This just in from Federal Way police. Consider yourself warned.

SLOW DOWN IN SCHOOL ZONES – SPEED ENFORCEMENT EMPHASIS

The beginning of another school year has approached us. This means the children in our community will again be traveling to and from school by walking, skating, riding bicycles, and, of course, automobiles.

The Federal Way Police Department is committed to the safety of our children, and throughout the school year we will be providing ongoing enforcement in our city’s school zones.

Our goal is to make the streets of Federal Way safer for

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Three Tacoma police officers recently received national recognition for their work in cleaning up Hilltop and arresting suspected gang members and drug dealers.

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller presented the award to Greg Hopkins, Robert Luke and Von Narcisse last month up in Seattle. Members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Violent Crimes Task Force had nominated the three officers for the director’s award for their efforts in assisting the task force.

The inscription on the award reads, “Your cooperation was of immeasurable help to our representative. I share their gratitude for your support, which assisted them in carrying out

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The grand opening celebration for the last of the Tacoma police substations is set.

Police officials and community members will celebrate the South Substation with the grand opening and dedication ceremony Friday, Sept. 8, from noon to 3 p.m. The dedication ceremony begins at noon, with an open house of the facility to follow.

The new substation is located at 1501 S. 72nd St. It is the fourth and final substation to be completed after Tacoma voters passed a bond measure in 2002 that allowed the city to build Tacoma police a new headquarters and substations.

The

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Victims of domestic violence in the Bonney Lake area now can request a temporary protection order against their abuser without driving all the way into Tacoma.

Pierce County Superior Court officials have installed a new computer kiosk at Bonney Lake City Hall, 19306 Bonney Lake Blvd., where residents can fill out a request for protection orders. Similar kiosks are available in Gig Harbor, Lakewood, University Place and at the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center in Tacoma.

“The more of these kiosks that we place throughout the county, the greater the chance that someone will get the help

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The King County District Court recently was given a national award for a web-based system that allows court clerks, administration staff and interpreters to manage the scheduling and assignment of interpreters for all 10 court locations.

The National Association of Court Management gave the court the 2006 Justice Achievement Award for the King County District Court Interpretor Web.

The award recognizes courts and other organizations for “meritorious projects and exemplary accomplishments that enhance the administration of justice,” according to a press release.

There’s not much news to report this morning on the early Sunday shooting death of a woman in an alley downtown.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release the victim’s name when I called shortly after 7 a.m. Monday.

The woman, who is believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, was found shot to death on Court D Street South about 2:40 a.m.

Her death marks the 18th homicide in the city so far this year and is one of three unsolved cases. In all of 2005, Tacoma police detectives investigated 16

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Tacoma resident Karen M Jeffery wrote to The News Tribune this week.

I’d like to thank the person who came up with the brilliant idea of placing concrete barriers along lower South Tacoma Way to halt the criminal goings-on. This location has become a growing problem. It’s the go-to spot for drug and prostitution commerce and transients congregation. For those who need to drive from east to west in Tacoma without routes available due to bridge closures, this site has been appalling to witness. I couldn’t understand why there were no security patrols. But the easy solution has been

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Tacoma’s East Siders continue their campaign against gang violence and crime in their neighborhoods.

Their latest event will be a march and rally against “crime and grime” on Saturday. The rally begins at 11 a.m. at Sheridan Elementary School, 5317 McKinley Ave., with a march down McKinley Avenue from 1 to 2 p.m. The event is scheduled to wrap up around 5 p.m. at the elementary school.

Community leaders came up with the idea and have the support of neighborhood groups. The rally will feature information booths, local entertainment with performances by Mexican and

Polynesian dancers and

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