ANYONE. IF IT HAD BEEN ME, I
CALL MY TEAM ALL THE TEAM. BUT
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOWER
PRIORITY CALL BECAUSE OF THE
ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN THE
CITY. OFTEN WE WILL CALL AND
DELIVER CARE AND SAY CAN YOU
SEEP AN EYE ON THIS PERSON, WE
MAY GET SOMEONE STABILIZED BUT
THEY ARE BACK A FEW HOURS LATER
AND I HAVE WATCHED UNNECESSARY
AND TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE
WE FAILED TO INTERVENE. YOU HIT
ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS A
POLICY ISSUE. WHICH IS WHAT IS
GRAVELY DISABLED? IT IS
IMPERATIVE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
HOW WE INTERVENE, WHO IS ABLE
TO INTERVENE AND WHAT RESOURCES
DO WE PROVIDE? I APPRECIATE
THAT IT PAINS YOU.
>> MAYBE IT IS TWAINING FOR
YOUR FOLKS TO KNOW THEY SHOULD
BE CALLING 911 OR WE CAN
DELIVER SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE VIABLE. TOOL
THAT'S ARE AVAILABLE.
>> THAT IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT
THE FEED BACK LOOP. I AM MORE
INTERESTED IN THE CRITICISM IN
WHEN WE ARE GETTING IT WRONG
THAN WHEN WE ARE GETTING IT
RIGHT. THAT WAS A GREAT WAY TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT OPTIONS WERE
AVAILABLE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ON.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHIEF
BARTON FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND KUDOS FOR
THE EARLY SUCCESS IN THE LAST
YEAR IN TERMS OF GROWING AND
SCALING THE TEAM. PROMISING
SIGNS. AND, ALSO SOME
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO DO
MORE AND HAVE GREATER IMPACT.
BUT, KUDOS TO YOU AND THE TEAM.
THE MAYOR, MAKING SURE THAT YOU
ALL HAVE THE SUPPORTS YOU NEED
TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ALSO, I LOVE
THE DATA REFLECTED ON A FEW OF
THE SLIDES IN PARTICULAR. HOW
YOU HAVE PURPORTED TO SAVE
1,041 HOURS OF OFFICER TIME.
I'M A HUGE FAN OF DATA.
GATHERING DATA. AND MAKING DATA
INFORMED DECISIONS. AND ALSO,
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY. TO HELP
US ANALYZE. UNDERSTAND DATA AS
WELL. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF FROM
YOU AND THIS TEAM AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU TO I GUESS DIG IN
EVEN FURTHER. AND BETTER
ANALYZE AND GATHER DATA AROUND
THROUGHPUTS FOR THIS AND WHAT
THAT POTENTIALLY PORTENDS. WHAT
IS THE AVERAGE FOR THE AVERAGE
OFFICER, HOW MUCH OF THEIR TIME
IS SAVED RESULT? HOW MUCH AND
YOU KNOW, TAKING IT A STEP
FURTHER, HOW MANY MORE
RESPONSES, HOW MANY MORE CALLS
COULD THEY SAVE AS A DIRECT
RESPONSE OF THE OFFICER? YOU
HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS
GREAT INITIAL DATA. LET'S KEEP
THAT DAY TO COLLECTION WORKING
CLOSELY WITH YOUR PARTNERS. AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER DATA SETS
CAN WE COLLECT AND SHARE OUT
AND BE IN THE INTEREST OF
TRANSPARENCY?
ALSO LOVE YOUR COMMENTS AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS. KNOWING THE
NAY SAYERS AND SEATTLE HAS AN
UNFORTUNATE HISTORY IN MANY
MATERIAL RESPECTS OF
CHAMPIONING SOMETHING, HAVING A
GREAT IDEA AND TAKING THAT IDEA
TO FULL-FLEDGED PROGRAM OR
SERVICE. BUT, IT FAILS TO
ATTRACT THE SUSTAINED MOMENTUM
AND EFFORT AND FOCUS NEEDED TO
ENSURE IT IS A TRULY THRIVING
THING. I HAVE SEEN THAT HERE IN
THE CITY. THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH MY OWN HIGH LEVEL
OBSERVATIONS. IT'S WHY I
WANTED TO HELP.
SO WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT.
AND NOW THAT I'M HERE, I'M
COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE YOU
ALL HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE
SURE THIS ISN'T JUST A WELL
INTENDED IDEA. THIS ISN'T JUST
ONE OF THE FIRST OR FIRST OF IN
THE NATION KIND OF PROGRAM THAT
WE ARE LAUNCHING. AND FORGET
ABOUT. WE NEED TO MOVE BEYOND
ASPIRING TO BE THE FIRST IN THE
NATION. AND LAUNCH HERE IS A
NEW SHINE ANY THING. AND GET IN
THE BUSINESS OF MAKING SURE THE
SHINY THINGS WE DO LAUNCH AND
UNVEIL, THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO, I'M MORE FOCUSED ON
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
FLAWLESS EXECUTION. OF THE NEW
SHINY THINGS RATHER THAN GO
ONTO THE NEXT THING. SO MY
COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL IS THAT
THIS IS NOT JUST THE NEW SHINY
THING. LET US DO THE WORK. I'M
COUNTING ON YOU ALL TO MAKE
SURE YOU TELL US WHAT YOU NEED
TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE STAKES
ARE TIE IN THIS SPACE IN
PARTICULAR. IN ANY I VENT, IT
REMINDS ME, COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL. IN TERMS
OF THE NEW SHINY THINGS AND
INITIATIVES, IT REMINDS ME OF A
CONVERSATION WE HAD YESTERDAY
ABOUT SIDEWALK INVESTMENTS.
SO IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT
ASSUMES IT DOES NOT PASS. IT
FOCUSES ALL SIDEWALK MONEY ON
SIDEWALK REPAIR ONLY. WE PASS
THAT LEVY LEGISLATION PROPOSAL,
SO SUPPLANT, TO KNOW THAT THE
SUPPLEMENT, THE ONLY WAY WE
WILL OVERCOME THIS, TO CLOSE
THE GAP IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
A SUSTAINED FOCUS OVER TIME.
THE SAME ISSUE MANIFESTS
ITSELFS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS AND SO MANY POLICIES. A
FEW OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED. I LIKE
GOING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PACK. THE DASHBOARD OF OUTCOMES
ON YOUR WEBSITE. I NOTICE THAT
THE DISPATCH DATA DASHBOARD
TAKES YOU TO THE SPD SITE. SO,
AGAIN, U LOVE DASHBOARDS,
PUBLICLY ASSESSABLE DATA NEEDS
TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL OF US.
THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OR RESIDENT
TO BE ABLE TO DIGEST THIS DATA
RATHER THAN EXPERTS. WE'LL GET
THERE OVER TIME. WHEN WILL BE
CARE DEPARTMENT SHOWCASE IN
RELATION TO ITS OWN RESPONSE
UNITS AND CAPABILITY?
>> THIS IS UNDERWAY. I HAD A
MEETING WITH SPD AND FIRE
BECAUSE I KEEP INSISTING THAT
WE MUST HAVE THE DATA ALL
TOGETHER. IS THE CITY GETTING
BETTER OR WORSE? ARE PEOPLE
BECOMING MORE HEALTHY WE FOOD
TO LOOK AT SUICIDE, OVERDOSE.
DOMESTIC DISBUTTES. YOU CAN
IMAGINE THAT CARE GROWS, IF
THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO THE
PRIORITY ONE CALLS SO I'M VERY
SENSITIVE. DATA SCIENCE IS
IMPORTANT TO ME. WE ARE WORKING
ON THAT NOW. HOW CAN WE
CROSSWALK OUR DATA? IN THE
SHORT RUN, YOU ARE RIGHT. WE
LOOK AT SIMPLE OUT POSTS FOR
CARE. I WOULD SAY YOU WOULD SEE
THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE
PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARD. A FEW
OF MY TEAMMATES IN CARE, WE
DIDN'T REALLY HAVE DATA
ANALYTICS. I AGREE ENTIRELY.
THE PUBLIC DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
HOW TO INTERPRET THE DATA SO
YEAH, IT'S A TOP PRIORITY OF
NEXT YEAR, THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
AND, ONE FINAL, I GUESS REALLY
COMMENT IS THAT IN THIS FIRST
OFF, LET ME SAY I HAVE MY RIDE
ALONG SCHEDULED WITH YOUR AND
YOUR TEAM THURSDAY SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I HAVE
HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT YOU ALL
DURING THE FIRST INITIAL SIX
HIRES.
>> AND THE FIRST TO MEET THEM.
>> YEAH.
>> I WANT TO SEE THE GOOD, THE
BAD, AND THE UGLY. INCLUDING
YOU KNOW, AND HAVE A SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE OF MY COLLEAGUES.
BECAUSE DON'T JUST SHOW ME THE
GOOD. WE KNOW THERE IS
OPPORTUNITY ALL AROUND. SO,
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT. SO WITH RESPECT TO A
COMMENT THAT MR. ROWLAND MADE.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED AS PUBLIC
SAFETY CHARITY KETTLE NOTED.
UNDERSTAFFING THE CALL CENTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO BEFORE I WAS
ELECTED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL,
LISTEN IN AND TAKE CALLS. I
HEARD, THAT IS HOW I UNDERSTOOD
FIRSTHAND. THERE IS A NEED FOR
THE SERVICES THAT YOU ALL
PROVIDE. BECAUSE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF THOSE CALLS JUST IN
MY VIEW DIDN'T REQUIRE AN
ARMED RESPONSE. I GOT A CHANCE
TO TALK TO THE CHAIR WHO AT THE
TIME WERE FEELING VERY BURNED
OUT ON THE HEELS OF EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AS A
RESULT, RECKONING IN 2020 WHEN
GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED AND
LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN
SEATTLE. IT DIDN'T JUST IMPACT
SPD BUT ALLSPICE RESPONDERS.
THE DISPATCHERS AND CALL CENTER
OPERATORS SHARED WHERE ME, THEY
ARE ALL BURNED OUT. AND WITH
LOW STAFFING, THEY ONLY
CONTINUE TO BE BURNED OUT. I'M
GLAD WE REDUCED THE MANDATORY
OVERTIME FROM SIX HOURS TO
EIGHT HOURS WHICH IS GREAT. BUT
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE
EITHER OR APPROACH. IN YOUR
RESPONSE, I HEARD RIGHT NOW, WE
ARE PRIORITIZING RESPONDERS.
WE'LL GET TO HIREING THE
DISPATCHERS AND THE CALL CENTER
OPERATORS LATER. I PERSONALLY
BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN AND
APPROACH. AND THE WORK, YES
RESPONDERS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT
DON'T JUST THINK I WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE YOU. I DON'T THINK
YOU DO, BUT JUST A REMINDER,
CALL CENTER OPERATORS AND
DISPATCHERS ARE NOT JUST THE
BACK END OPERATION. NOT JUST
THE SIGHT UNSEEN BECAUSE
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC,
MOST OF THEM DON'T SEE THEM
PERSONALLY. THEY PROVIDE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN
HELPING YOU ALL TO RESPOND ON
SCENE. SO WE CAN'T JUST BURN
PEOPLE OUT ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
NOT JUST RESPONDERS SO I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU. I AM ALSO
CONCERNED. ALL THAT IS TO SAY I
AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
UNDERSTAFFING IN THE CALL
CENTER AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
FIND WAYS TO FOCUS ON HIRING
AND ENSURING ADEQUATE RESPONSE
AND CALL CENTER AND DISPATCH
CAPABILITY. THANK YOU.
>> IF I COULD RESPOND TO THAT,
IF YOU GO BACK TO MY
DEPARTMENTAL GOALS AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, IT IS
THE TOP PRIORITY. DRIVE A
LEARNING ORGANIZATION AND CARE
AND FIGURE OUT STAFFING AND
RETENTION. WE DID NOT ASK FOR
MORE POSITIONS BECAUSE WE MUST
FEEL THE 18 VACANCIES. IT WAS
ALMOST TWOFOLD THAT WHEN I
ARRIVED AT THE JOB. SO IT IS A
TOP PRIORITY. I HAVE NEVER
SPOKEN THAT I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE HEROICS AT 911 AND I
LOVE THAT YOU KNOW IT AND I
AFFIRM YOU ARE ALL COMING OUT
TO SEE THIS WORK TO GET UP
CLOSE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN
INVISIBLE AND THANKLESS. AND IT
IS HARD TO BE THEM. TO BE
RECIPIENTS OF THE FRUSTRATION
AND ANGER AND HOSTILITY WHEN WE
DON'T HAVE A COP TO SEND. AS
MY FOLKS HAVE TO TRY TO EXPLAN
THAT.
THEY COULD NOT LEAVE. ONE OF
THE FIRST THINGS I LEARNED IN
WEEK ONE WAS CALLS TO 911 DID
NOT GO DOWN DURING THOSE MONTHS
AND YEARS. THEY WENT UP. I HAVE
BEEN VERY CANDID. AND TRIED TO
BE VERY SAFE TO SAY LISTEN. IF
THERE IS SO MUCH HARM DONE AND
IT IS TIME FOR SOMETHING ELSE I
SUPPORT THAT. I WILL HELP YOU
GET TO WHAT'S NEXT. FULL
HEARTEDDEDLY. I'M VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF BARDEN.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
>> GET ALL OF US TODAY. THANK
YOU. CHIEF BARDEN, THE FIRST
THING I WANT TO SAY IS THANK
YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION, I
APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU TALK
ABOUT THIS WORK AND ABOUT THE
NEED FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE TREATING PEOPLE SUFFERING
ON OUR STREETS AS PEOPLE. I
THINK IT IS EASY NOT TO DO THAT
SO I APPRECIATE YOU STARTING
YOUR CONVERSATION AND REMARKS
THAT WAY. SO I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT WE KNOW THIS ISN'T A
SHINY NEW THING YOU ARE DOING.
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE HAS BEEN
DEPLOYED SUCCESSFULLY IN OTHER
CITIES. YOU HAVE BEEN TO MANY
OF THESE CITIES AND WORKED
CLOSELY WITH PEOPLE AND I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING WHAT
WORKS WELL TO WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO HERE IN THE CITY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DEEP
KNOWLEDGE OF THIS FIELD. YOUR
COMMITMENT TO THE DATA. AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL
UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL OF
THIS DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE I
THINK WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE OUR
RESPONSE. TO PEOPLE SUFFERING
ON THE STREET. AS YOU HAVE BEEN
SAYING, CORRELATED WITH THAT
WOULD BE A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT
WITH THE ABILITY OF THE THE
POLICE TO RESPOND TO
NON-EMERGENCY CALLS AND TO
OTHER NON-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS CALLS SO I THINK THERE
IS A HUGE NET BENEFIT TO WHAT
YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. AND I
HOPE THE SUCCESS YOU ARE HAVING
NOW JUST CONTINUE TO GROW OVER
TIME. I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT.
WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT 911.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM YOU SAID
YOU COULD DO 60 MORE POSITIONS
AND THAT WOULD BE. IS THAT A
GOAL?
>> YES, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
UNLESS TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS THAT
NUMBER. THE GOAL IS IF YOU
CALL, EMERGENCY OR
NON-EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, SOMEONE SAYS HELLO.
911, WHAT DO YOU NEED. THAT
WOULD BE THE GOAL.
>> SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING
THAT. THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW. SO,
LET'S HOPE THAT YOU GET THOSE
18 FILLED THIS YEAR. WOULD LOVE
TO SEE YOU BACK HERE IN THE MID
YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL THIS YEAR.
SO, GOING TO SLIDE FOUR, I WANT
TO ASK ABOUT, SO I KNOW YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT CLAIMING UP TO
TEN HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK. I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW
WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR YOU TO
BE ABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.
>> I AM ACTUALLY REDUCING THE
TIME SPAN JUST A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE WE CAN COVER MORE
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS AND THE
CRISIS DATA SUPPORTS THAT.
THERE IS NOT A REAL ADVANTAGE
TO THOSE TWO HOURS, I WAS ASKED
ABOUT THIS RECENTLY. WHAT I
THINK IT WILL TAKE TO BE CITY
WIDE 24/7. I THINK IT IS ABOUT
96. WHEN WE GET TO ABOUT 82 TO
96, I WILL HAVE FURLOUGH LINES
THAT GO OUT LIKE POLICING.
MULTIPLE SHIFTS 24/7. I WAS
WITH THE POLICE CHIEF IN
MEDINA. THAT IS WHEN YOU SEE
THE DRAMATIC IMPACT TO PROPERTY
CRIME. IT WENT FROM 42,000
INCIDENTS TO 21,000 INCIDENTS
IN ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS
OF PROPERTY CRIME. AND YES,
THERE WAS THIS TIPPING POINT.
RIGHT AROUND 70, 80 ALBUQUERQUE
RESPONDERS. THEY WERE FREE TO
INVESTIGATE. I SAY 96.
OKAY. SO, SLIDE FIVE, YOU TALK
ABOUT EXPANDING NORTH AND
SOUTH. I'LL TAKE IT AS LONG AS
IT IS AN EXPANSION. SO, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ABOUT 15%
OF 911 CALLS ARE FOR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH. NOT CALLS THAT WOULD
REQUIRE SPD TO GO OUT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. AT LEAST THAT
RIGHT NOW.
>> AND THE REASON THEY ARE
GOING NOW IS BECAUSE OF THE MOU
YOU REFERENCED EARLIER THAT IS
THE WAY THIS PILOT WAS SET UP
ORIGINALLY BECAUSE OF THE LABOR
CONVERSATIONS.
>> YES.
>> SO WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT
SPD COMPLETED OVER 6,000
BEHAVIORAL CRISIS REPORTS. 24 A
DAY. 2400 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR SAVING POLICE
OFFICER TIME. POLICE STAFF
TIME. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE
REFERRING TO. THERE IS
POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS THERE.
>> YEAH. EVEN THAT PAPERWORK.
IT IS SO TIME CONSUMING. SO
INVOLVED. SO YOU ALWAYS WANT TO
BE EXPEDIENT. COULD THIS PERSON
GET THE RIGHT DISCIPLINE, AND
WHAT IS THE MOST FINANCIALLY
PRUDENT RESPONSE?
>> THIS MORNING, I SEE THE
CHIEF HERE. THE PAPER REPORTED
SPD WILL STOP RESPONDING TO
ALARM CALLS DUE TO STAFFING.
SEEMS LIKE THE BETTER USE OF
POLICE OFFICER TIME WOULD BE TO
RESPOND TO THE OTHER CALLS AND
JUST SUPPORT THE CARE TEAM IN
DOING YOUR WORK. SO I'M
INTERESTED TO NOW KNOW HOW MUCH
IT WOULD COST TO RESPOND TO ALL
THE CALLS. THIS IS THE KIND OF
THING I'M INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING.
HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO HAVE
THEM RESPOND TO ALL THE CALLS?
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
ADDRESSED THAT A LITTLE BIT
ALREADY. I'M INTERESTED TO
KNOW HOW CARE AND HSD
COORDINATE ON SAFETY PREVENTION
RESOURCES. SO IF YOU CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE
THE VICTIM ADVOCACY FUND. WE
HAVE A NAVIGATION TEAM. IT
FEELS LIKE THERE IS THE CRIME
VICTIM ADVOCATES. I'M
INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THESE ARE
APPROPRIATE RESPONSES FOR THE
CARE TEAM TO GO INTO INSTEAD OF
THE POLICE AND I'M INTERESTED
TO KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE
TO BRING THE CONTRACTS INTO THE
CARE DEPARTMENT. I FEEL LIKE
YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE ONE I
DON'T KNOW, UMBRELLA ORIZATION
MAYBE FOR ALL OF THE
NON-EMERGENCY THINGS WE NEED TO
DO AS A CITY TO RESPOND TO
PEOPLE SUFFERING ON OUR
STREETS.
>> I LOVE WHERE YOU ARE GOING
WITH THIS. SO WHAT I COULD
SUGGEST IS THE IDEA IS
COORDINATION. SO WHEN I WAS
RECRUITED TO THIS ROLE, IT WAS
EXFLOODPLAINED TO ME THE CITY
WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH
SOMEWHAT OF AN AUDIT TO LOOK AT
ALL THE FUNCTIONS THAT DID NOT
NEED TO SIT IN POLICE AND
NATURALLY SIT IN FIRE. WHERE
MIGHT THEY GO? I WAS AGNOSTIC.
I HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO TRY TO
BE SCIENTIFIC AND ACADEMIC AND
JUST LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION
AND LOOK AT DATA AND HOW THINGS
ARE GOING SO I DIDN'T HAVE A
BIG OPINION ABOUT SOME OF THE
THINGS I HAD HEARD SUGGESTED.
ONE THING I HEARD WAS PERHAPS
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES OFFICER
SHOULD MOVE OVER TO CARE. AS I
GOT ABOUT SIX MONTHS INTO THE
WORK. IT IS NOT SO MUCH WE HAVE
TO MOVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS WE
HAVE TO KNOW EACH OTHER. WE
HAVE GOT TO HAVE SWIFT
COMMUNICATION AND
INTERDEPARTMENTMENTAL MEETINGS.
THE CSOs , HEALTH ONE. THERE
ARE LOT OF ADJACENT FUNCTIONS.
I KEPT SUGGESTING I DON'T KNOW
THAT YOU NEED TO BE MOVED INTO
A DEPARTMENT. BUT I NEED TO
KNOW YOU AND HOW TO PROMOTE AND
SUPPORT YOUR WORK. MY FRIEND
ERICA WILL KNOW THE ANSWER AND
I WILL BRING HERE HERE.
JENNIFER IS AND EXPERT AT THIS.
SHE IS IN LITTLE SAIGON. SHE
KNOWS I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS
FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHE
BRINGS ME OUT. SO THERE IS
GREAT COST SAVINGS TO AS WE
JUST BETTER COORDINATE AND WORK
ON WHERE DOES PREVENTION SIT.
EARLY INTERVENTION. LATE STAGE
INTERVENTION. I OFTEN SAY I SEE
CARE AS THE DIVERSION
DEPARTMENT. AND THE ALTERNATIVE
TO POLICE AND FIRE. THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY. IT IS OUTSIDE OF MY
PER VIEW. I AM A FAN OF
REDUCING DUPLICATION 100%. WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT CARE GOING TO
ALL THESE DIFFERENT CALLS, MY
PERFECT WORLD IS THAT I HAVE A
LOT OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES
DEPLOY THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM
911. TO SAY THIS IS A TIDY
LITTLE CAMP SITE. THIS LOOKS
LIKE SOMEBODY NOT IN MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS. LAUNDRY IS
FOLDED. THERE IS VEGETABLES.
WE'LL SEND A CARE TEAM OUT TO
SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. AND THEN
THERE ARE OTHER SITUATIONS
WHERE OH, THE CARTELS MIGHT BE
USING THESE TENTS AND YOU NEED
LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE. SO HIGH
LEVEL WE NEED TO DESIGN A WORLD
WITH AN ARRAY OF RESOURCES WILL
BE THE GAME CHANGER.
>> LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE I
TALKED ABOUT HAVING BEEN IN
AUSTIN. AND WITNESSING A WOMAN
IN A VERY BUSY LIGHTED
INTERSECTION. WHO DEFINITELY
NEEDED A CALL. AND WHEN I
CALLED 911, THE DISPATCHER SAID
DO YOU NEED POLICE, FIRE,
MEDICAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH? AND
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LOVE FOR
US TO BE ABLE TO DO AS WELL.
THE LAST THING I WILL SAY, I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GOING OUT
TO THE CID YESTERDAY. I HAVE
BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS WHEN WE
MOVE TEEM AROUND FROM ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE NEXT
WITHOUT ACTUALLY LEADING THEM
TO SERVICES, ALL WE DO IS MAKE
THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD MAD SO I
APPRECIATE YOU HEADING OUT
THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
AND WE DO LOVE TO BE IN PERSON,
AND IF ANYONE IS FEELING A
LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER PLEASE
TAKE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S
LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MANY
PRESENTATION. LET ME SAY FIRST
OF ALL, THAT I AM ONE OF THE
MILLIONS THAT SUPPORTS
ALTERNATE RESPONSE. IT IS A
MOVEMENT. THAT ON THE TABLE, I
WANT TO NOTE THAT THE DIFFERENT
MODELS DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THE SUCCESS OF
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE IN SEATTLE
WITH CRT AND HEALTH ONE, ET
CETERA. I WAS NOT NECESSARILY
HESITANT, BUT I RECOGNIZED THAT
FOR CARE TO BE FULLY, TO
FULFILL ITS POTENTIAL, WE HAVE
TO BE SURE THERE ARE LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS TO ALLOW FOR
SINGLE DISPATCH SO IT DOES TAKE
THE PRESSURE OFF OUR LIMITED
POLICE STAFFING AND SO THAT IS
REALLY AN IMPORTANT PIECE THAT
I THINK HAS TO HAPPEN TO
REALIZE THE POTENTIAL AND THE
SAVINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
GOING FORWARD. MY QUESTION GOES
BACK TO THE 911 AND THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE. I SAY THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE IS AS A WAY
TO TAKE PUSH OFF FIRST RESPONSE
SO I HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION.
BY THE WAY, THE NON-EMERGENCY
LINE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I
CAME INTO OFFICE. IT HAS BEEN A
PROBLEM. SO WHAT I'M HEARING
YOU SAY IS THAT IT IS A
STAFFING ISSUE. IS IT THE SAME
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ANSWERS
THE 911 LINE AND THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE AND WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE
PEOPLE? OR IS THERE A
DESIGNATED PERSON EQUALED OR
SHOULD BE ANSWERING THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE TO CLEAR THE
PIPELINE OF CALLS INTO 911?
>> GOOD QUESTION. IT IS
BASICALLY THE SAME GROUP OF
PEOPLE AS YOU ARE TRAINING UP.
