Over the last year, WR has been actively informing retailers, business owners, and leaders across Washington State about the impact of public safety and retail crime on employers and customers. This work is part of our comprehensive multi-pronged approach to tackling the issues of public safety, retail crime, and Organized Retail Crime (ORC).

One of our recent achievements was successfully advocating for full legislative funding of $2.265 million for AG Bob Ferguson’s request for an internal Organized Retail Crime Unit. The unit will have the necessary resources to hire investigators, data analysts, and prosecutors to target major ORC crime rings.

We are pleased to work alongside the Washington State Organized Retail Crime Association. We’re encouraged to see growing coordination among communities with retailers and key players, including local elected officials, law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, and the retail community. This collaboration is where the real progress is happening.

On May 16, we will participate in the Gig Harbor Crime Prevention Summit, a roundtable conversation hosted by the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce. This is one of many chamber events we have engaged with across the state to focus on public safety and retail theft. Use this link to register.

On May 18, Renée Sunde, President & CEO of WR, and AG Bob Ferguson will team up again to address the top priority issue of public safety and retail crime at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Chamber Lunch. Joining the Q&A panel will be Mark Johnson, Sr. VP of Policy & Government Affairs, and Carl Kleinkneckt, Director of Security with Kemper Development Company and incoming chair of the Washington Organized Retail Crime Association. Register here.