YAKIMA, Wash.- The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments presented its highlights from 2023 to the Yakima City Council on March 19.
Its big achievement was the opening of the Yakima Valley Local Crime Lab in August. Just over 7 months later, YVCOG says it already needs to expand from the Zillah precinct of the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.
“Currently, we’re in 535 square feet,” says YVCOG Executive Director Chris Wickenhagen. “We have three employees and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have placed an employee there at no cost. So, there are four people sharing a very small space.”
Even with the limited space, the crime lab is paying off. Wickehagen says being able to test guns for patterns connect can connect multiple crimes.
One gun recovered during a DUI stop resulted in 35 associations, including 14 drive-by shootings, nine assaults and three homicides.
Finding a larger space is among the many things on YVCOG’s 2024 agenda.
The organization is working on improving transportation across the valley. One option discussed is bringing an Amtrak route in.
“YVCOG was selected along with Walla Walla to work with the feds to be able to look at how we can do this in our community,” says Wickenhagen.
Yakima Mayor Patricia Byers echoed her support for the track, after her and Councilwoman Janice Deccio discussed the possibility with the National Railroad Group last year in Washington D.C.
The work done by YVCOG is meant to help the entire Yakima Valley. Even though the presentation was held at the Yakima City Council meeting, the Executive Director says people from Grandview to Naches will all feel the impact.
“At our table, everybody has an equal voice,” says Wickenhagen. “And that is extremely important to be able to move projects forward.”