PEOPLE START WITH
NON-EMERGENCY. THERE IS A
NUMBER OF INTERESTING MODELS I
HAVE COME ACROSS IN THE
COUNTRY. MY FRIENDS IN DENVER,
THEY SET UP DURING COVID
BASICALLY REMEET NON-EMERGENCY
LINE. THEY ARE USING SALES
FORCE TO MAKE TICKETS FOR THE
NON-EMERGENCY CALLS. OBVIOUSLY,
THAT OPENS UP A WHOLE REALM OF
POSSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO
STAFFING AND MY COUNTERPART
ANDREW EXPLAINED THIS SHOULD BE
AN EMERGENCY CALL, IT GETS
DIVERTED BACK TO 91 WHERE IT
BECOMES A CAT EVENT AND THEY
TAKE IT FROM THERE. SO THAT IS
SOMETHING I'M LOOKING AT. WE
HAVE PROFESSIONAL CALL CENTERS,
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ANSWER
LARGELY THE POOL EMERGENCY
CALLS. ELEVATOR EMERGENCY
CALLS. I THINK SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY HAS A CONTRACT WITH
THEM. THERE IS ALL SORTS OF
POTENTIAL THINGS WE COULD DO
FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PERSPECTIVE
THAT MIGHT ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN
ON 911. 911 IS EXPENSIVE. THEY
ARE EXPENSIVE POSITIONS. IT IS
INFLEXIBLE BY DESIGN. I HAVE A
DISPATCHERS GUILD. THIS IS
ANOTHER LABOR CONVERSATION
WHERE WE HAVE TO COME TO SOME
CONSENSUS ABOUT THAT BODY OF
WORK WHICH HAS BELONGED TO THAT
GUILD.
>> OKAY, WELL TO BE CONTINUED I
SUPPOSE. I AM VERY FOCUSED ON
DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY
CAN TO STAFF UP SPD. WE PASSED
A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO TRY
TO HELP OFFLINE. I WILL TALK
ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP
YOU RECRUIT FOR CALL TAKING. BE
IT 911 OR THE NON-EMERGENCY
RESPONSE LINE. BECAUSE I DO
SECOND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S
COMMENTS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING
I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENCIES. I
DIDN'T WANT TO CALL 911. I
JUST NEEDED TO MAKE A CALL AND
NOBODY ANSWERED. TO BE
DISCUSSED DOWN THE LINE. THANK
YOU .
>> THANK YOU, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER WOO, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
AND WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER ONE
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
BECAUSE SHE WAS THE SHORTEST OF
EVERYONE TODAY. OVER TO YOU
COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> I PROMISE TO MAKE THIS
SHORT.
>> SORRY, THAT WAS NOT A DIG,
PLEASE TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU
NEED.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU DO. I SEE CARE
MEMBERS OUT DOING AMAZING WORK.
AS WELL AS DEPARTMENT. AND, I
SEE WITH MY OWN EYES THE
CONNECTION, THE, I GUESS THE
OUTREACH BEING DONE MAY NOT
HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC OUTCOME
NOW. BUT WITH THIS, IT TAKES
TIME, IT TAKES TRUST, AND WE
SOMETIMES DON'T SEE THE
OUTCOMES UNTIL MUCH LATER BUT I
BELIEVE THIS IS HAVING AN
AMAZING EFFECT ON PEOPLE. WHILE
WE ARE LOOKING AT PASSING
THINGS LIKE SOAP AND SODA AND
LOOKING AT THE DRUG ORDINANCE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW AND
TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WAS WE
HAVE THE CARE TEAM. WE HAVE
GROUPS WHO CAN REACH. IN THE
PAST WE DID NOT. THIS IS THE
CHANGING FACTOR THAT WILL SET
UP OUR CITY FOR SUCCESS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WU.
YOU WERE TRUE TO YOUR WORD.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> NOW I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO BE
SHORT.
>> NO, I'M GOING TO BE LONG.
>> I'LL BE FAST. CHIEF BARDEN,
THANK YOU. WE ARE LUCKTY TO
HAVE YOU, SO I HAVE A QUICK
QUESTION. AND, YOU MENTIONED IT
BEFORE. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
ORCA PARTNERING WITH DSC COMING
ONLINE NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE
EVERGREEN CONTRACT. CAN YOU
EXPLAIN REAL QUICK THE GAME
CHANGING PIECE THAT WILL
PROVIDE YOUR TEAM TO BE ABLE
FOR PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO? I
HAVE TALKED TO HEALTH ONE. AND
THE NUMBER ONE THINGS
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE SAID TO ME,
WE NEED A PLACE FOR FIREFIGHTER
TO GO. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WITH SHOUT-OUT, PLACES FOR
PEOPLE TO GO. CAN YOU EXPLAIN
WHAT THAT WILL DO FOR YOUR
TEAM?
>> DURING THE Q AND A, I WAS
ASKED ABOUT GAPS IN THE SYSTEM.
AND I SAID I HAD BEEN COACHED .
I SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL.
I REALIZED THERE IS NO PLACE TO
GO. AT THE TIME. I DON'T HAVE
LOW BARRIER SHELTER. SO
SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO HAVE A
PLACE TO SLEEP. THEY ARE
DEPENDENT AND THEY CAN'T USE
IT. FENTANYL HAS POISONED THE
DRUG SUPPLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE
BECAME DEPENDENT ON THAT DRUG.
IT WAS NOT THEIR INTENTION TO
USE THE DRUG. AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE USING FRIENDS AND
PROGRESSIVELY, I DO SEE PEOPLE
SAY, BUPRENORPHINE IN THE HANDS
OF FIRE AND EMS IS THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THIS YEAR.
WILL YOU COME IN DOORS, WE WILL
HELP YOU. WE CAN GET YOU AN ID.
23 HOURS POST STABILIZATION.
WHAT IS GOING ON CLINICALLY?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE BOTH SIDES FOR
PEOPLE. SO I HAVE TALKED TO
PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO SOBRIETY.
WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL. AND
THEN RELAPSED. RELAPSE IS PART
OF RECOVERY. AND SO THAT WAS
ANOTHER THING I HAVE
IDENTIFIED. WE HAVE TO DESIGN A
SYSTEM THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT.
THAT YOU CAN'T BE SO
PRESCRIPTIVE TO SAY OKAY, 28
DAYS YOU'RE GOOD. GO BACK TO
THE SAME ENVIRONMENT. BUT BE A
DIFFERENT PERSON. NOTHING IN
YOUR LIFE HAS CHANGED BUT YOU
HAVE 28 DAYS. IT DOESN'T WORK.
IF IT DOES, THAT'S AN OUTCOME
LIER. AND WE SEE THESE OTHER
SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE ALONG THE JOURNEY EVEN
WHEN IT INCLUDES RELAPSE. THERE
ARE A LOT OF FANTASTIC
INTERVENTIONS IN TOWN. THERE IS
A SOBER COMMUNITY. ENHANCED
SHELTER FOR WOMEN. WHAT HAPPENS
IF SOMEONE RELAPSES? BECAUSE
THEY DO UAs . THEY SAY YOU GO
ACROSS THE PARKING LOT TO THE
LESS ENHANCED SHELTER. YOUR
CASE MANAGER CAN STILL BE WITH
YOU AND HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY
DID YOU SLIP? WHAT WAS GOING ON
HERE? SO THAT PEOPLE DEVELOP
AWARENESS OF THEIR OWN
VULNERABILITY. BUT ALSO
MAINTAIN THE WIN. WE WILL GET
YOU BACK THERE. WE HAVE A PLACE
FOR YOU THERE. WE KNOW WHO YOU
ARE. THAT IS WHAT EVERYTHING
SHOULD LOOK LIKE. AND I THINK
WE ARE MAKING IT MORE
COMPLICATED THAN IT IS. WE
DIVERT FIRST. THEN, RIGHT INTO
A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, WHERE
SOMEBODY CRIMINAL HEAL AND
REDIRECT THEIR LIFE AND IT
SAVES A LOT OF MONEY WHEN WE DO
THAT. HIGH LEVEL. LET'S NOT
LOSE SIGHT. WE DO NOT WANT THE
911 CALLS. WE WANT TO BREAK THE
CYCLES SO THE CALL DOESN'T
COME IN AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WHEN WE DON'T
HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO,
AND THAT PERSON MIGHT NOT HAVE
GOTTEN THE HELP THEY NEEDED,
THEY MIGHT HAVE ATTRIBUTED FOR
TEN CALLS A DAY. I GET IT. THE
SECOND THING REALLY QUICK AND I
TOLD THE CHAIR I WOULD BE SUPER
FAST. WE ARE EXPANDING CARE TO
THE EAST PRECINCT. IT IS
GREATLY NEEDED IN OUR AREA. ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD IS HOW
IS THAT GOING TO INTEGRATE WITH
THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
THAT ARE THERE?
>> THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE CD?
>> THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR
SPD. I KNOW THEY ARE NEXT.
>> IT IS ACTUALLY THE SAME
STRATEGY EVERYWHERE WE GO. I'M
TRYING TO ASSET MAP. WHO IS
ALREADY IN THE FIELD. WHO IS IN
THE CASE MANAGEMENT BUSINESS.
WHO IS PROVIDING WHAT BECAUSE I
WANT A SWIFT HAND OFF. SOME
CALLS HAVE TAKEN TWO OR THREE
HOURS AND THAT IS NOT
APPROPRIATE. I WANT SPACE
RESPONSE. WHAT IS GOING ON
HERE. AND HAND IT OFF TO THE
RIGHT PERSON OR PLACE. THAT IS
THE TRANSGENDER TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS NEEDED. HOW DO WE USE
YOU AND WE HAVE A DIRECT LINE.
B TO B. SO MARY'S PLACE, THEIR
CALL CENTER, THEY HAVE A DIRECT
CALL TO MY CARE SHIFT
SUPERVISOR AND WE USE THOSE
LINES ALL THE TIME. IT ALLOWS
US TO BETTER COORDINATE BECAUSE
WE HAVE A HIGH GOAL LINE HERE.
WE ARE IN THE EAST ALREADY. WE
ARE ACTIVE RIGHT NOW.
>> OH. NICE.
>> DID YOU KNOW THAT?
>> YES. I DID KNOW THAT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION
AND I HAVE A COMMENT TO CORRECT
THE RECORD.
IS THIS CORRECT THAT THE CARE
TEAM ARE NOW ALLOWED TO TAKE
PEOPLE TO THE CRISIS SOLUTION
CENTER?
>> THAT IS RIGHT. THAT WAS
ANOTHER GAME CHANGER. IT USED
TO BE POLICE WHO COULD USE THAT
REFERRAL. CARE DOES REFER
PEOPLE TO THE CRISIS SOLUTION
CENTER.
>> I THINK THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE
STEP.
>> YEAH. I THANK DANIELLE
MALONE FOR THAT.
>> I WANTED TO CORRECT THE
RECORD. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAD ASKED A QUESTION
ABOUT UTILIZING CARE FOR SOAP
AND SODA. SODA AND SOAP ARE
VERY DIFFERENT SOAP ONLY
APPLIES TO JOHNS AND PIMPS WHO
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. AND CHARGED
WITH EXPLOITATION CRIMES. I
DON'T REALLY SEE A ROLE FOR
CARE IN SOAP ORDERS. THAT IS
SEPARATE FROM LOITERING WHERE
WE ARE LOOKING AT DIVERSION
FROM SELLERS. WHERE THEY COULD
CERTAINLY BE A SOCIAL SERVICE
AND CARE IN THAT.
>> I THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. IN MY MIND, I
KNOW IF THOSE FOLKS ARE AROUND,
THEY ARE LIKELY VULNERABLE
YOUNG PEOPLE. AND SO I WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE AGAIN JUST AT
LEAST OUTREACH ACTIVITIES SO
THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE
AVAILABLE WHEN THEY NEED HELP.
AND THAT I WON'T INVOKE LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN THAT
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. THANK YOU CHIEF BARDEN
FOR BEING WITH US TODAY FOR
JUST OVER TWO HOURS.
>> WAS IT OVER TWO HOURS? I
SAID YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS LEFT. WE JUST SPOKE.
>> I SAID YOURS WAS SO FAR THE
SHORTEST PRESENTATION WE HAVE
RECEIVED AND THE LONGEST
QUESTION SESSION. SO IT SHOWS
HOW EVERYONE IS DEEPLY
INTERESTED IN COLLEAGUES. WE
ARE ON POINT. I WILL SHARE SOME
OF MY REFLECTIONS THAT HAVE
COME OVER THE LAST FOUR PLUS
YEARS OF BEING HERE IN COUNCIL.
AND BEING ON STAFF BEFORE THAT
WORKING REGARDING HEALTH ONE
AND BEING ON THE TEAM THAT
PASSED THE LEGISLATION THAT
STARTED HEALTH ONE.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS
COMPLETELY RIGHT. WE NEED A
PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO. UNTIL
WE HAVE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO
GO WE WILL BE STRUGGLING. THAT
CAME FROM THE FOLKS ALTERNATIVE
HEALTH ONE WHO HAVE BEEN CLEAR
WITH ME. I WANTED TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THE OVERALL BUDGET. WE
HAD THE SHELTERS STOOD UP USING
FEDERAL FUNDING. THAT THE CBO
AND THE MAYOR MADE THE CHOICE
TO NOT CLOSE. IT IS AN
IMPORTANT UTILIZATION. WE NEED
TO EXPAND HOW WE USE
NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER TO HAVE
TREATMENT THAT IS EASY TO
ACCESS SO WE ARE NOT SENDING A
PERSON FROM THEIR SHELTER ON A
BUS THROUGH THE PLACE THEY ARE
FAMILIAR WITH, WITH NOT GOOD
REASONS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT
CARE.
LET ME CONTINUE. MEDIC ONE,
SEATTLE STARTED MEDIC ONE.
TOOK AT SIX TO EIGHT YEARS SO
DO MEDIC ONE. TO GET STOOD UP
THROUGH THE MLUs , THROUGH THE
LEGISLATION, THROUGH THE
CONVERSATIONS. THROUGH THE
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE WORK SO FOLKS
CAN UNDERSTAND HAVING A SOCIAL
WORKER WITH THE TEAM REDUCED
HAVING A FIRE ENGINE, A MEDIC,
A POLICE OFFICER. AND THEN AN
AMR ALL AT THE MORRISON WHERE
WE COULD JUST SEND A HEALTH
ONE. TO HAVE THE CARE
DEPARTMENT STOOD UP SO RAPIDLY
IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. I KNOW
THIS IN A LOT OF WAYS WAS BORN
OUT OF WHAT OCCURRED IN 2020.
AND THERE WERE SOME TENSIONS
THAT YOU FELT UPON ARRIVAL. AND
THANK YOU FOR RESETTING THAT
DIAL. TO BE REMINDED THAT THE
PILOT WASN'T LAUNCHED A
YEARING YEAR AGO, THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE IS INCREDIBLE. WE
KNOW THE MORE FOLKS WE HAVE
LIKE THE CARE TEAM ON OUR
STREETS, THE MORE TIME WE FREE
UP FOR OFFICER TO DO WHAT ONLY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ARE ABLE
TO DO. TO PERFORM THEIR HIGHEST
AND BEST USE OF THE FUNCTION OF
THE FUNDING AND THE POSITION
AUTHORITY IN WHICH WE GIVE
THEM. I WILL FOCUS ON THE
EXPANSION AND MOVE TO DISPATCH
IN A SECOND. YOU CAN CLEARLY
SEE FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE
SUPPORT THE CARE TEAM EXPANSION
AS MUCH AS FAST AS WE CAN GO.
BEEN YOUR ENTIRE BUDGET, WE ARE
LOOKING AT A $3.5 MILLION
INCREASE TO THE CARE TEAM AND
THE BUDGET IS CLOSER TO $30
MILLION. 35 FOR 26. 20. 32 FOR
THIS YEAR. YEAH. WE'RE GREAT.
MEMORY IS SERVING EVEN WITH MY
NOTES. PLEASE COME BACK WHEN
YOU ARE READY TO EXPAND
FURTHER. I WILL READ FROM THE
2014 TO 2024 DOCUMENT DOCUMENT
THAT CENTRAL STAFF PRESENTED. I
THINK THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL
INFORMATION. DISPATCH HAS BEEN
IN A BAD SITUATION FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS. ALSO A PRODUCT OF
2020 WHERE THEY WERE NOT
FEELING WELL SUPPORTED AND I DO
NOT BLAME THEM. CARES
DEPARTMENT, IN 201 WAS A BUDGET
OF $17.9 MILLION. A REASONABLE
PROXY FOR THE CALL RESPONSE
BUDGET PROGRAM. CALL CENTER
OPERATIONS WERE ONE COMPONENT
OF THE OPERATIONS BUDGET
SUMMARY LEVEL AND IT IS NOT
POSSIBLE TO DERIVE A 2019
BASELINE FOR THIS FUNCTION
ALONE. ON THE BASIS OF THIS
IMPERFECT COMPARISON, COSTS FOR
THE CURRENT COMMUNICATION
PROGRAM INCREASED BY 34% FROM
21 TO 24. SO I KNOW FOLKS ARE
ASKING FOR MORE DISPATCH. WHAT
I CAN TELL YOU IS IN THE LAST
YEAR I HAVE NOTICED A
DIFFERENCE. BECAUSE I, TOO,
CALL 911. AND I SPEAK TO A LOT
OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. THAT ARE
USING 911 AND I HAVE NOTICED AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAST YEAR, I
HOPE YOU KNOW WE APPRECIATE
YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. WITH
THAT, FOR CBO AND CENTRAL
STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, OF
THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS, WHAT
IS OUR POSITION AUTHORITY? HOW
MANY ARE FUNDED AND FILLED? WE
DON'T NEED TO GET INTO IT. THE
VACANCY RATE WAS LARGER LAST
YEAR. THAN IT IS TODAY. JUST
BASELINE PERIOD. KEEP ON THAT
TRAJECTORY. THANK YOU. YOU ARE
ALSO HEARING FROM US THAT WE
REALLY WANT MORE DISPATCHERS.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR RECRUIT
CLASSES FILLED, PLEASE COME
BACK. PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE UPGRADE
IN THE CAD SYSTEM. I HAVE HEARD
ANECDOTALLY FROM MY SYSTEMS
THEY HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENT INS
THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE. IT IS
ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF
YOU HAVE AN INCIDENT THAT YOU
NEED A WRITTEN REPORT NUMBER.
YOU CAN CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY
LINE THE NEXT MORNING AND HAVE
THAT REPORT TAKEN. IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THOSE REPORT
WRITERS START AT 7:00 A.M. SO,
IF ANYONE IS LISTENING AND
WANTS TO CUT TO THE FRONT OF
THE LINE, CALL AT 7:30 A.M. AND
I HAVE HEARD THE RESPONSE IS
VERY QUICK. SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK THERE BECAUSE THIS
UPDATE IS QUITE HELPFUL. FOR
OTHER CITIES TRYING TO START
DUAL OR SOLE DISPATCH
ALTERNATIVE, THEY HAVE TO FUND
AN OVERHEAD. WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE USING
THE OVERHEAD FOR THE 911 CALL
CENTER AND OTHER THINGS THAT
NEEDED MORE ATTENTION THAT
NEEDED THAT ATTENTION TO ALSO
DO THIS ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES ASKED ALL
THE GREAT QUESTIONS. I JUST
WANTED TO GET THOSE ITEMS ON
THE RECORD. BUT FEEL FREE TO
RESPOND TO ANYTHING YOU HEARD.
>> I JUST APPRECIATE Y'ALL. I
APPRECIATE THE CANDOR AND THE
FEEDBACK AND I LOVE
COLLABORATION AND COCREATION. I
ALWAYS FEEL SMARTER. AND MORE
WELL INFORMED AFTER THESE
CONVERSATIONS. AND IN BETTER
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY. AND I DO
THINK OF MYSELF REPORTING TO
THE PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK.
THAT IS HOW I THINK. THAT IS
WHAT GETS ME OUT OF BED AND
WHAT KEEPS ME GOING DURING THE
DAY. A LOT OF MY HEROS IN THIS
WORK THINK THE SAME WAY AND I
FALSE FEEL YOU ARE MOTIVATED BY
SIMILAR THINGS AND THIS IS NOT
POLITICAL AND I AFFIRM THAT AND
THANK YOU FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHIEF
BARDEN. WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT
$19 MILLION A YEAR IN 2019. THE
TOTAL BUDGET IN 24 WAS $24
MILLION. AND 2.3 FOR THE CARE
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TOTAL $2.3
MILLION FOR CARE AS WE EXPAND
CITY WIDE. WE WILL NEED MORE
CARE. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
YOURS TO CLOSE OUT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE. 91, I HAVE SEEN
THIS FROM MY TIME IN QUEEN
ANNE. THE EMERGENCY,
NON-EMERGENCY ISSUES, IN MY
VISIT, THE CHALLENGES AND
STAFFING AND SO FORTH. BUT I
HAVE ALSO BEEN TO THE ENTIRE
ALARM SYSTEM, TOO. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK IN
THE 25 PROGRAM FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT AND
SAY HEY, JUST GET IT ON THE
PEOPLE SYSTEM. GET THAT
EXCHANGE GOING TO GET SOME
HEADS TO MAYBE ASSIST IN THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ON THAT
SIDE . IT IS KEY TO CREATEING
THE BASELINES, LEARNING THOSE
LESSONS LEARNED. AND, I KNOW
THERE WILL BE CHANGE. I CAME IN
THE MILITARY. A FEW YEARS AFTER
GOLDWATER NICHOLS. AFTER THE
GRENADA INVASION. 9/11 WAS IN
THE MIDDLE OF MY CAREER. THEN
THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT. I
HAVE LIVED IT. I WITH SEE WHAT
HAPPENS HAPPENING NOW. WITH SO
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO
ESTABLISH AND GET THOSE LESSONS
LEARNED. THEN WE CAN WORK TO
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. AND YOU KNOW,
TOTALLY SUPPORT. MY ONLY WORRY
IS THAT SOMETIMES WE CREATE
EXPECTATIONS. BECAUSE OF
SOMEONE WHO LIVED IN 24/7 WATCH
SCHEDULES. YOUR ABILITY FROM A
PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE IS A
CHALLENGE. WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL OF THAT. EXPECTATIONS
MANAGEMENT IS ALWAYS KEY. SO,
BUT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU
AND BOTH TEAMS IN TERMS OF THE
CARE RESPONDERS AND 911. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? CHIEF
BARDEN. WE ARE NOW MOVING TO
THE NEXT PRESENTATION. IF THE
CLERK COULD READ THE SHORT
TITLE FOR ITEM NUMBER 2.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2. SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE CHIEF SUE
RAHR, WE HAVE CHEEP OPERATING
OFFICER BRIAN MAXEY. AND OUR
CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER ANGELA
SOCCI HERE WITH US TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL NOTE THAT
WITH JUST, WE HAVE BEEN IN
COMMITTEE FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS,
15 MINUTES. THIS IS A PRETTY
TYPICAL AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEND
ON PUBLIC SAFETY ITEMS. THIS
ALSO MEANS THAT AT THIS POINT,
IF WE SPEND TWO HOURS AND 15
MINUTES ON THIS PRESENTATION,
THAT WILL TAKE US TO 1:30.
LEAVING US 30 MINUTES FOR
LUNCH. SO, I WOULD SAY, LET'S
NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT. IF WE GET
TO 1:00 AND WE NEED TO SPEND
MORE TIME, WE'LL JUST ASK FOR
YOU TO RETURN AFTER LUNCH IF
THAT IS ALL RIGHT.
>> CHIEF, OVER TO YOU.
>> WELCOME.
>> IT IS NOT FAIR I HAVE TO
SPEAK AFTER AMY. IT IS REALLY
NOT FAIR. BUT I WILL DO MY
BEST. AND I WROTE DOWN SOME
NOTES SO I COULD STAY VERY
FOCUSED AND KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS
ARE WHERE THE REAL BENEFIT IS
FOR YOU. I WANT TO START BY
THEYING THE COUNCIL FOR THE
ENCOURAGEMENT I HAVE RECEIVED
SINCE STEPPING INTO MY CURRENT
POSITION. I TRULY APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT AS WE ARE FACEING
THE MOST SEVERE STAFFING
SHORTAGE IN RECENT HISTORY.
AUTHORIZING HIRING BONUSES AND
VERY MUCH NEEDED PAY WAGE
INCREASES. AND FUNDING HAS BEEN
APPROPRIATED FOR NEW TOOLS THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE
TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT VIOLENT
CRIME ACTIVITY. THE PROPOSED
BUDGET BUILDS ON THESE
IMPORTANT ACTIONS BY INCREASE.
CONCERNS FACING US RIGHT NOW.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY
THE RECENT INCREASE IN POLICE
JOB APPLICATIONS IT IS STILL
GOING TO CAKE US YEARS TO FILL
ALL THE OFFICER VACANCIES AND
RESTORE OUR STAFFING TO SAFE
LEVELS. TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS
OF ONGOING STAFFING SHORTAGES
WE MUST STRATEGICALLY FOCUS
BUDGET RESOURCES ON CIVIL,
TECHNOLOGY, AND OVERTIME. WE
MUST INCREASE CIVILIAN SUPPORT
STAFF TO ALLEVIATE THE HEAVY
WORKLOAD. WE ALSO NEED TO
IMPLEMENT NEW AND EXPANDED
TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE US TO
DEPLOY OUR ELECTED RESOURCES
MORE EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY AND WE NEED TO
INCREASE OVERTIME BUDGET TO
OFFSET REDUCTIONS IN KEY AREAS
TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES AS THEY ARISE.
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE NOT
NEW.
THE MOST CRITICAL POLICE
SERVICES WILL A LIMITED NEW OF
OFFICERS. THE 2025, 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET DOES JUST THAT.
THE STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES
WILL LEAD TO HUGE DIVIDENDS IN
THE FUTURE. AND ENHANCE OUR
CAPACITIES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC
SAFETY .
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, BRIAN MAXEY,
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SPD.
HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S JUMP INTO
THE MEAT OF THE BUDGET. WE WILL
KICK THIS OFF BY JUST REMINDING
EVERYONE THAT SPD IS A SERVICE
ORGANIZATION FIRST AND
FOREMOST. OUR PERSONNEL PROVIDE
CRITICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE
SERVICES AND THE DEMAND FOR
THOSE SERVICES EXCEEDS THE
CURRENT SUPPLY DUE TO OUR
PERSISTENT STAFFING SHORTAGE.
IT IS NOT A SURPRISE THAT THIS
IS A SECRET FOR YOU, THAT,
SINCE 2014, WE HAVE SEEN A 25%
INCREASE. WE HIT A HIGH OF 1336
DEPLOYABLE OFFICERS IN JUNE OF
2013. IT IS ACTUALLY A 30%
INCREASE IN DEPLOYABLE
PERSONNEL. YOU SEE ON THE
TABLE, THE VISUAL THAT JUST
CAPTURES WHAT THAT CLIFF LOOKS
LIKE, DESPITE EFFORTS TO
INCREASE. AND INVESTMENTS MADE
TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT OR TO ADD
POLICE OFFICERS ABOVE ATTRITION
THE PAST YEARS INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENTS AND OFFICER
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
PROGRAMS. THE SIZABLE
APPROPRIATION INCREASE THAT
COMES WITH THE NEW CONTRACT
PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE
ARE SEEING AN UP TICK IN JOB
APPLICATIONS AND A SLOWING IN
ATTRITION. IT WILL TAKE TIME
FOR US TO FUELLY RECOVER.
