Police and Public Safety

In a night time image, dark police officer silhouettes emerge from an armored truck amidst a backdrop of a cloud of tear gas.

Chaos and Banned Weapons: SPD’s Use of ‘Mutual Aid’ Police Departments in 2020

Newly unearthed records show SPD exploited a policy loophole, deploying dangerous and toxic weapons during the 2020 protests via partner agencies with little to...
Couches and chairs provided area to relax for patients.

Kirkland’s New Mental Health Crisis Center Top Contender for Levy Contract

Kirkland Connections is a new 24/7 mental health crisis center that could prove a model for the five crisis centers a county levy approved and funded in 2023. Such services are rare in the region.
Easy to social distance on pedestrian streets.

In a Pandemic, We Should Be Closing Unused Streets, Not Crowded Parks

On Thursday, the Seattle Mayor’s Office announced on KUOW that several parks would be closing. Later in the afternoon, those specific parks were announced....

Sunday Video: All About Car Crashes

CityNerd dives into the convoluted and admittedly depressing topic of car crashes. In the video, CityNerd looks into the disturbing pedestrian fatality trends, implications...
Chief Best with a Downtown Seattle buildings and street behind her. Video is here: https://www.seattle.gov/police/together

Chief Best Resigns After Seattle Council Trims 100 Police Officer Positions

Chief Carmen Best announced yesterday she would be resigning effective September 2nd in a message to Seattle Police Department (SPD) employees after conservative radio...
A light blue SPD police cruiser in a parking lot.

Public Safety Politics and the Even Election Reckoning

The votes have all been tallied and the red wave has officially folded in on itself, leaving even more blue shore than before in...

King County Launches ‘100 Days of Action’ Against Gun Violence

Facing an uptick in gun violence, County officials are rolling out a 100-day campaign aimed at raising awareness, boosting gun violence prevention programs, and piloting new interventions.

Harrell Ousts Police Chief Diaz Amid Allegations, Appoints Sue Rahr Interim Chief

Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is out as the allegations against him pile up. Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Sue Rahr would be his interim replacement. Diaz faces numerous investigations for an alleged pattern of gender and racial discrimination in his office and sexual harassment.