Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla this week officially launched the department’s new Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), a specialized team within the police patrol ranks dedicated to reducing crime through proactive and intelligence-based policing.

The unit aims to identify and target crime trends within the city by working closely with Kent PD’s Crime Analyst to allocate resources where they are most needed.

CRU will use real-time data to adapt its strategies and address evolving crime trends, including drug trafficking, organized retail theft, and stolen vehicle recovery. The unit will also collaborate with other Kent PD divisions and outside agencies to coordinate crime-fighting efforts.

Commander Josh Bava and Sergeant Sean Goforth have been selected to lead the unit, and Kent K9 Officer Mark Robinson, along with K9 Atena, has been assigned to support CRU’s operations. The department is in the process of selecting officers for the unit based on exceptional teamwork, proactive policing, and creative problem-solving skills.

In its first mission on Aug. 15, 2024, CRU conducted a stolen vehicle recovery operation, partnering with on-duty patrol officers. Over five hours, the team made 56 contacts, recovered five stolen vehicles, filed four criminal charges, and arrested one individual on a warrant.

While CRU officers will be in uniform, their focus will not be on responding to 911 calls, except in emergency situations. Instead, their efforts will be guided by data analysis to address specific crime trends.

“Having the staff and tools to effectively conduct intelligence led policing, so that we can focus proactive efforts where they would be most needed and most effective will help us impact long term problems,” Padilla said. “We could not be more excited for the difference it will make in our community.”

Some of the vehicles recovered in CRU’s first emphasis are pictured below, courtesy Kent Police:

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