VIEWFINDER: University Place Celebrates National Night Out

The event covered 42 neighborhoods and 1,000 residents Tuesday night.

National Night Out Happening Right Now

UP Police and volunteers will be visiting 42 neighborhoods tonight.

FROM PATCHES NEARBY: Teenage Boy Drowns At American Lake

Witnesses said lifeguards and visitors at Lakewood's Harry Todd Park jumped in to save the boy. They were unable to locate him.

County Council Sends Regional Dispatch Measure To November Ballot

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department and West Pierce Fire & Rescue have both signed onto the proposed South Sound 911 system.

FROM PATCHES NEARBY: Thefts Of Catalytic Converters Rising In Pierce County

Experts say thieves are targeting the devices due to the spike in prices of precious metals.

Meet Daniel Rankin, Candidate For West Pierce Fire & Rescue Commission

Rankin, the incumbent, is running for Position 3.

Under New Law, Vehicles Of Those Cited For DUI To Be Impounded

Sober friends will not be able to drive those cited for DUI home, Washington State Patrol officials said.

E-MAIL TO THE EDITOR: August M&O Levy Is Vital For Fire Department

West Pierce Fire & Rescue says the approval of the measure is necessary to continue the support of 25 percent of its operations.

E-MAIL TO THE EDITOR: Teamwork Saved Sunken Boat And Environment At Narrows Marina

Pierce County says the surfacing of the Sheriff's Department boat was a product of outstanding leadership.

Authorities Looking For Assault, Attempted Rape Suspect

The man allegedly punched and tried to sexually assault a University Place woman at her apartment complex parking lot July 11.

Regional Emergency Dispatch Plans Could Conflict With East Pierce Systems

LESA is outdated and cannot keep up with demand and there needs to be greater regional connectivity for 911, Pierce County officials say. But replacing it requires voters approving a sales tax increase.

VIEWFINDER: Grilling For Seniors

Wednesday night's event drew hungry University Place supporters of its senior center to West Pierce Fire & Rescue

Kids Who Wear Bike Helmets Could Get Cited (And That's A Good Thing)

The effort is West Pierce Fire & Rescue's way of encouraging safe rider habits. The "Safe Rider Citation" is good for a free ice cream cone at McDonalds.

University Place Tests CodeRED; Encourages People To Sign Up

Residents can sign up for the city's emergency alert system online.

Grant To Help Increase LESA'a 911 Education Program

The Be Safe-Be A Good Neighbor program got a $5,000 bump from the State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship program.

Enjoy Barbecue And Help Out The Senior Center This Week

West Pierce Fire & Rescue and University Place Police are holding a barbecue Wednesday, and the proceeds will help the University Place Senior Center.

University Place Police, Fire Report No Major Incidents On Fourth Of July

The fire department responded to a few small fires, but it was a pretty slow going overall.

West Pierce Fire District To Place Levy On August Ballot

The two-year, $17.9 million measure would replace the existing levy if passed.

Tacoma Mall Shooter Involved In Attempted Escape At Clallam Bay Prison

Dominick Maldonado, who went on a shooting rampage in the mall outside of University Place, allegedly held a guard hostage with a pair of scissors today.

Two Opportunities To Fill The Boot With West Pierce

The fire department's local union will again be asking motorists to donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Lakewood Man Describes How He Saved 11-Year-Old Boy From Drowning In Pool

Witnesses say Ron Onufer's screamed, "Don't die on me," as he pulled the boy from the Forrest Village Apartment pool Tuesday afternoon.

West Pierce: Bystander Saves Boy From Drowning

The man saw that the boy was underwater their apartment complex's pool and pulled him out of the water. He also performed CPR on the boy as crews arrived.

Police Looking For Man Who Fired Gunshot After Football Game Saturday At Curtis

It occurred at the end of the game between the Tacoma Invaders and the Portland Shine of the Western Washington Football Alliance.

Brrr. Rescues In Puget Sound Give First Responders Watery Scenarios

Thursday's day-long practice exercise drew personnel from nearly 20 federal, state and local emergency-services agencies together, including West Pierce Fire & Rescue. They shared life-saving techniques and honed their water-rescue skills.

POLICE BLOTTER, June 7

Police responded to reports of gunshots fired and a weapons incident at a local school.

Teen Goes For Joyride, Runs Into Police

The 14-year-old from University Place allegedly took a car from her family's home.

July Trial Set for Man Accused of Pimping Teen

Authorities say Blake Logen Fuerst burglarized a University Place man’s home, which led police to arrest him on suspicion of promoting a 16-year-old to have sex for money.

Introducing University Place's New Police Investigator

But Doug Shook might not need too big of an introduction, seeing that he's worked the streets and schools of UP since 2005. Today is his first day on the job as an investigator.

VIDEO: Piece Of World Trade Center Makes Its Way To The Northwest

Gig Harbor firefighters drove the steel beam from New York on a trailer from they borrowed from West Pierce Fire & Rescue.

VIEWFINDER: Twin Towers Memento Arrives to Patriotic Welcome

More than 100 motorcyclists and fire departments from Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula led the last leg of the journey for the World Trade Center artifact. It was transported, cross-country on a West Pierce Fire & Rescue trailer.

VIDEO: World Trade Center Artifact Heading to Gig Harbor On West Pierce Fire Trailer

Across the pond in Gig Harbor, four firefighters are driving cross-country to bring a 986-pound piece of steel to headquarters.

Voters To Decide On New Emergency Dispatch System In November

LESA is outdated and cannot keep up with demand, officials say. But replacing it requires voters approving a sales tax increase.

Is Puffing E-Cigarettes In Adult-Only Places A Happy Medium?

Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health will consider adopting a regulation that bans "vaping" most public places but allows e-cigarettes in bars catering to 21-and-over customers.

Viewfinder: University Place Citizen's Academy

The class graduated last week with UP Police Sgt. Mike Blair and Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor in attendance.

Viewfinder: West Pierce Executes Mock DUI Crash

As proms across the region approach, University Place and Lakewood's joint fire department is trying to warn students about the dangers of drinking and driving.

UPDATE: Jury Finds Getaway Driver Guilty in Cop Killing Case

Pierce County Superior Court jury announced a guilty verdict. Facing a life in prison is the alleged getaway driver, Dorcus Allen, who investigators say drove Maurice Clemmons to and from the coffee shop where he killed four Lakewood cops.

Man With Ties To University Place Severely Injured, Loses Daughter In South Carolina Crash

The driver of a Nissan Altima collided with a car driven by Devin Shumate and carrying his 4-year-old daughter, Gabriella, on Monday night.

Help UP's Helmets And Shields Take Over Joeseppi's

Just like they did earlier this year, they will volunteer their time to raise money for parks and recreation.

Police Arrest Second Suspect In Triple Homicide

It comes a day after King County prosecutors charged Alberto Avila-Cardenas with three counts of first degree murder.

VIDEO: Troopers Crack Down on Cell Phone Use While Driving

The Washington State Patrol takes an aggressive stance on drivers using mobile devices behind the wheel.