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY, AND
NON-SWORN STAFF RESOURCES.
ALL OF THIS IS BUILT ON THE
IDEA THE TRAINS POLICE OFFICERS
SHOULD BE DOING POLICE WORK.
THERE IS AN OVERTIME SUPPLEMENT
THAT ALLOWS OUR EXISTING
PERSONNEL TO WORK MORE HOURS AS
THEY HAVE BEEN TO MAINTAIN OUR
SERVICE LEVELS. IT WILL ALLOW
US TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY AND
MAKE SURE THE CIVILIAN STAFF
MEMBERS TO HELP OFFSET THAT
STAFFING SHORTAGE IN THE NEAR
TERM. SPECIFICALLY . THIS SLIDE
SHOWS OUR OVERVIEW CHANGE. WE
HAVE 76% OF WHICH ATTRIBUTABLE
. THE MAJORITY, WE WILL INTO
FURTHER DETAIL AROUND THE
INDIVIDUAL OR THE NOTABLE
CHANGES. FURTHER ON IN THE
PRESENTATION. OVERALL, OUR
GENERAL FUND BUDGET PROPOSED
BUDGET IN 2025, IS $158 MILLION
IN 2026. THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS
462 MILLION. UP FROM 393 IN THE
2024 ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT. OUR GENERAL FUND
REDUCTION HERE ACCOUNTS FOR THE
VACANCY SAYIVINGS ASSOCIATED
POSITIONS IN 2025 AND 2026. OUR
HIRING PLAN IS FULLY FUNDED
WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THIS ACTION HERE ACCOUNTS FOR
THOSE POSITIONS, THAT ARE
AUTHORIZED BUT UNABLE TO BE
FILLED IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I WILL NOTE THE DOES NOT
DIRECTLY IMPACT ANY PROGRAMS OR
SERVICES BUT LIMITS THE AMOUNT
OF SALARY SAVINGS THAT COULD BE
ALLOCATED FOR OTHER PURPOSES IN
THE BUDGET YEARS.
THE SECOND ITEM REDUCTION WE
WANTED TO CALL OUT WAS THE
BUDGET ASSOCIATED WITH
OPERATING COSTS FOR THE MOUNTED
PATROL UNIT. ON THIS SLIDE, I
JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THERE
HAS BEEN SOME INQUIRIES AROUND
THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC RECENTLY.
WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE
THAT THIS IS A STAFFING ISSUE.
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A BUDGET
ISSUE. THAT $200,000 LINE ITEM
IS VERY SMALL. THE REALITY IS,
WE HAVE ELIMINATED A NUMBER OF
FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT. TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT. OUR COMMUNITY
POLICE TEAMS, OUR ANTI-CRIME
TEAMS. WE ARE DOWN FROM 1336
OFFICERS AND WE ARE AT A
POSITION THE TWO WE HAVE
UNMOUNTED ARE NEEDED ELSEWHERE
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. IT IS A
HARSH REALITY AND ONE THAT WE
HAVE STRUGGLED WITH FOR THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
BEING THAT THE REVENUE
CHALLENGES, IT SEEMED
APPROPRIATE. TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS. THE TWO OFFICERS IN
THE MOUNTED UNIT WILL BE
ASSIGNED OTHER POLICE DUTIES.
WE ARE WORKING ON A
DECOMMISSIONING PLAN. IT
SUPPORTS THE CIVILIAN SUPPORT
STAFF. THE DECOMMISSIONING PLAN
IS IN DEVELOPMENT NOW.
IN CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS.
>> AND MOVING TO OUR BUDGET
ADDITIONS, GOING TO LEAD WITH
OUR ADS RELATED TO CIVILIAN
STAFF SUPPORT. THE FIRST BEING
THE REALTIME CRIME CENTER. IN
THIS ACTION, A TOTAL OF 21FTE
ADDED OVER THE TWO YEAR PERIOD,
12 IN 2025 AND NINE IN 2026.
THIS ACTION ALLOWS US TO FULLY
STAFF A 24/7 REALTIME CRIME
CENTER. WHO WILL INTEGRATE OUR
SYSTEMS INTO A SINGLE VIEW TO
PROVIDE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
THE CRIME PREVENTION PILOT
RELATED TO OUR CLOSED CAPTIONS
TELEVISION SYSTEMS THAT ARE
GOING LIVE HOPEFULLY LATER THIS
YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR. BOTH
REALTIME CRIME CENTER, AS
OPPOSED TO WARE APPLICATION AND
THE CCT TV ARE SUBJECT TO THIS
SURVEILLANCE REPORTING PROCESS.
HAVE BEEN REVIEWED WITHIN
COMMITTEE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS. THE FOCUS OF THE ITEMS,
IT IS TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE
AND FILL IN ANY CRIME OUR RTCC
AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW. IS A
SPACE THAT WAS BUILT YEARS AGO.
BUT NEVER FULLY STAFFED. THE
RTCC IS NOT A USEFUL TOOL IF IT
IS NOT STAFFED WITH THE
ANALYSTS NEEDED TO CONSUME THE
INFORMATION AND SHARE IT WITH
OUR FIELD OFFICERS. AGAIN,
THESE ARE CIVILIAN POSITIONS
THAT WILL SERVE IN A SUPPORTING
CAPACITY. ALONG THOSE SAME
LINES, WE ARE ADDING A TOTAL OF
14PTE TO PROVIDE INVESTIGATIVE
SUPPORT . SINCE 2018, OUR
DETECTIVE FUNCTION HAS
DECREASED BY 43%. WE ARE DOWN
100 PERSONNEL WHO ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR CASE MANAGEMENT
INVESTIGATING CRIMES.
THIS IS A MODEST INCREASE TO
SUPPORT FROM A TECHNICAL,
ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT. CASE
PROCESSING. THEY WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO OUR DETECTIVE
UNITS TO SUPPORT THE
INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION WITHIN A
DEPARTMENT. MOVING ONTO
OVERTIME. THE BUDGET ALSO
INCLUDES A $10 MILLION ADD IN
2025 FOR SUPPLEMENTAL POLICE
CONTROLS KNOWN AS DIRECTED
PATROLS, EVERY CITIZEN PATROLS,
THESE INABLE ASP DO ADDRESS
COMMUNITY SAFETY CONCERNS,
THESE OVERTIME HOURS ARE
ALLOCATED IN 2025 AND ARE
SUPPORTED BY A CITY AUDITOR
REPORT IN JULY OF THIS YEAR,
THAT STATES THAT STATES CRIME
IS CONCENTRATED IN PARTICULAR
PARTS OF AREAS OF THE CITY
ALLOWING US TO DIRECT
SUPPLEMENTAL OFFICERS TO PATROL
THOSE NEIGHBORS AND THOSE
SPECIFIC AREAS.
>> I WANT TO POINT OUT, WHILE
WE DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDING FOR
THIS EMPHASIS PATROL, DIRECTED
PATROL, TO CONTINUE INTO 2026.
IF IT TURNS OUT THAT WE NEED
THAT FOR 2026, WE WILL
REEVALUATE, ABSOLUTELY. IN 2025
FALL BUDGET PROCESS. AND MAY
MAKE A DIFFERENT DETERMINATION.
>> THANKS, I WILL ALSO ADD THAT
THIS, OUR TOTAL OVERTIME BUDGET
FOR 2024 IS INCREASING FROM 37
MILLION IN 2023 TO 54 MILLION.
THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE WAGE
INCREASE BUT AN ADDITIONAL 4
MILLION ALLOCATED FROM SALARY
SAVINGS. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR
AS BUDGET DIRECTOR WHERE I FEEL
LIKE OUR OVERTIME BUDGET IS
BEING ADEQUATELY FUNDED. WE
HAVE SEEN AN INCREASED USE. IT
IS GOOD FISCAL MANAGEMENT TO
ADDRESS IT ON THE FRONT END AS
WE ARE ABLE. SO IN THIS
PARTICULAR CASE, WE ARE, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ONTO THE
TECHNOLOGY ITEMS. NUMBER FOUR.
SCHEDULING AND TIME KEEPING
SOFTWARE IN THE 2025 AND 2026,
WE ARE OFFERING FUNDING FOR
STAFF SCHEDULING AND OVERTIME
REPORTING IN CONCERT WITH THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO IS ALSO
IMPLEMENTING THIS. I THINK WE
HAVE DETERMINED THAT WORKDAY AS
A CITY AND OUR SOLUTION
DOESN'T SERVE THE UNIQUE NEEDS
OF 24/7 PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY
WHEN IT COMES TO DEPLOYING OUR
RESOURCES HAVING MORE DETAILED
EWES AND ABILITY IN OUR
OPERATION CENTER TO HAVE
OVERSIGHT INTO THE RESOURCES.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW US TO
MANAGE THESE RESOURCES MORE
EFFECTIVELY.
ITEM NUMBER 2, WE HAVE OUR CCTV
CAMERAS. THIS ITEM INCLUDES ONE
TIME AND ONGOING FUNDING TO
INSTALL ADDITIONAL CCTV CAMERAS
FOR GUN VIOLENCE AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AND PERSISTENT
FELONY CRIME IS CONCENTRATED.
THIS ITEM ADDS 425,000 IN 2025
AND AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 IN
2026 FOR ONGOING COST. THEY
WILL BE FED INTO THE REALTIME
CRIME CENTER AS PART OF THE
LARGER CRIME PREVENTION PILOT
BEGINNING GOING LIVE IN THE
COMING MONTHS. LASTLY, WE HAVE
OUR AUTOMATED KYLE ZONENINGS
PANGS. THIS IS THROUGH THE
PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC
IMPROVEMENT FUND. THIS ITEM,
THIS FUND ADDS $2 MILLION IN
2025 AND 784,000 IN 2026 TO
DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL
ZONE CAMERAS THAT TRACK SPEED
INFRACTIONS IN SCHOOL ZONES.
SDOT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SDOT,
CAMERA LOCATIONS ARE
IDENTIFIED. THE CAMERAS ARE
INSTALLED. WE MANAGE THE VENDOR
CONTRACT. AND VIOLATION
REVIEWS, THIS PROGRAM HAS, THIS
PROGRAM EXPANSION WAS
PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED IN THE 2023
AND 2024 BUDGET BY SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. WE WERE UNABLE TO
INLIMIT THAT CHANGE DUE TO A
STAFFING SHORTAGE. THIS ITEM IS
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE
HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO DEPLOY
PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
PREVIOUSLY, WE WERE HAVING
ISSUE STAFFING. THE VIOLATION
COMPONENT WHICH CAUSED PROGRAM
DELAYS.
AND THAT WILL DO IT. YEAH.
>> ANY CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE
PRESENTATION OR SHALL I JUST
PASS IT OVER?
>> I GUESS SOMETHING I SHOULD
HAVE DONE BEFORE IS INTRODUCE
OUR TRAINING WHEELS, OUR
COUNCIL DIRECTOR, SHE HAS BEEN
OFFED ON PARENTAL LEAVE AND MY
HAT IS OFF TO HER ON HOW
QUICKLY SHE HAS IMMERSED
HERSELF INTO THE DETAILS OF
PREPARING THE BUDGET SO I'M
DEEPLY, DEEPLY, DEEPLY GRATEFUL
TO HAVE HER BACK. AND YOU KNOW
MY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
BRYAN MAXEY WHO CAN ANSWER ALL
THE HARD QUESTIONS I HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO ABSORB THE
INFORMATION IN MY FOUR MONTHS
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS. AND
CHIEF OPERATING MR. MAXEY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
SHE REFERENCED THE REALTIME
CRIME CENTER.
SHE MENTIONED IN HER BRIEFING
IT WAS EMBLEMATIC OF FALSE
PROMISES OR THE CHALLENGE IN
THE RELATIONSHIP. IN TERMS OF
THAT POINT SINCE JANUARY, WITH
THE LABOR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE AN
AGREEMENT. WE HAVE OUR
RECRUITMENT BILL AND THE
INSETTIVES BILLION WITHIN
PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE VACANT
BUILDINGS ABATEMENT. AUTOMATIC
LICENSE PLATE READER BILL.
STREET RACING. THE BILL ON
SCORED JAIL. SODA. SOAP. WE
POINTED CARE AND OIG WHICH IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT, LAST,
AND A WEEK FROM TODAY, IS THE
CCTV AND THE REALTIME CRIME
CENTER.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF
THESE TO BE WORKING TOGETHER.
TO HAVE SWORN CIVILIAN, WORKING
WITH FIRE AND CARE AND THE
LIKE. I LIVED IN THE VERY
TECHNICAL WORLD. HOW THAT KIND
OF FUNCTION CAN HELP THOSE ON
THE FRONT LINES AND THAT
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT FOR OUR
SWORN OFFICERS ON THE POINT, IN
VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS IS SO
IMPORTANT. AND YOU KNOW, THE
OTHER THING, TOO, WE NEED TO
BUILD CAPACITY. YOU MENTIONED
IT. THOSE SWORN CIVILIAN
DISCUSSIONS AND TECHNOLOGY. IT
IS ALL ABOUT DOING
INVESTIGATIONS FOR EXAMPLE.
BECAUSE OF THE THE SHIFT WHICH
WAS DONE FOR A GOOD REASON. IN
TERMS OF POLLING FOR PATROL AND
THE LIKE WAS NECESSARY BUT WE
NEED THAT INVESTIGATIVE
CAPABILITY. THAT CAPACITY BACK
FOR OUR FORCE. SO I JUST WANT
TO STATE THAT UP FRONT. AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING THROUGH
THIS. NOW ON THE BUDGET SIDE,
IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT AND
RESPONSIBILITIES, I'M REALLY
INTERESTED IN CHIEF, YOU CAN
PASS THIS QUESTION QUICKLY OFF.
WE HAVE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
AND I'M MINDFUL OF MY TIME IN
THE NAVY WHEN WE HAD TO ASK FOR
PERMISSION TO APPROPRIATE.
GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE WORKING
WITH CONGRESS, AND YOU KNOW,
FROM SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK AND
SITTING HERE IN THIS POSITION,
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL
CONTINUE. GIVEN THE SACKERS
WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR STAFFING
SHORTAGE. ON THE SWORN SALARY
SAVINGS I SEE THE REDUCTION AND
SO, I ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS FOR
OVERTIME. IT IS ALSO FOR
INCENTIVES BUT THEN WE ALSO
HAVE DIRECTED PATROL OVERTIME.
BUT THEN, I SEE THE 4270 AND
THEN THE 4,000,300. THESE
REDUCTIONS. I'M ASSUMING THE
MATH HAS BEEN DONE, BUT CAN YOU
WACKO THERE THAT PIECE, THAT
REDUCTION AND THE FACT THAT WE
DO HAVE OVERTIME. WALK THROUGH
THAT PIECE, AND THE FACT WE
HAVE OVERTIME? HOW DOES THAT
SQUARE?
>> I WILL LET THE PERSON WHO
KNOWS THE NUMBERS BEST ANSWER
THAT.
>> SO AS FAR AS I UNDERSTOOD
YOUR QUESTION, YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING
WHAT ITEMS ARE SPECIFICALLY
FUNDED THROUGH SALARY SAVINGS?
IS THAT?
>> BECAUSE OF THE PROVISO, ANY
SALARY SAVINGS HAVE BEEN FOR
OVERTIME AND INCENTIVES.
NOW THAT POT HAS SLUNK. BUT
THEN, THAT STILL IS OUT THERE
AS A REQUIREMENT AND THEN WE
HAVE ADDITIONAL IN TERMS OF THE
DIRECTED PATROL. IT SEEMS TO BE
A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE ON THAT.
ARE WE GOING TO GET IN A
SITUATION WHERE NEXT YEAR, THEY
RAN THROUGH THE SALARY SAVINGS
AND OH, WE STILL NEED MORE FOR
OVERTIME GIVEN THAT REDUCTION,
THAT 4,000,070 AND 4.3?
>> I THINK I'M CHECKING. SO
ASSUMING A PROVISO WAS PUT IN
PLACE, A SIMILAR PROVISO FOR
THE RESTRICTS USE OF SALARY
SAVINGS TO OVERTIME AND OTHER
BENEFIT COSTS, AND THEN, THE
INCENTIVE PROGRAM WHICH WAS
ALSO AUTHORIZED. WOULD WE RUN
INTO AN ISSUE AND REQUEST THE
PROVISO BE LIFTED? I DO NOT
ANTICIPATE. RECALCULATED $4.3
MILLION IN SALARY SAVINGS FOR
THE GENERAL FUND REDUCTION. AND
THEN THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL 4
MILLION THAT WAS CALCULATED
THAT IS BEING APPLIED TO
OVERTIME IN 2025 WITH SALARY
SAVINGS, WE HAD AN ONGOING
SALARY SAVINGS CUT IN 2024.
THAT IS CONTINUES TO FUND OUR
RETENTION PROGRAM. IN 2025,
THERE IS ESSENTIALLY THREE
DIFFERENT BUCKET ETS OF SALARY
SAVINGS THAT ARE BEING APPLIED.
THIS YEAR IS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU
ARE FAMILIAR, WE USE A HIRING
PLAN STAFFING MOD EARL TO
DETERMINE WHAT IS AVAILABLE. IN
SOME CASES WE TAKE A A
REDUCTION. THE 10 MILLION, THAT
IS A NEW BUDGET LINE. BUDGET
APPROPRIATION. AND IT IS NOT
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALARY
SAVINGS REDUCTIONS.
>> OH, WELL, YOU ACCOUNTED FOR
ONE PIECE SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THE REST IS KIND OF STILL
THERE. WE WILL BE WORKING
THROUGH THIS. SO,.
>> HE HAS ALREADY SENT IN A
LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS.
>> MA I JUMP IN ON THIS POINT?
THE MID YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL
INCLUDED $12.8 MILLION. THAT IS
A CONTINUATION OF A POLICY
DECISION THE CITY MADE IN 2024.
I THINK SPD HAS ADEQUATELY AND
SUCCESSFULLY ANSWERED YOUR
QUESTION. THERE HAS BEEN SOME
QUESTIONS IN THE PUBLIC AND THE
MEDIA AND WHY NOT FURTHER
REDUCE THE FUNDED POSITIONS
THAT ARE NOT FILLED IN SPD WITH
MUCH PUBLICIZED STAFFING LEVELS
BEING WHERE THEY WANT THEM TO
BE. THIS DISCUSSION UNDERSCORES
THE BIG PICTURE ANSWERS. THERE
ARE FEWER PEOPLE DOING THE WORK
AND THERE IS JUST AS MUCH WORK
TO DO SO WE ARE LEANING ON
OVERTIME MORE THAN IN THE PAST.
SO THERE ARE REDUCTIONS THAT
CAN BE MADE IN THE STAFFING
SIDE BUT ONLY WITH ADDING
ADDITIONAL OVERTIME.
>> CAN I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
REQUEST YOU GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE? YEAH. WE ARE WORKING IT
HARD AS MY ORIGINAL STATEMENT
AND WE WILL CLOSE THAT. WE WILL
GET, WE WILL INCREASE THE
RECRUITMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO
CLOSE THAT GAP TO ZERO AND WE
WON'T HAVE ANY OVERTIME. AND
WE WON'T HAVE A NEED FOR
INCENTIVES. WE CAN TELL
EVERYBODY THAT. WE WILL MAKE IT
HAPPEN. I AM INTERESTED IN THE
DIRECTED EMPHASIS PATROLS.
EVERY PRECINCT IS DOING THIS IN
SOME FORM OR ANOTHER ALREADY.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE VALUE
ADDED? IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WILL
BRING FOR BASICALLY WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR STREETS TODAY?
>> YES N THE PAST, WHEN WE HAD
HIGHER STAFFING LEVELS, EACH
PRECINCT, EACH OF THE FIVE HAD
THEIR OWN GROUP OF OFFICERS
THAT COULD DO PROACTIVE
POLICING AND RESPOND
IMMEDIATELY TO HOT SPOT
POLICING. SUCH AS ON ALKI.
MAGNUSON PARK. THAT STAFFING NO
LONGER EXISTS.
NOW WHAT WE HAVE IS A
CENTRALIZED TEAM. WE MOVE THEM
AROUND THE CITY SPOT TO SPOT
TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE MOST
URGENT VIOLENCE CRISES WE HAVE.
I HOPE PEOPLE NOTICE THINGS ARE
LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER AROUND
THE PIKE PINE CORRIDOR RIGHT
NOW. THAT TOOK INTENSIVE FOCUS
AND WE LEARNED SOME LESSONS
DOING THAT. WHAT WORKS THERE,
WE ARE PIVOTING TO THE 12th AND
JACKSON AREA WHICH IS REALLY,
REALLY IN NEED OF A GREAT DEAL
OF FOCUS. THAT IS HOW THESE
EMPHASIS PATROLS ARE ABOUT. SO
WE CAN RESPOND TO URGENT
EMERGING ISSUES.
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW
COMING UP. THAT IS WHAT WE USE
THAT FOR.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO
APPRECIATE WHAT THEY FATHER
USED TO TELL ME ALL THE TIME.
MANY HANDS MAKE LIKE WORK. SO
PLEASE CONTINUE THE ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEING ON THIRD.
APPLY TO AURORA IN MY BOOK. THE
STATE PATROL.
>> JEFF AND I ARE IN FREQUENT
CONTACT.
>> GOOD. AND, I KNOW PROBABLY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA WILL ASK
SO I WON'T GO INTO IT. IT IS
DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY IN AND AROUND OUR
SCHOOLS AND I RECOGNIZE
THERE'S LANES AND SO FORTH.
BUT WE CANNOT CONTINUE AS WE
HAVE HAD. I LOOK FORWARD TO
WHAT WE WE CAN DO ON THAT
FRONT. I WILL REFER TO MY
COLLEAGUE WHO HAS MUCH MORE
INSIGHT. BUT PLEASE KEEP THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THE
COUNCIL INFORMED INFORMATION TO
THE ESCALATION. BECAUSE WE NEED
TO AND THIS IS IMPORTANT IN
TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO
SUPPORT. I WILL SEE IT UNTIL
THE END.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
YOUR HAND IS UP FROM THE LAST
PRESENTATION STILL. DOUBLE
CHECKING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK. OTHER COLLEAGUES, THIS
IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE
YOUR HANDS, OTHERWISE I WILL GO
INTO MY REMARKS AND WE WILL
PASS IT BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. VICE CHAIR RIVERA.
THANK YOU FOR RAISING YOUR
HAND.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE IN THE
PRESENTATION. I WILL, FIRST I
JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU
ALL FOR THE FOCUS YOU HAVE
GIVEN THE DISTRICT.
PARTICULARLY AT MAGNUSON PARK.
YOU ARE WONTING TO WORK THAT AS
AN EVERY SIS PIECE. I
UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THERE WAS
EMPHASIS, THERE WAS ALSO SOME
YOUTH COMMITTING SOME
CARJACKING AND OTHER THEFTS SO
FOCUS HAD TO SHIFT FROM
MAGNUSON TO MANAGE THAT. AND
BACK TO MAGNUSON. IT IS A BACK
AND FORTH AND THIS IS JUST
AGAIN JUST UNDERSCORING THE
NEED FOR MORE OFFICERS AND MORE
ATTENTION AND I KNOW THAT THE
DISTRICT IS APPRECIATIVE OF ALL
THE EFFORTS AND I KNOW WE WILL
HAVE YOU AND I SPOKE NEXT WEEK
AT PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM IN THE
DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE CRIME UP NORTH THAT TOUCHES
ON MORE THAN JUST DISTRICT 4.
ALL THAT TO SAY THANK YOU THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK UP THERE.
ALSO, TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE'S POINT. IN THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND I KNOW YOU AND I
WERE AT RAINIER BEACH THIS
SUMMER TALKING ABOUT THE SPSs
SAFETY EFFORTS. I KNOW THEY
HAVE INCLUDED ADDITIONAL NOT
OFFICERS BUT SECURITY. SECURITY
OFFICERS AT THE SCHOOLS THAT
ARE YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCING THE
HIGHER INCIDENTS OF YOUTH . FOR
YOU TO PROVIDE EMPHASIS OF
CERTAIN AREAS AROUND THE CITY.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THOSE EFFORTS?
>> I WOULD SAY THERE ARE
LAYERED EFFORTS. THERE IS NOT A
GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE ONE
OVERARCHING STRATEGY. SO OVER
THE MANY YEARS, THE POLICE
OFFICERS THAT WORK A PARTICULAR
PATROL DISTRICT THAT CONTAINS A
SCHOOL, THOSE PATROL OFFICERS
THAT OWN THEIR DISTRICT, THEY
HAVE CLOSE AND FORMAL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUILDING
STAFF, WITH SCHOOL SECURITY
PEOPLE. AND I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE THAT KIND OF INNORMAL
RELATIONSHIP WORK AND I KNOW
THAT IS STRONG AND EFFECTIVE. I
HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
SUPERINTENDENT OVER THE SUMMER
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL
BOARD. THANKFUL OF THE SCHOOL
BOARD PREROGATIVE.
THEY PROVIDE A ROBUST PROGRAM
WITH THE FOCUS ON CRIME AND
VIOLENCE PREVENTION. SO, THE
POLICE OFFICER UNIFORMED POLICE
OFFICERS ARE PAYING VERY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO STARTING TIMES,
ENDING TIMES BUT WE DON'T HAVE
A FORMAL PROGRAM OF ASSIGNING
POLICE OFFICERS TO WORK INSIDE
OF A SCHOOL. WE ARE HAVING
THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF. I WILL SAY
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL,
THERE WERE THREATS. THANKFUL
FOR ELEMENTALLY SCHOOL. AND
THANKFUL FOR OFFICERS WHO CAME
TO CHECK OUT THAT THREAT AND IT
TURNS OUT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
SOCIALS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE
BACK EAST. WE DON'T KNOW THAT
AND APPRECIATE YOUR SWIFT
ATTENTION TO THAT AND YES, WE
WILL SAY WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IN ADDITION TO THE
SECURITY OFFICERS, THERE IS
ROBUST YOUTH VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, PARTNERSHIP COMING
WITH THE CITY AS IT SHOULD BE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM
VERY INTERESTED IN AND WILL
CONTINUE AND DEAL IS HERE TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS ON THE
MENTAL HEALTH SIDE. YOU AND I
HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT ALL OF
THE IMPACTS AND ALL THIS HAS
HAD ON YOUTH. SO GREAT TO SEE
SUPPORTS THAT DEAL WILL BE
DOING IN THEIR BUDGET AND HSD
WILL HEAR FROM THIS AFTERNOON
AND THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THE
YOUTH PREVENTION VIOLENCE
PROGRAMS SO THANK YOU FOR ALL
OF THAT. I HAVE ONE LAST
QUESTION NOT IN THE BUDGET
BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN ADD OR A
TAKE AWAY WHICH IS NORMALLY
WHAT WE GET. WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT SOME WORK YOU ARE DOING
ALSO WITH THE 30 BY 30. AND TO
SUPPORT MORE HIRING OF WOMEN.
