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 Department K-9 Team

Xander

Xander is a German Shepherd born in March 2020. He is trained in building and area searches, as well as suspect and evidence tracking. Xander works alongside patrol officers to locate suspects who have fled crime scenes and find evidence that has been discarded or hidden.

When he’s off duty, Xander loves playing tug and working on his hockey skills with his human brother. He has already been involved in more than 20 captures and evidence recoveries.

Jager

Jager is a German Shepherd and a generalist K-9. Born in the Netherlands in May 2024, Jager responds to commands in Dutch.

Smart, eager to learn, and always ready to work, Jager specializes in tracking suspects and searching for hidden or discarded evidence. When he’s not on duty, he enjoys playing ball and a good game of tug with his humans.

Wally

Wally is an English Yellow Labrador born in October 2023 and the Renton Police Department’s first wellness dog. He is trained to recognize anxiety and assist people experiencing PTSD-related challenges.

Wally responds to calls to support community members and officers who may benefit from his calming presence and gentle nature. On duty, Wally is cool, calm, and collected. At home, it’s a different story; zoomies and mischief are his specialties!

Oakley

Oakley is Wally’s sister and the department’s second wellness dog. After Wally’s warm reception from the community, Oakley joined the team to provide the same comforting support, calming presence, and enthusiastic tail wags.

Oakley has an instant ability to bring a smile wherever she goes. She is also trained to recognize anxiety and PTSD-related conditions. When she’s not working, she loves relaxing with her family and playing with her canine roommates, Tilly and Tucker.

Together, our four K-9s play an important role in keeping our community safe, supporting our officers, and strengthening the connection between the Renton Police Department and the community we serve.

When Wally and Oakley are not on active calls, they love greeting community members!

Contact Information

Commander D. Moynihan
Patrol Operations - North Sector

dmoynihan@rentonwa.gov

Commander C. Swain

Patrol Operations - South Sector

cswain@rentonwa.gov