Priority: Increase positive public perception of safety and overall quality of lifeWhat makes us feel safe? Many things contribute to our perception of safety such as clean water to drink and clean air to breathe, the walkability (including crosswalks and traffic design) and conditions in our neighborhoods, the lighting on streets, property crime, social connections with our neighbors, quality opportunities for children, and much more. Unsafe community conditions can also dampen economic development and discourage business retention, attraction, and expansion
Transforming the Tacoma Police Department
We have created a web map to visualize the laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, initiatives and projects that Tacoma Police Department are using to drive transformation.
Click on the Transforming the Tacoma Police Department image below to learn more.

Police Reform
8 Can't Wait Campaign
Body-Worn Cameras
Dash Cameras
City of Tacoma Takes A Pledge Addressing Police Use of Force Policies
On July 21, 2020, Mayor Victoria Woodards joined other mayors across the nation in signing on to the four-part pledge developed by the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, an Initiative of the Obama Foundation, to engage our community in reviewing Tacoma’s use of force policies.
The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance calls on mayors to commit to the following actions:
- Review your police use of force policies.
- Engage your communities by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in your review.
- Report the findings of your review to your community and seek feedback.
- Reform your community’s police use of force policies.
Initial Review of Use of Force and Body Worn Camera Policies
Over the summer, the Tacoma Police Department worked with the Community’s Police Advisory Committee (CPAC) to do an initial review of the City’s use of force policies. Based on community feedback, initial review and reform efforts were primarily focused on those policies identified in the national “8 Can’t Wait Campaign.”
The City of Tacoma was compliant in a number of areas, but as a result of this work has made changes to now be in alignment with all of the 8 Can’t Wait goals.
Current State Assessment and Additional Policy Review
While the primary objectives of the Obama Pledge have now been achieved, the Community’s Police Advisory has expressed a continuing commitment to a comprehensive review of all relevant policies. This work will follow a report from 21st Century Policing that includes a current state assessment of relevant policing policies as well as initial discussions with identified community stakeholders and employees from every level of the police department.
To learn more about this initiative, visit obama.org/mayor-pledge.