TO THE FORCE AND ALSO THE
RETENTION AND PROVIDING OF
TRAINING TO SUPPORT OUR FEMALE
OFFICERS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AS IN OUR
CONVERSATION, I REALLY
APPRECIATED THE PERSPECTIVE AND
THE ADVICE. I KNOW AS A BODY
THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE WAYS YOU
CAN MONITOR WHAT OUR PRIORITIES
ARE IS BY LOOKING AT BUDGET
LINE ITEMS. AND THE 30 BY 30
INITIATIVE IS ONE OF THOSE
COMPLICATED ISSUES THAT
DOESN'T LEND ITSELF WELL TO A
LINE ITEM BUDGET BUT I WANT TO
REASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS
ROBUST WORK GOING ON IN THE WAY
THAT THIS TYPE OF WORK HAS TO
BE DONE. BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT A CULTURE SHIFT AND YOU
CAN'T CHANGE CULTURE BY
THROWING MONEY AT IT TO BE
BLUNT. BUT WE ARE WORKING VERY
HARD AND VERY DILIGENTLY TO
LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE INTERNAL
CULTURE PRACTICES THAT
KNOWLEDGE ATTRACT WOMEN BUT
KEEP WOMEN INVOLVED AND
ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP TRACK.
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A VERY
ROBUST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PLAN IN 2025 USING OUR EXISTING
TRAINING FUNDS. THAT LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM STARTED
MANY YEARS AGO WITH A HUGE
GRANT FROM MICROSOFT IN THE
STATE. AND THE LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON
PREPARING LEADERS TO CHANGE
CULTURE. IT IS ALL ABOUT
CULTURE, CULTURE, CULTURE. SO
WE HAVE A PLAN TO PUT 240 OF
OUR INTERNAL LEADERS IN THAT
PROGRAM AND THOSE WILL BE THE
FOUNDATIONAL PIECES TO ENSURE
THAT NOT ONLY DO WOMEN BUT
EVERYBODY FEELS WELCOME IN THE
CULTURE AND WE MAKE SURE WOMEN
UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT
TECHNIQUES, ALL THE DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES TO BE MORE
EFFECTIVE AS THEY WORK THEIR
WAY THROUGH THEIR PROFESSION SO
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT
GOES.
>> REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
EFFORTS THERE CHIEF. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA AND THEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND I HOPE WE CAN CONVINCE YOU
TO STAY PERMANENTLY. I'M SURE
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
DISCUSSION I'M SURE. I'LL
INTRODUCE YOU TO MY GRAND KIDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING A
LOT OF EMAILS. THEY ARE A
TEMPLATE AND THERE ARE
VARIATIONS ON THE TEMPLATE BUT
THEY RAISE AN ISSUE THAT IS
WORTH TRYING TO BE ON THE
RECORD HERE. THE GHOST
POSITIONS. THE IDEA THAT WE ARE
FUNDING FOR POLICE STAFFING
THAT WE ARE NOT CLEARLY GOING
TO BE ABLE TO FILL IN 2025 AND
2026. AND THIS IDEA OF SALARY
SAVINGS AND YOU ARE TALKING
THREE BUCKETS OF SALARY
SAVINGS. SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN
THIS IN THE MOST SIMPLE TERMS
FOR MYSELF AND FOR OUR
LISTENING PUBLIC AND FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO WILL BE REPORTING ON
THIS SO WE ARE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE?
>> I'LL TAKE AN INITIAL STAB
AND THEN PASS IT ONTO THE
EXPERTS. I WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN
IT IN TERMS OF MY EXPERIENCE AS
A SHERIFF.
WE LIVED OFF OF SALARY SAVINGS.
WE KNEW WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO FILL ALL OF OUR POSITIONS.
AND SO WE COULD CALCULATE AND
PREDICT EXACTLY HOW MANY
VACANCIES WE HAD TO HOLD TO
CREATE ENOUGH SALARY SAVINGS.
IT IS LESS EXPENSIVE TO PAY
OVERTIME TO MORE EMPLOYEES THAN
TO ADD ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO
COVER THE POSITIONS. THERE WAS
BUDGET PLANNING GOING ON. AGAIN
I'M NOT TALKING SEATTLE BUT MY
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. THERE IS A
DIFFERENT SITUATION HERE
BECAUSE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
VACANCIES IS HUGE
[ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE SALARY
SAVINGS, GET INTO THE BUDGET
OFFICE AND MAYBE THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE WILL TAKE A STAB AT IT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD,
HISTORICALLY, THE DEPARTMENT
DURING THE BASELINE BUDGETING
PROCESS, THE FIRST PART OF THE
PROCESS WHERE WE CALCULATE THE
STARTING POINT, WHERE WE ARE
STARTING FROM, HISTORICALLY, WE
WOULD WITH THAT BASELINE
PROCESS, HOW MANY AUTHORIZED
SWORN POSITIONS DO WE HAVE , IT
WAS AROUND 1400 BACK IN THE DAY
. WE WOULD FULLY FUND ALL OF
THOSE POSITIONS AND THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS, WE WOULD
DETERMINE HOW MANY OF THOSE
POSITIONS WE WOULD ACTUALLY
FILL IN THE COMING BUDGET
YEARS. FROM THERE, WE WOULD
TAKE A SAVINGS REDUCTION WHERE
THAT MONEY WOULD BE
REPROGRAMMED FOR OTHER THINGS
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
DURING THE BASELINE PHASE, IT
DID GIVE THE APPEARANCE THE
DEPARTMENT WAS, WHEN YOU ARE
FUNDING 100 POSITIONS OVER WHAT
YOU COULD ACTUALLY FILL, IT
LOOKS LIKE, WOW, THEY GAVE THEM
$20 MILLION TO START WITH ,
THAT NUMBER WENT UP AS OUR
VACANCY AMOUNT WENT UP. AROUND
2012, 2013, 2014, WE DID NOT
HAVE HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES TO
REFUND IN THE BASELINE PROCESS.
WE MIGHT HAVE 10 OR 15 . AS THE
NUMBER INCREASED, IT GAVE THE
APPEARANCE THAT OUR BUDGET WAS
BEING INFLATED ON THE FRONT AND
TO THEN MINIMIZE THE CUTS
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. I
CAN TELL YOU, THIS YEAR WE TOOK
A DIFFERENT APPROACH WITH THE
BASELINE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OUR
AUTHORIZED LEVEL IS 1277 FTE,
WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THAT SO WE
DID NOT FULLY FUND THOSE
POSITIONS WITH THE BASELINE
PROCESS THIS YEAR . INSTEAD, WE
TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE
COST OF THE OFFICERS, HOW MANY
WE DID ANTICIPATE AND TOOK A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH
CALCULATING WHAT THAT BASELINE
BUDGET OR STARTING POINT WOULD
BE. WE, THE BUDGET PRESENTED TO
YOU IS BASED ON FULLY FUNDING
1076 POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS
GOING IN THE NEXT YEAR . THAT
ASSUMES WE ARE GOING TO HIRE 15
ABOVE ATTRITION, WHICH I FEEL
IS CONSERVATIVE . IF WE WERE TO
UNDERSTATE THAT AMOUNT, WE
WOULD HAVE TO COME MIDYEAR AND
REQUEST MORE FUNDING . IT IS A
DELICATE BALANCE, WE USE A
STAFFING PLAN, WE DON'T HAVE A
CRYSTAL BALL, WE DON'T KNOW
HOW THE YEAR WILL PLAY OUT BUT
WE DO KNOW WE ARE SEEING
INCREASE OF APPLICATIONS SO OUR
HIRING PLAN ASSUMES 120 HIRES,
105 SEPARATIONS. IF WE SEPARATE
FEWER THAN 105 , WE MAY NOT BE
FULLY FUNDED. WE HAVE TO BUILD
IN A LITTLE BIT OF A BUFFER TO
MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR
POSITIONS ARE ADEQUATELY
FUNDED. IN THE CASE OF NEXT
YEAR, I BELIEVE THEY ARE IN THE
EVENT WE DON'T HIRE 120 , WE
COULD POTENTIALLY GENERATE
SALARY SAVINGS OVER THE COURSE
OF THE YEAR . IN MANY CASES,
THAT IS APPLIED TO OVERTIME TO
OFFSET THOSE VACANCIES, AS THE
VACANCY NUMBER COMES UP IN
ORDER TO MAINTAIN SERVICE
LEVELS, WE HAVE TO RELY ON
OVERTIME TO OFFSET THOSE
VACANCIES. IN THE PAST, I THINK
FOUR YEARS, WE HAD A PROVISO
THAT RESTRICTS THE USE OF THE
SALARY SAVINGS FOR THOSE
LISTENING, IF WE WERE TO BE
FUNDED FOR POSITIONS WE CANNOT
FILL, THE DEPARTMENT IS
RESTRICTED, LEGALLY RESTRICTED
BY PROVISO FROM SPENDING THAT
FUNDING ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN
POLICE OVERTIME, POLICE
BENEFITS . IT HAS TAKEN
DIFFERENT FORMS IN RECENT YEARS
BUT WE HAVE HAD RESTRICTED ON
THE BUDGET IN THAT WAY.
>> WHY ARE WE NEEDING A NEW
LINE ITEM FOR OVERTIME? FOR THE
EMPHASIS PATROLS ?
>> WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED USAGE
OF OVERTIME AND WE HAVE EITHER
ABSORBED THAT THROUGH SALARY
SAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BUT
FROM A FISCAL MANAGEMENT
STANDPOINT, THAT IS DIFFICULT .
OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE
ALLOCATE MONEY TO LIEUTENANTS,
CAPTAINS, MANAGERS TO MANAGE TO
THAT BUDGET . WE STARTED THIS
YEAR WITH 37 MILLION, WE ARE ON
TRACK TO SPEND ABOUT 54, I
BELIEVE. IF I DON'T HAVE 54 TO
ALLOCATE AT THE FRONT END, I'M
GROSSLY UNDER FUNDING
INDIVIDUAL UNITS AND SO IS
THEIR MANAGING TO THOSE
BUDGETS, IT BECOMES TRICKY TO
HOLD THEM TO BUDGETS THAT ARE
UNREALISTIC. BY ADDING THAT $10
MILLION ON THE FRONT END
INSTEAD OF COMING MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL, WE ARE ABLE TO
START FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
YEAR AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT
BUDGET IS WE DON'T LIKE TO USE
SALARY SAVINGS FOR OVERTIME, WE
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FULLY
FUNDED OVERTIME BUDGET WE CAN
OPERATE FROM THAT OVERTIME ADD
HELPS US ACHIEVE THAT. DOES
THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YOU ASKED FOR PLAIN
LANGUAGE, I WILL TRY TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH THAT ASKED .
THERE WERE SALARY SAVINGS , THE
PROVISO IS A RESTRICTION ON THE
SPENDING WHICH MEANS WE COULD
NOT USE IT FOR ANY OTHER
PURPOSE EXCEPT FOR OVERTIME. WE
USED IT FOR OVERTIME AND WE
STILL HAD A NEED IN 2024 FOR
ADDITIONAL $12.8 MILLION BEYOND
THE AMOUNT OF SALARY SAVINGS
THAT COULD BE REPURPOSED FOR
OVERTIME, WE ANTICIPATE THAT
WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN 2025 WHICH
IS WHY WE ARE ADDING $10
MILLION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I
NEEDED TO HEAR. I APPRECIATE
THAT .
>> WITH TRANSPARENCY, TRUTH IN
BUDGETING, WE ARE GETTING
CLOSER BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE
DOING, THE BUDGET IS FUNDED TO
THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THEY
HAVE RATHER THAN FOR MUCH
LARGER NUMBER, WHICH WE ALL
KNOW IS NOT TRUE . WHEN WE DID
THAT, IT WAS UNDER THE
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE ,
THE SALARY SAVINGS WOULD BE
USED FOR OVERTIME THIS IS A
MUCH MORE DIRECTIVE SAYING,
EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR
OVERTIME GIVEN WE ONLY HAVE
LESS THAN 1100 OFFICERS, GIVE
US A BUDGET FOR 1100 OFFICERS
KNOWING THEY WILL WORK SOME
LEVEL, GIVE US A BUDGET FOR
OVERTIME. WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT
WILL GET SPLIT. IT MAY NOT BE
ENOUGH, I WILL SIGNAL THAT. BUT
THAT IS, FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH,
OTHER DEPARTMENTS , THIS IS
APPROACHED DIFFERENTLY. THERE
IS A RECOGNITION THAT YOU GET A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND
UNLIKELY TO HAVE THEM ALL FULLY
FUNDED FOR THE YEAR. WHEN YOU
BUILD A BUDGET, YOUR DEPARTMENT
WITH 1000 POSITIONS, THE FIRST
TO DO THE SIMPLE MATH, 1000
POSITIONS TIMES THE SALARIES
AND BENEFITS. OKAY, YOU DO IT
AND THE BUDGET OFFICE LEANS IN
TO YOU, THE DATA SHOWS OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR, YOU DON'T
KEEP MORE THAN 90% OF THOSE
FAILED. HERE IS 90% OF THAT
NUMBER AND YOU MAY YET GENERATE
SOME LEVEL OF SALARY SAVINGS,
WE DON'T WANT TO CUT THIS TOO
FINE. SALARY SAVINGS PROVIDES
SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS
UNANTICIPATED NEEDS WITHOUT
HAVING TO COME BACK HERE AND
THAT MAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
SENSE AS WELL . TO GIVE YOU
OVERALL SENSE OF HOW THIS IS
APPROACHED WITH SPD AND
ELSEWHERE. AS BUDGET DIRECTOR
AND CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSTS
REGULARLY ASK, WHAT IS YOUR
VACANCY ASSUMPTION, OF THAT
100%, HOW MUCH DO YOU ASSUME
WILL NOT BE OCCUPIED OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR , TO GIVE
YOU A SENSE OF THE OVERALL
PICTURE .
>> GOOD, THANK YOU. I HAD A FEW
MORE QUESTIONS, I THINK PART OF
THE OVERTIME IS ALSO DRIVEN BY
THE M.O.U. THAT WE HAD WITH
C.A.R.E., THAT IS THE DEAL WE
WOULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
OVERTIME PAID FOR POLICING
SPORTING EVENTS AND OTHER
PUBLIC EVENTS AS A CONDITION OF
GETTING CARE. THERE IS ALWAYS
THAT TRADE-OFF. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT PEOPLE REALIZE IN
ORDER TO GET CARE, WE HAD TO
EXCHANGE WITH THE LABOR UNION
TO GET OVERTIME. THERE IS A
COST TO BRINGING CARE BECAUSE
OF THE WAY OUR COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING LAWS ARE STRUCTURED.
TO ME, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT IS A
COST WOULD BE NICE AS WE GO
FORWARD TO PERHAPS NOT HAVE IT
BE SO TRANSACTIONAL , I THINK
AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO
DECIDE WHAT OUR OUR PRIORITIES
AND IF THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO
PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS
END TO MOVE TO A MORE HOLISTIC
AND ALTERNATIVE APPROACH, WHICH
WE ARE DOING THROUGH C.A.R.E.,
WE ARE MAKING THAT VALUE
JUDGMENT AND CHOICE, NEED TO BE
HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS INVOLVED
IN THAT. I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION
ABOUT THE CCTV CAMERAS. I WAS
CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE ONGOING
COSTS ARE. I CAN SEE THERE IS
THE ONE-TIME SETUP FEE IN 2025
BUT IS THAT 50 MILLION ONGOING
, I'M CURIOUS WHAT THAT COVERS
?
>> I WILL HAVE BRIAN TAKE THAT
ONE SINCE YOU ARE MY CCTV
PERSON. OR IS THAT 50,000? I
CAN'T TELL. 50 MILLION, I
WOULD QUESTION THAT
>> WE COULD SOLVE A LOT OF
THINGS WITH 50 MILLION.
>> PART OF THIS IS WE HAVE NOT
GONE THROUGH THE CONTRACTING
PROCESS AND I DON'T KNOW THE
FINAL NUMBERS I KNOW WE ARE
EXPECTED FOR RRC TV AND CCTV
PROJECT FOR 2 MILLION IN THE
START-UP OF '25. WHERE WE GO
FROM THERE DEPENDS ON THE COST
AND MAINTENANCE OF THOSE
CAMERAS. I CAN SEAT 50,000 HERE
BUT I DON'T SEE ONGOING COSTS
THAT ARE BUDGETED OUT.
>> THERE SEEM TO BE
SUBSCRIPTION COSTS .
>> THANK YOU, IF WE COULD MAKE
SURE WE ARE ALL IN THE
MICROPHONES.
>> WE MAY NEED TO FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, TO
GET YOU THE ADDITIONAL COSTS
FOR WHAT THE ONGOING COSTS ARE
FOR CCTV
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE
THAT. THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION,
I APPRECIATE THE 30 BY 30 IS
DEFINITELY A CULTURAL CHANGE
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
WORK BEING DONE. I DO WANT TO
CALL ATTENTION TO, I BELIEVE
ONE OF THE MAIN REQUESTS OR
AREAS IDENTIFIED IN THE SURVEY
WAS THE LACK OF CHILD CARE AND
ALSO ELDERCARE . BECAUSE,
UNFORTUNATELY, SO MANY, ALL OF
US, PARTICULARLY THE BURDEN
TENDS TO FALL ON WOMEN ON BOTH
ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM. THERE
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DISCUSSION
ABOUT PERHAPS THERE COULD BE A
WAY TO SUBSIDIZE, PROVIDE A
CHILDCARE SUBSIDY , MAYBE EVEN
BUILD OR UTILIZE BUILD A
CHILDCARE CENTER , I WILL
EDITORIALIZE THERE, ANYWAY, I
DO THINK THAT IS A CRITICAL
PIECE TO MAKING 30 BY 30 REAL
AND SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK
ABOUT AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE
SHOULD BE A CHILDCARE SUBSIDY
OR SOME WAY TO ADDRESS THAT
VERY REAL CONCERN. THANK YOU.
>> I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TODAY, I APPRECIATE YOU AND
YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE
DEPARTMENT . SELFISHLY, FOR
MYSELF AND MY DISTRICT, I THINK
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO
STAY LONGER TERM BUT DEFINITELY
HEAR THAT YOU HAVE GRANDKIDS
AND YOU PAID YOUR DUES AND
SERVED SO MANY OTHER GREAT
CAPACITIES, GRATEFUL THAT YOU
ARE HERE NOW AND HELPING
SHEPHERD OUR CITY ON THE POLICE
WENT THROUGH THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT NEXT PHASE OF OUR
JOURNEY TO CREATE A SAFER,
WELCOMING SEATTLE FOR ALL. I
APPRECIATE YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP
, AND ALSO I WANT TO CALL OUT,
I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP
ADDRESSING SOME NOTABLE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES IN MY
DISTRICT. YOU CALLED OUT ONE
IMPORTANT ONE, WHICH IS THE
ALKI HARBOR AVENUE ISSUE. I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR
PARTNERSHIP IS APPRECIATED BY
ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND THE
WORK OF YOUR RANK AND FILE
OFFICERS IN THE SOUTHWEST
PRECINCT TO ADDRESS THOSE
CONCERNS IS REALLY APPRECIATED.
GOTTEN A FEW VERY GRATEFUL
CONSTITUENT EMAILS RECENTLY
CALLING OUT THAT OFFICERS HAVE
BEEN MORE PRESENT DURING THE
DONNER MEANY PARK AREA, ISSUING
TICKETS, GIVING PEOPLE VERBAL
WARNINGS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA,
WE KNOW THE PARK AREA ALONG
WITH THE DILEMMA'S HEAD AREA
JUST NORTH OF THAT AREA IS A
PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GATHER AND
CONGREGATE, USE IT AS A LAUNCH
POINT FOR ILLEGAL RACING . IT
IS A POST RACING RALLY POINT
WHERE THEY GO AND SOMETIMES,
FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER TROUBLE
THEY WILL GET INTO. ANYWAYS, I
APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR
PARTNERSHIP ON THAT ISSUE AND
THAT IS A SEASONAL ISSUE IN
THAT AREA, MY DISTRICT, MAY TO
SEPTEMBER IN PARTICULAR ,
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN ANY
GIVEN MOMENT IN THE CITY AT ANY
GIVEN TIME, SOME OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY RELATED CHALLENGES FOR
ALKI TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN THAT
SEASON SO JUST ENCOURAGE THE
DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO
PRIORITIZE EMPHASIS PATROLS,
ADDITIONAL PRESENCE THERE IN
PARTICULAR, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
. IN LIGHT OF THESE STAFFING
SHORTAGES. OKAY. I HAD A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS, I GUESS IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I KNOW THERE
IS A LOT OF ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, I THINK I WILL PUT
A FEW OF THESE INTO THE
SHAREPOINT SITE AND WE WILL
FOLLOW UP LATER. THE ONE THING
I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT
PERTAINS TO THE MOUNTED PATROL
. MOUNTED PATROL, IN MY
DISTRICT, THEY PROVIDE CITYWIDE
SERVICE, IT IS LESS OF A
MOUNTED PATROL, I VISITED A
MONTH AND A HALF AGO, ME AND MY
FAMILY , LEILA , ONE OF MY
STAFFERS AND THEIR PARTNER, IT
WAS GREAT TO SEE THE WORK
FIRSTHAND, I GOT TO MEET THE
SERGEANT AND FRONTLINE OFFICER
AND A NUMBER OF CIVILIAN
SUPPORT STAFF AND PEOPLE FROM
THE FOUNDATION. AND OF COURSE,
THE HORSES, I WISH I COULD
REMEMBER THE HORSES NAMES
OFFHAND. IT PROVIDES LESS OF A
PATROL THESE DAYS, ALTHOUGH I
DO REMEMBER 20 PLUS YEARS AGO
SEEING DOZENS AND DOZENS OF
MOUNTED OFFICERS AND THAT
PROVIDES A VERY SIGNIFICANT
PATROL PRESENCE AND DETERRENCE
AND SHOW OF FORCE, LESS OF THAT
TODAY AND MORE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. THEY PARTNER WITH
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND
SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK , THERE
WAS A RECENT PARADE IN SOUTH
PARK . I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT
MOUNTED PATROL ALSO PROVIDES A
VERY SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY
BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY MOUNTED
PATROL, NOT IN THE STATE , BUT
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THE NEXT
CLOSEST ONE IS SAN FRANCISCO,
THEY PROVIDE VERY SOLEMN DUTY
FOR ALL FALLEN OFFICERS ACROSS
THE STATE THAT THEY GO AND SHOW
UP, IT IS SOMETHING FAMILIES
APPRECIATE, OTHER OFFICERS
APPRECIATE. IT IS A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PIECE WE ARE LOSING
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL AND THERE
IS A SOLEMN DUTY ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT AS WELL. I DON'T
ENVY THESE DECISIONS BUT I DO
APPRECIATE YOU CALLING OUT
EARLIER AS PART OF THIS, THE
REASON WHY THE PROPOSAL IS
HAPPENING TODAY, NOT SO MUCH OF
A STAFFING ISSUE , OR EXCUSE
ME, NOT SO MUCH OF A BUDGET
ISSUE, IT IS A STAFFING ISSUE.
I'M CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU ALL WENT
ABOUT THAT EFFORT TO MAKE THAT
UNCOMFORTABLE DECISION IN LIGHT
OF THESE REALLY GLARING
STAFFING ISSUES , WHAT
ALTERNATIVES DID YOU CONSIDER
TO MODIFY THE PROGRAM? FOR
EXAMPLE, AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE
TWO OFFICERS, SERGEANT AND
OFFICER ASSIGNED. COULD IT BE A
BARE-BONES CREW THAT ONLY THE
SERGEANT OR THE OFFICER BUT NOT
BOTH ARE THERE ? WHAT FACTORS
INFORM THE DECISION ON THAT?
>> THIS HAS BEEN A DECISION IN
THE MAKING WELL OVER A DECADE.
