Tacoma Has An Unusually Low Number of Hate-Crime Reports

Statistics say Tacoma has a relatively small number of hate crimes. In 2017, the record shows only eight crimes were motivated by bias against a race or ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, according to newly released FBI figures.

That makes five straight years in single digits. This year Tacoma is on pace to have even fewer incidents, according to Results253, the city’s online database.

While these offenses seem to have plateaued in Tacoma, they zoomed to new heights in Washington’s two other largest cities. Seattle reported 232 incidents in 2017, up from 118 a year earlier. Spokane logged 28 incidents last year, more than triple the 8 it saw in 2016.

Hate crimes are historically underreported, often because victims grow accustomed to abusive treatment, fear a backlash or don’t trust authorities. You can bet Tacoma is no exception.

Nor are its suburban neighbors, though statistically they appear to be hate-free utopias. Over the last three years, a total of zero hate crimes were reported to the FBI by Bonney Lake, Buckley, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Sumner and University Place. Eight communities, with a combined population topping 100,000.

FBI statistics don’t tell the whole story. Hate crimes are not devouring Seattle, and they’re not detouring around Tacoma. But in 2018, this much should be clear: None of us lives in Pleasantville. (Tacoma News Tribune, November 27, 2018)
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So, is Tacoma reporting only single digit hate crimes for five straight years because of fear of backlash, or lack of trust in local authorities? That doesn't seem to be a good answer, since Seattle and Spokane are seeing significant increases in hate crime reporting.

Sure, there may be some hate crimes in Tacoma that go unreported, but when a statistic is consistent over five years it is likely that the statistic is accurate (or Tacoma has a completely different way of defining hate crimes than does Seattle and Spokane). But then we have to account for the complete lack of hate crimes reported in cities around Tacoma (i.e. Bonney Lake, Buckley, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Sumner and University Place).

Might it be that the anomaly in data is not Tacoma and the surrounding area with its low hate crime reporting, but Seattle with its exceptionally high number of hate crimes?

Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:
A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

 

Military personnel deployed to a combat area, their supporting contractors overseas, government civilian employees overseas, non-government organizations (NGOs), journalists working on international stories, businesses attempting to establish a foothold in developing countries, and individual travelers to remote areas of the world can all find themselves in hostile and non-permissive environments. This guide covers a broad range of subjects that are intended to aid individuals, living and working in dangerous areas, in being safer in their daily lives and in being better able to protect themselves and survive in case of an emergency, disaster, or hostile action.