Police and Public Safety

Seattle Council, Mayor Not Asking the Hard Questions about Police Recruitment

City leaders are weighing laxer hiring standards rather than improving SPD's culture and accountability systems. But SPD's bad reputation could be the bigger drag on hiring – not to mention safety outcomes.

Seattle Will Defund Police, But By How Much?

Mayor Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best remain at odds with the City Council over reducing the police budget. The Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP)...
Katie wears a blue patterned blouse and stands in front of a wood slatted wall.

Katie Wilson Jumps In Seattle Mayor Race as Progressive Coalition-Builder

Transit Riders Union leader Katie Wilson jumped in the race to be the next mayor of Seattle today. Our interview with Wilson covers what's motivating her to run and how she would deliver results where Mayor Bruce Harrell has failed.

Constantine Responds To Youth Jail Critics In State Of The County Speech

During his State of the County speech yesterday, King County Executive Dow Constantine unveiled plans to open two reception centers for youth accused of...

As Mayor’s Budget Adds Police, SPD Data Shows 911 Calls Massively Tilted Toward Traffic

This month, the Seattle Police Department released a new tool for Seattle residents to get an idea of how many "calls for service" the...
A line of police offers in riot gear face off against protesters sporting Black Lives Matter signs along a Downtown Seattle street.

SPD Kettled Protesters in 2020, Escalated Violence, and Promoted the Commander

New footage shows how police kettled protesters, trapping them in a corridor of violence in the early days of 2020 protests. Despite the historic magnitude of financial costs to the city across multiple legal settlements, in the three-plus years since the summer of 2020, the department internally has rarely found any of its conduct to be worthy of punishment beyond a handful of oral and written reprimands.

Bob Kettle Alleges Safe Street Upgrades Hinder Emergency Response, Lacking Evidence

Seattle Councilmember Bob Kettle has asserted that projects intended to improve traffic safety can negatively impact emergency response. The data to back it up is not there.

Harrell Pledges SPD Staffing Surge in State of City Speech

The Mayor asked for budget cuts from other city departments to close an anticipated $150 million funding gap next year. Mayor Bruce Harrell delivered his...