PEOPLE WHO KNOW EQUESTRIAN
CULTURE AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF
MAINTAINING HORSES KNOW THAT
THERE'S MUCH, MUCH MORE TO THE
OPERATION THAN THE HORSE AND
RIDER . THE FACILITIES ARE VERY
EXPENSIVE, THE HORSES HAVE TO
BE TRAINED, EXERCISED. THERE
ARE LAYERS AND LAYERS OF
RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROPERLY
CARE FOR AND RESPECT THE
ANIMALS. OVER THE YEARS, THE
SEATTLE POLICE FOUNDATION
THROUGH SOME VERY, VERY
GENEROUS DONATIONS HAVE HELPED
US, QUITE FRANKLY, LIMP ALONG
SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE A MOUNTED UNIT.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THEY
DO A PHENOMENAL JOB OF
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT. PEOPLE LOVE THE
HORSES, YOU CAN'T NOT LOVE THE
HORSES, I DON'T THINK. IT IS A
VERY, VERY LABOR INTENSIVE
OPERATION AND WE REALLY ARE
ONLY USING THE HORSES FOR
COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WE DON'T
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO USE THEM
FOR PATROL OR PARK PATROLS AS
THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN THE
PAST. I HAD TO MAKE SOME VERY
PAINFUL , UNPOPULAR DECISIONS
ABOUT SERVICES THAT WE CAN NO
LONGER PROVIDE. LOOKING AT THE
BIGGER PICTURE, I BELIEVE WE
HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT WE
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE. I
DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T GIVE
SPECIFIC NUMBERS OF THE NUMBER
OF MOUNTED PATROL THAT EXIST IN
THE STATE AND UP AND DOWN THE
WEST COAST I KNOW THAT MOST
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THEY
AFFILIATE WITH A PRIVATE
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
MOUNTED OFFICERS. FOR EXAMPLE,
I JUST DID AN ASSESSMENT A YEAR
OR SO AGO IN SAN MATEO COUNTY
AND MARIN COUNTY, THEY HAVE
ENTIRELY PRIVATE POSSE FOR THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT
MAINTAINS THE HORSES TO THEY
ARE AVAILABLE FOR A CEREMONY
AND THAT SORT OF THING. AGAIN,
THIS WILL BE A VERY SLOW,
THOUGHTFUL PROCESS WHERE WE
LOOK AT WHERE THE HORSES CAME
FROM, SOME OF THEM ARE DONATED
TO US SO WE NEED TO WORK WITH
THE DONORS ABOUT WHAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THE
HORSES. THERE ARE MANY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT USE THE
HORSES FOR THERAPY FOR
VETERANS, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT
, ONE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH
THAT WORKS WITH CHILDREN. I
THINK THERE'S A MORE UP-FRONT,
HONEST WAY TO USE THESE HORSES
AND I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE
TO PORTRAY THAT WE HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO CREDIBLY PROVIDE A
MOUNTED PATROL . I WISH WE
COULD AND MAYBE SOMEWHERE DOWN
THE ROAD WE CAN DO THAT. WE
HAVE TO MAKE THESE REALLY,
REALLY TOUGH , UNPOPULAR
DECISIONS. IT WAS NOT AN EASY
ONE, I ASSURE YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. YEAH,
THAT EFFECTIVELY WHAT RESULTS
AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS,
MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE IT ISN'T,
WHO KNOWS. I THINK THAT
DEPRECATION PLAN, THE
RETIREMENT PLAN WILL BE KEY
THAT YOU ALL DEVELOP. AND IF
THAT ENDS UP HAPPENING,
DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
PLAN TO HELP REPLICATE IN
SEATTLE THE MODEL THAT EXISTS
IN SAN MATEO COUNTY, THAT YOU
SAID, IT IS PRIVATE. MAYBE THAT
WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY A FORM OF
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. IN
ANY EVENT, NOT A FUN RESULT
HERE , GIVEN THE IMPORTANT WORK
THAT THEY DO, AT LEAST ON THE
COMMITTEE ENGAGEMENT AND
OUTREACH FOR. LET ME PIVOT ,
JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON
EMPHASIS PATROLS. I THINK THERE
IS A TROUBLING RISE IN GUN
VIOLENCE, AS YOU VERY WELL
KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AT A
FORUM OR TWO WHERE WE HAVE
BEMOANED THE FACT AND TALKED
ABOUT HOW WE LACK THE ABILITY
AS A CITY TO FURTHER REGULATE
GUNS AND WE ARE INHIBITED BY
THE STATE FROM DOING THAT. TOO
MANY GUNS, SO MANY ISSUES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISE IN GUN
VIOLENCE BUT WE TALKED ABOUT.
THE PROBLEM REMAINS, WE HAVE IN
THE ABSENCE OF OUR ABILITY TO
REGULATE GUNS , WE STILL HAVE
TOO MANY GUNS ON THE STREET,
TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED
ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONS. I
THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES AND MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
HELP ME THINK ABOUT IT PRE,
PREVENTION INTERVENTION AND
ENFORCEMENT, THE PIE FRAMEWORK,
VERY HELPFUL , CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK. IN THE ABSENCE, TO
THE EXTENT, THERE IS STUFF WE
ARE DOING ON THE PREVENTION
SIDE, THERE IS STUFF WE
CONTINUE TO DO, INVESTMENTS IN
THIS BUDGET ON THAT, TO THE
EXTENT ENFORCEMENT PLAYS A ROLE
IN GUN VIOLENCE, YES, IT DOES.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND YOUR
WISE JUDGMENT TO NOT HESITATE
TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL RESOURCES
AND CALL OUT THE SPECIAL AGENTS
IN CHARGE OF YOUR COUNTERPARTS
AT ATF, FOR EXAMPLE, EMPHASIS
PATROLS, AND TASK FORCE TO
CRACK DOWN . FELONS SHOULD NOT
HAVE GUNS. MAYBE WE NEED AN
EMPHASIS PATROL COORDINATED ,
INTERAGENCY, INTERDEPARTMENT,
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RESPONSE TO
ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE AMONGST
OUR BROADER SET OF STRATEGIES
THAT WE EMPLOY.
>> WE HAVE THAT, WE DO HAVE
THAT IN PLACE ALREADY AND WE
WORK VERY EFFECTIVELY WITH OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS, THE U.S.
ATTORNEY, TESS GORMAN, THAT IS
A VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE GROUP. I
WISH THAT THEY WERE 10 TIMES
BIGGER.
>> THANK YOU, NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
VERY HAPPY TO HEAR SYSTEMWIDE
USAGE OF -- BASED POLICING, I
THINK THE MESSAGE FROM THAT
AUDIT WAS IMPORTANT AND I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING HOW
SOME OF THE OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AUDIT
PRESENTED BY COMMITTEE , THE
CONCENTRATION OF OVERDOSES AND
CRIME IN AUGUST ARE BEING
IMPLEMENTED NOW. I DO HEAR
PROGRESS IS HAPPENING ON THAT .
ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU
IS ABOUT YOUR IDEAS FOR
RECRUITING . I KNOW THAT YOU
AND I HAVE SPOKEN INDIVIDUALLY
ABOUT SOME TOOLS YOU THINK
WOULD BE IMPORTANT AND HOW
WOULD THE $800,000 OF MARKETING
MONEY THAT WE APPROVED THE
MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT
THAT?
>> I'M VERY HAPPY TO TELL YOU
THAT WE HAVE HIRED A NEW
RECRUITING MANAGER THAT HAS
CORPORATE EXPERIENCE IN
RECRUITING. WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A
CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY. I MAY
HAVE MENTIONED LAST TIME I
TESTIFIED WITH A COMPANY THAT
HAS DEVELOPED AN APP FOR
APPLICANTS. IT IS A LITTLE BIT,
WHAT THIS APP ALLOWS IS AS SOON
AS SOMEONE MAKES APPLICATION TO
BECOME A SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICER, THEY DOWNLOAD THE APP
ON THEIR PHONE AND WE STAY IN
CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEM
DURING THE PROCESS OF TESTING,
BACKGROUND IN, AND ONBOARDING.
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS US AS
HAVING A VERY HIGH TOUCH
PROCESS IS HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE
ENGAGED. THE BIGGEST THREAT TO
LOSING CANDIDATES IS ANOTHER
AGENCY HIRES THEM BEFORE WE DO.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THEM LOVE
US MORE SO THEY WILL STAY WITH
US. THIS PARTICULAR APP USES
BOTH A.I. AND ENGAGEMENT WITH
RECRUITERS AND BACKGROUNDERS TO
MAKE SURE WE DEVELOP A VERY
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE
APPLICANTS COMING THROUGH THE
PROCESS WE HAVE ALSO ENGAGED A
COUPLE OF PRIVATE COMPANIES TO
ASSIST US WITH THE INITIAL
BACKGROUND SCREENING OF
APPLICANTS. THE PROCESS OF
CONDUCTING A BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATION IS LENGTHY. WE
ARE TRYING TO SHORTEN THAT
WITHOUT LOSING ANY QUALITY. WE
ARE BRINGING SOME RETIRED
OFFICERS TO ASSIST IN THAT
ENDEAVOR. WE HAVE ALSO CREATED
SOME RECRUITING VIDEOS THAT
VERY SPECIFICALLY AND
INTENTIONALLY SHOWCASE WOMEN
POLICE OFFICERS IN VERY ACTION
ORIENTED SCENARIOS SO THAT WE
CAN SHOW POLICING IS A CAREER
THAT ENGAGES ALL KINDS OF
THINGS FROM COMMUNITY RELATIONS
TO CRIME-FIGHTING, TO ALL OF
THAT. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT
NOW. I THINK THAT AS WE GET
THIS, OUR NEW RECRUITING
MANAGER ON BOARD, THAT WILL BE
A TREMENDOUS HELP STREAMLINING
WHAT WE ARE DOING. I HAVE MAY
HAVE MENTIONED YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT NELSON,
I HAVE A PERSONAL WISH THAT
I'M TRYING TO GET TOGETHER FOR
RECRUITING WOMEN . IN THIS
REGION, WE HAVE FEMALE SHERIFF
IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY, FEMALE
SHERIFF IN KING COUNTY, VERY
ENGAGING CANDIDATE FOR PIERCE
COUNTY SHERIFF, WHO IS A WOMAN,
OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS A WOMAN,
OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IS WOMAN,
OUR U.S. ATTORNEY IS A WOMAN. I
WANT TO TRY TO GET SOME FOCUS
ON THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AS A
GREAT PLACE FOR WOMEN TO BE
POWERFUL AND ENGAGED IN
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHATEVER THAT
LOOKS LIKE. THERE IS A LOT OF
LESS FORMAL THINGS THAT WE ARE
DOING BUT ALSO VERY TANGIBLE
THINGS WE ARE DOING IN THE
RECRUITING PROCESS. AND OF
COURSE, I FORGOT TO MENTION
SIGNING BONUS FOR LATERAL
OFFICERS, I'M SORRY, THAT IS A
HUGE, HUGE BENEFIT BECAUSE MOST
OF YOU KNOW, IT TAKES IS A
MINIMUM OF A YEAR FROM
RECRUITING , TO SCREENING, TO
HIRING, TO TRAINING, TO PUT AN
OFFICER FROM THE APPLICATION
ONTO THE STREET IT IS ABOUT
$200,000 OR MORE TO DO THAT. IF
WE HIRE A LATERAL OFFICER, WE
HAVE ABOUT $150,000 SAVINGS. IT
IS A GREAT INVESTMENT TO BRING
LATERAL OFFICERS IN. I DON'T
HAVE ALL THE DATA IN FRONT OF
ME BUT WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF
SEATTLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
LEFT A SPEEDY ARE COMING BACK
AND WE ARE GETTING LATERAL
OFFICERS FROM OTHER AGENCIES
AND THOSE ARE AGENCIES THAT
FORMER SEATTLE OFFICERS WENT TO
AND NOW THEY ARE COMING BACK .
IF I CAN BE A LITTLE SHAMELESS,
I REALLY WANT TO THANK THIS
COUNCIL BECAUSE ONE OF MY BRADS
WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE IS, THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN AMAZINGLY
SUPPORTIVE . SINCE I HAVE COME
IN THE DOOR, THE OUTREACH AND
SUPPORT TO HELP US BE MORE
EFFECTIVE EVEN THOUGH OUR
STAFFING IS LOW. AS I'M TRYING
TO RECRUIT MY REPLACEMENT, I
ALWAYS LEAD WITH, IT IS 2024.
THE SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF HAS
HAD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THE
CITY COUNCIL, FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. THIS IS A GREAT PLACE
FOR POLICE. THERE WERE A LOT OF
POLICE OFFICERS DOES NOT FEEL
THAT WAY IN 2020 SO IT REALLY
IS A NEW DAY AND WE CAN SEE THE
ENTHUSIASM BUILDING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
VALIDATION. I DO BELIEVE THE
CONCERTED EFFORT FROM THIS NEW
COUNCIL TO REINFORCE THE VALUE
OF OUR OFFICERS TO OUR CITY,
HOPEFULLY IT IS HAVING AN
IMPACT AND THE FACT WE ARE
FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY
LEGISLATION, THAT PARTICULAR
BILL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
AROUND LATERAL HIRES WILL BE IN
FULL COUNCIL ON THE 8th. WHAT
I'M HEARING IS YOU HAVE SOME
GREAT IDEAS FOR PROMOTION ABOUT
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL
IN THE REGION. ARE YOU WORKING
WITH THE GROUP THAT IS DOING
THE VIDEO MAKING OR IS THAT
WITHIN A SPEEDY?
>> WE HAVE INTERNAL GROUP OF
PEOPLE CREATING VIDEO CONTENT
THAT SHE ENCASES -- SHOWCASES
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS IN
ACTION. WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER
AGENCIES THAT SPECIALIZE IN
POLICE RECRUITING BUT IT IS
VERY EARLY IN THE STAGE IS TO
LOOK AT . THESE OTHER AGENCIES
OR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WORKED
WITH THE COMPANY THAT CREATED
THE APP THAT WE WANT OUR
RECRUITS TO DOWNLOAD. OUR
LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO HAVE A
SEAMLESS PROCESS FROM
APPLICATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH
TRAINING SO THAT WE ARE
ATTRACTING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
PEOPLE AND KEEPING THEM THROUGH
THE WHOLE PROCESS.
>> GOT IT , OKAY. THAT IS GOOD
TO HEAR AND ASSUMING THERE ARE
RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THE APP --
>> I BELIEVE IT IS $800,000 WE
HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO WORK TO
IMPROVE IT .
>> OKAY, GREAT . WHILE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND
AUDITS , I REMEMBER THERE WAS A
PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS
EMPHASIZED BY CLAUDIA IN THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE CALLED --
WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR VIDEO
REPORTING OF THEFTS, WE CAN
TOUCH BASE ON THAT, STREAMLINE
REPORTING AS WELL. SINCE I'M
ON AUDITING, THE SESSION IS
COMING UP IN OLYMPIA , THERE
IS, I BELIEVE, A BILL COMING
FORWARD TO BUNDLE THE AMOUNTS
OF ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT
CRIMES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
MORE EMPHASIS ON THAT
PROSECUTION . THAT IS A LITTLE
BIT BESIDE THE CASE THAT WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT
LATER. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING
MY QUESTIONS.
>> TANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANKS
FOR BEING HERE, EVERYBODY.
SEVERAL OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN ASKED SO THAT WILL
SAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. I
DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION JUST REFERRED TO
TWO THE HIRING BONUSES
PERMANENT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT , THAT WOULD, THIS BUDGET
INCLUDES $3.3 MILLION, ASSUMING
THAT LEGISLATION PASSES FOR
2025, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> RECRUITMENT RETENTION
PACKAGE, YEAH . I THINK THE
EXACT AMOUNT IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER
. THERE IS 3.9 CARRYING FORWARD
FROM ONGOING REDUCTION THAT WAS
APPROPRIATED IN THE LAST BUDGET
CYCLE .
>> FROM PREVIOUS SALARY SAVINGS
.
>> OKAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTAND THAT. I GUESS THAT
MY REAL QUESTION IS, THE MAYOR
REFERENCED IN HIS STATE, WHAT
SPEECH DID HE GIVE THIS WEEK?
SOMETHING, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
3000 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED IN THE DEPARTMENT. MY
HOPE IS THIS WOULD BE A
ONE-TIME INCREASE TO THE BUDGET
, GIVEN IT SEEMS LIKE
RECRUITMENT IS WORKING, A LOT
OF FOLKS ARE COMING, AS YOU
JUST SAID. WE ALSO KNOW THERE
ARE SOME INTERNAL CHALLENGES
WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITH
DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS AGAINST
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR,
SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION. CAN YOU
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
RETENTION STRATEGIES ARE IN
PLACE, WHAT RESOURCES MIGHT BE
GOING TO RETENTION SOME OF THE
HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT WE ARE
HEARING ABOUT ?
>> AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I
BELIEVE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PIECES IS WE HAVE TO
VERY INTENTIONALLY DEVELOP OUR
LEADERS INTERNALLY TO CREATE A
WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE
FEEL WELCOMED AND APPRECIATED
AND INSPIRED. I BELIEVE THE
PLAN WE HAVE IN PLACE WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUR
SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP . I
THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE ARE ALSO INTERVIEWING AND
HOPEFULLY WILL BRING ON BOARD
VERY SOON, ADDITIONAL EEO
INVESTIGATOR SO THAT WE CAN
MORE QUICKLY ADDRESS CLAIMS OF
UNFAIR TREATMENT . I'M A
LITTLE BIT AT A LOSS, I DON'T
HAVE THE HISTORY OF THE CLAIMS
THAT HAVE BEEN PENDING FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS. IT IS
DIFFICULT , TO BE HONEST, IT IS
DIFFICULT TO TRACK, THERE ARE
SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES
PEOPLE CAN MAKE COMPLAINTS TO
AND TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF
WHICH ENTITY IS INVESTIGATING
WHICH COMPLAINT, I'M STILL
TRYING TO GET MY ARMS AROUND
THAT. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE
GETTING CLOSER TO COORDINATING
THOSE EFFORTS BETTER . SINCE I
HAVE BEEN ON BOARD, I HAVE HAD
MY RADAR ON HIGH ALERT BECAUSE
I REALLY WANT TO ENSURE THAT
OUR WORK PLACE IS WELCOMING TO
EVERYONE . YOU KNOW, WE TALK
ABOUT IT WHEN PEOPLE ARE
ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT
INVESTIGATIONS, WE ARE DOING
OUR VERY BEST TO NOT ONLY
CONDUCT A FAIR INVESTIGATION
BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
FEEL LIKE IT IS A FAIR
INVESTIGATION. THAT IS TRICKY
TO DO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SHARE
DETAILS OF A PERSONNEL CASE. WE
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT THE
DIFFERENT PARTIES ARE TELLING
TWO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE
INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE
NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IS SORT
OF WRAPPED INTO ALL OF THAT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS AND FULLY
FUNDED POSITIONS AND THEN FOR
2025 , I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING
TRACK OF MY NOTES HERE , FOR
'25/26, ASSUMING 15 HIRES EACH
YEAR ?
>> ABOVE ATTRITION.
>> HIRE 120 IS FAIRLY TYPICAL
FOR 100 TO LEAVE SO YOUR NET,
NEW OFFICERS PER YEAR IS ABOUT
15.
>> CORRECT. I THINK THAT WE CAN
DO BETTER THAN THAT, I WILL
SAY. I WANT TO PUT A CAVEAT IN
THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE SEVERAL
THINGS THAT HAPPENED
CONCURRENTLY IN 2020 AND 2021.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD THE PANDEMIC,
PEOPLE LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE
VACCINE MANDATE, WE WERE ALSO
AT THE HEAD OF A WAVE OF
RETIREMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED NO MATTER WHAT WE DID.
THAT WAVE IS SUBSIDING. I THINK
15 IS CONSERVATIVE, I AM
OPTIMISTIC WE CAN DO MUCH
BETTER THAN THAT .
>> I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THIS
POINT BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT,
FAIRLY PRECIPITOUS DROP OFF FOR
A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
>> YES, WE KNEW THE RETIREMENT
WAVE WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, WE
HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A
DECADE. THAT UNFORTUNATELY, WAS
NOT A SURPRISE, IT WAS
EXACERBATED BY ALL OF THE OTHER
THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
>> AND A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT
TO MAKE , I THINK. I WANT TO GO
TO SLIDE FOUR WITH YOUR CHANGE
SUMMARY, 2025, THE BUDGET GOES
UP 15%, 16%, 457 MILLION, 76%
OF THAT IS DUE TO A WI, IF I DO
MY MATH RIGHT, THAT LEAVES 110
MILLION IN 2025 SO CAN YOU TELL
ME WHAT THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO?
>> THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE, AWI
IS 47 MILLION OF THAT CHANGE.
THE TOTAL, THERE ARE ADS AND
TAKES .
>> THAT 76% OF THE CHANGE. I
GOT IT , OKAY.
>> THAT IS THE CHANGE, THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 458 MILLION
AND , I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL
-- LET'S SEE --
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
ASIDE FROM AWI IS THE REASON
FOR THE INCREASE .
>> THE BUDGET ADDS, THE
MAJORITY THAT WE WENT THROUGH
TODAY.
>> ALL OF THAT IS WRAPPED UP IN
THE REMAINDER THERE. OKAY,
SLIDE SIX, GOING TO THE
REDUCTIONS, I WANT TO CONFIRM
THAT THE ROUGHLY $4 MILLION
REDUCTION IS JUST UNDER 1% OF
THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET?
>> CORRECT.
>> WHAT PORTION IS SALARY
SAVINGS?
>> WHAT PORTION OF THE SALARY
SAVINGS ?
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT OF THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET,
WHAT PORTION OF IT IS SALARY
SAVINGS AND WHAT I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND IS THE BALANCE OF
THE SALARY SAVINGS ?
>> WE IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL 4.3
MILLION IN SALARY SAVINGS TO GO
, THAT WAS TRANSFERRED TO
OVERTIME.
>> OKAY. I'M SORRY, I'M
LOSING TRACK OF ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT NUMBERS HERE. I WILL
FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE. OKAY,
LET'S GO TO BUDGET ADDITIONS,
SORRY, CHAIR, AND TRY TO GET
THROUGH THIS QUICKLY. SLIDE
NINE. WE KNOW THERE'S A
SERIOUS BACKLOG IN GETTING
TOXICOLOGY REPORTS, THERE IS A
BACKLOG ON SEXUAL ASSAULT
CASES. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHETHER, I DON'T SEE
ANY BUDGET ADDS TO TRY TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THESE BACKLOGS
AM I MISSING IT OR IS THERE
SOME REASON WHY THERE IS A
REQUEST TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THOSE BACKLOGS?
>> IN THE TOXICOLOGY LAB?
>> YEAH, DEALING WITH
TOXICOLOGY CASES.
>> BOY, THE TOXICOLOGY LAB IS
RUN BY THE STATE. I DON'T KNOW
HOW WE WOULD LEVERAGE THE STATE
TO ADD MORE POSITIONS TO HANDLE
THOSE CASES .
>> IS THIS THE ROLE OF SPD
SUPPORTING GETTING CASES, I
THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS
IT FEELS LIKE THERE ISN'T THE
INVESTIGATIVE WORK HAPPENING
THAT CAN LEAD TO THAT .
>> I SEE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING .
I WOULD LOVE TO ASK FOR THOSE
ADS BUT I WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE OFFICERS
TO MOVE, IF I WERE TO ADD 10
SEXUAL ASSAULT DETECTIVES, I
DON'T HAVE 10 COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS TO MOVE INTO THOSE
POSITIONS YET. WE HAVE HAD TO
PRIORITIZE AND BALANCE RESPONSE
TO 911 EMERGENCIES AND
INVESTIGATIONS . WE SHIFTED
STAFFING AROUND, I SPOKE TO THE
LIEUTENANT OVERSEEING SEXUAL
ASSAULT UNIT, THEY ARE UP TO
EIGHT DETECTIVES FROM A LOW OF,
I THINK IT WAS THREE OR FOUR.
THEY ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO
GO. THERE IS, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO
AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I CAN'T
GET MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE
DOOR QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MOVE
THEM INTO THOSE INVESTIGATIVE
UNITS.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS PART
OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE,
THAT I'M HAVING BECAUSE I
THINK THAT YOU MENTIONED THE
DETECTIVE FUNCTION IS DOWN 140
POSITIONS .
>> 101 POSITIONS -- CHANGE TO
>> I KNOW THAT SOME OF THAT
HAPPENED IN 2020, A LOT
DETECTIVES, SHIFTING AROUND
MOVED INTO PATROL, THAT IS MY
QUESTION, ARE THEY STILL THERE?
>> YES.
>> AND WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY
COST OR THE COST TO THE REST OF
THE CITY OF OFFICERS ARE IN
PATROL INSTEAD OF INVESTIGATING
, TRAFFICKING SEXUAL ASSAULT,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUG
CARTELS? IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT WE SEE ON THE
STREET THAT PEOPLE ARE
FRUSTRATED BY NEED THE
DETECTIVE WORK AND
INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS TO BE
DEPLOYED . INSTEAD, EVERYBODY
IS ON PATROL .
>> I WISH WE HAD THE CAPACITY
TO INCREASE THOSE INVESTIGATIVE
UNITS BY MANY, MANY, MANY
DETECTIVES. I HAVE TO BALANCE
RESPONDING TO A 911 CALL FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WE ARE NOT
RESPONDING TO A LOT OF PATROL
CALLS AS IT IS AND PEOPLE ARE
VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT OUR LACK OF
RESPONSE TO PATROL . THE
BALANCE THAT I'M TRYING TO
GAUGE IS, WHAT IS THE MOST
IMMEDIATE URGENT NEED FOR A
POLICE OFFICER? IT IS MY BEST
JUDGMENT THAT THE WAY WE HAVE
THEM DISTRIBUTED NOW IS THE
BEST WE CAN DO WITH THE
RESOURCES WE HAVE. AS WE ADD
MORE PEOPLE TO PATROL, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO REASSESS. I HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH A COMPANY
THAT DOES STAFFING ASSESSMENTS
AND WORKLOAD ASSESSMENTS . WE
MAY BE WORKING WITH THEM IN THE
UPCOMING MONTHS TO REVIEW ,
OUTSIDE SET OF EYES TO REVIEW
AND SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE MISSING. IT REALLY
BOILS DOWN TO A MATH PROBLEM. I
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COMMISSIONED
POLICE OFFICERS TO FILL ALL OF
THE POSITIONS WE REALLY NEED TO
FILL .
>> WHICH I UNDERSTAND AND THAT
DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF
US NEEDING DETECTIVES TO BE
DOING DETECTIVE WORK . I
CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE
POSITION YOU ARE IN BUT IT
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE
DOING DETECTIVE WORK FOR
SEVERAL YEARS , UNTIL WE CAN
HIRE 15 OFFICERS AT A TIME
EVERY YEAR AND THAT DOES NOT
FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT THING.
>> RIGHT, WE HAVE TO CAREFULLY
PRIORITIZE WHERE WE ARE PUTTING
THOSE COMMISSIONED POLICE
OFFICERS. AGAIN, WE ARE HAVING
THOSE DISCUSSIONS ONGOING, ALL
THE TIME, ABOUT WHERE IS THAT
BALANCE? I CAN TELL YOU , I GET
UP EVERY MORNING AND LOOK AT MY
CELL PHONE TO LOOK AT THE
NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES THAT
HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. OUR ROBBERY
DETECTIVES, VIOLENT CRIME
DETECTIVES, HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES, THEY ARE ALL
WORKING EXTRAORDINARY HOURS.
