White Center has long suffered from a reputation for crime. Being a community perched on the edge of the County/City line the name "Rat City" came to be embraced by many in the area as almost a badge of courage. Like many reputations it was and is based only partially on the truth. Day to day life and business in White Center is pretty normal compared to other areas around Seattle. Still there has been an uptick in violent crime in the community and once again the community is coming together to seek some answers.

White Center resident Stephanie Poliakoff is concerned. She and business owner Rob Butler called for a meeting set for Thursday, April 11 at RJB Photo Studio 9636 16th SW with King County Sheriff Deputy Bill Kennamer. Poliakoff said, "We’re new to the area, and have connected with neighbors who are new as well as those long time residents who have been concerned about the recent and frequent crime/violence/killing. This meeting is a starting point to begin dialogue about what’s going on, what’s “normal”, what’s changing in the area and what neighbors can do to be/feel safe. A starting point."

King County Sheriff's Deputy and Public Information Officer Ryan Abbott provided some recent information on crime in the area saying, "Violent crime is slowly trending up overall for White center/ Park Lake Homes area/ Boulevard Park area. Police reports generated for the Starbucks for the first of the year (7 total)."

But clearly most alarming are the stabbings, shootings and murders that have been taking place in the area in the last two years.

Real Estate website Trulia notes that 293 counts of theft, 109 counts of assault, 61 counts of vandalism 60 counts of burglary and 36 counts of property crime were reported for White Center in the last year.

Efforts have been made by a revitalized White Center Chamber of Commerce to address the vandalism and to deal with garbage pickup from community waste cans. Improved lighting, the playing of classical music outdoors, funding a uniformed officer to be present in the area during likely peak crime periods, and more have been discussed in the past. But solving the problem is not easy. 

Seattle Police Precinct Commander Pierre Davis said part of the problem is that people who commit crimes on one side of the county/city line just cross over. Unless they are in hot pursuit or the police are given a direct tip, it becomes a jurisdictional issue for law enforcement. The concept of a united task force to seek people with arrest warrants and illegally possessed firearms has been done in the past Davis said but it's always a matter of budget and scheduling.

It's not clear the meeting on the 11th will do more than air grievances but communication between law enforcement and the community is vital if the issue is ever going to be addressed.