Halloween is almost here, and we’re hoping the scariest thing you come across is someone handing out raisins instead of candy!
Before you head out for a night of trick-or-treating, here are a few safety reminders:

Be Seen: Add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes and carry a flashlight to help drivers spot you.

Stay Together: Younger trick-or-treaters should always have a responsible adult along for the adventure.

Look Both Ways: Cross at intersections and crosswalks, and never assume a driver sees you.

Check Your Treats: Parents, take a quick look through the candy haul before the sugar rush begins (and make sure you take a piece or two for tax)

Drive Extra Carefully: Slow down, stay alert, and watch for excited trick-or-treaters who might make unexpected moves.

Keep Costumes Safe: Make sure masks don’t block vision and costumes aren’t long enough to cause trips or falls.

We hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!

We recently received a heartfelt letter from a family in our community recognizing Officer Leighton for his compassion, patience, follow-through and support during a missing-person search and a family crisis, as well as his responsiveness to other neighborhood concerns. This is the type of amazing work that our officers do every day, often without recognition and never for personal attention, but we feel that it is worth celebrating and sharing with all of you.

“He didn’t make me feel like another case number. He didn’t make me feel like I was simply someone calling the police.
He showed compassion.
He listened.
He reassured me.
He cared.
And that mattered more than I can adequately put into words.”

Thank you, Officer Leighton, for the care and professionalism you bring to our community. We are so proud that you are part of our team!

It’s National Teen Driver Safety Week, and we’re reminding young drivers that safe driving starts with smart choices behind the wheel:

Buckle up, every trip, every time.
Put the phone down and stay focused.
Limit distractions.
Follow speed limits.
Never drive impaired.

Driving is a huge responsibility. Make safety your priority every time you hit the road!

Safety at Home in Sumner, a message from the Mayor:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Unfortunately, we do see situations where violence occurs in a home, even here in Sumner. Your home is where you should feel the safest, and even one instance of domestic violence is one too many. As the City, we have a domestic violence advocate within our Legal department. This staff member answers calls and helps victims find better, safer situations. In addition, the City Council also voted to support Exodus Housing in the 2027-2028 biennium. This non-profit works tirelessly to find homes for people fleeing situations of domestic violence in our city.

The difficult part of domestic violence is that it can be so hidden, behind closed doors as they say. So please help us out. If you suspect you know someone who may be a victim, please don’t stay silent. It won’t go away on its own. Please visit our website at https://sumnerwa.gov/dv-resources/ for more resources and support. Working together, hopefully we reduce and eliminate domestic violence in our community and throughout every community.

– Mayor Carla Bowman