Police and Public Safety

Dear Council: Make Safe Streets a Priority and Keep Parking Enforcement In SDOT

Editorial Board, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Transit Riders Union (Guest Contributor) - November 19, 2022

Seattle is nearing its final 2023-2024 budget and some big decisions are still in flux. The Mayor’s budget puts parking enforcement back in the...

Seattle Council Bans Chemical Weapons and Other Brutal Crowd Control Tactics

Doug Trumm - June 16, 2020

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) repeatedly tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed crowds during the first two weeks of protests, but the Seattle City Council sought to close...

Largely Status Quo Harrell Budget Proposal Puts Police First

Doug Trumm - September 27, 2022

Mayor Bruce Harrell largely presented a status quo biennium budget on Tuesday, but he is seeking to undo a few recent progressive policy wins,...

The memorials along the East Precinct police station--now christened the Capitol Hill Community Center--keep growing. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

Op-Ed: Walking Away from the Empty Promise of Seattle’s Consent Decree

Amy Sundberg - September 8, 2023

Seattle is still struggling for justice and constitutional policing 12 years into federal monitoring via the consent decree. More than 12 years ago, 34 Seattle...

Harrell wears a suit and stands at a lectern with the seal of Seattle. He's surrounded by city councilmembers and staffers including Sara Nelson, Rob Saka, and Mark Solomon.

Harrell Vows to Block ICE Overreach, but Plan Lacks Teeth

Amy Sundberg - November 5, 2025

Mayor Bruce Harrell recently released two executive orders seeking to respond to President Donald Trump’s aggressive moves to increase local immigration enforcement and illegally send in the National Guard. However, his plan is light on details and lacks leverage to get federal cooperation. Meanwhile, the police guild president vowed support for Trump’s plan.