On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the City of Snoqualmie responded to a recent Request for Proposal for Contracted Police Services from the City of North Bend, presenting its proposal during a special North Bend Council Work Study.
For over 10 years, the City of Snoqualmie has proudly provided police services to North Bend in a shared services model. Through those efforts, 74% of North Bend residents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with police services during a recent community survey. The national satisfaction average is 51%.
“We are grateful to North Bend for reviewing our proposal, and for the careful consideration of the future of police services in our region. I believe continuing our partnership is the strongest solution to cost-effectively maintain the level of service North Bend and Snoqualmie residents expect and deserve,” said Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross. “Our goal is to establish an agreement that accurately reflects the cost of providing these services, in a way that is fair to taxpayers in both cities.”
Like many police departments across the region, the Snoqualmie Police Department (SPD) faces rising operational costs and increasing demand as the communities it serves have grown. SPD currently staffs 8 patrol officers in North Bend for a population of approximately 8,000, and 8 patrol officers in Snoqualmie for a population of approximately 14,000.
In 2024, it cost $9.4 million to operate the Snoqualmie Police Department, of which North Bend taxpayers contributed $2.5 million, or 27%, while Snoqualmie taxpayers contributed $6.9 million, or 73%. During that year, North Bend accounted for 46% of all calls for service and Snoqualmie accounted for 54%.
The City of Snoqualmie’s police services proposal reflects this data, calling for $3.98 million in funding from North Bend in 2025, which equates to approximately 46% of the department’s operational costs. The proposal maintains North Bend’s current levels of service, as well as the department’s strong community policing program and fast response times that are better than the national average. The proposal also includes a new Joint Advisory Committee consisting of a Snoqualmie Police Advisory Committee and Snoqualmie Police Technical Working Group.
“The Snoqualmie Police Department’s motto is there is ‘No Call Too Small’. As neighbors, North Bend and Snoqualmie desire similar types of police services,” said City Administrator Mike Chambless. “By continuing our partnership, North Bend is well-positioned to secure services that are aligned with the local community and staffed by a police department that is deeply committed to residents.”
Background
The Snoqualmie Police Department provides police services to the neighboring city of North Bend through a long-term Interlocal Agreement (ILA) that was originally signed in September 2012. The shared services model agreement provides North Bend with 8 patrol officers as well as shared sergeants, a captain, and a chief.
The current ILA expired on Dec. 31, 2024, but an amendment approved by the North Bend and Snoqualmie City Councils in late 2024 extended the agreement through May 31, 2025 - with a 12.9% increase in fees - giving the cities additional time to negotiate a new long-term contract.
The Snoqualmie Police Department currently has a fully staffed patrol division. Reaching full patrol staffing means more officers on the streets, less overtime, faster response times, and a greater capacity for proactive policing. Residents report seeing a more visible police presence in their neighborhoods, and preliminary data suggests a decrease in response times to emergency calls. The additional officers on patrol and their visibility in our communities can serve as a deterrent to criminal activity and provide more opportunities for positive interactions with citizens, business owners, and visitors.
For more information on the North Bend Police Services Contract visit: www.snoqualmiewa.gov/1083/North-Bend-Police-Services-ILA