🌱 Patch AM: Why did Lakewood’s city manager fire the police chief now?

Morning Lakewood! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why did Lakewood's city manager fire the police chief now?
• What punishment did judges hand down in two major Lakewood cases?
• How big could the Western State Hospital walkout be in Lakewood?

Today's riddle: What did the bartender say to the jumper cables when they walked in? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Afternoon rain, with a high of 68 and low of 50 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly cloudy, showers around, temps: high: 68, low: 49.
• Friday: Partly sunny, showers around, with a high of 69 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Lakewood fires police chief. He says the decision is about department culture (thenewstribune.com) — Lakewood has fired Police Chief Patrick Smith following no-confidence votes and internal investigations, leaving Assistant Chief David Claridge as acting chief for now. City officials have not detailed the findings, while Smith argues he was targeted for trying to change a department culture he calls resistant to reform. Residents are left with unanswered questions about police leadership and accountability in their city.
   

• Tacoma graffiti tagger 'XCIT' pays $32K restitution to WSDOT, spends day in jail (thenewstribune.com) — A Lakewood father has been sentenced to more than 34 years in prison for killing his infant son, a case that deeply affected local family members and investigators. The article also details sentencing for an 18-year-old involved in a 2025 shooting that wounded seven people at Lakewood's Harry Todd Park. Together, the cases highlight recent violent crimes and their legal consequences in and around Lakewood.
   

• Statewide walk out Nippon tank 'unfit' (thestand.org) — Lakewood's Western State Hospital is expected to be one of the largest sites for a statewide walkout by Washington employees protesting stalled contract talks, with union members pressing for better pay and support. The broader labor roundup also covers safety failures at a Longview mill, teacher contract tensions, and statewide debates over school funding and mail-in voting rules.
   

📸 Around Lakewood

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Lakewood

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 12
• Ratapalooza - Lakewood, WA 2026 →
  McGavick Conference Center | Clover Park Technical College, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW Bld 23, Lakewood
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 3
• SHS New Student & Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• SHS Class of 2027 Senior Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Friday September 11
• PIO Picture Day
  Saltar's Point Elementary Auxiliary Gym
  8:30 am

📣 Lakewood Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday September 2
• Workforce Grants & Application Workshop
  Tacoma Community College 6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98466
  10:00 am
• Stewart Open House
  Stewart Middle School
  4:00 pm
• Wainwright Panther Night
  Wainwright Middle Tacoma, WA 98466
  4:30 pm
• Geiger Meet & Greet
  Geiger Montessori
  4:30 pm
• Larchmont Meet & Greet
  Larchmont Elementary Tacoma, WA 98445
  5:00 pm
Thursday September 3
• SHS New Student & Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Monday September 7
• Labor Day, District offices closed
  Industrial Design Engineering and Art Tacoma, WA 98444
Tuesday September 8
• First Day of School
  Early Learning Center Tacoma, WA 98444

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hi neighbors.
  Looking for a company to redo my shower floor. It's not a big job but looking for people who will come out when they say they're going to come out or… (Nextdoor Oakbrook)

• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Merchandiser in Lakewood. Apply here.
• Maurices posted a job opening for Retail Assistant Manager - Part-Time in Lakewood. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakewood here.

🗞 Nearby News

University Place

• Unique waterfront home in UP accessible only by railroad (thenewstribune.com)
• Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFBC) Sees Large Drop in Short Interest (marketbeat.com)

Ok Lakewood! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Don't you 2 start anything (Thank you Mary L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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