Police and Public Safety

“Rapid Response” Safety Improvements in SoDo Don’t Prove So Rapid

Last year, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), following a series of high-profile traffic deaths in the SoDo neighborhood, announced they would be making...

Mayor Durkan Launches Offensive Against Sawant and CHOP After Protest Outside Her Home

This morning, as police swept the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) of tents, barricades, protesters, and journalists, it become clear Mayor Jenny Durkan was...

Transpo Notes: Digital Ads Arriving, Security Incidents Trends, and Pessimistic Service Plans

This Transpo Notes roundup touches on a mix of transit stories, including: New digital advertising screens appearing at Link stations;Security incident trends on Sound Transit;Sound...

Op-Ed: Seattle Council Must Reject Harrell’s Police Guild Contract, Demand Accountability

Seattle's proposed police union contract once again fails to deliver even the meager reforms and accountability promised eight years ago, opines Howard Gale. With Seattle City Council set to vote on the contract this month, here's the case for rejecting it.
A half dozen police and a medic team talk to a person in a wheel chair across from Pioneer Square Station. A police cruiser and ambulance are parked along Third Avenue.

Harrell Cuts Social Safety Net to Fund 16% Boost to SPD

Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2025 budget would cut elsewhere to fund a 16% increase to the Seattle Police Department. The cuts to affordable housing and social services could backfire, undermining public safety and homelessness response.

Inspector General Quietly Terminates Audit into Seattle Police Mutual Aid

Downgraded from a full audit and long delayed, the Office of Inspector General’s six-page mutual aid review did not assess if outside police forces patrolling the streets of Seattle would be required to follow SPD bias policies, be held to SPD force review policies, and be accountable for their actions through the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) complaint process. 
Police hold nightsticks in full riot gear behind a metal fence as protesters march by.

Solidarity Budget Coalition Asks for Deeper SPD Cuts, No New Cops

Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda unveiled the Seattle City Council's rebalancing package for the 2021 budget this week and laid out $83 million in changes...

Sunday Video: How Do You Punish Bad Drivers?

Dave Amos of City Beautiful dives into the thorny issue of punishing bad drivers and the many challenges that stem from lawlessness and impunity on roadways.