At approximately 12:24 p.m. on Friday, December 12, Bellevue Police responded to a call for service at the Bellevue Transit Center at 10850 NE 6th Street. It was during the response when an on-duty Bellevue Police Officer was involved in an officer-involved shooting. Both the Bellevue Officer and the suspect sustained injuries and were transported to an area hospital.
Per state law and an agreement with the King County Independent Force Investigation Team (KC-IFIT), the incident has been officially transferred to KC-IFIT. An independent investigation of this case will be conducted by this team.
Any additional information will be provided by KC-IFIT for the remainder of the investigation.
UPDATE: Denise has been found and she is safe. Thank you to all community members for your help in locating her!
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Bellevue Police are asking for the public’s help to locate a woman that was last seen in downtown Bellevue this past Tuesday.
On Tuesday, November 25th, Bellevue Police responded to a dentistry office located near the intersection of Bellevue Way and Main Street. Police later learned that 54-year-old Denise Silva, who had been at the dental office for an appointment, had left the area on foot and was missing. Silva’s parents, who reported her missing, told police that she is considered endangered due to a previous brain injury that causes her to be confused and disoriented. Police are further concerned due to the fact that Silva left on foot, was unfamiliar with the Bellevue area, and did not have warm clothing appropriate for the low overnight temperatures in the area.
Silva was last seen wearing a light grey fleece as shown in the photo on the right, taken the day she was reported missing.
Silva is described as 5 foot 7 inches tall, 165 pounds with brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a light grey fleece with black pants and black sneakers. Bellevue Police are asking residents in the area of west Bellevue to check their properties, specifically out buildings, for Silva, and to call 911 if she is located.
The Bellevue Police Department announced today the agency will hold its fourth-annual “Stop the Lift” holiday campaign in an effort to raise awareness about retail and porch theft incidents across the city.
Between Black Friday and Christmas, Bellevue Officers will partner with retail stores in the area to deter and reduce shoplifting incidents from occurring. The “Stop the Lift” campaign includes high visibility patrols in and around Bellevue’s retail establishments, criminal enforcement when shoplifting is reported to law enforcement, and crime prevention messaging on social media. The campaign provides Bellevue Police and businesses a multi-prong approach toward retail theft prevention and response during the holiday season.
Last year’s “Stop the Lift” holiday campaign was a success for both Bellevue Police and the community. According to the department’s Crime Analysis Unit, officers made 161 shoplifting arrests and investigated 244 shoplifting incidents from the Black Friday to Christmas time frame.
“Shoplifting is the most common crime in Bellevue, but this police department is committed to collaborate with local businesses in making sure individuals who attempt to shoplift are held accountable,” said Wendell Shirley, Bellevue Police Chief.
From January to October 2025, shoplifting incidents have decreased 22% (1,006 incidents) compared to incidents last year (1,296) in the same time frame. Of the shoplifting incidents that occurred this year, Officers have made 630 arrests. However, shoplifting crimes are still the top crime for the city and represent 43% of all property crimes in Bellevue.
Law enforcement is also asking Bellevue community members to get involved with the “Stop the Lift” campaign. Community members should take these simple steps to protect themselves and their families while shopping in public spaces:
Contact store management if you witness a shoplift occurring (do not intervene)
Never leave packages visible in your vehicle
Do not leave bags, purses, or wallets unattended
For residents choosing to purchase gifts online, please follow these simple crime prevention tips:
Install a visible camera
Use a porch lock box
Provide conceal instructions for delivery drivers
Ask for a signature requirement for deliveries
Bellevue Police ask community members that if they see something, say something. Residents are encouraged to call 911 if they witness a suspect attempting to steal from a shopping mall or snatch a box from a neighbor’s house.
The Bellevue Police Department urged community members to think ahead and arrange a sober ride while traveling in and around Bellevue during the holidays following an uptick of arrests where the driver was driving under the influence (DUI).
