Tuesday's afternoon surge brought 45 calls citywide
Happy Wednesday, Bellingham!
Yesterday brought a steady drumbeat of activity across Bellingham, with 45 incidents keeping officers busy from dawn through midnight. The Lettered Streets bore the brunt of Tuesday's calls, while a notable afternoon surge between 3 and 5 PM created the day's busiest window. Most incidents remained non-violent, though domestic disputes and behavioral health calls punctuated an otherwise routine Tuesday.
At a Glance
The Lettered Streets neighborhood absorbed over a third of yesterday's incidents, with 16 calls ranging from vehicle prowls near Lakeway to narcotics arrests along Holly Street. This concentration reflects downtown's role as both a commercial hub and a gathering place where various social challenges intersect.
Today's midweek rhythm suggests we'll likely see similar patterns this afternoon, particularly between 3 and 5 PM when foot traffic peaks downtown. With clear weather expected, residents should anticipate typical Wednesday activity levels, though the upcoming weekend may bring increased evening calls as October settles in.
Category Breakdown
Investigation calls and malicious incidents tied for the lead yesterday, each accounting for nearly a quarter of all activity. This split suggests officers spent considerable time on both proactive investigations and responding to interpersonal conflicts—from trespassing to domestic disputes—that required de-escalation rather than arrests.
The seven theft reports clustered around retail corridors like Meridian and Lakeway, while narcotics arrests concentrated in the downtown core near Holly and Railroad. Welfare checks spanned from WWU's campus to Silver Beach, reflecting the diverse nature of community support needs across our neighborhoods.
Get these reports every morning, free forever
Timeline Analysis
Tuesday's activity built gradually through midday before peaking sharply at 4 PM.
The afternoon window from 3 to 5 PM saw 13 incidents—nearly a third of the day's total—with particular concentration around 4 PM when eight calls came in. Downtown's Lettered Streets and Railroad Avenue saw heavy activity during this period, while mornings remained relatively calm with scattered calls between 7 and 10 AM. Late evening brought another uptick between 10 PM and midnight, primarily in Cornwall Park and the Lettered Streets.
Intel Briefs
Afternoon Peak Hours
Plan errands outside the 3-5 PM window when possible. Yesterday's surge during these hours meant slower response times for non-emergency situations.
Downtown Vigilance
Vehicle prowls hit Lakeway and Commercial Street yesterday. Lock your cars and remove valuables, especially when parking downtown for evening activities.
Scam Alert Active
Officers reported fake calls claiming to be from Bellingham Police about subpoenas. Real officers won't demand immediate payment over the phone—hang up and call the department directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's in the "Other" category?
The "Other" category includes 5 incidents that don't fit into our main categories. Here's the breakdown:
Where does this data come from?
All incident data is sourced directly from the official Bellingham Police Department Daily Activity Log. We aggregate and analyze this public information to provide community insights. Our data is updated daily and reflects only what the department publicly reports.