Patrol Operations

The Patrol Operations Division is comprised of 72 commissioned officers and two commanders, providing 24-hour coverage 7 days a week. Officers work a rotating 12-hour shift that includes weekends and holidays.

The City of Renton covers roughly 23.5 square miles with a population just under 109,000 (2025). For patrol purposes, the city is divided into a North and South Sector by the Cedar River. There are five patrol districts in each sector. A patrol commander oversees the daily patrol operations for each of the two sectors.

Patrol officers are the first responders to incidents, as they are dispatched by the 9-1-1 center. They are also the most visible representatives of the department, as they proactively patrol the district they are assigned. Patrol officers are provided extensive training in many different skills sets and attend mandatory training throughout their careers to be able to handle the myriads of incidents and situations they encounter.

Patrol officers have a dynamic, diverse, and exciting job. Every day is an opportunity to respond to a variety of calls, interact with a diverse group of people, and solve new and ongoing problems. Patrol officers take great pride in getting to know the area they are assigned and the community members they serve within their district. When not responding directly to calls, or providing backup to other officers, patrol officers proactively connect with the community members, enforce the law, and educate the public.

To learn more about being a Renton Police officer, watch the video A Day in the Life of A Patrol Officer - M. Castain

Renton Police K-9s

There are two K-9s that support our officers in patrol. One is a generalist that helps track suspects and the other is a wellness dog. Both are beloved members of our department. 

Xander is a four ½-year-old generalist German Shepherd trained in building and area searches, suspect tracking, and evidence searches. He works with patrol to find suspects who’ve fled a crime scene. At home, Xander loves to work on his hockey skills with his human brother. Xander has had nearly 20 captures and evidence recoveries so far.

 

Wally is the department's wellness dog. He's an 18-month-old English Yellow Lab. He's trained to recognize anxiety and assist those suffering from PTSD-related issues. Wally is available to support officers and community members who may need his calming influence and a smile.