So far for the month of November, Bellevue Officers have made 20 DUI arrests within city limits, with seven DUI arrests occurring over last weekend (November 14-16). Additionally, data collected by Bellevue Police’s Crime Analysis Unit showed a 7% increase in DUI arrests in 2025 (270) compared to last year (253).
“Community members should enjoy and celebrate the holiday season, but there is absolutely no excuse to drive under the influence. Bellevue Police ask individuals to be proactive and put the safety of our roads and others first. This starts by getting a sober ride home if you’re impaired,” said Wendell Shirley, Bellevue Police Chief.
Impaired-driving arrests are always preventable. The Bellevue Police Department urges residents to take advantage of many other options to ensure a safe ride home and a safe community – including taking public transit, ridesharing opportunities available on smartphones, carpooling and vanpooling, walking, or calling a friend or family member.
Bellevue Police is a part of the King County Target Zero Task Force, a collaboration of stakeholders such as law enforcement, city/regional/state/tribal governments, community organizations, and schools to create equitable traffic safety programs that would reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities across King County. The agency is also part of the city of Bellevue’s Vision Zero initiative, adopted in 2016, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious-injury collisions on city streets by 2030.
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, about 49% (3,081) of all traffic fatalities involved a driver who was impaired. Last year marked the first time in four years where traffic fatalities decreased in Washington state.
The Bellevue Police Department announced today that it is investigating a traffic collision that occurred late Thursday evening on November 6 in the city’s Lake Hills neighborhood.
While on a call for service in the area, a Bellevue Officer observed a 44-year-old male illegally crossing 148th Ave SE at approximately 10:02 p.m. in between SE 22nd and SE 24th Streets. Officers attempted to help the individual cross when a driver traveling northbound on 148th Ave SE hit the subject. The subject sustained serious injuries and was transported to Harborview Medical Center.
The Bellevue Police Department’s Traffic Unit immediately launched an investigation into this incident. Law enforcement does not believe the driver was impaired prior to the collision. Any further information about this case will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.
On Tuesday, October 28 from 3:00-5:00 p.m., the Bellevue Police Department will meet with community members at the Polaris at Eastgate community for a Halloween event ahead of the holiday.
Media wishing to attend Tuesday’s event should email an RSVP to PIO Drew Anderson at daanderson@bellevuewa.gov.
Community members will receive trick-or-treat safety tips and candy from Bellevue Officers during the afternoon event. They will also have the opportunity to meet Fluffy, the Bellevue Police Department’s specialized robot dog. Fluffy is a piece of equipment that is deployed whenever there is an incident that could risk the safety of officers or the general public.
Image of Fluffy interacting with young community members during the Bellevue Police Department’s Summer Youth Camp in August 2025.
“The Bellevue Police Department is fortunate to have strong relationships and support from community members in every corner of the city. Officers will always find opportunities to connect with residents, because these relationships help ensure we maintain this city as a safe place for everyone,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of Police.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Bellevue Police Department to Polaris at Eastgate for this festive and educational Halloween event,” said Addison Carr, Community Manager with Polaris at Eastgate. “Events like these help build strong connections between residents and local law enforcement, and we’re proud to be a space where those relationships can grow. We look forward to a safe and fun afternoon for families in our community.”
With Halloween this Friday and trick-or-treating opportunities happening throughout the week, the Bellevue Police Department would also like to ask community members to take these simple precautions to ensure the holiday is a safe environment for everyone. These safety tips include:
The Bellevue Police Department today announced it is wrapping up a regional motorcycle training course at Marymoor Park in Redmond.
Officers practice maneuvering through cone patterns as part of a police motorcycle training at Marymoor Park
The Bellevue Police Department led a three-week course that is designed to teach new motorcycle officers how to safely operate police motorcycles in a variety of situations, with the goal of keeping the motorcycle officers and the public safe. During the training, officers are put through a rigorous training curriculum, including exercises that simulate a variety of scenarios officers may experience during their routine patrols. Tactics include emergency lane changes and evasive maneuvers, patrol procedures, and off-road riding.