OUR PATROL OFFICERS, ON A
ROUTINE DAY, OPERATING 10
OFFICERS, IF NOT ON SOME DAYS,
20 BELOW THE MINIMUM STAFFING
LEVELS. EVERYBODY IS STRUGGLING
TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN. I JUST
HAVE TO SAY A SHOUT OUT TO MY
OFFICERS, I DON'T KNOW HOW
THEY KEEP SHOWING UP EVERY DAY
BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS A CONSTANT
FRUSTRATION KNOWING THERE IS
MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE. THEY SHOW UP EVERY DAY
AND THEY GIVE IT EVERYTHING
THEY CAN. I'M JUST SO
APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE THEY KEEP
GOING TO
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THE LAST
THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS TO
MAKE A POINT ABOUT ON SLIDE 10,
ABOUT THE EMPHASIS PATROLS AND
TO THE POINT THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT MADE ABOUT PLACE
BASED SOLUTIONS. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT THE OVERTIME FOR
EMPHASIS PATROLS , I UNDERSTAND
WHY THAT IS AN APPROACH THAT
HAS BEEN TAKEN AND IT IS TRUE,
THE AUDITOR RECOMMENDED PLACE
BASED STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS
SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES BUT EMPHASIS PATROLS ARE
NOT THE SAME AS A BEAUTIFUL,
SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH. THAT IS A
VERY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY GROWN,
COMMUNITY LED PROGRAM . IT IS
FUNDED BY A BURN GRANT,
PARTNERS WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BOYS AND
GIRLS CLUB WITH LOCAL
BUSINESSES, THE SCHOOLS, WITH
PARKS . IT IS VERY
INTENTIONALLY, A NON-ARREST
INTERVENTION AND THE POLICE
PLAY A SMALL PART OF THAT
PROGRAM SO I THINK WE NEED TO
BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC THAT
EMPHASIS PATROLS AND THE
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE GIVEN IN THE
AUDITOR'S REPORT ABOUT IT
BEAUTIFUL SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH
, THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM THAT
IS BEING ADDRESSED. THAT IS ALL
I HAVE , CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. I CAN THINK
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, I WILL BE
QUICK. THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK. I HAD A QUICK
QUESTION REGARDING, IT IS
FOLLOWING UP ON COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' QUESTION ABOUT , I
THINK IT IS FLIGHT NINE.
INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT, CAN YOU
GO INTO, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO
SEE THAT WE ARE CIVILIAN --
BRING ON, IN 2022, I HAD TWO
FRIENDS SHOT 10 DAYS APART, ONE
OF THEM PASSED AWAY, THE OTHER
GOT SHOT IN THE NECK BY THE
SAME PERSON. I KNOW THAT COULD
HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, WOULD HAVE,
WE HAD MORE INVESTIGATIVE
SUPPORT, I KNOW THAT WE ARE
REALLY IN NEED OF THAT IN
SEATTLE. COULD YOU GO INTO A
LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ABOUT WHAT
THEY WOULD DO TO TAKE OFF SOME
OF THE PRESSURE OF SOME OF THE
OFFICERS THAT MIGHT NOT BE,
THAT ARE DETECTIVES TO
POTENTIALLY EXPEDITING PROCESS
SOLVING SOME OF THE CRIMES ?
>> YES, WE ARE BRINGING BACK
RETIRED DETECTIVES THAT KNOW
THE PROCESSES . ANYBODY HERE
THAT WORKED IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM KNOWS THAT THERE
ARE REAMS OF, I CALL IT
PAPERWORK, IT IS NOW ELECTRONIC
REPORTING, THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN
CUSTODY. ONE OF THE FIRST
FOCUSES WILL BRING SOMEBODY IN
TO DO THE HEAVY LOAD OF
ELECTRONIC FILING FOR FIRST
APPEARANCE, THERE IS A TON OF
INFORMATION THAT HAS TO TAKE
PLACE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE
PERSON TO BE OUT ON THE STREET
INTERVIEWING WITNESSES. IT IS A
VERY ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE
FUNCTION THAT REQUIRES THE
EXPERIENCE OF SOMEONE THAT HAS
FILED A CRIMINAL CASE. THAT IS
ONE BIG AREA WE ARE FOCUSING
ON. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT
GETTING ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO
HELP WITH THE GATHERING
ELECTRONIC DATA. IN SO MANY
CASES, THERE'S VIDEO, CELL
PHONE , LAPTOP INFORMATION, WE
HARVEST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
DATA OFF OF THOSE ELECTRONIC
DEVICES AND WE GET PRINTED, WE
HAVE TO FILE SEARCH WARRANTS
FOR ALL OF THE CARRIERS FOR
THOSE CELL PHONES. IT IS A VERY
ADMINISTRATIVE, LABOR-INTENSIVE
PROCESS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO GIVE TO CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES SO THAT THE
DETECTIVES ARE USED FOR
LITERALLY OUT IN THE FIELD
INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, TRYING
TO LOCATE SUSPECTS.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT I HAD GONE ON TWO
RIDE-ALONGS, ONE THE FIRST
WATCH, THE SECOND WAS THIRD
WATCH, FIRST WATCH I STRUGGLED,
THAT WAS AT 4:00 A.M.
>> THAT SEEMS LIKE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT WATCH TO ME, I'M THE
NEW KID
>> IT WAS, I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT BOTH
WATCHES , THE OFFICERS WERE
CONSTANTLY RESPONDING TO
PRIORITY ONE CALLS , FROM, I
WROTE IT DOWN, ROBBERY,
ASSAULT, SHOOTING, THERE WAS
RAPE, SOME HAD DRIVEN A CAR
THROUGH A STORE, DRUNK DRIVERS,
PEOPLE AND FENTANYL DRIVING
RECKLESSLY THROUGH THE CITY AND
THEY WERE CONSTANTLY RESPONDING
TO THESE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE
SEXUAL ASSAULT CALL HAD BEEN,
THE PERSON HAD TO WAIT FOUR OR
FIVE HOURS AND I CAN ONLY
IMAGINE WHAT THAT IS LIKE TO BE
ASSAULTED AND HAVE TO WAIT, YOU
KNOW, TO GET A CALL AND RECEIVE
HELP. I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT, WHATEVER WE CAN
DO TO HELP EXPEDITE THAT
PROCESS BECAUSE TO ME, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT IT IS WITHIN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF SEXUAL
ASSAULT IS PRIORITY ONE,
WHATEVER THAT IS, OBVIOUSLY ,
YOU KNOW HOW SERIOUS IT IS.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO DIG INTO THE
DETAILS BECAUSE NORMALLY THAT
WOULD BE A PRIORITY ONE CALL
ABOVE ALL OTHERS. I ALSO KNOW
THAT WHEN THERE IS A SHIFT,
THERE IS MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS,
ROBBERIES AT THE SAME TIME,
SOMETIMES THE SCREENING PROCESS
FAILS AND A PERSON THAT IS NOT
IN IMMEDIATE DANGER CONTINUES
TO GET PUSHED BACK A LITTLE
BIT. THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE
NORM FOR A VICTIM OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT TO HAVE TO WAIT THAT
LONG. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE
THOSE TIMES WHERE THAT HAPPENS.
>> UNDERSTOOD . AT THE TIME,
THERE SHOOTINGS, OFFICERS WERE
GETTING CALLED TO DIFFERENT
STUFF ALL OVER THE CITY SO IT
WAS A LOT THAT NIGHT. I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, I'M SURE
THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES TO THAT PIECE .
IN THE OTHER PIECE, I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT, I KNOW THAT MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT
IT, THE RECRUITMENT PIECE,
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS TO ALSO
UNDERSTANDING WE ARE RECRUITING
A NEW GENERATION WITH
MILLENNIAL'S AND GEN Z, THAT
IS WHERE I SENT SEO MAXEY AND
DEPUTY MAYOR BURGESS WEBSITES
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE
WEST COAST, HEY, WE NEED A NICE
WEBSITE TO ATTRACT --
>> WE ARE WORKING ON IT .
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE
THAT. ALSO THE CULTURE PIECE
AND CREATING THAT CULTURE ,
THAT CONNECTION FOR FOLKS THAT
THEY SEE A DIFFERENT, NEW WAY
OF POLICING IN OUR CITY AND
WHAT THAT MEANS, I THINK THAT
WILL ATTRACT THE YOUNGER
GENERATION FOR THEM TO SEE A
DIFFERENT TYPE OF POLICING IN
OUR CITY WHERE THEY CAN BE A
PART OF THE CHANGE ACTIVELY.
ANYWAYS, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THOSE THINGS AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, COULD I FOLLOW
UP ON THAT POINT BRIEFLY AND
ADDRESS WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES SAID , BOTH THE CHIEF
AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STARTED
TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS WITH
CAPACITY BUILDING, SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, GETTING
ADDITIONAL OVERTIME RESOURCES
TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF
THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE , AND
ALSO LEANING INTO TECHNOLOGY
AND INTO CIVILIANIZATION. THE
WHOLE POINT OF THESE
INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT RESOURCES
IS TO MAKE OUR INVESTIGATIONS
MORE EFFICIENT, TO FREE UP
DETECTIVES TO DO THE DETECTION
PART AND TAKE ALL THE
ADMINISTERED BAGGAGE AND MOVE
IT TO OTHERS THAT CAN DO IT AT
THE BACK END. WE HAVE ONE
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, ALL THEY
ARE CAPABLE OF DOING HIS
INTAKE, THAT IS ALL THEY DO, IN
THE CASES INTO THE COMPUTER AND
THEY DON'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE
WE DON'T HAVE STAFFING TO
PROCEED WITH THAT. THE
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER, WHICH
WE HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
TODAY, IS ALSO HUGELY IMPORTANT
SYSTEM TO MAKE ALL OF OUR
PROCESSES, BOTH REAL-TIME 911
RESPONSES AND OUR BACK END
INVESTIGATIONS MORE EFFICIENT
TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE DOING THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE, EVEN AS WE
CONTINUE TO HIRE AND BUILD AND
IN THAT DREAM STATE IN A FEW
YEARS WHERE WE ARE FULLY
STAFFED THIS WILL MAKE US MORE
EFFICIENT IMMEDIATELY. WHAT
THIS WHOLE BUDGET FOCUSES IS,
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE URGENCY
TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY
IMMEDIATELY WHILE WE WORK ON
THE LONG-TERM? I THINK THE
ANSWERS TO BOTH OF YOUR
QUESTIONS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE
ARE PROPOSING HERE, WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO GET IT. THANK YOU.
>> MULTIPLIER. WE DON'T HAVE
THE BODIES, WE USE TECHNOLOGY
AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER . THAT
WILL COME ON FASTER THAN THE
BODIES .
>> MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY
CONTINUE. I WANTED TO DOUBLE
CHECK , I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES
PEOPLE ARE SO FRUSTRATED WITH
THE ANSWER, WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH OFFICERS. OKAY, HOW CAN
WE CONTINUE TO BUILD PUBLIC
SAFETY, CONTINUE TO RECRUIT
LONG-TERM, BUT ALSO CEVILLA
NICE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ?
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW, WE
ARE MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS
AND I WANT TO SEE MORE OF IT
BECAUSE IN THE SHORT TERM,
PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND
THEY WANT TO KNOW THERE IS
SOMEBODY AT THE END OF THAT
CALL ON 911 OR THAT POLICE WILL
RESPOND, IF A CRIME HAPPENS,
THE CASE WILL GET SOLVED. THEY
DON'T WANT TO FEEL HOPELESS, I
THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT SO THANK YOU ALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU
LOWERED YOUR HAND, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I THOUGHT
THE HAND THAT DROPPED. WITH
FOUR MINUTES LEFT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOUR
MINUTES LEFT. I'VE GOT A LONG
LIST .
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, THIS
WILL BE QUICK.
>> COLUMN, BLUE , CHANTS,
SEBASTIAN, DO WE, HOW COULD I
NOT AFFECT THE TWO LOVABLE BARN
CATS, SULLY AND KATIE PURRY .
THERE ARE REAL-LIFE ANIMALS
BEHIND THE IMPACT OF THESE
DECISIONS. OF COURSE, I
MENTIONED THE NAMES OF THE
IMPACT ANIMALS, YOU BETTER
BELIEVE I WILL MENTION THE
NAMES OF THE IMPACTED PEOPLE.
SERGEANT BRANDON CAL AND
OFFICER CHASE , BAR MANAGER
SARAH ROTTER , I BELIEVE, AS
WELL. AS PART OF THE DECISION
HERE , THESE ARE REAL LIFE
PEOPLE AND IN THIS CASE,
ANIMALS AS WELL, DIRECTLY
INVOLVED AND IMPACTED . I JUST
WANTED TO SHARE THAT. AND ALSO,
SEPARATELY, WE HAVE HEARD
VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT
AND INTEREST IN THE 30 BY 30
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND
THERE IS A LOT ON THIS COUNCIL
. I WILL ADD MY VOICE TO THAT
AND FROM A MALE PERSPECTIVE, AS
AN ALLY, WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
DO BETTER FOR OUR WOMEN
OFFICERS, RECRUITING AND
RETENTION ESPECIALLY, CREATING
A CULTURE THAT THEY CAN TRULY
SUCCEED AND THRIVE. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR.
>> IF YOU WENT ON TWO MORE
MINUTES, YOU WOULD BUY EVERYONE
LUNCH. I WILL, FIRST , ZOOM WAY
OUT HIM OF THE REASON I TAKE
FACILITATING THESE ORDERS SO
SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU ,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
TEASING ME ABOUT IT, IT SETS UP
A FORUM THAT WE CAN AGREE, WE
CAN DISAGREE AND WE NEED TO
HAVE A ROOM WHERE WE CAN HAVE
CANDID CONVERSATIONS THAT IS
RESPECTFUL AT THE BASE. I WOULD
SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE
FOR A WHILE AND WHAT MADE ME
SIT BACK AND WHAT KIND OF
SURPRISED ME ABOUT TODAY WAS
HOW CANDID THIS CONVERSATION
WAS, ON THE RECORD WITH TV
CAMERAS , AS A GROUP AND WITH
DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE WHAT I
HEARD COMING FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, I'M NOT SURE I
HAVE ACTUALLY EVER HEARD BEFORE
. WHAT I HEARD FROM COUNCIL
MEMBERS I HAVE NOT HEARD IN A
WHILE. I WILL JUST CENTER IN ON
THIS POINT OF, CHIEF, WHEN YOU
WERE EXPLAINING HOW UNFILLED
AND FUNDED POSITIONS HAD WORKED
AT YOUR PREVIOUS DEPARTMENTS,
THAT IS HOW USED TO WORK HERE
AS WELL, I WILL SAY IT, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO . THAT IS WHY
YOU HAD THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT
SALARY SAVINGS. AND I HAD A
FOURTH IF THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN
TO IT. FROM HERE , THE QUESTION
THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ASKED
ABOUT WHY THIS IS A NEW BUDGET
LINE ITEM, IT IS FOR
TRANSPARENCY I HAVE NOT
RECEIVED A BUDGET FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ALLOWED
GENERAL FUND MONEY TO BE USED
FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE WITHIN
OUR CITY. WHAT I'M SEEING FROM
YOU IS MORE TRANSPARENT
BUDGETING PROCESS . EIGHT TEAM
PLAYER WHERE YOU'RE SAYING, WE
COULD USE THIS MONEY, GENERAL
FUND MONEY, ABSOLUTELY WE
COULD. WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER
PROGRAMS IN THE CITY WE WOULD
ALSO BE HURTING IF WE WERE NOT
CUTTING, IF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE
BEING REDUCED. THAT IS WHY I
WOULD SAY THIS YEAR IS A
DIFFERENT APPROACH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT FROM A HIGH
LEVEL. NOW I WILL DIG INTO MY
QUESTIONS.
>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET
OFF EASY HERE .
>> WE WERE NOT GOING TO WALK
OUT THE DOOR.
>> I APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ALSO
ON CIVILIANIZATION TO ALLOW US
TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF OUR
UNIFORMED AND COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS TO DO THE WORK THAT
ONLY THEY CAN DO SO THAT WE CAN
DO MORE WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
SLIDE SIX , I THINK I WAS GOING
TO PROMPT THIS BUT I WILL MAKE
THE POINT, WHEN WE RELEASE
GENERAL FUND MONEY TO THE
GENERAL FUND, WE CAN TIE THAT
TO BEING USED FOR ANYTHING FROM
HOUSING, TO HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES, TO KEEPING STAFF
WITHIN THE CITY FUNDED SO THAT
IS WHAT THIS MONEY REPRESENTS.
ON SLIDE SEVEN YOU HAVE ALREADY
COVERED IT, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER SLIDE
13, I WILL GET INTO THE
AUTOMATED SCHOOL ZONE CAMERA
EXPANSION. IS THIS SDOT FUNDED
THAT YOU ARE USING? IT SAYS IT
COMES FROM THE SCHOOL SAFETY --
>> THERE IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT IS
BEING IMPLEMENTED TO BEGIN
DEPLOYING THE CAMERAS IN THE
SCHOOL ZONES. IT IS NOT CLEAR
YET WHETHER WE CAN DEPLOY THEM
ALL THIS YEAR, IF ANY FUNDING
REMAINS, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO
CARRY THAT PORT AND CONTINUE
THE IMPLEMENTATION INTO NEXT
YEAR. THE IMPLEMENTATION WAS
NOT DONE THUS FAR THIS YEAR
BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE
SUFFICIENT -- STAFFING TO
REVIEW THE AUTOMATED CAMERA
FEEDS AND ISSUE CITATIONS THE
WAY THE LEGISLATURE EMPOWERED
CIVILIANS TO DO AND WORKED OUT
WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS TO
ALLOW US TO USE PEO'S FOR. WE
HAVE FUNDING FOR THE PEO'S TO
DO THIS WORK AND ARE EXPANDING
THEIR WORK ACCORDINGLY AND THAT
ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
SPENDING THE MONEY TO IMPLEMENT
CAMERAS IN NEW LOCATIONS.
>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO
ADD, DIRECTOR NOBLE ?
>> TECHNICAL FUNDING POINT, THE
REVENUE FROM THE CAMERAS GO TO
THIS FUND AND THAT FUND CAN BE
USED FOR ESSENTIALLY TWO
PURPOSES, ONE IS TO INVEST IN
SAFETY AND THE OTHER IS TO PAY
THE ADMINISTRATION AND
ENFORCEMENT COSTS FOR THE
CAMERAS THEMSELVES. YOU WERE
ASKING WHETHER IT WAS SDOT
MONEY, IT IS THE MONEY IN THAT
FUND AND THIS IS ONE OF ITS
PURPOSES. THAT TECHNICAL
EXPLANATION THAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN HELPFUL.
>> RAISING HANDS, WE ARE GOING
TO NOT, WE ARE ALREADY OVER
INTO LUNCH. I'M ABOUT TO SAY
SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE SAYING,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA I WILL SAY
THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD, FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA CAN GIVE ME
THUMBS-UP OR THUMBS-DOWN THAT
HE AGREES, I HAVE A DESIRE TO
SEE THIS BE A TYPE OF CAMERA
AGNOSTIC, MEANING WE COULD BE
USING THIS TECHNOLOGY OR
FUNDING TO SUPPORT SCHOOL
CAMERAS, RED LIGHT CAMERAS, BUS
CAMERAS, ANY OF THOSE, DID I
NAIL IT, COUNCILMEMBER? 30
SECONDS.
>> MR. CHAIR, YES. THAT WAS MY
INITIAL POSITION WALKING INTO
THESE CONVERSATIONS AND I WAS
REMINDED THERE ARE NOTABLE
COLOR MONEY ISSUES AND UNDER
STATE LAW, WE CAN ONLY USE
THOSE REVENUES FOR THOSE TWO
AND THAT BEN MENTIONED,
INCLUDING ADDING NEW CAMERAS OR
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS SO IN THIS
CASE, I DO THINK AS A
POLICYMAKER, WE SHOULD EXPLORE
OTHER NON-ENFORCEMENT SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS AROUND SCHOOLS,
NARROWING ROADS, MORE
CROSSWALKS, ET CETERA ET CETERA
.
>> IN 29 SECONDS, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, THANK YOU. I WILL PUT IT
ON THE RECORD RIGHT NOW I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING
FUNDING SOURCES AND SETTING
THIS UP IN CAMERA TYPE AGNOSTIC
SYSTEM. EMPHASIS PATROLS, WE
CAN SLIDE TO THERE, WHY NOT
EXPAND THE CR G, WHICH DOES,
WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TO BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE STRATEGIC AND
DISRUPTIVE RATHER THAN PASSIVE
PATROL WORK ?
>> WE DON'T REALLY HAVE
PASSIVE PATROL WORK . WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO STAFF ALL OF OUR
PATROL DISTRICTS AS IT IS SO
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE
HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE
GROUP IS UNDER WHAT WE NEED TO
HAVE . FIRST PRIORITY IS 911
RESPONSE. AS WE ADD MORE
PEOPLE, WE CAN ADD MORE BODIES
TO SEE RG, AS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES SO APPROPRIATELY
POINTED OUT, WE HAVE VERY
SENSITIVE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS WE CANNOT FORGET
ABOUT EITHER. AS WE BRING MORE
PEOPLE ON BOARD, WE WILL BE
LOOKING AT, WHERE IS THE MOST
DIRE NEED? THE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE GROUP OFFICERS OFTEN
TEAM WITH OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO
PATROL AT THE PRECINCTS. WE CAN
LEVERAGE THE NUMBERS THAT WAY
AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND
THAT GROUP AS SOON AS WE CAN.
>> BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING,
MAYBE THIS IS MY ASSUMPTION
FROM THE PAST WHEN WE DID
EMPHASIS PATROLS, IT WOULD END
UP BEING AN OFFICER STANDING ON
A STREET CORNER.
>> I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,
I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT
BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME IN THE
PAST WHERE OFFICERS WERE
ASSIGNED TO A POST WITHOUT
SPECIFIC SUPERVISION . WE
DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE. THEY
ARE ASSIGNED A SPECIFIC
MISSION, THEY HAVE A SUPERVISOR
AND ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE
OUTCOMES. I KNOW THERE WAS A
TIME IN THE PAST THAT OTHER WAY
MAY HAVE HAPPENED BUT NOT
TODAY.
>> I'M GLAD THAT I CHECKED MY
ASSUMPTIONS BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THAT WE ALL AGREE, WE DON'T
NEED FOLKS STANDING AROUND, WE
NEED FOLKS --
>> IF I SAW THEM STANDING
AROUND, TRUST ME, WE WOULD BE
HAVING A CONVERSATION .
>> THE LAST POINT I WILL MAKE,
GOOD TRANSITION HERE, LISTING
WOMEN LEADERS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT ROLES THROUGHOUT
OUR COUNTY AND TRI-COUNTY AREA,
I WILL MAKE THE POINT THAT IF
YOU WANTED TO STAY, YOU COULD
ADD YOURSELF TO THAT LONG-TERM
LIST.
>> I WILL POST THEM IN AND FOUR
OFF-DUTY WAY TO ENCOURAGE THEM.
>> FANTASTIC. COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON, WE WILL HOLD YOUR
QUESTIONS FOR WRITING BECAUSE
WE'RE OVERTIME AND I WILL PASS
IT BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
, WHO IS OVERSEEING THE
DEPARTMENT .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS ,
ADD IT TO YOUR LIST IN TERMS OF
LEADERS.
>> SHE MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON THE LIST .
>> DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.
QUICKLY, ONE , SALARY SAVINGS,
WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT ANSWERS,
IF THERE'S FOLLOW-UP, WE WILL
BE USING OUR STAFF THROUGH
SHAREPOINT , CHAIR STRAUSS ON
THAT. I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS
THAT WE GOT FROM THAT . I WOULD
LIKE TO POINT OUT, DIRECTOR
NOBLE, THE 1400 NUMBER IS REAL
BUT MAYBE THE BUDGET NUMBERS
WORLD, IT IS DIFFERENT BUT THE
1400 NUMBER IS A VERY REAL
NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
MOUNTED POLICE, I HOPE THAT
PERHAPS, CEREMONIAL WITH THE
FOUNDATION, PUBLIC /PRIVATE,
OTHER CEREMONIAL ASPECTS TO
POLICE AND FIRE, KNOCK ON WOOD,
IN HONOR OF ALL THE ANIMALS
MENTIONED BY MIKE COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
INVESTIGATIONS TO , PART ONE IS
CAPACITY IN TERMS OF THE
DETECTIVE'S PIECE AND
TECHNOLOGY, ARE RTC, CCTV, ALL
OF THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER.
THERE IS A PLAN, WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO HERE IN TERMS OF
THE COMMITTEE AND WORKING WITH
THE MAYOR AND SPD.
INVESTIGATIONS, IN TERMS OF
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WAS
TALKING ABOUT, IT IS WORTH
NOTING GOING BACK TO MY
ECOSYSTEM POINT, I CAN ABILITY
PARTNERS, I HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH --, TALKING ABOUT THESE
INVESTIGATIONS, THE AMOUNT, THE
TIMELINESS, HOW BEST TO DO
THEM. WE TALK ABOUT COLOR OF
MONEY AND COLORED
INVESTIGATION, EACH HAS ITS
LITTLE RULES, A LOT OF LESSONS
LEARNED GOING BACK TO THE
DISCUSSION WITH CHIEF BARDEN
BUT THE EARLIER SESSION.
IMPROVING THIS WITH A LOT OF
DISCUSSIONS AND UNDERSTANDING
AND LESSONS LEARNED THAT WE ARE
DOING BUT IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS
THE ECOSYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN
PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALL OF THESE
PIECES COME TOGETHER INCLUDING
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER, CPC,
OPA, JUST TO CLOSE , I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW, LIKE I STARTED,
THIS IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE, THIS
IS ABOUT BUILDING LEADERS,
ANOTHER LABOR ISSUE, WHICH
COULD HELP WITH INVESTIGATIONS
. I WANTED TO NOTE , WE DO HAVE
THE BEST FORCE IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS HAS COME ABOUT FROM THE
HARD WORK OVER THE LAST DOZEN
PLUS YEARS, WITH THE CONSENT
OCCURRING, ACKNOWLEDGE WHY WE
HAVE CONSENT DECREE AND EQUALLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK OVER
THE LAST DOZEN YEARS IN TERMS
OF IMPROVING THE REFORM, WHICH
WILL CONTINUE EVEN ONES THAT
CONSENT DECREE IS CONCLUDED,
THAT WILL CONTINUE THAT WORK WE
HAVE BEEN DOING . WITH THAT,
AGAIN TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY, WE
SHOULD BE EMBRACING
ACCOUNTABILITY, WHEN YOU WEAR
THE BEST FORCE, THAT IS
SOMETHING WE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE
IN DOING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT PIECE ALSO IMPROVING AND
AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I WANTED TO
CLOSE, IF YOU CAN PASS TO THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR THANKS
FOR THEIR SERVICE. IMPORTANTLY
, THANKS TO THEIR FAMILIES AND
FRIENDS, THEIR PARTNERS, THEIR
SUPPORT SYSTEM BECAUSE AS I
KNOW FROM DIRECT EXPERIENCE,
THAT IS SO KEY IN ORDER TO
ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR JOB SO
THANK THEM. BY THE WAY, SWORN
IN AND SABEAN ACROSS THE BOARD,
NOT JUST WHAT YOU SEE ON THE
STREET. THANK YOU CHAIR AND
THANK YOU CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF, BRIAN AND
ANGELA , THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:15
P.M., I'M GIVING FOLKS EXTRA
FOUR MINUTES, HEARING NO
OBJECTION, SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:15
P.M.
