'We're going to track you down': Federal Way mayor sends warning to criminals

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A day after a police car was stolen in Federal Way, Mayor Jim Ferrell has a stern message to those thinking about committing crime in town.

Ferrell said the days of criminals are numbered now that the state’s pursuit lawchanges in two months.

“What we expect and what we’re going to see happen in my opinion is now that the legislature passed the initiative and thank goodness they did, you’re going to see the bottom drop out of those numbers,” Ferrell said. “The word is already out.”

Ferrell said crime in Federal Way is already dropping by as much as 5%.

“Car theft, the word is already out on the street that police can now pursue," Ferrell said. "It’s June 6th when that law goes into effect and that’s when you’re really going to see a significant drop in those numbers.”

KOMO News has spoken to many law enforcement officials over the years who blame Washington’s pursuit law. Some residents and business owners echo these sentiments as well.

Passed in 2021, the law placed restrictions on when an officer could pursue, which was reserved for the most serious of crimes.

Supporters of the law—both when it was passed and now—say police chases are dangerous and innocent people can be hurt, or killed during a pursuit.

“What I really want our legislators our policy partners in Olympia to know is that we’re not going to engage in reckless behavior," Ferrell said. "But we are going to pursue and hold people vigorously accountable to the law. Where it’s safe to do so, we will chase after people."

In March, the legislature approved an initiative that had gathered more than 400 thousand signatures from Washington residents seeking to change the law.

Those against the current law said law enforcement had to sit back and watch criminals flee. Critics of the law also said those committing crimes knew they could get away and became more emboldened as time went on.

“When those reform laws were passed several years ago, the numbers increased exponentially,” Ferrell said, “car theft went up 90 percent. Per capita, we were number 1 in the nation for car theft. People were stealing crimes to commit other crimes.”

And that’s what happened at the multitude of crash-and-grabs at businesses all over the Puget Sound region that KOMO News has covered.

Law enforcement officials said suspects in a crash-and-grab steal cars, crash them through a business, steal items from inside, and make a getaway in another stolen car—potentially ready to hit more shops.

The crimes have not only affected the vehicle owner but also thousands of dollars in merchandisefrom businesses, along with repairs and insurance policy changes.

Near the Federal Way City Hall, the mayor pointed us to a hair salon on South 336th Street that closed last year after it was crashed into.

Robert Guieb, who works next door, said he has no issue with the law change allowing officers to give chase.

“They need to, because it makes more people secure,” said Guieb.

A few doors down, business owner Maria Elena Garces is also in approval—especially after they dealt with a recent shoplifter.

Speaking in Spanish, she told KOMO’s Paul Rivera she hopes the law change will benefit all of the residents who work there.

For those looking to commit crimes in town Ferrell said, “If you come to Federal Way, we’re going to track you down.”