Murders and other violent crimes increased in Washington state at a dramatic pace last year, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs‘ (WASPC).
The report analyzed 2022’s crime data across the state.
“The rate of murders, violent, and property crimes rose across the state, while the number of officers available to respond and serve our communities decreased again in 2022,” the report read. “There were 394 murders in 2022, an increase of 16.6% over 2021. This is the highest number of murders recorded since WASPC began collecting this data in 1980. Homicides have increased by 96% since 2019. Crimes against persons, property, and society all increased in 2022, and violent crimes showed an increase of 8.9%.”