>>> GOOD MORNING, THE BUDGET
SELECT COMMITTEE IS UNDERWAY.
WELCOME OCTOBER, 1st. DAY THREE
OF OUR DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATIONS. I'M DAN
STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK CALL
THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT. AND COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA IS HERE. JUST NOT NEXT
TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING VERBAL
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ACCEPT
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT EVERY
SINGLE DAY. THE NEXT VERBAL
PUBLIC VERBAL COMMENT WILL BE
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER
16th. THE FIRST DAY OF CENTRAL
STAFF PRESENTATIONS. TODAY WE
ARE ON DAY THREE OF DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATIONS. TODAY THIS
MORNING WE HAVE THE CARE
DEPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THIS AFTERNOON, WE WILL HAVE
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
THE AFTERNOON IS RESERVED FOR
OVERFLOW. PROBABLY AS WE HAVE
BEEN DOING A VERY GOOD JOB ON
STAYING ON TRACK. AND WE ARE
GETTING INTO PRETTY DEEP POLICY
AREAS. AREAS OF THE BUDGET OVER
THE NEXT TWO WORKING DAYS.
WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE TOMORROW
AFTERNOON RESERVED. SHOULD I
WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ALL OF
THE QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ON THE
RECORD. AND WE ARE GOING TO
AGAIN TAKE LUNCH AT THE LATEST
AT 1:00 P.M., 1:30 P.M.
STARTING BACK AT 2:00 P.M. WE
HAVE TOMORROW. AT THE END OF
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS
TOMORROW, PLEASE DO HAVE SOME
GENERAL IDEA OF YOUR PRIORITIES
FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE. SO THAT
CENTRAL STAFF IS ABLE TO DIG
IN. OCTOBER 15th FEELS FAR AWAY
AND CENTRAL STAFF A ALREADY
GETTING INTO THE BUDGET AND
WILL BEGIN WRITING THEIR MEMOS
NEXT WEEK. SO JESSE FROM MY
TEAM WILL BE STOPPING BY EACH
OF YOUR OFFICES TO MEET WITH
YOUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND HOW
AND IF WE CAN HELP IN ANY WAY.
MOVING RIGHT INTO DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE OUR
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL
YOU RARED THE SHORT TITLE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE
AND ENGAGEMENT FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WELCOME ALREADY HERE AT THE
COMMITTEE TABLE KEEPING US
MOVING AT 9:33 A.M. I'M
EXCITED TO INTRODUCE CHIEF AMY
BARDEN AND THOMAS ROWLAND. AND
DAN EDER AND BEN NOBLE FROM THE
CENTRAL STAFF. CHIEF, I'LL
PASS IT OVER TO YOU. TAKE IT
AWAY AND WE WILL PASS IT TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ONCE YOUR
PRESENTATION IS OVER.
>> MORNING, NICE TO BE HERE
WITH YOU TODAY. THANK YOU
COMMITTEE CHAIR STRAUSS. I
APPRECIATE TOMMY BEING HERE
NEXT TO ME. HE WAS CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEE NUMBER TWO IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND HAS DONE SO MUCH
FOUNDATIONAL WORK TO SET THIS
THING UP AND LAUNCH THE CARE
RESPONDER RESPONSE. THE PILOT
WASN'T YET LAUNCHED. I WAS SIX
MONTHS INTO THE JOB. I HAD BEEN
TO A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN
DISPATCH. WHAT I HEARD WAS I
WAS NEVER GOING TO GET THIS
PILOT OFF THE GROUND. WE LIKE
YOU, WE KNOW YOU ARE TRYING
HARD. IT IS NEVER GOING TO
HAPPEN. I THOUGHT OF COURSE IT
WILL HAPPEN. WHY WOULDN'T IT
HAPPEN? THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS
IT, THE EXECUTIVE SUPPORTS IT.
AND THEN IT DID HAPPEN. I GOT A
LOT OF SUPPORT. WE STAFFED UP
THE CARE TEAM QUICKLY. WE GOT
THE BRAND, THE VEHICLES, AND WE
WERE OFF. SO THIS TIME A YEAR
AGO, I WAS GOING AROUND TO
POLICE ROLL CALLS RAPID FIRE
TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
KNEW WHO THE CARE TEAM WAS.
THIS IS HOW YOU BEHAVE. KNOWING
WHEN TO ACTUALLY DEPLOY THE
TEAM. AND SO I HEARD A NEW
THING WHICH CONSISTENTLY WAS
AMY IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE IN
A YEAR OR TWO. IT WON'T. WE
KNOW YOU WILL TRY HARD, BUT
SEATTLE HAS A HISTORY OF
STARTING SOMETHING, SEED
FUNDING IT, BUT NEVER REALLY
INVESTING IN IT LONG ENOUGH TO
SCALE AND TO BE IMPACTFUL. TO
HAVE 20 PEOPLE OUT.
WE ARE DRIVING A LOT OF
INNOVATION IN WHAT WE CONSIDER
PRIORITY ONE. WHAT IS A
NON-EMERGENCY. HOW DO WE USE
ONLINE REPORTING.
WE HAVE OVER 1,000 HOURS OF
SERVICE TIME. WE HAVE SAVED
OVER $130,000 OF BUDGET DOLLARS
JUST IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOURLY
RATE TOWARD THE FIRST RESPONDER
TEAMS. IF WE HAD BEEN TO 7800
CALLS, $1.3 MILLION IN SAVINGS
AND FIRST RESPONDERS THIS YEAR.
JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE SCALED
GO TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
CALLS A YEAR, SOME OF MY
PARTNERS GO TO ABOUT 30,000
CALLS A YEAR AND THEY HAVE
INVESTED ENOUGH TO START THE
REAP FINANCIAL REWARDS IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET. AND TO
ALSO SEE BETTER OUTCOMES IN
INDIVIDUAL LIVES. NEXT.
SO THIS IS THE BUDGET SUMMARY.
THE 2024 ADOPTED. AGAIN, WE
JUST SPOKE ABOUT THIS A FEW
WEEKS AGO. THE PROPOSED GROWTH
IS PRIMARILY ABOUT THE
EXPANSION OF THOSE CARE
RESPONDER POSITIONS. TO BE
PERMANENT POSITIONS TO GO FROM
A TEAM OF SIX TO A TEAM OF 24
WITH THREE SUPERVISORS. NEXT.
WE WILL COVER GROUND IN ALL
DISTRICTS. IN THE SHORT RUN,
THE DOLLARS TO SCALE THE
PROGRAM ARE THANKS TO
CONGRESSMAN ADAM SMITH AND
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL
WHO HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL
ADVOCATES FOR THIS PROGRAM. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE GOT
THE LARGEST GRANT FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THIS
LAST CYCLE AND I APPRECIATE
THAT. THROUGH THE PARTICIPATING
BUDGETING PROCESS.
THAT IS WHEN THE CARE EXPANSION
WILL HELP THE GENERAL FUND.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK OUTSIDE
FUNDING SOURCES. I KNOW THERE
IS GREAT NATIONAL APPETITE TO
SEE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS
SCALED AND I HEAR ALL THE TIME
WE NEED A BLUEPRINT.
SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT
SETTING UP A NATIONAL ACADEMY
FROM RESPONDERS IN KING COUNTY.
THAT COULD BE IN BEING 100%. WE
WANT THIS AVAILABLE TO ALL
MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS WHAT THE EXPANSION
FEELS LIKE. WE ARE EXPANDING TO
NORTH. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO
SALLY CLARK AND KEVIN GROSSMAN
AND OTHERS AT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND UW UPD WHO
OFFERED US SPACE. WE WILL
COLOCATE WITH POLICE AND FIRE.
WE DO INTERACT ALL THE TIME. WE
ARE OFTEN NEEDED ON THE SAME
CALL SOS I LIKE THE INTEGRATION
OF THESE DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.
I OFTEN SAY I LIKE THE SOCIAL
WORK ETHOS TO FLOW ACROSS FIRST
RESPONSE. IT IS A GOOD
INFLUENCE AND WE LEARN A LOT
FROM ONE ANOTHER.
THESE ARE THE TWO ACTUAL
POSITION EDITIONS WE ARE ASKING
FOR, I WILL START WITH THE PDO
FIRST. THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
OFFICER. WE ARE A FULLY
INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT. I'LL
HAVE 24 FIRST RESPONDERS, WE
ALSO NEED TO ACCOMMODATE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUESTS AND WE HAVE
NOT HAD THAT POSITION. I'M
THANKFUL TO SPD WHO HAVE
CONTINUED TODAY DO A LOT OF
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK FOR US BUT
THAT IS NOT TENABLE OR
APPROPRIATE SO WE NEED A FULL
TIME POSITION, A PDO. AND YOU
MAY BE AWARE OF THE MAYOR'S
NEW VISION FOR THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM. THIS IS
RAPIDLY COMING INTO BEING. THIS
REPRESENTS A COORDINATED EFFORT
ACROSS 15 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS
TO ACTUALLY REMEDIATE AREAS OF
CRIME AND CRISIS IN THE CITY
AND GET PEOPLE HELP. SO CARE
HAS A VITAL FUNCTION TO PLAY IN
THIS. I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE
THAT WE NEED TO INTERVENE AND
DIVERT PEOPLE INTO SERVICES.
WITH AN INTENT TO HEAL AND
REDIRECT AND RESTORE RATHER
THAN TO PUNISH. SO THE
RESTORATION DIRECTOR IS
SOMEBODY WHO CAN COORDINATE
THAT EFFORT. AND THAT SHOULD
SIT IN OUR DEPARTMENT
FUNDAMENTALLY.
IN CLOSING I WILL JUST SHARE A
COUPLE OF THOUGHTS. I ALSO DO
THINK IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET
AND I HEARD AND WITNESSED SO
MANY STORIES NOW OF PEOPLE
CHURNING THROUGH OUR CYCLES.
NEVER REALLY GETTING HELP.
RETURNED TO THE STREETS, NOT
PREPARED TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
REPEATING THE SAME CRIMES.
FALLING INTO THE SAME CRISIS
GOING BACK INTO THE SYSTEM. A
NEW FRIEND I HAVE IN TOWN. SORT
OF A MIDDLE CLASS PRIVILEGE.
SEVERAL CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
HAPPENED IN HER YOUNG LIFE. SHE
STARTED USING HEROIN AND FELL
INTO THIS CYCLE IN USING AND
DEALING AND SHE SHARED WITH ME
THAT IN EIGHT YEARS SHE WAS
ARRESTED AND BOOKED. 15
DIFFERENT TIMES. AND THEN ON
THE 16th TIME FOR THIS FIRST
TIME, SHE WAS DRUG TESTED AND
IT WAS FOUND SHE WAS PREGNANT.
SOMEONE FINALLY OFFERED HER
METHADONE. AND THROUGH THAT
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND ACTUALLY
ADDRESSING HER TRAUMA AND
HELPING HER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
IT WAS SHE WAS REACTING TO, WHY
SHE WAS USING, SHE WAS ABLE TO
BREAK THE CYCLE. SHE NOW HAS I
THINK HER LITTLE BOY IS JUST
TURNING SIX. SHE IS A FANTASTIC
PARENT. A GREAT LEADER IN TOWN.
I WOULD NOT KNOW HER BACKGROUND
IF SHE HAD NOT TOLD ME. SHE IS
A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF
SOCIETY AND WE SEE THIS
EVERYWHERE. SO THE REASON TO
OFFER MY FRIEND METHADONE AND
SUPPORT IS BECAUSE SHE IS A
PERSON. AND SHE IS WORTHY OF
IT. BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT WE
SPENT ARRESTING AND BOOKING AND
HOLDING HER IN JAIL 15
DIFFERENT TIMES AND NOT GETTING
HELP HELP. SO I JUST COMMEND
THE REVOLUTIONARY WORK
HAPPENING HERE TO REIMAGINE HOW
WE INTERRUPT THESE CYCLES. AND
WHAT THE CITY COULD LOOK LIKE
IN TEN OR 20 YEARS IF WE
PERSIST. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF.
>> NOTHING TO ADD, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU AS PER OUR
PROTOCOL, I WILL TURN IT TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU CHIEF BARDEN. ALSO
THE TEAM. OUR DIRECTORS OF CVO
AND CENTRAL STAFF. AND SO,
REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOU TO BE
HERE THIS MORNING. YOU ARE THE
FIRST OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY. THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
ENTITIES, WE HAVE POLICE FIRE
NOW CARE, BUT THEN WE HAVE THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. CPC,
OIG, AND OPA. THE LEGAL SIDE.
THE COURTS AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND FINALLY
WE HAVE OFFICE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OAM. IT IS ONE ECO
SYSTEM AND I SAY THIS NOW
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO THINK OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AS AN ECO SYSTEM. NOT
LOOKING AT EACH INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENT. IT IS GOOD WE START
WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE A BIT
OF A BLEND AND SO IT KIND OF
HIGHLIGHTS THE PIECE. WE NEED
ALL OF THEM TO BE WORKING
FUNCTIONALLY AND WELL AND TO
INCLUDE THE COURTS. THERE ARE
ISSUES OUT THERE WITH OLYMPIA
AND THE STATE LAW AND SO FORTH.
FOR THIS NEW THING THAT WE NOW
HAVE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE AS
YOU NOTED, IT IS THE WAVE OF
THE FUTURE IF YOU WILL. IT IS
WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH.
I BELIEVE IN IT AND I THINK WE
SHOULD. BUT I RECOGNIZE WITH
ANY NEW THING, THERE IS GOING
TO BE CHANGES. SO TO MY BELIEF
FOR MY COLLEAGUES HERE, THIS
BUDGET, THIS TWO YEAR, WE HAVE
TO SET LIKE A BASELINE. AND
REALLY GET THE DATA. GET THE
INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. I
REALLY THINK THE NEXT BUY-IN,
THE NEXT TWO-YEAR CYCLE WE'LL
PROBABLY BE LOOKING FOR MAJOR
COURSE DIRECTIONS OR WE SHOULD.
WHETHER WE WILL OR NOT IS
ANOTHER STORY. AT LEAST ON THE
EXECUTIVE SIDE. I HAVE SEEN IT
TOO OFTEN. THIS BLUEPRINT, WE
HAVE TO GET THE BLUEPRINT DOWN.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE READY
FOR CHANGE, TOO. BUT THAT
CHANGE HAS TO BE PREDICATED ON
WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE
GROUND. AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I SEE AND LIKE TO DIG INTO
A LITTLE BIT, IS THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICE.
YOU KNOW. AS NOTED, WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE BASICALLY A
DUAL DISPATCH MUTUAL DISPATCH.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
DATA SETS BUT OFTENTIMES, UP TO
85, 90, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT
NUMBER. IT IS POLICE AND THEN
THE CALL CARE. HOW CAN WE GET
TO A SITUATION WHERE IT IS DUAL
DISPATCH AS OPPOSED TO A
SECONDARY DISPATCH BECAUSE WE
NEED TO HAVE THIS DATA SET TO
AFFECT CHANGE IN THIS BUDGET
CYCLE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU
COULD SPEAK TO THAT PIECE. WHAT
ARE THE LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR.
WHAT TWEAKS DO WE NEED, HOW DO
WE ADJUST?
BECAUSE THIS PLAYS OUT IN OTHER
AREAS AS WELL THAT WE CAN'T
REALLY GO TO HERE. IN THE DAIS.
ON THAT FRONT.
>> RIGHT.
>> WELCOME AGAIN.
>> THE ECO SYSTEM IS TRUE. I
DON'T WANT TO SEND THE TEAM
OUT TOMORROW. WE HAVE TO SEE
THE WHOLE SYSTEM. WHETHER WE
GET PEOPLE HELP SO WE HAVE
OUTCOMES. ON THE POLICE FRONT,
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THERE
HAS GOT TO BE BETTER
CLARIFICATION OF THE ROLE OF
POLICE, THE ROLE OF CARE. WE
ARE ACTIVELY IN CONVERSATIONS
WITH LABOR. THAT'S A VITAL
PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE. WHO DOES
WHAT. THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT
UNIONS I IMPACT DIRECTLY. IT
TOOK ME SIX MONTHS TO REALIZE
THAT. I WAS NOT AWARE. I AM
DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE DID
WORK WITH ME CONSIDERING THE
WAY THE CITY WENT ABOUT IT. I
WAS LATE IN THE GAME. I WAS
MONTHS BEFORE LAUNCHING THE
PILOT BEFORE I TALKED TO MIKE
AND OTHERS. THEY WERE
SUPPORTIVE. WE LAY A FOUNDATION
WHERE THIS WILL BE HERE FOR MY
GRAND CHILDREN.. I WANTED TO DO
IT WELL. I WANTED TO REALLY
ORGANIZE THE WORK. NOT JUST THE
CITY WORK, BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT
ARE THE NON-PROFITS DOING. WHAT
IS THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY. WE
HAVE A LOT OF OUTREACH TEAMS
OUT THERE. ALL THESE THINGS
NEED TO COME TOGETHER. 911 TO
CARE. WHAT ARE THE CALL TYPES?
WHEN WOULD YOU CALL 988 AND
INVOKE A MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
RESOURCE? ALL CALL TYPES. I
ARRIVED AT THAT CONCLUSION
BECAUSE I REALIZED THERE WAS A
LOT OF RISK AND EVERYBODY WOULD
FEEL BETTER IF POLICE ARRIVED
INITIALLY AND CLEARED THE
SCENE. THAT WAS JUST A GOOD WAY
OF REALLY ANALYZING WHETHER OR
NOT POLICE FELT NEEDED. I KNEW
I WOULD GET BY. IF THEY WERE
THE ONES TO COME TO ME AND SAY
WE ARE NOT NEEDED HERE, THIS IS
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR US. AND
THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. I
HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME. I WAS
ALWAYS EVALUATING AND
INTERROGATING THE CARE SIDE.
DID YOU FEEL SAFE. COULD POLICE
HAVE GOTTEN A BETTER RESULT?
DID YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS
APPROPRIATE? SO WE WILL DO A
THOUSAND CALLS THIS YEAR. I
LEAVE IT TO MY PARTNERS AND
LABOR NEGOTIATIONS. POLICE
DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO
BE AROUND IN A COUPLE OF YEARS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BURNED.
YOU KNOW. A LOT OF INNOVATIONS
HAVE HAPPENED. THE REALTIME
CRIME CENTER THAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN TEN YEARS AGO, AND SO,
THERE IS THIS BELIEF THAT WE
TAKE A STEP FORWARD AND THEN
ELECTED OFFICIALS CHANGE AND WE
TAKE TWO STEPS BACK. THIS IS
BASIC CHANGE MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY. RIGHT? WE DON'T
ACCLIMATE TO A NEW WAY OF BEING
UNTIL WE KNOW IT IS A NEW WAY
OF BEING. THERE IS A WAY TO
INVEST IN IT TO UNDERSTAND AND
GET ATTACHED AND LEARN HOW TO
DO IT. I CAME UP AGAINST THAT
IN DISPATCH AS WELL. SO I KEEP
PROMISING I WILL NOT LEAVE. I
BELIEVE IN THIS. THIS IS A
NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND IT WILL
HAPPEN. THOSE WORDS WILL HAVE A
LOT MORE WEIGHT WHEN THE WORDS
ARE COMING FROM YOUR MOUTHS AND
THE MOUTHS OF THE EXECUTIVES.
IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING
BUSINESS.
>> I THINK WE ARE ADDRESSING
THAT LAST POINT YOU MADE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> AND TIED TO THIS, TOO, IS
YOU MENTIONED FIRE. AND THIS
GOES BACK TO MY POINT. I'M
KIND OF MAKING THE POINT ABOUT
HOW WE ALL HAVE TO BE FRAMING
THINGS GOING AHEAD IN THE
FUTURE. FIRE, YOU KNOW. IN
TERMS OF HEALTH ONE. 99. WHAT
THEY DO. EVEN IN SPD, WE HAVE
THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AND SO FORTH. IT CAN ALSO BE
HIGH ACUITY, LOW ACUITY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> I'M COMING INTO CITY HALL
THIS MORNING. THERE IS AN
INDIVIDUAL IN THE LANE RIGHT IN
THE INTERSECTION. MEDIC ONE IS
THERE. AND THIS PERSON IS BY
HIMSELF SHAKING. THE MEDIC ONE
VEHICLE IS THERE. IS THIS IS
DANNY SO THIS IS ON THE BORDER
WITH CARE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THAT BALANCE? WHAT REQUEST ARE
WHAT CAN WE DO?
>> I ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHEN YOU
BRING FOURTH YOUR AWARENESS OF
SPECIFIC PEOPLE. CONSENT BASED
INTERVENTION IS CARE. IN ANY
TIME OF HUMAN CRISIS. SOCIAL
WORK, PUBLIC ISSUE, I WOULD
PREFER TO SEND CARE FIRST IF
THERE IS NOT EVIDENCE THERE IS
A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT. THIS IS
THE DIVERSION ATTEMPT. ONE STEP
IN ANY DIRECTION, THIS COULD BE
A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS. SO ACS
WENT OUT. TALKED TO THE PERSON
AND SAID LISTEN, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN GIVE YOU A RIDE. WHAT DO
YOU NEED? THEY TRIED TO USE
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TO
ENTICE THE PERSON OFF THE
MEDIAN. ONE OF THE ACS
RESPONDERS SAID THE NEXT CALL
IS GOING TO BE TO ALBUQUERQUE
POLICE. YOU CANNOT BE HERE. IT
IS NOT LEGAL. WE PREFER NOT TO
CALL THEM. WE PREFER TO TAKE
YOU OURSELVES BUT THAT WILL BE
THE NEXT CALL. AND THEN THE
PERSON SAID OKAY. YOU HAVE TO
BE CONSISTENT IN THE MESSAGING
AND THE FOLLOW THROUGH. ONE OF
THE IDEAS I HAVE, I HAVE TALKED
ABOUT CENTRALIZING THIS CASE
MANAGEMENT FUNCTION IN THE
CITY. I HAVE CORESPONDERS AND
POLICE. CASE MANAGERS. AND THEN
THE HEALTH ONE TEAM, HIGHLY
TRAINED WITH READ MEDICAL
EXPERTISE. WHAT IF I HAD 80
CARE TYPE RESPONDERS? BUT YOU
KNOW, A THIRD OF THEM WERE
TRAINED TO ALSO GO OVER TO
POLICE IF THAT WERE NEEDED?
THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY AND
DESIGN WOULD PREPARE US FOR A
COVID TYPE OF EVENT. IF THERE
WERE THE NEXT FENTANYL RIGHT?
WHERE SUDDENLY WE NEED WAY MORE
HEALTH ONE AND HEALTH 99. WHAT
WE DESIGNED INSTEAD IS
SOMETHING VERY STATIC AND
INFLEXIBLE. I LOVE THE POLICE
CRT UNIT. I'M SHOCKED SINCE
2010, WE HAVE GROWN TO HAVE
FIVE SOCIAL WORKERS. IT SHOULD
BE TENFOLD THAT. IT SHOULD.
THAT IS A MODEL THAT IS TESTED
AND IT WORKS AND IT HELPS
PEOPLE. AND I GO OUT WITH THAT
TEAM. THEY GET WONDERFUL
RESULTS. GENERALLY, THE OFFICER
IS SORT OF LIKE AN UBER. THEY
DON'T HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. BUT
THERE'S A REASON THEY ARE
THERE. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS
BECOME VIOLENT WHEN TESTED
BEFORE.
>> WE NEED THE DATA WE HAVE TO
SEE WHERE WE ARE.
>> WE DO HAVE THAT.
>> AND THEN WE CAN MAKE MAJOR
COURSE CORRECTIONS.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE FOR
YOU, THEY HAVE A CRISIS
DASHBOARD. THE MOST INFORMATIVE
TO DESIGN. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
AGAIN THE ACUITY LEVELS. DAY
OVER DAY, HOUR BY HOUR. WHAT
TYPES OF CALLS ARE COMING IN
AND GO THESE WOULD BE CARE.
THIS WOULD BE POLICE. THIS IS
HEALTH ONE.
>> SHIFTING A BIT.
>> THE SEATTLE RESTORATION
DIRECTOR. I'M A LITTLE BIT
GUARDED ON THIS. THERE IS A LOT
OF DIFFERENT PIECES FROM A
LEADERSHIP, A PILOT BEING GIVEN
THIS LEADERSHIP ROLE HERE. IT
HAS A SPAN AND CONTROL OF THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. CAN YOU
SPEAK MORE ABOUT HOW THIS CAME
ABOUT AND WHY, THERE ARE A LOT
OF PEOPLE WITH UCT AND OTHER
ELEMENTS WITHIN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE THAT COULD BE DRIVING
THIS IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP.
WHY DO WE HAVE A SEATTLE
RESTORATION DIRECTOR AND WHY IS
IT UNDER CARE?
>> AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT MY
DECISION. BUT IT DOES MAKE
SENSE TO ME. BECAUSE NATURALLY,
I HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY POSITIONED
AS THE HUB OF THE SYSTEM OF THE
COUNTY LEVEL TWO AND THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS. I ALWAYS
JOKE I'M LIKE SEATTLE'S
MIDDLE CHILD AND ABLE TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PERSON.
WE COORDINATE WITH FIRE.
THAT'S PART OF IT. THINKING
ABOUT CARE IS ALMOST LIKE THE
WATCHTOWER AND DESIGN TO DRIVE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND QUALITY
ASSURANCE.
THE PILOT IS NEW, BUT I'M NOT
NEW TO COORDINATION. I THINK
THE PERCEPTION HAS BEEN THAT I
HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THE
CROSS SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND
IN DRIVING NEEDED CHANGE.
HOWEVER, I AM AGNOSTIC. I COULD
MAKE A CASE FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS
FOR THIS. I JUST KNOW THAT WORK
NEED TO BE COORDINATED. I
DON'T CARE WHO DOES IT
ACTUALLY. IT NEEDS TO BE
COORDINATED AND WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WHEN WE GO, AGAIN, IF WE
ARE GOING TO REMEDIATE A
CERTAIN BLOCK. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY GET
PEOPLE HELP. AND WE ARE NOT
JUST MOVING FOLKS WHO ARE
SUFFERING AROUND.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THERE
WILL BE A LOT OF FOLLOW-UP TO
THE BROADER PICTURE ON THIS.
