Senator Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, issued the following statement after today’s release of the annual Crime in Washington report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

“The facts don’t lie. Washington and Pierce County are seeing an unparalleled rise in crime that doesn’t show signs of slowing. Since 2015, property crimes are up 68 percent while violent crimes including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault are up an alarming 60 percent!

“It is no surprise that this chaos is a direct result of the flawed laws enacted by Democrats over the past two legislative sessions. Their policies have created an open season for criminal activity. I believe it is the biggest issue facing Pierce County and our state. While some extremists on the other side of the aisle continue to dismiss the issue, the effects of these laws have taken a devastating toll on our families and communities.

“It is time for sensible lawmakers to correct course and make crime illegal again. In 2023, we must address the law created a year ago in response to the Supreme Court’s Blake decision, which essentially made hard drugs legal. We also must untie the hands of our police officers so they can safely pursue criminals, and ensure a clear path to rehabilitation and restoration for those who are convicted of a crime. The people of our state deserve better; extreme Democrat policies in Olympia have failed them.”