Officers from around the region participated in the training, which was supported by trainers from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, King County Sheriff’s Office, Everett Police Department, and Redmond Police Department.
“Our community members consistently rank traffic issues as one of their top concerns, and the Bellevue Police Department is committed to giving both Bellevue Officers and our regional partners these valuable skills that will help keep our roadways and communities safe,” said Wendell Shirley, Bellevue Police Chief.
This week, the Bellevue Police Department invited residents and city stakeholders representing the city’s Asian community for “Protect Yourself: Learn How to Spot a Scam,” a conversation about how community members of all ages could take simple preventative measures to ensure they don’t fall victim to a high-dollar scam.
Image from the Bellevue Police’s “Protect Yourself: Learn How to Spot a Scam” bilingual webinar held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The bilingual webinar was in response to the large public interest following a set of incidents where young people were threatened by scammers (posing as Chinese law enforcement) to wire large sums of money in order to prevent a future arrest from happening. These reported incidents dated back to December 2024, and some victims wired up to a million dollars before contacting Bellevue Police. The incidents prompted many Bellevue community members to ask law enforcement what preventative steps could be taken to protect themselves from becoming victims too.
Any person who believes they may be a victim of a scam should report it immediately. They can do so by going to the FBI’s online tipline (https://www.ic3.gov/) or contacting Bellevue Police at 425-577-5656.
“The best way to protect yourself would be to independently authenticate the individual you are speaking with as soon as possible,” said James Brack, Detective Sergeant for the Bellevue Police Department. “Even if it’s verifying a person’s place of employment, a simple verification through a verified source could reduce the chance that you will not become a victim of a scam.”
Bellevue Police would like to remind community members that law enforcement will never make monetary demands in lieu of making an arrest. Police agencies, including the Bellevue Police Department, only enforce state and city laws.
Bellevue Police’s Crime Prevention expert Ruby Daly gave this advice about how to spot a scam: “If it sounds too good to be true, think twice about it. Verify the company that’s contacted you before pursuing an opportunity that seems too good to be real.”
Money scams are very common in Bellevue and across the nation. The Bellevue Police Department asks all of its community members to stay vigilant and look for these flags when approached by a stranger either online or by phone:
They use social media to gain your trust
They pretend to be from an organization that you know
The Bellevue Police Department today announced the arrest of a 78-year-old male for possession of child sexual abuse material.
At approximately 1:14 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, Bellevue Officers responded to a welfare check on the 4300 block of 151st Ave SE. Law enforcement was initially unable to make contact with the subject after many attempts at the front door of the residence. However, as Officers made contact with the individual at the back entrance, they witnessed the subject displaying what appeared to be many images of child sexual abuse material on a desk.
The suspect confirmed with Bellevue Police he possessed large quantities of explicit material both at his residence and at a storage facility. Officers immediately placed the subject, identified as Richard Rowlett, into custody, and he was booked in the King County Jail. The department also launched an investigation into this incident following Rowlett’s arrest.
The Bellevue Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of our community – especially children. Bellevue Police are asking any community members who may have additional information about Richard Rowlett to contact the department using the non-emergency line 425-577-5656 or email at BellevuePD@bellevuewa.gov. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to contact police if they believe they are a victim or know someone who may be a victim related to this case.
Any further information about this case will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.
Community members can visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website (RAINN) if they want to speak with someone confidentially or wish to learn more about how they can help friends or family members who may be victims of sexual assault.
The Bellevue Police Department today announced it has opened an investigation into a reported sexual assault incident that occurred on Friday, September 26 at 11:42 p.m. on the 3200 block of 146th Place SE.
Any additional information will be released via the Bellevue Beat Blog.
Bellevue Beat Blog 