>> WE SEE THE CARE TEAM AS THE
CHIEF WAS JUST DESCRIBING AS AN
IDEAL PLACE. FOR THIS TYPE OF
COORDINATION TO HAPPEN. TO DO
THAT COORDINATION AND IS
ALREADY DOING THAT WORK THAT IS
CORE TO THEIR MISSION. TO BRING
TOGETHER THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT
THE RIGHT TIME TO HELP PEOPLE.
AS ISSUES ARISE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM OF THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM IS
MODELED AFTER THE UCT TEAM. AND
WE ARE CURRENTLY PILOTING THIS
KIND OF WORK ALONG THIRD AVENUE
AND WE EXPECT THE EXECUTIVE
WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE
PROGRAM AND WE NEED THIS NEW
POSITION TO HELP WITH THAT
COORDINATION.
>> IT WILL HAVE TO BE A STRONG
INDIVIDUAL WITH A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE.
>> INDEED.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION, SORRY
CHAIR. ONE LAST QUESTION. I
HAVE DONE THIS TO MYSELF.
BECAUSE THE 911 CALL CENTER
NEEDS TO HAVE EQUAL BILLING AND
UNFORTUNATELY, WE TEND TO SPEND
A LOT OF TIME WITH CARE PIECE.
BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE
I HAVE BEEN TO THE 911 CALL
CENTER. 911 CALL CENTERS ARE
UNDERSTAFFED. I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. WE WILL
CHECK WITH CENTRAL STAFF IN
TERMS OF BUDGETING. IN TERMS OF
INCREASES.
WE AVOIDED THE MANDATORY
OVERTIME HOURS. WHERE ARE WE,
ARE WE COMFORTABLE ABOUT WHERE
YOU ARE? THAT PUT YOU IN A
DIFFICULT POSITION. ANSWER TO
THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES?
>> I DON'T HAVE A MIC YET.
OKAY, THERE WE GO. SO YEAH, WE
ARE NOT EXACTLY WHERE WE WOULD
LIKE TO BE YET. 911 IS STILL
WORKING A LOT OF OVERTIME. WE
ARE ON TRACK TO WORK AROUND 36
U NO HOURS OF OVERTIME THIS
36,000 HOURS OF OVERTIME. WE
CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT TO TRY
TO IMPROVE THE WORK LIFE
BALANCE. IT IS A VERY TRAUMATIC
JOB FOR THEM. THEY ARE THE
FIRST, FIRST RESPONDERS.
QUESTION NEED ENOUGH FIRST
RESPONDERS TO RESPOND TO THE
CALLS. WE ARE LARGELY ON TRACK
WITH WHERE OUR NATIONAL
EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION
STANDARDS ARE. WE FIND
OURSELVES AS A CITY WHERE THERE
IS A SHORTFALL. WHILE THERE ARE
UNLIMITED WANTS FOR EVERYONE
WANTS. WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE
AS BEST WE CAN. THE FEELING IS
HAVING FIRST RESPONDERS TO
ANSWER THE 911 CALLS ON THE
STREET WILL BE MORE BENEFICIAL
THAN ADDING MORE CALL TAKERS
TAKERS AT THIS POINT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> APOLOGIES.
>> HE SAID IT WAS THE LAST ONE.
HE GAVE US FAIR WARNING.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS
MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR THE
CONTEXT. THAT IS REALLY QUITE
PHENOMENAL. WHAT YOU HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED IN A YEAR'S TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK
NEXT YEAR, AND HAVE A HIGH
HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS. PART OF
THAT IS THE EXCITEMENT THAT THE
FIRST EXPANSION WILL BE NORTH
SEATTLE AND I'M JUST WONDERING
WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF
TIME LINE FOR THAT EXPANSION TO
THE NORTH PRECINCT.
>> YEAH. THE JOB OFFERS HAVE
GONE OUT ALREADY. SOME HAVE
BEEN ACCEPTED. SO THAT TEAM IS
ASSEMBLING. IT WILL BE AGAIN
VERY WELL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS
AND WE POSTED THE CCR JOBS.
NINE HOURS IN, I HAD 110
APPLICANTS. THEY WERE WORKING
IN THE SPACE THAT WANTED THESE
JOBS SO IT IS EASIER TO SCALE
THIS TYPE OF RESPONSE AND
ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN IN 911 AND
NON-POLICE. SO YEAH. WE ARE
PROBABLY SIX WEEKS OUT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, FROM BEING
THERE. I HAVE BEEN IN NORTH
PRECINCT A LOT. WE ARE WANTING
TO REALLY SOCIALIZE THE IDEA.
MAKE SURE THE OFFICERS KNOW THE
CARE RESPONDERS AND CAN BENEFIT
FROM THEIR KNOWLEDGE. IT IS
INTERESTING, WE TALK A LOT
ABOUT WHO CALLS WHO AND HOW
THEY GET DEPLOYED BUT I CAN'T
OVERSTATE HOW VITAL IT IS, THAT
IT PERMEATES ALL OF FIRST
RESPONSE. THAT IS A GAME
CHANGER. WHEN I FIRST
STARLETTED WORKING WITH SOCIAL
WORKERS IT CHANGED. IT CHANGED
HOW I REACTED TO PEOPLE AND
WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS SEEING.
I AM GETTING THOSE FROM THE
OFFICERS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE
LEARNED. WATCHING NOTE.
THIS IS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO
DEESCALATE. SO YEAH. ABOUT SIX
WEEKS.
>> I HEARD THE SIMILAR
STATEMENT WHEN I WENT ON A TOUR
WITH HEALTH ONE. IT WAS REAL
EYE OPENER AND THEY HAD LEARNED
A LOT OF INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
THAT WERE VERY HELPFUL TO THEIR
JOB. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION,
TOO. SO, THE LEGISLATION TO
JUST PASS AROUND THE LOITERING.
MAKING A SPECIALIZED TRAINING
CURRICULUM, INTERACTING WITH
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE FOR CARE
ALONG THE AURORA CORRIDOR?
>> YEAH. THIS IS JUST MY
OPINION. IF THERE IS HUMAN
SUFFERING, IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN
VICTIMIZEDDER CARE WOULD ALWAYS
BE INVOLVED IN THAT CALL. SO I
THINK YOU HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD
JOB. EMPHASIZING WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PREDATORS.
AND PEOPLE VICTIMIZING AND WE
WANT TO PROTECT THE VICTIMS SO
I THINK ABOUT CARE AS
PROTECTING THE VICTIMS. AND
MAKING SURE THAT IF THERE IS AN
INTERVENTION THAT IS SOMEBODY
WITH THIS TYPE OF CLINICAL
EXPERTISE AND IN THE PERFECT
WORLD, I HOPE THAT, I SAY
DIVERSIFIED RESPONSE. I CAN
INVOKE PEERS, WHO HAVE
SURVIVED. IT IS OFTEN THE
PERSON WHO HAS SURVIVED. THOSE
ARE THE PEOPLE OFTEN WHO KNOW
HOW TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION
AND INSPIRE SOME HOPE TO SAY I
WAS YOU. NOW LOOK AT ME. IT IS
SO SIMPLE. WE NEED A WAY TO
WORK THAT IN. TO SUPPORT FIRST
RESPONSE. THE CARE RESPONDERS
BECAUSE SOME MAY HAVE LIVED
EXPERIENCE. BUT THAT IS NOT
WHAT I'M HIRING. I'M REALLY
HIRING FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND
THE EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD. WE
CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. BUT I
THINK THAT ABOUT OPEN USE AS
WELL. AGAIN, ANYTHING WHERE
SOMEBODY IS SUFFERING I WOULD
LIKE CARE TO BE THERE AT A
MINIMUM IN A CORESPONSE
CAPACITY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO
THE TEAM FOR BEING HERE, SO I
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 911
CALL CENTER AND THE CARE TEAM.
I HAVE CONCERNS BECAUSE I HAVE
CONSTITUENTS CALLING ME TELLING
ME THAT THEY ARE REACHING OUT
TO 911. THEY GET ROUTED TO THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE AND NOBODY
ANSWERS THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE.
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
NON-EMERGENCY LINE.
HOW THEY CAN TAKE UP TO TWO
HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO RESPOND
SPUE NON-EMERGENCY LINE. I ALSO
KNOW FROM YOUR SLY FROM LAST
SEPTEMBER OF 2020. RELATED TO
911 CALL CENTER THAT 30% WHICH
IS THERE ARE NINE EMERGENCY
CALLS THAT WIND UP BEING
EMERGENCY CALLS ONCE THE CALL
TAKER GETS THE INFORMATION FROM
THE CONSTITUENT WHO IS CALLING
IN
WHEN I WAS I SHOULD SAY, I WENT
DOWN TO THE CALL CENTER AS YOU
KNOW. I WAS TOLD THE
CONSTITUENTS SHOULD CALL 911.
WE SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE
BEEN TELLING PEOPLE, THAT
POLICE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME
BECAUSE OF LOW STAFFING
NUMBERS.
CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED AND WE
HAVE PROPER DATA BY WHICH WE
ARE MAKING ALL THE DECISIONS.
THE 911 CALL CENTER IS AN
ESSENTIAL SERVICE. IF FOLKS ARE
NOT GETTING A RESPONSE, THIS IS
A HUGE PROBLEM. IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE CARE PILOT. WE HAVEN'T
GIVEN AS MUCH ATTENTION TO THE
911 CALL CENTER.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING TO
ADDRESS THE CALL CENTER. I
IMAGINE WE HAVE, YOU HAVE
POSITIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO ADD TO THE CALL CENTER.
WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THAT? I
UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN
EXPANSION OF CARE. WE HAVE
LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THE
EXPANSION OF CARE. AND WE ARE
ADDING 23 POSITIONS TO THAT,
BUT NOT ADDING POSITIONS TO THE
911 CALL CENTER. AND THEN ALSO,
I KNOW WITH THE OVERTIME, THERE
IS A LOT OF OVERTIME I KNOW
THAT THE CALL TAKERS HAVE
MANDATED OVERTIME. SO IS IT DO
YOU NEED POSITION AUTHORITY
BECAUSE IT IS MORE COSTLY TO DO
OVERTIME. I AM GETTING CONCERN
THAT AS MORE TIME GOES BY, OUR
ABILITY, IT IS REALLY AN
EMERGENCY CALL. NOT GETTING
RESPONDED TO. VERY MUCH SUPPORT
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING. AND,
NOT OR, 911 IS AN ESSENTIAL
SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO BE
ROBUSTLY STAFFING AND MAKING
SURE.
>> IF THIS IS ON THE TVs AND
911
I AM NOT, 90% OF MY TIME HAS
GONE TO 911 FROM THE JUMP. FOR
THE REASONS YOU JUST STATED.
NOT EVEN FROM THE TIME OF THE
FIRST CALL, WHEN DO YOU CALL
911? WHEN DO YOU SOLVE YOUR OWN
PROBLEM? HOW ARE WE ASKING
PEOPLE TO BEHAVE IN THIS SYSTEM
AT LEAST SINCE 2018? FOLKS, IN
911 HAVE BEEN PLEADING FOR MORE
STAFFING. IT IS JUST LIKE
POLICING. CALLINGS ARE GOING
UP. YOU CAN SEE THE DATA YEAR
OVER YEAR OVER YEAR. CALLS ARE
GOING UP. NON-EMERGENCY CALLS
ARE ALSO GOING UP. WE DIDN'T
INVEST ENOUGH IN TECHNOLOGY. I
JUST UPGRADED IT FINALLY. IT
WAS FIVE YEARS POST UPGRADE. SO
NOW, THAT OPENS UP I SHOULD
SAY, COO MAXEY IS IN THE ROOM
AS WELL. A CONCERTED EFFORT FOR
POLICE TO GET US UP TO SPEED. I
APPRECIATE THE PAIN THAT YOU
FELT WITH THE CONSTITUENTS.
IT DOES HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE
DAY. WE ARE NOT MANAGING
EXPECTATIONS PROPERLY. IF I SAY
911 IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE I
ANSWER THE 911 CALL. IN THE
SPACE OF SCARCITY NOW, I'M
LOOKING AT PRIORITY ONE AND TWO
CALLS WHICH PAUSE AT ACTUAL
THREAT TO LIFE. SOMEONE COULD
DIE OR BE ASSAULTED. I HAVE TO
PRIORITIZE THOSE CALLS.
YOU ARE CORRECT ABOUT EMERGENCY
VERSUS NON-EMERGENCY. THAT
WOULD RELATE TO PRIORITY 3 AND
4 CALLS. THERE IS A TEMPORAL
NATURE. I REALLY ANALYZE THAT.
I WAS JUST UP TO MY EYEBALLS IN
CALL DATA TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE DISCONNECTS SO I DO WISH WE
COULD STAFF UP. WE NEED ABOUT
60 MORE POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND EXPEDITIOUSLY TO
EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY.
THAT IS NOT FEASIBLE RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE SUBSIDIES FOR CARE
RESPONDERS AND ALSO, CARE IS
THE BEST STRATEGY WE HAVE TO
GET COPS TO PRIORITY ONE CALLS
NOW WITH 11 MINUTES. IF YOU
THINK AGAIN ABOUT ARMED
ROBBERY, 11 MINUTES, HOW LONG
THAT IS, SO I JUST HAVE TO
PRIORITIZE THAT. MY STRATEGY
WITH 911 IS TO RETAIN PEOPLE.
TO HIRE BETTER TO RETAIN THEM.
THERE IS A VACANCY RATE OF 20%.
IT WAS JUST POLICE AND PEOPLE
RETIRED. IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE
GOING TO BE FULLY STAFFEDLY THE
END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE TWO
INCOMING CLASSES. IT WILL BE A
GAME CHANGER IF I CAN HAVE
STABILITY IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED THIS WORK ACKNOWLEDGED.
WE NEED TO REFRAIN FROM
MANDATORY OVERTIME. THE MAIN
THING I CAN DO IS NOT FORCE
THEM TO WORK DURING THEIR
KIDS' BIRTHDAYS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. EVERYTHING YOU
ILLUMINATED IS CORRECT. WE ARE
USING THE RESOURCES AS WELL AS
WE CAN. AND I'M A HUGE FAN OF
TECH. ANYTHING THAT CAN BE
AUTOMATED MUST BE DONE NOW
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF
A TEAM.
>> YOU JUST SAID A LOT THERE.
BUT I'M NOT SURE YOU GOT TO MY
QUESTION WHICH IS WHAT IS,
THERE ARE NO POSITIONS BEING
REQUESTED ON THIS BUDGET FOR
911 CALL TAKER OR DISPATCH. SO
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN
IS FOR ADDING POSITIONS AND I
WANT TO SAY IN TERMS OF
AUTOMATED NOT THAT I'M AGAINST
AUTOMATION BUT IF A PERSON IS
CALLING IN THE 30% THAT IT
ACTUALLY TERNS OUT TO BE AN
EMERGENCY, IT JUST TAKES LONGER
IF IT IS AUTOMATED TO BE ABLE
TO GET TO TO THE FACT THAT CALL
WAS ACTUALLY AN EMERGENCY,
LEGIT 911 CALL. THE LAST THING
I WILL SAY, CHIEF, EVERYONE
KNOWS WE HAVE LOW STAFFING
NUMBERS AS SPD, AT THE VERY
LEAST, IF SOMEONE CALLS 911, WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO INCLUDEING
THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE, BECAUSE
NORMALLY PEOPLE CALL THAT EVEN
WHEN A PRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED
BUT THE PERSON IS NO LONGER
THERE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO
TIE UP THE 911 CALL IF SOMEONE
NEEDS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE BUT
A CRIME HAS USUALLY BEEN
COMMITTED WHEN SOMEONE IS
CALLING THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE.
SO HALT THE VERY LEAST, IF WE
CAN'T GET A POLICE OFFICER TO
GET TO SOMEONE BECAUSE OF LOW
STAFFING NUMBERS WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO TAKE THEIR CALL AT THE
911 CALL CENTER. IT IS AN
ESSENTIAL SERVICE. SO I WANT TO
KNOW THE PLAN FOR GETTING STAFF
TO A PLACE WHERE FOLKS FEEL
LIKE THEY ARE GETTING THAT
SERVICE. AT THE VERY LEST.
>> MY PLAN IS TO FILL THE 18
VACANT POSITIONS BY THE END OF
THE YEAR, SO PEOPLE DON'T
CONTINUE TO LEAVE. 18 POSITIONS
IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. GENERALLY,
I HAVE NINE TO 11 PEOPLE TAKING
CALLS ON THE FLOOR, THEY ARE
DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES. NINE
PEOPLE ARE TAKING 2500 CALLS A
DAY. SO IT IS ASTONISHING WHAT
THEY ARE ABLE TO MANAGE AND HOW
THEY ARE ABLE TO MANAGE IT. I
FEEL VERY DEFENSIVE OF WHAT
THEY ARE ABLE TO DO. PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MORE
POCKETS FOR YEARS. I COULD HAVE
DONE THIS, THIS YEAR, I CHOOSE
NOT TO BECAUSE I HAVE WATCHED
THE ROLE OF CARE. CARE IS
REALLY USEFUL AT THESE
CONVERSATIONS, CHECKING AND
ADVISING SOMETIMES WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. SEND
CARE, THAT IS A BETTER USE OF
RESOURCES SO I VALIDATE
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAYING. THE
BEST I CAN DO IS STAFF UP, FILL
THE POSITIONS I HAVE GOT.
MAINTAIN THE TEAM AND DRIVE
EXPEDIENCY. PEOPLE WILL KNOW IF
THIS CLICK OR CALL HERE. I
DON'T HAVE A GOOD STRATEGY TO
DIVERT TO 988. DURHAM CAN
DIVERT A LOT OF CALLs THERE TO
THE CARE RESPONDERS TO TAKE
CALLS FOR ONE WEEK A MONTH SO
WE MIGHT LOOK AT THAT, AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, I WILL JUST KEEP
REPORTING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DO. YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED
SOMETHING THAT HAS KEPT US ALL
UP AT NIGHT.
>> SO JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, YOU
CHOSE NOT TO ADD 911 CALL
TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS BECAUSE
YOU WANTED TO EXPAND CARE
BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS
WHAT WAS NEEDED NOW?
>> THAT IS HALF CORRECT. YEAH.
I CHOSE NOT TO BECAUSE I HAVE
18 VACANCIES AND I FEEL LIKE I
SHOULD NOT ASK FOR MORE
POSITIONS IF I CANNOT FILL THE
ONES I HAVE.
>> THAT'S THE POINT I WAS
GOING TO MAKE, THERE IS A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADDING
POSITIONS AND ADDING PEOPLE. WE
HAVE THE AUTHORIZED POSITIONS
AND THE FUNDING. NECESSARY TO
HIRE NEW PEOPLE ON WHEN FOLKS
WHO ARE THERE DECIDE FOR
WHATEVER REASON THEY WIN THE
LOTTERY OR FOR SOME OTHER
REASON THEY NO LONGER WANT TO
DO THAT WORK.
THE CHIEF WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
STRATEGY SHE IS USING TO
CHEMOTHE PEOPLE THERE AND. WE
DECIDED HALT THE EXECUTIVE SIDE
OF THE GOVERNMENTAL DIVIDE WE
HAVE THE POSITIONS AND FUNDING
AUTHORITY THAT WE NEED. WE ARE
WORKING ON RETAINING THE STAFF
WHO ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS AND
ATTRACTING NEW PEOPLE.
>> I WILL COME FORWARD. IF I
HAVE STABILIZED STAFFING AND I
CAN ODD MORE, I ASSURE YOU, I
WILL QUICKLY REQUEST MORE AS WE
FIGURE THIS OUT. WE ARE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS BEST FOR
THIS JOB. HOW DO YOU ATTRACT
AND RETAIN STAFF.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU,
DAN, FOR ADDING THAT. NOW WE
CAN TALK MORE OFFLINE ABOUT
THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND SO, WE CAN TALK MORE
OFFLINE. I DO HAVE A QUESTION,
CHAIR, ABOUT CARE.
>> FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS A DUAL
DISPATCH SYSTEM. SO I GUESS
I'M A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT
IS THE SERVICE CARE WILL BE
PROVIDING IN ITS EXPANSION TO
THE NORTH END. WE KNOW WE HAVE
LOW STAFFING SPD NUMBERS. I
KNOW WHEN I WENT ALONG ON MY
RIDE ALONG I WAS CONCERNED
BECAUSE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
NEEDED ASSISTANCE AND THE CARE
TEAM COULDN'T HELP THEM. AND
PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THIS CAR
THAT SAYS CARE, RESPONSE, CITY
OF SEATTLE AND NO ONE WAS
STOPPING TO HELP THESE
INDIVIDUALS.
I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
I'M SUPPORTIVE TO ALTERNATIVES
OF POLICING BUT ARE WE ACTUALLY
GETING THE OUTCOMES WE ARE
INTENDING WITH THIS PROGRAM TO
BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY THE
EXPANSION OF IT? WHAT CAN
PEOPLE EXPECT? BECAUSE I'M NOT
EXPOSED TO EXPANSION OF THINGS
THAT WORK. HOW IS THIS GOING TO
HELP FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY
INCLUDING THE NORTH END? IF IT
IS A DUAL DISPATCH SYSTEM AND
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS?
WHAT IS THE SERVICE THAT THE
CARE TEAM IS ABLE TO PROVIDE
GIVEN THAT LIMITATION?
>> I WILL GO BACK TO THE
THOUSAND HOURS RELEASED BACK TO
POLICE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET
CONFUSED AND THINK POLICE AND
CARE GO TOGETHER AND REMAIN IN
A CORESPONSE. THEY DON'T.
POLICE GO SOMETIMES SO THEY ARE
FIRST SECOND. THAT IS WHAT THE
MOU REQUIRED INITIALLY. TO SAY
WE ARE GOING TODDES THIS TO GET
THIS RECOMMENDATION. WE ARE IN
MONTH NINE OF THIS. THERE ARE
ACTIVE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
HAPPENING NOW. AND I I BELIEVE
WE ALL ASSUME A FUTURE STAKE
HERE WILL BE DISPATCHED ALONE
PRIMARILY IN COLLABORATION WITH
POLICE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
THAT POLICE ARE NEEDED. AND
THAT MODEL FOR THE LOW ACUITY
CALLS. IT IS ALREADY A THOUSAND
HOURS BACK. A MINIMUM OF
$130,000 SAVED SO IT IS KIND OF
A BRILLIANT FISCAL DESIGN. WE
GET THE BONUS SPACE RESPONDERS.
IF YOU LOOK AT ALBUQUERQUE
COMMUNITY SAFETY. THOSE ARE NEW
DEPARTMENTS. THEY ARE
FANTASTIC. YOU HAVE NEW
OVERHEAD. WITH ME YOU DON'T.
I'M JUST SENDING SOMEBODY
INSTEAD OF POLICE. WE DO HAVE
OUTCOMES. I HAVE 100 PAGES. I
LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES EVERY DAY.
WHO GOT BACK TO HOUSING, WHO
GOT BACK HOME. WHO WAS TALKED
BACK INTO SUPPORTED RECOVERY?
WHO WAS RECONNECTED WITH A
PARENT? STORY AFTER STORY. IN A
LOT OF CASES POLICE ARE SKILLED
AND COULD HAVE DONE IT BUT THAT
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT
USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME. I
THINK IT SHOULD BE A TRUE THIRD
FIRST RESPONDER TEAM THAT
SHOULD GO SOLO AS APPROPRIATE.
I WILL DEFER TO THE EXECUTIVES
TO SAY ANYTHING MORE.
>> ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN
PARTICULAR TO ADD THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO THE SITUATION.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I AM ASKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE
SERVICE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE NOW? BECAUSE WHEN I
WENT ON A TWO HOUR RIDE ALONG,
AGAIN THERE WERE FOLKS NEEDING
ASSISTANCE THAT WEREN'T
GETTING ASSISTANCE. WE WANT
TODAY MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE CLEAR
AND CONSTITUENTS ARE CLEAR.
WHAT IS THE SERVICE THAT IS
BEING PROVIDED? AND I DON'T
WANT TO TAKE UP ANY MORE TIME
SO WE CAN TALK OFFLINE.
>> BECAUSE WE ARE CONSENT
BASED, WE ARE NOT DESIGNATED
CRISIS RESPONDERS. I'M NOT
REMANDING ANYONE TO TREATMENT
OR FORCIBLY MOVING ANYONE. SO
THAT IS AGAIN WHEN YOU NEED
MORE HEALTH ONE, MORE POLICE,
MORE DCRs AND MORE CARE, MOST
OF THE TIME, MOST OF THE TIME,
WE DO GET THE OUTCOME AND WE
ARE ABLE TO DEESCALATE. NEXT
YEAR, IT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER
FOR THE CITY. AS THE ORCA COMES
ONLINE. AS WE INVEST MORE IN
EVERGREEN CREAM SERVICES AND
BOLSTER THE SYSTEM. EVERYTHING
WILL LOOK DIFFERENT. I LIKE IT
WHEN MAYOR HARRELL SAYS I
DON'T SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE
CRIMINALS, I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SICK. WE NEED TO TREAT THIS
LIKE AN EMERGENCY AND GET
PEOPLE HELP AND THINGS WILL
LOOK DIFFERENT AND MY TEAM IS
UNIQUELY POISED INTO TALKING TO
PEOPLE WOULD YOU LIKE DETOX?
THEY ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL AT
GETTING THAT YES, BUT WHAT IS
AWFUL IS THE DAYS WHERE WE CALL
DETOX AND IT IS NOT AVAILABLE.
>> WHAT IS CONCERNING TO ME
ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS IN
THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THE
INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT, THEY WERE
PASSED OUT. SHOULDEN CONSENT. A
CONSTITUENT FLAGGED US DOWN
BECAUSE THEY SAW THE CAR. AND
SAID DON'T YOU SEE SOMEONE
NEEDS ASSISTANCE? IN THIS CASE,
SOMEONE NEEDED TO HELP THAT
PERSON. THEY WERE NOT YOU KNOW,
AWAKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE
CONSENT. BUT WE JUST WALKED
AWAY. AND ALSO, THERE WAS AN
INDIVIDUAL ON THIRD AVENUE ON
THE STREET RUNNING IN FRONT OF
A BUS. AND WE DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO, THIS IS
THE THING THAT I HAVE HUGE
CONCERNS ABOUT IN TERMS OF THIS
TEAM. WHY COULDN'T THEY THEN
HAVE CALLED 911 OR DONE
SOMETHING? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
CONSTITUENTS ARE SEEING THOUGH
WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
>> I DON'T DISAGREE. BUT BY