pleased to announce its annual Halloween Carnival at Columbia Junior High School. The event will have numerous different games for the kids, treats and best of all, prizes! Kids will get a Halloween goodie bag filled with candy and receive a pumpkin flashlight. The event will be held on Friday, October 31st from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The cost to attend is one nonperishable food item to support our local food bank!

•     Date: Friday, October 31st 
•     Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
•     Location: Columbia Junior High, Fife
•                   2901 54th Avenue East
•                    Fife, WA 98424
•     Cost: One nonperishable food item

Safe Street of the Week

This week's safe street of the week is 61st Ave E from 38th St E to N Levee Road. The posted speed limit is 25 MPH. Drive Safe!

K9 Slyder

We are sad to announce the passing of former narcotics K9 Slyder. Slyder was the Fife Police Departments first K9 and was assigned to Officer Travis Kenyon in 2006. Officer Kenyon and Slyder were certified as a Master Narcotic Detection Team by the Washington State Canine Association and served on Pierce County’s Metro K-9 group. Officer Kenyon and Slyder were responsible for numerous seizures of narcotics, vehicles and currency.     Slyder retired from duty in 2012 and enjoyed retirement with the Kenyon family.      

Fife Police Truck Pull Success!

The Fife Police Department would like to thank everyone who participated and donated to our Truck Pull benefiting Special Olympics Washington. The event raised over $1,000! Congratulations to the Fife High School Football team with their victory over five other teams for the second year in a row!

Truck Pull for Special Olympics

It's not too late to register for our Truck Pull!  Come down to Fife to have some fun with your family and friends while competing for first place. The team with the fastest time gets a trophy. All the proceedings benefit Special Olympics! Sign up now!

Fife Police Department Activity

Fife Police Department activity September 19 to September 26:

On September 19^th, Fife Officers responded to the 4400 block of Pacific Hwy E for a report of an assault that had occurred in a nearby business.  The reporting person said a female had punched a male, then attempted to choke him.  Officers contacted a female in the area who matched the description provided of the suspect.  She denied any knowledge of an assault but she did have a warrant for her arrest for being in possession of a stolen bicycle.  The female, who was six months pregnant, was arrested on the warrant and found to be in possession methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  She claimed the drugs were not hers and she was asked by a friend to throw them away.  She was booked into Pierce County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. 

On September 21^st, a Fife Officer was on patrol when he saw a vehicle leave the parking lot of a motel in the 3100 block of Pacific Hwy E.  The vehicle began to accelerate away at a speed that was in excess of the posted 35 MPH speed limit and the vehicle crossed over the center lane.  The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver.  While speaking with the driver, the officer noticed what he recognized as heroin in the center ash tray.  The driver was arrested and detectives applied for a search warrant for the vehicle.  Detectives located over 200 grams of heroin, 29 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and over $11,000 in currency.  The driver was booked into Pierce County Jail. 

On September 21^st, a Fife Officer was on patrol in the 4800 block of Freeman Rd at approximately 0245 AM, when she came upon a female walking and stumbling in the roadway.  The officer contacted the female who was obviously intoxicated despite only being 17 years old.  The female told the officer she only had a “few beers” and was “only buzzed.”  She was arrested and transported to Remann Hall but was refused admittance because of her extreme intoxication.  Officers transported her to the hospital for treatment and she was finally booked into Remann Hall after several hours.     

On September 22^nd, Fife Officers responded to the 1500 block of Port of Tacoma Rd for a report of a fight between a male and female.  Witnesses reported that a male and female got into a heated argument about drugs and the female began “hammer fist punching” the male in the back of the head.  Officers located the female a short distance away.  She initially denied knowing about a fight, but later acknowledged she had assaulted her boyfriend after he took something from her.  She refused to say what he took.  The couple were found to have a protection order in place and the female was arrested.  The male was not located and charges on him were forwarded to the prosecutor’s office. 

Safe Street of the Week!

This week's safe street of the week is 12th St. E from Alexander Ave E to 54th Ave E. The posted speed limit is 25MPH. Drive safe!

Safe Street of the Week!

This week's safe street of the week is 43rd Street East from 65th Avenue East to 70th Avenue East. The posted speed is 25MPH. Drive safe!