Tacoma looks to bring suspects to Fife

Many people arrested in Tacoma on suspicion of committing minor crimes may be taken to jail in Fife rather than Pierce County Jail in downtown Tacoma, as a result of discussions that have been underway between the two cities.

Because of crowding issues at Pierce County Jail, many people picked up on suspicion of committing low-level crimes are not held when they are arrested. Officers bring these people in for what is called “special identification process,” or SIP. This means the individual has his or her mug shot taken, fingerprints done and are handed paperwork with instructions on appearing for a court date. They are then sent on their way.

Bob Sheehan, an assistant chief with Tacoma Police Department (TPD), has been in discussions with Fife Police Chief Brad Blackburn regarding jail services. A number of cities, including Lakewood, contract some services with Fife, according to Sheehan.

Tacoma and the county do not have a long-term contract for providing services. Sheehan said at the beginning of the year that the county provides a figure for what their services will cost that year, and Tacoma operates on a month-to-month agreement.

Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson said the city is negotiating a contract with Chelan County for some inmates who would serve longer terms, up to 12 months. Pierce County is bound to lose out on some revenue should Tacoma move forward with these plans, he told Tacoma City Council members on March 2.

“You may hear complaints from the county,” Anderson said. “They will not be happy.”

Sheehan said a meeting was held that morning during which the county offered to reduce the cost of its services, but not as low as what Fife has offered. Only people arrested for misdemeanor crimes would be taken to Fife, he added.

Fife City Manager Steve Worthington noted that Fife has an interlocal agreement with TPD and a dozen other law enforcement agencies. This contract is for holding people for short periods of time, no more than 30 days. About half the space in Fife’s jail is set aside for Federal Way.

“We have not taken many of Tacoma’s inmates,” Worthington commented. Fife has the ability to do SIP at its jail. “The approach is to process the alleged offender so we know who they are,” he said. “If they wish Fife to do more, in regard to detaining people, we can do that up to our 30-day maximum.”

Some Hilltop and downtown residents have complained about SIP in recent years, claiming it throws people up to no good into nearby residential neighborhoods at all hours of the day.

Worthington said he does not expect such problems to arise in Fife. The jail and police department are in a busy commercial corridor and a bus line runs along Pacific Highway East, providing those released from jail an option to leaving town.

In tough economic times, local governments are looking for ways to cut costs, Worthington noted. Tacoma’s interest in shifting some jail services from the county to Fife is a reflection of that.

“They are looking for ways to do the right job, but do it more efficiently.”

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