Tacoma Police Department
Named in 14 stories. Back to all names
- Apr 11, 1892The Last Chapter at 1344 C StreetAfter her abusive husband hanged himself in the Tacoma city jail, a Swedish-born woman shot herself—and the policeman who had tried to save her stayed at her bedside until the end.1344 C Street, Tacoma, WA
- Aug 10, 1894Tacoma's Suspicious Fires—and a Fire Department That Couldn't Get WaterA wave of blazes on E Street and beyond leaves homes in ashes, a hose driver suspended, an alarm delayed, and the fire chief convinced tramps set the occupied houses alight.E Street, Tacoma, WA
- Mar 10, 1899The Vigilante Committee: Tacoma's Desperate War on CrimeIn March 1902, Tacoma’s elite formed a secret society sworn to kill without mercy after police failed to stop a wave of robberies and murders.C Street, Tacoma, WA
- Jan 7, 1904Smelter Robbery Leaves Police BaffledTacoma authorities search for suspects in a violent hold-up near the smelter, but the trail has gone cold.Tacoma, WA
- May 12, 1904Tacoma's Sudden Slot Machine SurgeAfter local cigar shops were flooded with gambling machines, the city revealed a secret arrangement to legalize and tax the devices.Tacoma, WA
- May 25, 1904The $1,000 Bribe for Slot Machine ProtectionOwners of 100 slot machines propose a monthly payment to the city for the privilege of operating under police protection.Tacoma, WA
- Jun 21, 1904The War on Stray Dogs at Wright ParkPark commissioners order police to shoot all canines found loose in the city's green space.Wright Park, Tacoma, WA
- Jul 4, 1904Holiday Crime Wave Sweeps TacomaWhile crowds gathered for the Fourth of July celebration, a brazen spree of burglaries and robberies left residents on edge.N 6th St and N I St, Tacoma, WA
- Aug 3, 1904Tacoma’s Blindfolded TaxmanAn investigation reveals how police collect secret 'fines' from gamblers and slot machine operators, turning the city into a partner in its own vice.Tacoma, WA
- Aug 15, 1904The Shadowy Resort on the ReservationNeighbors allege a dance hall and illicit bar near Bay Street are a hub for vice, liquor sales to minors, and persistent noise, while city officials look the other way.Tacoma, WA
- Aug 19, 1904The Cabin in the Woods MysteryA local fisherman reports an unsettling encounter with a mysterious pair living in a remote log cabin, sparking fears for a missing Tacoma girl.Lakewood, WA
- Jan 1, 1909Summer Beach Cottages Targeted by ThievesA teacher at Tacoma Public Schools loses $300 in silverware as prowlers return to the Quartermaster Harbor beaches.Quartermaster Harbor, Vashon, WA
- Jan 5, 1909Police Pawn Shop Registry Catches ThiefAn early technological shift in policing—the 'watch-book' system—allows detectives to track down stolen goods in record time.Tacoma, WA
- Apr 28, 1909The Loophole in the City LimitsA technicality regarding state versus city law leaves police empty-handed in a speeding crackdown on Pacific Avenue.Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA