>>> BUT YOU'RE NOT MY
DIRECTOR. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> GOOD EVENING, FROM THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY. ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY. I'M ENRIQUE
SERNA, AND I'M GOING TO BE
YOUR MODERATOR FOR THIS
EVENING'S CONVERSATION, ABOUT
SAFER SEATTLE. TONIGHT WE'RE
GOING TO HEAR FROM SEATTLE
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL. HE AND I
WILL TALK ABOUT OUR SAFETY
CONCERNS. WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM
POLICE CHIEF ADRIAN DIAZ, FIRE
CHIEF HAROLD SCOGGINS, DIRECTOR
TANYA KIM. THEY'RE SITTING
DOWN HERE SOMEPLACE. STAND UP
AND WAVE. HERE WE ARE. [
APPLAUSE ]
>>> ALSO, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
ON THE SCREEN HERE, WE HAVE
SOME HOUSEKEEPING ISSUES WE
WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT'S A
FULL HOUSE. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME
TO BE HERE. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL
CONVERSATION. SO WE EXPECT OUR
AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO BE CIVIL
AND WILL RESPECTFUL. PUT PHONES
ON SILENT. YOU WILL BE USING
YOUR PHONES TONIGHT. BUT PUT IT
ON SILENT. THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL. WE'LL BE DOING SOME
POLLING WITH OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU CAN SEE ON
THE SCREEN, ACCESSING THE
POLLING SYSTEM. THERE'S THIS
CARD WITH BAR CODE. AND YOU
WANT TO USE YOUR PHONE. IT'S
KIND OF LIKE GOING TO THE
RESTAURANT. AND USE THE PHONE
TO GO TO THE BAR CODE AND IT
WILL TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE IN OUR POLLING.
WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WITH
TONIGHT. IN FACT, WHY DON'T WE
DO A TEST OF OUR POLLING
SYSTEM? HAS EVERYONE BEEN ABLE
TO GET IN THERE? SAY YES. RAISE
YOUR HAND, TELL ME THAT YOU'RE
MAKING PROGRESS. OKAY.
ACTUALLY, SO THE QUESTION WE'RE
GOING TO ASK IS A TOUGH ONE.
SHOULD WE BRING BACK THE
SONICS. NOW, I KNOW THAT
THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION.
YEAH? UNLESS. THAT'S ONE WE
CAN ALL CHEER FOR. BY THE WAY,
IF YOU SAY NO, SECURITY WILL
ESCORT YOU OUT OF THE BUILDING
AND WE WILL BOO LOUDLY. I
DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY CANNOT
WANT US TO BRING BACK THE
SONICS. ALL RIGHT. CAN WE DO
THE TEST? OH, GOD, 3% SAID NO.
WHO SAID NO. COME ON NOW.
>> OKAY. 37% SAY YES. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING
THERE THIS IS GOING TO GIVE YOU
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
OTHER QUESTIONS THIS EVENING. I
THINK YOU SUBMIT QUESTIONS.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE
SO. AND AT ABOUT 6:30, WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY,
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY
SUBMITTED YOUR QUESTIONS, WE'RE
GOING TPOF SOME ATTENDANTS
ALONG THE AISLES TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS, SO WE CAN
TRY TO WORK THEM INTO THE
CONVERSATION. I ALSO WANT TO
INTRODUCE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICIALS, INDIVIDUALLY
TONIGHT. LET ME INTRODUCE OUR
POLICE CHIEF, ADRIAN DIAZ. COME
ON, ADRIAN. STAND UP. BE RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THE CROWD. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR FIRE CHIEF, HAROLD
SCOGGINS. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR CARE
CHIEF, AMY SMITH. [ APPLAUSE ]
AND, BY THE WAY, CARE STANDS
FOR COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE
AND ENGAGEMENT. I JUST LEARNED
THAT MYSELF. AND ALSO, HUMAN
SERVICES DIRECTOR, TANYA KIM.
PLEASE WELCOME THEM. [ APPLAUSE
]
>> ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO GET GOING NOW. I'D
LIKE TO HAVE YOU ALL PLEASE
WELCOME THE MAYOR. SEATTLE
MAYOR, BRUCE HARRELL. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, ENRIQUE FOR THAT.
AWESOME INTRODUCTION AND
WARMING UP THE CROWD. THIS LAST
PART IS GOING TO WARM UP FOR A
FEW MINUTES. BECAUSE THE POINT
OF THIS, TO SORT OF DESCRIBE
THE LOGISTICS IS NOT SO MUCH
FOR YOU, FOR US TO IMPRESS UPON
YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE HAVE
STATISTICS, STRATEGIES. IT'S
REALLY TO EXTRACT FROM YOU,
WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER IN A
NOVEL WAY. WHAT YOUR
EXPERIENCES ARE. SO THE
TECHNOLOGY IS USED TO EXTRACT
SOME OF THAT. THIS IS THE
KICKOFF. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
FIVE MORE SESSIONS. IT'S
PRECINCT-BAILED. WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TABLES, WHERE WE CAN
HAVE MORE FEEDBACK. MORE OF A
DIALOGUE. SO THAT'S SORT OF
THE FORMAT. BEFORE I SAY A FEW
MORE SUBSTANTIVE REMARKS. I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARITZA
RIVERA, TANYA WU. BREAK SOME
RULES IF THEY'RE ALL SITTING
BY EACH OTHER. WE ALSO HAVE OUR
CITY ATTORNEY, ANN DAVIDSON
HERE. COUNTY PROSECUTOR LEASIA
MANNION HERE. WOULD YOU PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND ACKNOWLEDGE.
YOU TWO CAN SIT TOGETHER. NO
O.P.A. ISSUES THERE. WE ALSO
HAVE, I BELIEVE, TWO MUNICIPAL
COURT JUDGES HERE. FAITH AND
ANDRE. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I READ SOME REMARKS IN
THE NEWSPAPER TODAY, FROM
PRESIDING JUDGE, FAITH CHESS.
AND I GUESS MY TAKEAWAY IS
DON'T MESS WITH YOU. SHE
DON'T PLAY THAT. THANK YOU TO
OUR JUDGE FOR BEING SUCH
EFFECTIVE JUDGES.
>> AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
STAFF HERE. YOU KNOW, THIS
LIBRARY ACTUALLY WAS -- IT WAS
RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST POPULAR
LIBRARY IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW, MY
MOTHER ACTUALLY WORKED HERE FOR
30 YEARS. AND SHE'S A FINANCE
MANAGER. AND I SORT OF GROW UP
IN THIS LIBRARY, AFTER SCHOOL
COMING HERE AND WAITING FOR
HER. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU
CARE ABOUT THIS CITY. A FEW
THINGS. MANY OF YOU MIGHT HAVE
FOLLOWED SOME OF MY REMARKS IN
THE STATE OF THE CITY WHEN I
TALKED ABOUT CRIME STATISTICS.
YOU KNOW, I'M DATA DRINK. WE
ARE MEASURE DRINK. WE ARE
BULLISH. IT IS A RICHER
SEATTLE. I DON'T CARE WHAT
RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC, RELIGION.
I THINK WE ALL WANT TO FEEL
SAFE. AND WHEN WE START LOOKING
AT OUR STRATEGIES. WE'RE
VORACIOUS READERS. IF SOMETHING
WORKS, WE WILL DO IT. BUT WE
ARE LED BY OUR VALUES. AND I
THINK HOPEFULLY, WE CAN TALK
ABOUT OUR VALUES. I HAD A
STATISTIC, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT
US RECOVERING 1500 ILLEGAL
FIREARMS LAST YEAR, THAT IS A
RECORD FOR THE CITY. 80% OF THE
HOMICIDES THAT WE ARE
INCREDIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT,
WHICH IS QUITE FRANKLY, PUSHING
FOR COMMON SENSE GUN
LEGISLATION. 80% OF THE
HOMICIDES WHERE GUNS WERE USED.
WE ALSO RETRIEVED A RECORD
NUMBER OF SHELL CASINGS, 5,726
IN 2023. THAT'S MORE THAN 2021
AND 2022 COMBINED. THIS SCARES
US. AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE ANGRY
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. I HEAR YOU
BECAUSE I KNOW BEHIND THE ANGER
IS FEAR. FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE.
FEAR FOR THE -- FEAR FOR YOUR
FAMILY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS
AN ADMINISTRATION. 50% OF ALL
REPORTED CRIMES HAPPEN ON JUST
5% OF OUR CITY BLOCKS. SO WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT TARGETING AREAS.
WE'RE NOT TARGETING PEOPLE. WE
ARE TRYING TO GO WHERE THE
ACTION IS, IS WHERE WE CAN DO
MORE OF THE PREVENTIVE WORK.
SOMEONE ASKED ME, WELL, GRADE
YOURSELF, MAYOR. HOW WELL ARE
THEY DOING? I'LL LET THE
PEOPLE DO THAT. MY BAROMETER IS
I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN. IF I CAN
WALK AND FEEL SAFE, THAT'S MY
PERSONAL BAROMETER. AND I
CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW. AND
I'M NOT GOING TO BE BASHFUL
ABOUT SAYING THAT. I THINK IN
SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS, YOU'LL
KNOW WE TALK ABOUT OUR POLICE
RECRUITING EFFORTS. AND PEOPLE
WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, YOUR
NUMBERS AREN'T WHERE THEY NEED
TO BE. I TALK TO ALMOST EVERY
MAYOR IN EVERY MAJOR CITY ABOUT
THIS DILEMMA THAT THEY'RE IN.
IF THIS WORK WERE EASY, IT
WOULD BE DONE. IT'S VERY HARD.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME
BREAKTHROUGH. WE'RE ON
INCREDIBLE TRENDS IN TERMS OF
LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE LOSING TO
ATTRITION. AND LOOKING TO THE
APPLICANTS THAT WE'RE HAVING.
I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM AND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR LOOKING
SO STRENUOUSLY AND SMARTLY AT
THE PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING. THE
FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE JUST
LOST AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
OFFICERS. AND I SAY THIS IS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD THE
DREAM DEPARTMENT. ONE THAT
UNDERSTANDS RACIAL INJUSTICE.
ONE THAT UNDERSTANDS RACIAL
PROFILING. AND WE SHOULD NOT
EVER DO THAT. ONE THAT
UNDERSTANDS CULTURAL
COMPETENCY. A UNIQUE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY. SO I CLOSED DURING
THESE OPENING REMARKS FOR HOW I
BEGAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. BECAUSE THIS
MATTERS TO YOU. NOW, IN THIS
PROCESS THIS EVENING, I'M SURE
SHOULD HAVE SOME OF YOU ARE
GOING TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS IN
I JUST WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP.
IT'S JUST REDEFINING THE
PROBLEM. WE WALK THESE STREETS
EVERY DAY. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU. BUT IF YOU HAVE SOLUTIONS
AND CRITICISMS. FAIR GAME.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE OPENING UP
OURSELVES AND MAKING THREE
CHIEFS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS
AVAILABLE. AND OTHER MEMBERSFUL
MY EXECUTIVE TEAM HERE AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AND
PASS IT BACK TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I'VE
KNOWN THIS GUY FOR HOW MANY
YEARS?
>> OH, GOD. LONG TIME. I THINK
I'M OLDER THAN YOU.
>> NO. I WAS IN MY 20s WHEN I
MET YOU. LET'S THANK ENRIQUE
-- PRE-THANK HIM FOR THE WORK
THAT HE'S DOING.
>> ALL RIGHT. HAVE A SEAT RIGHT
OVER THERE.
>> AND I WILL JOIN YOU. AND
HERE'S YOUR MICROPHONE.
>> OKAY. OKAY.
>> MAYOR, HAVE A SEAT. WE'LL
HAVE A CONVERSATION. AND THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE THAT IS HERE
THIS EVENING, FOR COMING OUT
FOR THE CONVERSATION. I NEED TO
START WITH WHAT HAPPENED
YESTERDAY. AND THAT WAS TWO
SHOOTINGS, UP ON -- IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
>> NEAR MY HIGH SCHOOL.
>> YEAH. ONE WAS OUTSIDE OF
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL. A STUDENT
WAS SHOT IN THE DRIVE-BY. I
THINK SHE WAS JUST A VICTIM.
SHE HAD BEEN -- SHE WAS IN THE
WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
SOMEONE ELSE NEARBY. NOT TOO
LONG LATER, WAS SHOT AND
KILLED. A WOMAN WAS SHOT AND
KILLED. I WAS STRUCK WHEN I WAS
WATCHING THE NEWS COVERAGE OF
THIS. A RESIDENT THAT THEY
TALKED TO SAID -- AND I'M
GOING TO QUOTE HERE. I HATE TO
SAY THIS. BUT IT'S JUST
ANOTHER DAY HERE IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. OR IN MOST
METROPOLITAN AREAS IN AMERICA.
AND I FOUND THAT VERY SAD AND
DISTURBING. BECAUSE THIS WAS
RESIGNATION THERE. IT'S ALMOST
LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST
GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THERE'S
NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. AND
I FIND THAT REALLY SAD. BUT I
ALSO WONDER, AS WE TRY TO WILL
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND
PARTICULARLY TRY TO CREATE A
SAFER SEATTLE. HOW DO WE DO
THAT? WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THAT
KIND OF RESIGNATION AND
FEELING? AND THESE ACTS OF
VIOLENCE CONTINUE?
>> SO FOR -- AGAIN, FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T KNOW. I GREW UP IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. WHEN THE
DINOSAURS ROAMED THE EARTH. AND
IT HAS CHANGED IN TOGETHER
PARTS OF SEATTLE, WITH THE
LEVEL OF GUN -- THE ACCESS TO
GUNS. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOO
MANY GUNS. THAT'S JUST THE
SHORT OF IT. NOW, I HAVE TO
TELL, FOR THE LAWYERS IN THE
ROOM, THEY KNOW THERE IS A LAW,
RCW9.49.29. THAT SAYS AS
MAYOR, I CANNOT REGULATE
FIREARMS. I CANNOT BAR FIREARMS
IN PARKS. I CANNOT ESTABLISH AN
ALCOHOL LIMIT, BY WHICH IF
SOMEONE EXCEEDS IT, I CAN TAKE
THEIR GUN. I CANNOT MANDATE
TRAINING FOR SOMEONE WHO
OBTAINS A GUN. I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY.
AND WHO IS NOT HERE -- AND I
THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW HAD MY
STYLE. I DON'T BLAST PEOPLE
THAT ARE FELLOW ELECTIVELESS,
NEVER HAVE. NEVER GOTTEN ME
VERY FAR. BUT I NEED TO HAVE,
AGAIN, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
BODY RECOGNIZE THIS URGENCY. WE
ARE THE BIGGEST CITY IN THIS
STATE. AND A LOT OF GUNS COME
THROUGH HERE. AND SO WHEN I
TALK ABOUT THE 1500 GUNS THAT
OUR DEPARTMENT HAVE SEIZED,
THERE'S PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF
GUNS RIGHT NOW IN THE WRONG
HANDS. THAT ARE GOING TO COMMIT
A CRIME. SO MY SOLUTION IS TWO
FOLD. NUMBER ONE. I'M PUTTING
SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT. I LOVE
TO SEE SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT,
TO GIVE CITIES -- TO GET OUT
FROM UNDER THAT PREEVALUATION.
IF CITIES -- WHY SHOULD I HAVE
THE SAME POLICIES IN SPOKANE OR
WALLA WALLA, FOR THAT MATTER?
LET CITIES HAVE FLEXIBILITY. OR
HR-LTD THE STATE PASS THAT LAW.
I'M TIRED OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO FIX THIS ISSUE.
HOW MANY MORE MASS KILLINGS DO
WE HAVE TO HAVE? NOW, LET'S
GIVE THE STATE SOME CREDIT. IN
TERMS OF BANNING ASSAULT
RIFLES, MORE STRINGENT
BACKGROUND CHECKS. WE HAVE ONE
OF THE MOST DIVERSE LEGISLATIVE
BODY. MORE AFRICAN AMERICANS,
FOR EXAMPLE THAN WE HAVE EVER
HAD, AS AN EXAMPLE. SO WE'VE
MADE SOME CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS
THERE. BUT WE ARE A COUNTRY
THAT ALLOWS THIS KIND OF GUN
USE, UNLIKE MANY OTHER
COUNTRIES. AND IT'S TROUBLING.
SO WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO SEIZE THE GUNS. TO PUSH OUR
LEGISLATORS TO DO THE WORK. BUT
IT IS TROUBLING AS A MAYOR TO
SOME EXTENT TO HAVE LIMITATIONS
UNDER THE 941929 LAW.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT VALUES. SO
TALK ABOUT THAT AS, WHAT ARE
THE VALUES FOR US THAT PROCEED
TO THE LOSS VALUES, THAT'S FOR
SURE. BUT WHAT ARE THE VALUES
THAT WILL HELP US FIND THIS,
YOU KNOW, SAFER CITY?
>> WELL, I'LL SHARE MY VALUES.
THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I THINK WE'RE GOING
TO POLL YOU ON. I'LL JUST TELL
YOU MY VALUES AS THE 57th
MAYOR, YOU SHOULD KNOW. I HAVE
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRIMINALS.
PEOPLE THAT ARE HOLDING PEOPLE
AT GUNPOINT. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR
THAT. I ALSO REALIZED THAT WHAT
SOME OF YOU MAY SEE AS A
THREAT, I MAY SEE AS A SICK
PERSON. YOU MAY WALK DOWN THE
STREET AND SEE SOMEONE NODDING
OVER YOU. YOU MAY SEE THAT
THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY MENACE.
AND I MAY SEE SOMEONE THAT JUST
NEEDS HELP. SO I MAKE -- I
DON'T MINCE WORDS ON THIS.
THAT MY JOB. MY CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITY, IS TO PROTECT
EVERYONE IN HERE. I GO TO
FUNERALS. MY VALUES, NUMBER 1,
ARE TO PROTECT PEOPLE. I'M
VERY PROTECTIVE. I HAVE
GRANDDAUGHTERS, A DAUGHTER, A
WIFE. I DARE ANYONE TO PUT THEM
IN HARM'S WAY. THIS IS A FUNNY
THING FOR ME WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT VALUES. MANY YEARS AGO, I
WAS AT A FORUM LIKE THIS. AND
SOMEONE SAID, YOU'RE A BIG
GUY. I THOUGHT THEY SAID I ATE
TOO MUCH. THEY SAID, -- I WAS A
LINEBACKER IN COLLEGE. THERE
PROBABLY ISN'T ENOUGH OF MUCH
THAT SCARES YOU. YOU DON'T KNOW
AN 80-YEAR-OLD LENS. I THOUGHT
THAT WAS OFFENSIVE. MY MOTHER
WAS ABOUT THAT AGE. I WAS LIKE,
YOU DON'T THINK I TALK TO MY
MOTHER? YOU DON'T THINK I
WORRY WITH MY DAUGHTERS. JUST
BECAUSE YOU GROW UP HARD, IT
DOESN'T MAKE YOU OBLIVIOUS TO
VIOLENCE AND TO CRIME. IN FACT,
IT MAKES YOU ALERT AND LOOKING
OUT FOR IT AND WANTING TO
PROTECT PEOPLE. SO MY VALUE IS
TO PROTECT YOU. AND NOT MINCE
WORDS. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN
IT COMES TO DRUG USE AND HEALTH
ISSUES, WHO ELSE IS NOT IN THIS
DISCUSSION, I DON'T THINK ARE
THE INCREDIBLE HEALTH ADVOCATES
THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE.
>> AND WE ALL KNOW THAT SOMEONE
WHO ISING STRUNG OUT, MENTALLY
ILL, CAN BE DANGEROUS. WE ALL
KNOW THAT. IN FACT, THERE IS A
GUY WHO TRIED TO IMPRESS UPON
ME. THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE
IS HIGH, I NEED TO ARREST THAT.
I LISTENED. I NEED TO TREAT
THAT PERSON. MY VALUE IS TO
TREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK AND
ARREST PEOPLE THAT ARE BAD. IS
THAT CLEAR ENOUGH?
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE PROPOSALS, OF TRYING TO
DEAL WITH OUR GUN VIOLENCE
ISSUES. AND ONE OF THEM HAS
BEEN -- IT'S GETTING A LOT OF
PUBLIC ATTENTION. CONCERN. SOME
WANT IT. SOME DON'T. AND THAT
IS GUNSHOT DETECTION
TECHNOLOGY. COMMONLY REFERRED
TO AS THE SHOT SPOTTER. FOR
THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, WHY
DON'T YOU EXPLAIN IT BRIEFLY?
>> SURE. SO I'VE BEEN AN
ADVOCATE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.
IT'S CALLED ACOUSTIC GUNFIRE
LOADING SYSTEM. AND ONE OF THE
COMPANIES TO PROVIDE A SHOT
SPOTTER. I TRIED TO SAY AGLS TO
BE UP TO -- NEUTRAL, IN TERMS
OF THE COMPANIES. IT ALSO
DETECTS, BY THE WAY, GLASS THAT
BREAKS. AND CERTAIN CARS THAT
GO LOUDLY. IT HAS THE ABILITY,
ACOUSTICALLY, THROUGH THE
TECHNOLOGY TO DETERMINE THIS
KIND OF ACTIVITY. NOW, I
UNDERSTAND -- AND THERE IS A
CAMERA COMPONENT THAT CAN
ATTACH TO IT. SO AS SOON AS
THERE IS A SHOT, IT ROTATES AND
CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THE SHOTS
WERE. NOW, PROPONENTS WERE
TARGETING MINORITY AREAS OR
AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE
SURVEILLED IN THIS KIND OF
POSITION. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW
IS ACCURATE DATA. WE ARE USING
A COMPLAINT-BASED SYSTEM ON
GUNSHOTS. RIGHT NOW, IF WE ALL
HEARD GUNSHOT, RIGHT OUTSIDE. I
DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO
REPORT IT. HOPEFULLY, YOU'RE
LISTENING TO ME, AND TRYING TO
YELL AT ME OR SOMETHING. WE'RE
JUST ASSUMING SOMEONE ELSE IS
GOING TO REPORT IT. THIS
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. AND I
DEMAND THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT GIVE ME DATA ON
WHERE THERE ARE GUNSHOTS IN THE
CITY. THEY KNOW I'M BULLISH ON
THAT. I WANT GOOD DATA. AND
WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CRIME
STATISTICS, AND THEY SAY, ARE
THEY GOOD ENOUGH? I'M THE ONE
THAT WANTS INTEGRITY TO CRIME
STATISTICS. I'M GIVING YOU
WHAT THEY HAVE. AND I QUESTION
THE DATA SETS. SO ON THIS
PARTICULAR TECHNOLOGY. I WANT
TO KNOW YOU KNOW WHERE THE
GUNFIRE IS. IF IT'S A 918914.
WE CAN USE CERTAIN ANALYTICS.
IF WE KNOW CERTAIN TYPES OF
GUNFIRE HAPPEN AT CERTAIN TIMES
OF DAY. WE WILL NEVER SURVEIL A
BLACK OR BROWN COMMUNITY, AS
LONG AS I'M MAYOR. I WILL
NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN. I WILL
PROTECT MY COMMUNITY. THIS IS
TO PROTECT, WHERE THERE IS
GUNFIRE. AS I SAID, 80% OF
WHERE THE GUN WAS USED. I WANT
TO TRIAL IT. LET'S TRIAL IT
WHERE THERE'S GUNFIRE. SEE IF
THE DATA WORKS. AND MANY CITIES
ARE USING IT AND USING IT
EFFECTIVELY. AND IT IS
CONTROVERSIAL. BUT YOU KNOW
WHAT? I'VE GOT A BETTER IDEA.
LET'S JUST TRY THE SAME OLD
STUFF AND THINK THAT WE'RE
GOING TO GET NEW RESULTS.
RIGHT? I'M BEING FACETIOUS, OF
COURSE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT
OTHERS ARE DOING. AND WE HAVE
TO USE BETA TRIALS. AND I THINK
THAT'S HOW I LEAD. I TRY TO
LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
OTHER CITIES. THAT'S THE
TECHNOLOGY. THE TRUTH IS, THIS
YEAR, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE
GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR. I'VE
BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS 10
YEARS. BUT I HOPE IT'S IN THE
BUDGET. WE HAD IT IN A PREVIOUS
BUDGET. AND WE HAD A PREVIOUS
MAYOR AND JUST DIDN'T DEPLOY
IT. .
>> BIG ISSUE IS STAFFING FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU SAID
YOUR GOAL IS 1400 POLICE
OFFICERS IN SEATTLE. LATEST
NUMBERS SHOW SPD IS LESS THAN A
THOUSAND AND STRUGGLING TO GET
PEOPLE TO BECOME A SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER. SO CITY
COUNCIL. THEY PUT FOCUS ON THIS
AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE PUT A LOT
OF MONEY INTO THIS. BUT WHERE
ARE THE RESULTS?
>> SO THE FIRST THING. I NEED
EVERYONE TO KNOW IS UNTIL WE
REACH THE 1400 NUMBER. I WANT
TO THANK THE OFFICERS THAT WE
DO HAVE FOR DOING WHAT THEY ARE
DOING. THAT I AM NOT GOING TO
WAIT UNTIL WE HIT THAT -- YES.
LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU
HAVE EVER COACHED YOUTH SPORTS.
BUT I'VE COACHED A LOT OF
YOUTH SPORTS. AND IF I HAVE A
TEAM, AND IT'S A BASKETBALL
TEAM. AND WE ONLY HAVE TWO GOOD
PLAYERS AND WE HAVE FIVE ON THE
TEAM. AND THEY GET TIRED. I
JUST GOTTA WORK THE FOLKS THAT
I HAVE UNTIL I COULD RECRUIT.
SO IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL
ASSURE YOU THAT OUR DEPARTMENT,
WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE
CAN IN MY JOB TO KEEP THEM
MOTIVATED. WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO
A SMALL CONTRACT BEING SIGNED.
THAT'S THE BALANCE. WE WANT TO
COMPENSATE OUR OFFICERS. AND WE
WANT THE ACCOUNTABILITY TO
SAFEGUARD. IT'S BEEN
NEGOTIATION FOR COUPLE OF
YEARS. BUT I'M VERY CONFIDENT
WE'RE NEAR THE FINISH LINE. SO
WE WILL REACH IT BY AGAIN,
WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 200
APPLICATIONS A MONTH FOR
EXAMPLE, I'LL GIVE A SPECIFIC
EXAMPLE. THE OLD SYSTEM, IF YOU
FLUNKED, YOU HAD TO WAIT SIX
MONTHS TO TAKE IT AGAIN. WE'RE
TRYING TO CHANGE IT TO THREE
MONTHS. ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE.
WE DO A POLYGRAPH. STATE
REQUIRES THERE A POLYGRAPH
TEST. I KNOW FIRSTHAND FROM
TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND IT'S
VERY SUBJECTIVE. THERE HAVE
BEEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE FLUNKED
OUR POLYGRAPH AND HAVE PASSED A
POLYGRAPH IN A NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTION THAT HAVE BECOME
POLICE OFFICERS. SO WE ARE
LOOKING AT WHAT OUR INTERNAL
SYSTEMS ARE. WHEN THEY SAY, WE
WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER,
WHERE THEY'RE DROPPING OFF. AND
QUITE FRANKLY, I GAVE YOU TWO
EXAMPLES OF PROBABLY 20 THINGS
THAT WE'RE DOING. AND IF YOU
LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, WE'RE
MAKING PROGRESS AND OUR
ATTRITION. PEOPLE QUIT BEING IS
GOING DOWN. SOMEONE PROBABLY
COULD SHOOT THEM OUT. BUT I
WANT TO SAY LIKE 30 TO 40%
IMPROVEMENT ON ATTRITION RATES.
AND I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW
THAT I GO TO THE PRECINCTS. I
MEET WITH THEM, SOMETIMES 4:00
A.M., 11:00 P.M. EVERY TIME I
WALK BY AN OFFICER'S SITE. I
THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE
DOING. WE'RE GOING TO COACH
THEM UP. COMPENSATE THEM WELL
AND WE'LL GET OUR NUMBERS
REACHED.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WANT TO MOVE
ON HERE. WE HAVE SOME POLLING
THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO. AND
MAYOR, YOU WANT TO SET THAT UP?
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S -- WE'RE
GOING TO SET IT UP.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO TURN MY
BACK ON THIS BEAUTIFUL
AUDIENCE.
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE 7%
WHO DIDN'T WANT THE SONICS
BACK WHO THEY ARE. THIS IS
GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
>> THERE'S THE FIRST POLL
QUESTION.
>> I WANT TO SAY ONE THING. THE
REASON WE WANT TO DO THIS NOW.
WE WANT THIS TO INFORM THE
DISCUSSION WITH OUR CHIEFS AND
HUMAN SERVICES. AND NOW YOU GOT
TO STICK AROUND TO THE END.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION. NOT
EXACT SCIENCE, BUT OUR WAY OF
COMMUNICATES. OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO WE ALREADY
KNOW ABOUT THE SONICS. HERE'S
THE FIRST QUESTION. MR. MAYOR,
DO YOU FEEL SAFE IN YOUR OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> YOU ALREADY HAVE THE
QUESTIONS?
>> WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT . 46% SAY
VERY SAFE. AND NOT 50%. BUT
STILL.
>> AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS, WE
REALIZE, SOME OF YOU --
REMEMBER, WE GOTTA GO TO FIVE
PRECINCTS. WE REALIZE WE DON'T
KNOW WHERE YOU ALL LIVE. SOME
OF YOU MAY LIVE DOWNTOWN. AND
THAT'S PROBABLY WELL, I WON'T
SPECULATE WHICH ONE THAT IS IN.
BUT SOME OF YOU MAY BE IN A
CERTAIN AREA. WE WANT TO KNOW
WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS NOT AN EXACT
EXTRAPOLATION OF THE CITY.
>> WE HAVE 120 PEOPLE
RESPONDING. DO YOU FEEL SAFE IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? VERY SAFE?
21%. THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT
LOW. SOME SAY 40%, UNSURE. 26%
UNSAFE. 26% VERY UNSAFE. AT 6%.
>>> HOW SAFE DO YOU FEEL IN
YOUR WORKPLACE? I WOULD IMAGINE
THIS ALSO HAS TO DO WITH WHERE
YOU GO TO WORK AND WHERE YOUR
WORKPLACE IS SITUATED, IF YOU
THINK ABOUT THAT. DO YOU FEEL
SAFE AT YOUR WORKPLACE? VERY
SAFE AT 35%. SOMEWHAT SAFE, 29%
--
>> I'M SORRY. CAN WE GO BACK?
SO THIS TAKEAWAY HERE IS -- 4
AND 5 ARE UNSURE. WHAT IS
UNSURE? THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
>> SO CAN I GO BACK TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ONE? IS IT ALMOST
THE SAME? NUMBERS KEEP CHANGING
HERE A LITTLE BIT. I THINK AS
WE GET RESPONSES FROM FOLKS.
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU SAID.
BUT OKAY.
>> SOMEONE JUST HIT SUBMIT.
>> I CAN'T HEAR YOU. ALL
RIGHT. DO YOU FEEL SAFE, TAKING
TRANSIT? YEAH. THIS WOULD BE A
VERY --
>> TYPO ON THAT.
>> DISCERNING ONE.
>> TYPING ONE.
>> VERY UAF.
>> YEAH. SOMEONE FROM THE U.W.
MUST HAVE DONE THIS. VERY
UNSAFE, 7%. YOU MISS THAT, BY
THE WAY. SOMEWHAT SAFE AT 22%.
UNSURE, 16%. SOMEWHAT UNSAFE.
30%. VERY UNSAFE. THEY FIXED
IT. DO YOU FEEL SAFE VISITING
DOWNTOWN? VERY SAFE AT 9%.
SOMEWHAT SAFE AT 30%. UNSURE AT
7%. SOMEWHAT UNSAFE AT 30%. AND
VERY UNSAFE AND I DIDN'T GET
THAT ONE. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU
FEEL SAFE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES,
LIKE SPORTS, FESTIVALS,
CONCERTS. WE HAVE VERY SAY AT
23%. SOMEWHAT SAFE, AROUND 40%.
UNSURE, 7% SOMEWHAT UNSAFE.
VERY UNSAFE AT 5%. AND I WONDER
HOW MANY PEOPLE THESE DAYS
DON'T GO TO EVENTS, BECAUSE
THEY'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT
THEIR SAFETY? DO YOU FEEL SAFE
IN PUBLIC PLACES LIKE PARKS,
RESTAURANTS, STORES AND
SCHOOLS? VERY SAFE. AT ABOUT
15%. SOMEWHAT SAFE, AT 42%.
UNSURE AT 9%. SOMEWHAT UNSAFE
AT 22%. VERY UNSAFE AT 8%.
>> AND DO YOU THINK SEATTLE
NEEDS STRONGER. BUT 62%.
THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. SOMEWHAT
AGREE. 14%. UNSURE, 10%. AND
SOMEWHAT DISAGREED, 7%.
STRONGLY DISAGREE AT 5%.
>> I THINK THOSE ARE THE SAME
PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE THE
SONICS COMING BACK. [ LAUGHTER
]
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHO THOSE
PEOPLE ARE.
>>> HAVE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU
KNOW BEEN THE VICTIM OF
PROPERTY CRIME IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS? YES. I HAD MY CAR STOLEN
RECENTLY. BUT I DID GET IT
BACK. SEATTLE POLICE FOUND IT.
ALL RIGHT.
>> CAN I GO BACK TO THAT ONE?
>> THAT IS AN ASTOUNDING. 76%
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THAT'S
ASTOUNDING.
>> I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN YOU HAVE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S
UNNERVING. AT LEAST IT WAS FOR
ME.
>> HAVE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU
KNOW, BEEN THE VICTIM OF
VIOLENT CRIME IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS? WHOA. 61%. UNSURE AT 8%.
7%. NO AT 30%. 61%.
>> WOW.
>> THAT'S A HUGE ONE. ALL
RIGHT. ARE WE MOVING ON NOW?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER
POLL QUESTION A LITTLE LATER.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE ALL OF MY
PANEL MEMBERS MOVE ON HERE.
ALSO, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
DIDN'T SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS,
WE HAVE OUR ATTENDANTS THAT
WILL -- ONE GUY OVER HERE IN
BLUE. OVER THERE THAT YOU CAN
HAND YOUR QUESTIONS TO. AND
THEY WILL PUT THEM IN THE MIX.
AND WE'LL TRY TO GET THEM ALL
LINED UP.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET ME WELCOME
AGAIN. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE ON HAND
HERE. NEXT TO THE MAYOR IS THE
POLICE CHIEF. AND OUR CHIEF,
OUR CARE CHIEF NOW. AND TANYA
KIM WITH HUMAN SERVICES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WE GOT A LITTLE ACTION GOING
ON HERE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. AND
LET ME FIRST BEGIN WITH YOU,
CHIEF. BECAUSE YOU'RE THE GUY.
SEEMS LIKE WHEN ANYTHING
HAPPENS. I WANT TO START AGAIN,
GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED. CAN
YOU TELL US ANYTHING? ANY
RESOLUTIONS OF THE SHOOTING
THAT HAPPENED?
>> YEAH. SO AS WE KNOW
YESTERDAY. WE ACTUAL HE HAD A
HOMICIDE THAT HAPPENED AT 105th
IN AURORA, WHERE IT APPEARS
THAT A VEHICLE SHOT INTO THE --
AROUND THE GAS STATION. AND
ENDED UP STRIKING SOMEBODY AND
KILLING THEM IN THEIR VEHICLE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE MORNING
STARTED OFF WITH. THEN SHORTLY
JUST RIGHT AROUND 2:00 OR SO.
THEN WE RESPONDED OUT TO A
SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED JUST
OUTSIDE OF GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL, RIGHT AT THE
INTERSECTION OF 23rd AND
JEFFERSON. AND RIGHT NOW, WHAT
IT APPEARS IS THE VEHICLE WAS
SHOOTING TOWARDS A BUS STOP,
WHERE A FEMALE, A JUVENILE
FEMALE WAS SITTING IN THE BUS
STOP AND WAS STRUCK IN THE LEG.
SHE IS GOING TO MAKE IT. I
ACTUALLY TALKED TO HER SISTER.
THAT IS ALSO A STUDENT AT THE
SCHOOL. AND IT'S SUCH A
TRAUMATIZING THING FOR A FAMILY
TO GO. THE PARENTS AREN'T
THERE. BUT THE SISTER IS ALSO
HELPING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT HAPPENED WITH HER SISTER.
WHEN WE SAFELY GOT HER TO THE
HOSPITAL. SO THAT WAY, SHE
WOULD BE REUNITED WITH HER
SISTER. BUT THAT'S THE
HARDSHIPS THAL OCCURS.
SHELTERING IN PLACE OR ON
LOCKDOWN. AND EVERYBODY IS
TRYING TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING
ON. AND THERE'S A LOT OF
UNKNOWNS.
>> YEAH.
>> WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON
THAT CASE. I CAN TELL YOU OUR
DETECTIVES ARE WORKING HARD.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD, SAY
RESOLUTION, VERY SOON. THE
COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, TOWARDS
ABOUT 8:00 IN THE EVENING,
OFFICERS WERE ACTUALLY
PATROLLING THE AREA. THEY WERE
TAKING THAT VISIBLE PRESENCE IN
AND AROUND GARFIELD, AS WELL AS
23rd AND JACKSON. AS YOU KNOW,
WITHIN ABOUT -- WITHIN THE LAST
YEAR, A FOR APPLE WAS -- IT'S
A YOUTH -- A CHILD CARE/SCHOOL
THAT HAD BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN
VIOLENCE DURING THE DAY. AND
WHERE SOME OF THE STUDENT HIS
TO LEARN BEAR CRAWL DURING THAT
TIME. AND TRY TO FIND SAFETY.
AND SOME OF OUR OFFICERS HAD
BEEN A VISIBLE PRESENCE. WE HAD
A MOBILE PRECINCT OUT IN THAT
23rd AND JACKSON AREA. AND
OFFICERS WERE ACTUALLY AT THAT
SAME LOCATION THAT NIGHT. THREE
HEARD THE GUNSHOTS, ALONG WITH
THE 911 CALL THAT CAME OUT OF
THE SHOOTING. AND THEY
RESPONDED VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
WITHIN ALMOST A MINUTE TO THE
LOCATION AND FOUND A FEMALE
THAT HAD BEEN DECEASED. SO
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING AND
SCANNING FOR ANY EVIDENCE,
VIDEO EVIDENCE, AS WELL AS
WITNESSES. WE'RE TALKING TO
PEOPLE. EVEN WITHIN THE LAST
HOUR, JUST EVEN IN THIS ROOM.
TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO PUT
TOGETHER EVIDENCE SO WE CAN TRY
TO SOLVE THESE CASES. BUT TO
WHAT THE MAYOR WAS SAYING,
WE'VE ACTUALLY -- IN JUST THE
LAST WEEK, WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE
FIVE HOMICIDE ARRESTS JUST IN A
WEEK. ONE CASE WAS IN 2023. THE
OTHER FOUR CASES ARE IN 2024.
BUT DETECTIVES ARE WORKING
EXTREMELY HARD, DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SOLVE
THESE CASES AND HAVE JUSTICE
FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE
IMPACTED BY IT. BUT ALSO FOR
THE COMMUNITIES IT'S IMPACTED.
>> I WANT TO MOVE ON TO FIRE
CHIEF. WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST
CONCERN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>> FIRST, THANK FIST ARE
HORSING THIS TONIGHT. MR.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
THIS TOGETHER, SHARING WHAT
WE'RE DOING WITH THE
COMMUNITY. BUT ALL THE THINGS
YOU MENTIONED ARE BIGGEST
CONCERNS. THE SHOOTINGS? WE'RE
THERE. FIREFIGHTEROS THE
STREET. THEY'RE CHOOSING ALL
OF THE VICTIMS. THE VACAPT
BUILDINGS AND THE FIRES AROUND
THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SEE. ALL
OVER THE COMMUNITY. THE
OVERDOSE. THAT LAST YEAR, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE RESPONDED TO
5,000 OVERDOSES. AND MANY WERE
OPIOID RELATED. THE ENCAMPMENT
RESPONSES. THOSE CAN BE VERY
DANGEROUS PLACES. AND WHEN
SOMEONE CALLS 911, WHETHER
IT'S 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON OR
2:00 IN THE MORNING. WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW IS YOUR
FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOING TO FIND
SOMEONE WHO NEEDS SOME HELP AND
TO HELP THEM. SO ALL THE THINGS
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPACT ALL
OF PUBLIC SAFETY. IT JUST
ISN'T ONE PLACE. AND YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PARTNERS.
AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
CARE DEPARTMENT AND HSD. SO ALL
THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT ARE CONCERNS OF OURS AND
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> AND SMITH, YOU ARE IN CHARGE
OF CARE NOW, CAME ONLINE NOT
LONG AGO. TELL US ABOUT THIS
EFFORT AND HOW IT'S WORKING
AND WHAT -- WHAT ARE YOU
ACCOUNTING FOR?
>> YES. SO I HAVE OVERSIGHT OF
SEATTLE 911. AND THAT IS MY
PRIMARY FOCUS. BECAUSE WHEN YOU
LOOK AT 911 DATA, THE CALLS
COMING IN. AND THE RESPONSE, I
OFTEN SAY, WE'RE GUESSING WHAT
IT IS. IT'S BASED ON WHAT
SOMEBODY IS OBSERVING OFF. AND
WHAT THEY'RE REPORTING. AND I
GOT TO LOOK AT HOW THE CALL
TURNED OUT, RIGHT? DID POLICE
NEED TO BE THERE? WERE THEY
USEFUL? WAS FIRE THERE? WAS
THIS MEDICAL? AND YOU LOOK AT
THE RANGE OF CALLS IN THE
MIDDLE, WHERE YOU REALLY
DIDN'T NEED FIRE OR POLICE. WE
NEED TO KEEP THOSE FIRST
RESPONDERS FREE, TO GO TO HIGH
ACUITY CALLS. WE HAVE URGENT
NEEDS THAT ARE REPRESENTED
TONIGHT. THAT THERE ARE A LOT
OF FOLKS WHO NEED HELP, WHO ARE
IN DISTRESS, WHO NEED CRISIS.
THAT IS WHY THE CARE CRISIS
RESPONDER TEAM. THE FIRST TEAM
IS SIX FOLKS. THEY'RE REALLY
SCALED. AND THEY HAVE BEEN
WORKING EITHER AS COMMUNITY
SERVICE OFFICERS. SOME HAVE
BEEN WORKING FOR KING COUNTY
MOBILE CRISIS TEAM. AND THEY
ARE WELL TRAINED TO GO OUT AND
TRY TO FIGURE OUT SWIFTLY. ON
AVERAGE, THEY'RE GETTING TO
THE SCENE IN EIGHT MINUTES. AND
TO SPEND ENOUGH TIME TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT IS NEEDED. CAN I
DEESCALATE THIS PERSON? WE DO
ALL SORTS OF TRANSPORT.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE NEED TO GET
BACK HOME. GET BACK INTO
SHELTER. THEY NEED SUPPLIES.
SOMETIMES WE'RE GIVING A RIDE
TO GET FOOD. AND THERE WAS ONE
THAT WAS A RIDE TO GET A
SLURPEE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
THE PERSON NEEDED. TIME TO CALM
DOWN. AND TO KEEP THESE OTHER
TEAMS TO GET TO CALLS THAT
REQUIRE THEIR RESPONSE. SO
IT'S GOING WELL. YEAH.
>> TANYA KIM. HUMAN SERVICES.
AND WHAT DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT
-- THE IMPACT. PUBLIC SAFETY,
SHOOTINGS AND ALL OF THESE
THINGS THAT SO MUCH OF US WORRY
ABOUT.
>> WELL, I LOVE BEING AT THE
END HERE. BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
CHIEF SMITH HAD IT AT THE END.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE YOU HAD
MAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IF YOU
DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE WE
INVEST THIS COMMUNITY IDEAS.
AND TRULY BRILLIANT. SOME OF
YOU ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TO
BRING FORWARD SOLUTIONS OR TO
OFFER SERVICES TO EVEN PREVENT
SOME OF THESE VERY ISSUES. SO
WE HAVE TALKS WITH MANY
ORGANIZATIONS. SPECIFICALLY IN
THIS SPACE. I'LL CALL OUT A
COUPLE. WE DO HAVE INVESTMENTS,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN AN ISSUE FORMED
BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IT'S
CALLED THE SEATTLE SAFETY
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE. THEY'RE
IN THREE AREAS. BASED ON DATA,
WHERE THEIR PRESENCE IS NEEDED.
AND WHERE THEY ALSO ARE
RESPONDING TO THE FREQUENCY OF
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE
VIOLENCE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY.
I KNOW WE OFTENTIMES HEAR ABOUT
WHEN THERE'S AN INCIDENT, BUT
IT'S THE AFTER CARE. IT'S THE
WORK THAT HAPPENS A COUPLE OF
MONTH THE LATER. A YEAR LATER
SO IT'S A REALLY NICE BOOK
END. AND IF I WAS ABLE TO SPLIT
MYSELF, I WOULD GO ON THE OTHER
SIDE TO DO THE PREVENTIVE WORK.
WE BELIEVE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE
THEIR BASIC NEEDS THAT YOU
DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO DO
THE THINGS OR YOU'RE SECURE
AND ABLE TO BE HOPEFUL AND HAVE
GOALS AND CONTRIBUTE IN
COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT IS
HELPFUL. SO THE PREVENTION
ASPECT, AROUND BASIC NEEDS WITH
FOOD, SHELTER, AND EVEN FURTHER
FURTHERMORE, EMPLOYMENT. FOR
OPPORTUNITIES, IF YOU HAVE BEEN
INCARCERATED AND REENTRY
PROGRAMS. THERE ARE A LOT OF
SERVICES THAT WE KIND OF
BOOK-END IN THE SPACE.
>> CINDY -- SHE'S PLAYING
VANNA WHITE TODAY, WITH
QUESTIONS. ING THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. BEFORE WE GET TO THIS I
WANT TO COME BACK TO -- IS
YOURS A PILOT PROGRAM?
>> NO. I'M CALLING IT A PILOT
BECAUSE I'M AN ACADEMIC AND
WANT TO PROVE THE CONCEPT WORKS
BEFORE WE DEVELOP -- THAT THESE
NEW ROLES HAVE BEEN LEGISLATED.
IT WILL CONTINUE. IT WILL GROW.
THIS IS A NATIONAL MOVEMENT. IT
IS NEEDFUL. EVERYONE EVERY DAY,
I'M ON THE PHONE WITH
ACADEMICS. THEY'RE LOOKING AT
SEATTLE. IT'S NOT A PILOT. NOT
ANOTHER TEAM OF SUBRESPONDERS.
I NEED TO DISPATCH SWIFTLY TO
THIS PERSON WHO IS IN CRISIS.
>> IS THAT UNUSUAL? I MEAN,
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE?
>> YES.
>> IS EVERYBODY ELSE A PILOT IN
WHAT THAT IRDOING?
>> IT'S UNUSUAL THAT I HAVE
OVERSIGHT OF 911. AND THAT
WE'RE JUST DISPASSIONATELY
LOOKING AT THE DATA, ABOUT
BEING IMPIR CAL. IT IS UNUSUAL
THAT THERE ARE THREE CHIEFS.
THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED. THAT
REALLY IS THE MAYOR'S VISION.
AND IT IS SIGNIFICANT. AND I
APPLAUD IT.
>> YEAH.
>> WHY DID YOU FEEL THIS WAS SO
CRITICAL TO HAVE, MR. MAYOR?
>> THE DATA SUGGESTS THIS IS
THE SMARTEST APPROACH. THEY
HAVE ALREADY INTERVENED IN 300
SITUATIONS. AND ONLY FOUR OR
FIVE TIMES DID THE POLICE HAVE
TO COME. WHERE WE DO NOT NEED A
GUN AND BADGE RESPONSE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE PRIORITY ONE CALLS WE
WANT THEM TO DEPLOY TO. SO
WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER MEANS,
WHILE WE'RE RECRUITING POLICE
OFFICERS, TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT
THE SMARTEST WAY. OUR PARK
RANGERS. WE HAVE EXPANDED OVER
THE PARKS. OVER 400
INTERVENTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE
PROBABLY RESULTED IN 911 CALLS.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE
FIREFIGHTERS. AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE KEN STEWART HERE. THE
RANK AND FILE. DO THE THE WORK
OUT THERE. WHERE ARE YOU? I SAW
YOU UP THERE. WAY UP IN THE
BACK. NEVER WANTS TO TAKE
CREDIT. YEAH, THIS WEEK, WE
ANNOUNCED OUR INVESTMENT IN
MORNING BIPROOF NORPHINE. FOR
THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW. NARCAN
IS TO IMMEDIATELY GET THEM OFF.
BUT IMMEDIATELY THEY START
HAVING WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.
THIS ALLOWS THE ABILITY TO
ADDRESS THE WITHDRAWAL
SYMPTOMS. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING
CREATIVELY, WHILE PLACING
UNARMED RESPONSES. AND WE WANT
CHIEF SMITH TO MAKE SURE THAT
-- THEY'RE REAL SMART ON THIS
STUFF. THEY DEPLOY OUR
RESOURCES. THEY'RE DOING IT
THE BEST MANNER. AND I'LL TELL
YOU SOMETHING ELSE. YOU TALK
ABOUT MANNERS. WHEN I SEE
SOMEBODY GET KILLED OVER A DRUG
EPISODE OR A MENTAL ILLNESS
BREAKDOWN. OR BECAUSE THEIR
TAILLIGHT WAS OUT. THAT'S NORT
GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION. THAT IS NOT OUR
GOAL. SO THIS IS THE SMART WAY
TO DO CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING
AND MAKE SURE THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY ARE MET. [ INAUDIBLE
]
>> I DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO
WHAT YOU SAID.
>> IN OUR CONVERSATION HERE, WE
APPRECIATE THAT YOU CAME HERE.
BUT AS I ASKED BEFORE. THIS IS
GOING TO BE A CIVIL
CONVERSATION HERE. WE WILL
CARRY IT HERE. WE'LL HAVE
QUESTIONS. AND IF YOU HAVE
SOMETHING TO STATE, WE'LL DO
IT AFTER THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. CHIEF, LET ME ASK
YOU THIS. I THINK WE ARE SO
CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT
THE SHOOT DEGREES. BUT I GUESS
-- HOW DO WE -- THERE'S A
PERCEPTION OUT THERE I SUPPOSE.
MAYBE SEATTLE POLICE OR POLICE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HOW DO WE
GO ABOUT IMPROVING THE
EFFECTIVENESS AND THE
PERCEPTION?
>> SO RIGHT NOW --
>> TRUST.
>> WE HAVE BEEN A DATA-DRIVEN
AGENCY. AND WE HAVE BEEN AS
PART OF THE CONSENT DECREE,
SETTING HIGH BAR, STANDARDS FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE
ACTUALLY LOWERED LEVEL 2 AND 3
FORCES. ALSO OF FORCE. DOWN TO
DRASTICALLY. VERY, VERY LOW
NUMBERS. IN FACT, OVERALL
INCIDENTS, WE RUN ABOUT
400,000, 500 CALLS THAT COME
INTO THE CARE CENTER. AND RIGHT
NOW, WE'RE ABOUT 1.25 TO 1.4%
THAT RESULT IN SOME LEVEL OF
USE OF FORCE, WHICH IS ALMOST
NONEXISTENT. AND RIGHT NOW, YOU
KNOW, WE -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS WAS OFFICER-INVOLVED
SHOOTINGS. ESPECIALLY, AFTER
HAVING GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT
THAT WENT ON. WE HAVE ACTUALLY,
WHEN YOU LOOK AT
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.
WE'VE HAD ONE IN 22 MONTHS
THAT DID NOT RESULT IN A DEATH.
SO OFFICERS ARE GOING OUT AND
DEESCALATING THE SITUATIONS AT
THE HIGHEST RATE. I MEAN, THIS
IS PROBABLY UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS OF NUMBERS. IN FACT,
WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT,
WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN SO LOW IN
OUR EFFORTS TO MAKING SURE
THAT, -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL
RECOVERING GUNS. STILL GOING
OUT AND MAKING ARRESTS. AND I
THINK REALLY RIGHT NOW, IT'S
ABOUT GOING OUT AND MAKING SURE
WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
BUILD OUR TRUST AND
RELATIONSHIP IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
>> THE CITY COUNCIL ARGUED
EARLIER THIS WEEK. I THINK IT
WAS CATHY MOORE WHO PRESSED YOU
ABOUT HIRING. AND BASICALLY
SAID, COME BACK WITH SOME
RESULTS HERE?
>> UH-HUH.
>> WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE. WE'VE
PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THIS.
HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE THEN GET
MORE RESPONDENTS TO INCREASE
OUR NUMBERS?
>> YEAH. SO LIKE THE MAYOR
SAID. HE'S ALSO TALK TO THE
MAYORS. I'VE TALK THE TO A LOT
OF MAJOR CITY CHIEFS. AND
ALMOST -- EVERYONE ACROSS
COUNTRY. IN FACT, I'VE BEEN AT
RECRUITING SESSIONS. AND TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE
DOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND
THIS IS A CHALLENGE. EVERYBODY
IS TRYING TO FIND INCENTIVE.
AND WE'RE ALL COMPETING FOR
THE SAME POOL OF CANDIDATES.
AND REALLY, AS WE START TO LOOK
AT -- I'VE ACTUALLY ASKED MY
STAFF TO LOOK AT A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT THINGS. WE HAVE A
BUNCH OF WOMEN COLLEGES IN THE
COUNTRY. I'M SURE THERE ARE
MAYBE ONE OR TWO THAT HAVE A
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM. WHY
DON'T WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE
RECRUIT IN ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE HBCs ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. WHY DON'T WE FIGURE
OUT AND PINPOINT AND TARGET. WE
HAVE ATHLETES THAT ARE COMING
OUT THAT PROBABLY WON'T BE
MOVING ON TO THAT -- THE PROS.
HOW DO WE RECRUIT THAT, BECAUSE
THEY ALL ARE FOCUSED ON
TEAMWORK. SO WE'RE ALL
COMPETING FOR A CANDIDATE POOL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHEN
TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURER AND
FAST FOOD INTO POLICING. AND WE
ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
MAKE THIS A VIABLE TARGET. WHEN
WE ALSO TALK THE ABOUT -- YOU
TALK ABOUT YOUTH AND ASK THEM,
LIKE I WANT TO GO OUT AND SERVE
AND HELP PEOPLE. A LOT OF THEM
DON'T SEE POLICING AS SERVICE
AND HELP. AND SO WE HAVE TO GO
BACK TO THAT KIND OF OLD MODEL,
REALLY SHOWING HOW MUCH WE ARE
FOCUSED ON SERVICE. HOW MUCH DO
WE GO OUT AND HELP PEOPLE. HOW
MUCH DO WE PUT OUT TURN QUIETS
AND SAVING LIVES. AND MAKING
SURE WE TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE
VICTIMIZED AND PUT THEM IN
BETTER ENVIRONMENTS SO THEY'RE
NOT VICTIMIZED AGAIN. AND SEE
THIS AS A SERVICE JOB. I THINK
ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT, EVEN
AS A COMMUNITY, TO EVEN
UNDERSTAND AS A POLICE
DEPARTMENT, HOW TO SUPPORT THEM
TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> CHIEF, WHAT IS YOUR STAFFING
LIKE? I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
PROBABLY HURTING AS MUCH AS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS. BUT WHAT
ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?
>> SURE. WE'RE NOT WHERE WE
SHOULD BE. WE'RE BUDGETED FOR
1111 FIREFIGHTERS AND ANOTHER
87 PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT AN 8%
VACANCY RATE. BUT THAT'S NOT
ACCURATE. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY
40 IN TRAINING. SO THAT WOULD
TAKE US UP TO 10 TO 12% VACANCY
RATE. SO WE HAVE A CLASS IN
NOW. OUR CHALLENGE NOW IS
GETTING FOLKS THROUGH THE
TRAINING. BEING A FIREFIGHTER
IS A REALLY DIFFICULT JOB.
IT'S REALLY HARD WORK. JUST TO
GIVE YOU LAY OF THE LAND. WE
HAVE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE
CITY. STAFF ALL OVER. THE WAY
WE'RE BUILT IS, BASED ON
RESPONSE TIMES. WITH MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES, WE WANT TO GET
THERE IN FIVE MINUTES OR LESS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DOING THAT
ABOUT 62% OF THE TIME.
FOOIREMERGENCIES. WHY MEDICAL?
THE BRAIN STARTS TO LOSE
FUNCTION IN EIGHT MINUTES. WE
GET THERE IN FIVE. WE CAN DO
GREAT WORK. WHY. FIVE. IT'S
THE TIME TEMPERATURE. AND HOW
THE RATE IS SPREAD. WE'RE MORE
EFFECTIVE IF WE CAN GET THERE
QUICKER. ARE WE ALWAYS OUT
THERE RECRUITING? ABSOLUTELY.
BY THE WAY, OUR APPLICATIONS
ARE OPEN OCTOBER 4 TO NOVEMBER
29th. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
WORKSHOPS COMING UP. HOPEFULLY
WE'LL SEE YOU THERE. BUT YOU
KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM
AS MUCH AS P.D. IN GETTING
FOLKS IN. WHEN OUR APPLICATIONS
OPENED ON MARCH 1, 2022. AND
THEY CLOSE APRIL 19th. WE GOT
3,000 APPLICATIONS. SO THAT'S
THE LIST WE'RE WORKING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW. BUT WE MAY GET 50 IN
TRAINING. AND WE MAY GET 30 TO
35 OUT. BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY
HARD JOB. WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT
ON 50, 60, 70 POUNDS WORTH OF
GEAR. THEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO
WORK. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF
THE WORK.
>> BY THE WAY, THAT WAS VERY
SMOOTH HOW YOU DID THAT PLUG
THERE.
>> YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
OCTOBER 4th DATE, OUR
APPLICATIONS OPEN? [ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
>> ARE YOU STAFFED ADEQUATELY?
>> 911 IS NEVER STAFFED
ADEQUATELY. IT'S NOT.
NATIONALLY. THERE'S A HIGH
TURNOVER. IT'S A REALLY
DIFFICULT JOB. WE HAVEN'T
CONSIDERED THESE FOLKS FIRST
RESPONDERS AND SUPPORTED THEM
THE WAY WE SHOULD. WE'VE TREAT
TODAY LIKE SECRETARIAL WORK. SO
FEELING INVISIBLE IN THE
SYSTEM. EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE THE
FIRST, FIRST RESPONDER.
UNIQUELY THE PAIN IN THE
COMMUNITY. NOT HAVING ANY
CLOSURE. AND THEN HAVING TO
WORK, YOU KNOW, OVERTIME.
MANDATORY OVERTIME, JUST LIKE
THESE OTHER TWO DEPARTMENTS,
IT'S EXHAUSTING. SO WE'RE
DOING WHAT WE CAN TO IMPROVE
CULTURE, TO STAFF UP. I'M VERY
FOCUSED ON RETENTION. AND I DO
THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WORK IS.
AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
OF THE FOLKS HERE. AND A LOT OF
THE COUNCIL. JUST ABOUT
EVERYBODY HAS BEEN OUT TO SIT
IN 911 TO LEARN ABOUT THIS
SYSTEM. AND SEE A LOT OF MY
DEAR TEAMMATES HERE FROM 911.
AND I LOVE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGE
IMMEDIATELY THIS PUBLIC SAFETY
CONVERSATION. THEY ARE
BRILLIANT ABOUT IT. VERY SMART
RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT YEAH. I
DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF
I CAN MAKE YOUR SMOOTH PITCH.
I'LL HAVE SNACKS. COME TO 911.
YEAH.
>> WE ALL NEED STAPH.
>> TANYA, IS STAFFING AN ISSUE
FOR YOU?
>> I WAS WAITING. I WAS HOPING
YOU WOULD ASK ME. THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS DOING
OKAY. BUT JUST IN GENERAL, THIS
IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE A
SURPRISE TO YOU. SOCIAL
WORKERS, THE COMMUNITY WORK,
SOME OF YOU WHO MAY BE DOING
THIS AS A PROFESSION OR HAVE
TRANSITIONED OUT, WHETHER IT'S
NURSING OR OTHERS, ESPECIALLY
POST-PANDEMIC. IT'S A TOUGH
GIG. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE
ARE FOLKS WHO ARE BURNING OUT.
THEY'RE FEELING STRETCHED
THIN. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF, I
MENTIONED EARLIER, PARTNERING
WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. A LOT OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK WITH
ARE FROM COMMUNITY. THESE ARE
THE NEIGHBORS. THESE ARE THE
SIBLINGS. THIS IS WHERE THEY
GREW UP. THEY CARE VERY DEEPLY.
SO THIS IS NOT A 9:00 TO 5:00
JOB. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT
SUSTAINABILITY. HOW CAN WE ALSO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE TRAUMAS
THAT THEY ARE ALSO
EXPERIENCING, BY HOPPING FROM
ONE FUNERAL AND THEN GOING TO
THE NEXT EVENT. SO WE DO HAVE
TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF EACH
OTHER, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE,
OUR COLLEAGUES HERE. SO I'M
THINKING DEEPLY ABOUT THAT A
LOT.
>> SO THIS MAY BE A QUESTION
FOR BOTH THE CHIEF AND THE
MAYOR. GIVEN THE POLICE TAKE 23
MINUTES TO RESPOND TO GUNFIRE,
ONE MILE AWAY, WITH MINIMAL
PENALTIES. HOW WILL A SHOT
SPOTTER BE AFFECT THE?
>> I'LL START OFF WITH
CORRECTING A LITTLE BIT OF THE
NUMBERS. TYPICALLY RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE ACTUALLY 7.7, WHEN IT
COMES TO PRIORITY. FASTER WHEN
IT COMES TO ACTUAL SHOOTINGS IN
MANY OF THESE CALLS. IN FACT,
YESTERDAY, JUST BEING A BLOCK
AWAY. WE'RE DEPLOYING PEOPLE
IN THE RIGHT AREA. BECAUSE AS
THE MAYOR SAID EARLIER ABOUT
KIND OF FOCUSING ON POLICING,
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PLACES THAT
TEND TO HAVE HIGHER RESPONSES.
WE KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT SHOTS
FIRED. 40% OF THE SHOOTINGS AND
SHOTS FIRED ARE IN THE
PRECINCT. IF YOU LOOK AT DOWN
AROUND THE BEACH. THERE ARE
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS WHERE YOU
WANT TO DEPLOY YOUR OFFICERS.
SO WE'RE TAKING THAT DATA
DRINK APPROACH. AND MAKING SURE
OUR OFFICERS ARE IN THE RIGHT
SPOTS TO STREAMLINE OUR
EFFECTIVENESS. AND SO YES.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE DO
HAVE LONGER RESPONSE TIMES. BUT
IT IS ALSO RIGHT NOW, REALLY
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
OFFICERS ARE, YOU KNOW,
PATROLLING IN A VERY, VERY
DIRECTED MANNER. AND FOCUSING
REALLY, AS WE DO A LOT MORE
OPERATIONS. WE ACTUALLY FOCUS
MORE OPERATIONALLY. NOT ON JUST
RANDOM. BUT WE DON'T DO RANDOM
PATROLS. WE'RE TARGETING
SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON
PLACE-BASED POLICING.
>> LET ME COME IN ON THAT ONE.
SO I WANT ACCURATE DATA. IF YOU
HAVE A BETTER IDEA, E-MAIL ME.
>> NOW, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO
PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE. THAT'S
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK. NOT
JUST WHERE GUNFIRE IS. IF YOU
LOOK AT SOME OF THE WORK DONE
IN SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES
THROUGH THE USE OF SOCIAL
MEDIA, THROUGH THE USE OF
ANALYTICS, THROUGH THE USE OF
LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES WHO
SUFFERED TRAUMA, THROUGH
GETTING INTEL OUT ON THE
STREETS AND TO KNOW WHAT IS
GOING ON IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE INVESTING
NEARLY $5 MILLION IN
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT WHEN WE SAVE A LIFE,
THAT'S HARD TO PROVE. BUT ONE
REASON WE ARE USING THAT
STRATEGY IS TO PREVENT GUNFIRE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
PEOPLE COME HERE AS WELL. AND
THEY ARE CREATING CHAOS. OUR
ANALYTICS. I ASK. PEOPLE WORK
FOR ME. THEY KNOW I'M PRETTY
TOUGH. I WANT TO KNOW, WHERE
DID THIS COME FROM. WHAT WAS
GOING ON FOR THEM TO PULL THE
DAMN TRIGGER. SO LET'S NOT
CONFUSE THE PREVENTIVE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE
ANALYTICS, WITH THE SIMPLE TOOL
OF TECHNOLOGY. I WANT TO KNOW
WHERE THE GUNFIRE IS OCCURRING.
IF YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA. I'M
ALL EARS. THAT'S JUDGE I'M A
PROPONENT OF IT. BECAUSE I WENT
TO SEE HOW IT WAS BEING
DEPLOYED. YOU MAY RECALL, I WAS
THE FIRST PROPONENT OF BODY
CAMERAS. I HAD PEOPLE DEBATE ON
WHETHER THAT MADE SENSE NOW.
AND MANY YEARS LATER, OBAMA
CAME OUT IN HIS ADMINISTRATION
AND HAD A NATIONAL MOVEMENT
TOWARD BODY CAMERAS. I'M
TELLING YOU, 10, 15 YEARS AGO,
YOU HEARD IT FIRST. 10, 15
YEARS FROM NOW, YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
AROUND THE CITY. YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE IT IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE
IT. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY,
THAT OLD HARRELL, HE WAS ONTO
SOMETHING. PEOPLE DON'T TRUST
THE GOVERNMENT. THEY DON'T
TRUST SURVEILLANCE TO US. I GET
THAT. HELL, I DON'T. SO WE'RE
HAVING THIS DEBATE NOW TO LAY
THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT I THINK
WILL GIVE US ACCURATE DATA WHEN
WE DEAL WITH GUNFIRE. CAN I
JUMP IN ON THAT?
>> SURE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS
IN DEPLOYING A GLS SYSTEM NONE
COMMUNITY. THEY FOUND THAT 40%
OF THE SHOTS FIRED HAD NOT BEEN
CALLED. I THINK THE MAYOR
ALLUDED TO EARLIER IN THE
CONVERSATION, SOMETIMES WE HAVE
A SHOOTING. WE FIGURE SOMEONE
ELSE WILL CALL. SO THAT IS ONE
OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT
WE'RE GOING TO FIND. IF POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE DATA
DRIVEN. AND 40% ARE NOT
ACTUALLY GOING TO BE RECORDED.
IT'S LIKE A FLIP OF THE COIN
FOR ME TO DEPLOY MY RESOURCES.
WE HAVE TO BE DATA DRIVEN. HAVE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING
ALL OF THE SHOTS FIRED, SO I
KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE I NEED
TO TARGET THOSE OFFICERS.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE LIMITED IN
RESOURCES, WE'VE GOT TO PLAQUE
SURE WE PINPOINT. WE REFER TO
IT AS PRECISION POLICING. GOT
TO BE TO THAT AREA.
>> CAN YOU COME UP HERE? [
APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN CENTRAL
DISTRICT LAST NIGHT. YOUR
CONCERN ABOUT THIS. IT'S YOUR
AREA, IT'S YOUR DISCIPLINE.
AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING
SINCE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING?
>> YEAH. MY AREA, MY COMMUNITY,
GROWING UP THERE. 40 YEARS WILL
BE MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW, I TURN
40. SO IT'S BEEN 40 YEARS IN
THE DISTRICT. AND THE CONCERN
IS -- AND I TALK TO A BUNCH OF
PARENTS, TO PRINCIPALS, TO
SOCIAL WORKERS. WHEN WE CAN'T
KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE, IT'S A
FAILURE ON US AS ADULTS. AND I
REALLY TAKE THAT VERY
SERIOUSLY, BEING IN THIS ROLE.
IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE ON
THE OTHER SIDE. I'M A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER. YET SOMETHING
HAPPENS AND YOU JUST WANT TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM VERY FAST.
AND YOU WANT TO GET THERE AND
YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH
PEOPLE. AND IT'S THE SAME
THING AS IN GOVERNMENT. BUT YOU
ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. WHAT
CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
KIDS ARE SAFE? AND I'LL TELL
YOU THE STORY. THERE'S A KID
-- UNFORTUNATELY, HE DIED TO
GUN VIOLENCE. HIS NAME WAS
CONNOR GASSA HOLLAND. AND HE
WAS KILLED ON MOTHER'S DAY.
2020, RAINIER BEACH. I COACHED
THIS KID IN SIXTH GRADE. AND
HIS MOM HERE. I DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WERE GOING TO BE HERE.
LET'S GIVE HER A HAND. [
APPLAUSE ] THERE WAS GUN
VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENED IN THE
SOUTH END. AND WE HAD A MEETING
AND THE SOUTH PRECINCT WAS
THERE. AND I WALKED IN, AND I
SAW HER. AND I SAID, HEY. YOU
KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER?
WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER AS A
CITY? AND SHE SAID, JOY, YOU
SEE ALL OF THESE ADULTS IN
HERE? I WANT THEM TO BE IN WITH
THE ADULTS IN THE GYM. I WANT
TO SEE MENTORSHIP. I WANT TO
SEE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. I
WANT TO SEE PEOPLE GETTING FED.
SO WHEN THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT
PREVENTIVE WORK AND HUMAN
SERVICES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT. MAKING SURE
THERE'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS,
MAKING SURE THERE'S ENGAGEMENT.
MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTENT ON
TIKTOK THAT IS VERY VOLATILE.
AND PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IT IN
THEIR MINDS AS KIDS, THAT WE'RE
TAKING THEM AWAY FROM THAT AND
PUTTING THEM IN THESE COMMUNITY
CENTERS AND THEIR PARKS. SO
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH
ALL OF THE -- IT'S GOING TO BE
ALL HANDS ON DECK. IT'S GOING
TO BE PARENTS, SCHOOLS,
TEACHERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS,
HUMAN SERVICES. I'M REALLY
DEDICATED TO THIS. ANY TIME A
CHILD IS HURT, I TAKE THAT VERY
PERSONALLY. WANT TO FOLLOW UP
ON THE COMMENT ABOUT THE NEWS
COVERAGE. BUT ALSO A SOUNDBYTE
WITH A YOUNG MAN WHO GOES TO
SCHOOL IN GARFIELD. WHAT STRUCK
ME WAS, HE TALKED ABOUT, OH,
YEAH. WE HAVE THESE LOCKDOWNS.
AND THEY JUST HAPPEN. BUT THAT
JUST SEEMS TO BE SO SAD AND
DISTURBING, THAT OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH
THIS. AND JUST THE LONG-TERM
EFFECTS OF THAT. THIS IS NOT
NORMAL.
>> NO. IT'S NOT NORMAL. AND I
REJECT THE FACT THAT WHEN
PEOPLE SAY, WE'RE IN BIG
CITIES AND PEOPLE HAVE THIS
TYPE OF VIOLENCE, NOT IN
SEATTLE. I REJECT THAT FACT
TONIGHT. AND I KNOW THAT OUR
BABIES, THEY ARE TRAUMATIZED BY
THE GUN VIOLENCE GOING ON.
THEY'RE LOSING FRIENDS. THEY
SEE IT EVERY DAY. WE DO NOT
WANT THEM TO NORMALIZE THIS
TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. TO WHERE NOW
THEY'RE BECOMING NUMB. SO THIS
IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO
WORK ON. I KNOW THAT WE'RE
WORKING HARD EVERY DAY. YOU
HAVE PEOPLE THAT REALLY
PASSIONATELY CARE ABOUT THIS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING
AS HARD AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO FEEL
AND BE SAFE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SOMEONE FROM YOUR -- THAT'S
ON THE FRONT LINE. CAN YOU
POINT THEM OUT TO ME?
>> SASHA. GETTING TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> CAN YOU COME ON DOWN HERE? [
APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU KNOW, DON'T WORRY
ABOUT IT. IT'S JUST YOU AND ME
AND SEVERAL MILLION PEOPLE
WATCHING.
>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK. AND
WHAT ARE YOU EXPERIENCING OUT
THERE?
>> OH. THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> SASHA?
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE THIS
KIND OF WORK FOR A LONG TIME. I
WORKED AT DESC.
>> BY THE WAY, I DIDN'T GET
YOUR NAME. HOW RUDE. I'M
ENRIQUE. AND YOU ARE --
>> HI, EVERYONE. I'M SASHA POL
O*BLGOCK. AND I AM A COMMUNITY
CRISIS RESPONDER. AND I'VE
BEEN DOING THIS FOR A REALLY
LONG TIME. SEVEN YEARS. AND THE
WORK THAT I'M DOING NOW AS A
COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONDER HAS
BEEN REALLY PHENOMENAL, I GET
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AT THEIR LOWEST AND
DARKEST TIME AND GET TO BE THAT
STAR AND LIGHT FOR THEM,
OFFERING THEM HOPE AND 70. I
WAS THE ONE THAT TOOK THE
COMMUNITY MEMBER ON THE SLURPEE
FIELD TRIP. SO THAT WAS REALLY
GREAT AND BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN
THIS WORK FOR A LONG TIME, I
KNOW A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT ARE SUFFERING AND DYING. I
GET OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER
SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY,
WHETHER IT BE RECOVERY TOWARDS
HOUSING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE
FOR YOU?
>> WE LIKE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT.
YOU'LL SEE US IN OUR LOVELY
BLUE SHIRTS AND JACKETS,
WALKING AROUND. ENGAGING IN OUR
COMMUNITY. AND SOME OF THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE AROUND THE
DOWNTOWN AREA. IF YOU SEE OUR
CARS, IT SAYS, COMMUNITY CRISIS
RESPONDER ON IT. PLEASE SAY HI.
I PROMISE WE'LL WAVE BACK. WE
LIKE TO BE OUT THERE. AND WE
LIKE TO BE THERE IN THE
COMMUNITY. I AM SHAKING. SORRY.
WE LIKE TO BE OUT THERE AND
KNOW OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW WE
CAN BEST SUPPORT.
>> IN THIS JOB. YOU SEE SOME
TRYING THINGS OUT THERE. BUT
WHAT'S THE RESPONSE OF THE
PEOPLE YOU'RE HELPING?
>> I'VE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT
GREAT RESPONSE. SOMETIMES WE
GET PEOPLE WHO ARE HESITANT.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHO WE
ARE INITIALLY. WE'RE LIKE,
HEY, WE'RE NOT HERE TO GET YOU
IN TROUBLE. WE'RE HERE TO
SUPPORT. AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE
CAN DO FOR YOU. WE'VE GOTTEN
GREAT RESPONSES. THERE WAS A
GENTLEMAN THAT ONE OF MY
PARTNERS SAW. VERY IRRITATED.
AGITATED. AND LIKE SHELTERS ARE
CLOSED OR NOT. WE CAN GIVE YOU
A BLANKET. AND LIKE, IS THAT
GOING TO TAKE 18 YEARS? NO.
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.AND
OKAY. THESE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
HERE TO SUPPORT ME.
>> APPRECIATE IT. SORRY TO
STARTLE YOU, BUT YOU DID A
GREAT JOB.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> MORE QUESTIONS HERE. CHIEF
DIAZ. HERE'S ONE FOR YOU. AND
IT --
>> I DON'T SHARE WITH THE
CHIEF. IS THERE A PARTICULAR
TIP FOR THE PROGRAM THAT YOU
THINK IS WORKING REALLY WELL? I
THINK RIGHT NOW, WE TEND TO
LOOK AT THINGS VERY NEGATIVELY.
BECAUSE OF TRUST AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING OUT THERE.
>> ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS
I FELT LIKE. WITH STAFFING AT A
LOW, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, YOU
KNOW, UNDERSTAFFED. THE
DISPATCHERS ARE OVERWORKED. YOU
KNOW, OUR OFFICERS ARE ALSO ON
THE FRONT LINES TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THE CITY FEELS SAFE. ALL
OF OUR ENTITIES ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER. THOSE
ARE THE THINGS THAT WORK.
BECAUSE HONESTLY, WHEN YOU
START TO THINK ABOUT THE TYPES
OF CALL FOR SERVICE. BRINGING
CARE INTO THE MIX. WE HAVE
11,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE, JUST
DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN CRISIS,
EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND WE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO PULL SOME OF THAT
WORK TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE
SPECIALTY SKILLS IN THAT. WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT.
SO WE CAN FOCUS ON PRIORITY ONE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. WHICH IS
VIOLENT CRIME. THINGS THAT ARE
IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY. IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT
GOING TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION
TOGETHER. BUT HAVING PEOPLE
THAT HAVE THOSE SPECIALTY
SKILLS FREES OUR OFFICERS UP TO
GO OUT AND HANDLE THE CRIME
ISSUES WE HAVE IN THE CITY. WE
WORK CLOSELY WITH FIRE
DEPARTMENT. I WOULD SAY, RIGHT
NOW, OUR ENTITIES ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY, WITH VERY,
VERY SHORT STAFFING. AND THAT
IS WHAT IS WORKING. BUT WE NEED
MORE OF IT. AS WE START TO
BUILD OUR DEPARTMENTS UP. AS WE
GO OUT AND DO MORE, WE CREATE
THOSE INVESTMENTS. AND I SEE
COMMUNITY PASSAGE WAYS. AND I
SEE, THEY WERE OUT THERE AT
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED ALL OF THOSE
OTHER ENTITIES, THE NONPROFITS
THAT ARE GOING OUT AND BEING
ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THE
PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
WORK. THAT MY DEPARTMENT
DOESN'T DO. THAT'S WHERE THE
INVESTMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
HSD, CREATES THOSE INVESTMENTS
FOR. COLLABORATIVELY, THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT ARE WORKING. WE'RE
JUST LIMITED IN OUR CAPACITY,
TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING WE
WANT TO DO.
>> I WAS GOING TO PUT THE CHIEF
ON THE SPOT. WELL, THERE'S
THREE OF THEM. BUT SHE'S
TALKING.
>> LOW.
>> IT'S OKAY.
>> I GOT CUT OFF. THERE YOU GO.
>> SPEAKING OF COLLABORATIONS.
THE CHIEF CAN EXPAND. WE HAVE A
CASE OUT THERE, WHERE OUR
HEALTH WORKERS ARE OUT WITH
YOUR CREW. AND FOLLOWING UP NOT
ONLY ON THE CALLS. BUT THE
FOLLOW-UP VISITS. DID YOU MAKE
THAT DOCTOR APPOINTMENT? AND
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM,
WHAT IS WORKING WELL. AND THIS
MAY BE A SURPRISE. BUT WE'RE A
LOT MORE AGILE THAN YOU MIGHT
THINK. BASED ON DATA AGAIN, THE
MAYOR SAID, WHAT ARE THE
RESULTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE
DOES IT. BUT THE CHIEF HAD THAT
IN HIS HEAD AND WILL RECITE
THAT NOW. BUT I WILL SAY, WE'RE
ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY
DOLLAR. AND SO SOME OF YOU MAY
HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE THESE
MAJOR LAWSUITS. THE CITY IS
GOING TO BE A RECIPIENT,
STARTING TO RECEIVE SOME
DOLLARS FROM THE OPIOID
SETTLEMENT FUNDS AS WELL. AND
WE'RE PUTTING THAT BACK INTO
COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANT TO
INFORM YOU THAT THERE'S A LOT
OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
YOU MIGHT NOT SEE IT. BUT WE'RE
BRINGING THOSE THINGS ONLINE.
AND WITH THOSE, WE'RE ABLE TO
EXPAND AND DO MORE
COLLABORATION AS WELL. BUT
CHIEF?
>> SURE. SO CIRCLE BACK IN A
MINUTE. WE SHOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE THAT'S
WORKING WELL. BUT WHAT'S ALSO
WORKING WELL IS OUR
FIREFIGHTERS, EACH AND EVERY
DAY. WITH OUR VACANCIES, THAT
MEANS THAT OUR FOLKS ARE
WORKING A LOT OF HOURS TO KEEP
THE STATION STAFFED, SO THEY
CAN GO AND RESPOND TO THOSE
EMERGENCIES. THAT'S WORKING
WELL. WE'LL GET MORE. WE KNOW
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD. BUT
WE'LL GET MORE. THE
RELATIONSHIP RIGHT HERE IS
WORKING WELL. WE TALK A LOT. WE
SHARE A LOT. TANYA'S CASE
MANAGERS ARE HOUSED IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND OUR HEALTH ONE
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN
OPERATIONAL NOW FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND THEY DO ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
WORK. AND ALL THE TOUCHES. AND
LIEUTENANT STEWART IS HERE. HE
DOES A LOT OF WORK ON HEALTH
ONE. A LOT OF THINGS ARE
WORKING WELL. AND I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS
NEW AND WE THINK IS INNOVATIVE.
LAST YEAR, ON THE OVERDOSE
CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING NOW.
WE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO
ACTION. AND PUT IT IN SERVICE
LAST JUNE. HEALTH 99, IF YOU
SEE IT AROUND THE CITY. IT HAS
HN99 ON THE UNIT. THAT'S OUR
OVERDOSE RESPONSE UNIT. THEY'RE
GOING ONLY TO OVERDOSE CALLS.
IF THE PERSON IS REVIVED, WE
TRY TO CLEAR THE SCENE A BIT.
AND LET OUR FOLK GOES TO WORK
WITH THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING
THAT THEY HAVE, TO TRY TO TALK
PEOPLE ACTUALLY TO GETTING INTO
TREATMENT. SO WHAT WE VANISH
WORKING ON BEHIND THE SCENES
ALSO, WAS GETTING APPROVAL FROM
THE STATE FOR OUR PARAMEDICS
AND EMTs TO DEPLOY DEBU PIN
NORFIN. IN DECEMBER, WE GOT
TENTATIVE APRAOUFPL, OUR
MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. MICHAEL
SAYER, BUILT A TRAINING
PROGRAM. AND WE TRAINED 10
PARAMEDICS TO DE PLOY.
>> BIWHAT CAN HAPPEN IS THOSE
CAN BE VIOLENT AND PAINFUL.
BUPRENORPHINE. IN THE FIRST TWO
WEEKS THIS. IS OUR THIRD WEEKS.
SO I'LL GET THE NUMBERS FOR
THIS WEEK. BUT AS OF MONDAY,
WE'VE HAD EIGHT PEOPLE SAY
YES. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS
SAYING YES TO CHANGING THEIR
LIVES. IN TWO WEEKS, SAYING YES
TO GOING INTO TREATMENT.
THAT'S INNOVATIVE. AND OUR
REGION SAID A LITTLE MORE ON
THAT. THREE OF THOSE EIGHT HAVE
NOW GOTTEN INJECTED WITH A
30-DAY DOSE. THAT'S HUGE FOR A
PERSON TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE.
WHEN YOU HAVE B UPRENORPHINE.
YOU START TO LEVEL OUT. WE
COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE
MAYOR, WITH THE COUNCIL AND
BELIEVING IN THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING NOW IN THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. BUT WHAT WE
THINK IS THE MORE PARAMEDICS WE
TRAIN. THE MORE EMTs WE GET
FROM THE STATE. WE'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL
IMPACT. REMEMBER, I SAID IN
2023, WE RESPONDED TO OVER 5200
OVERDOSES. AND OVER 3800 WERE
OPIOID-RELATED. THAT'S OUR
SPOT RIGHT THERE, WHERE WE CAN
ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE. AND SOME
OF THOSE FOLKS WERE GOING ON
OVER AND OVER AND OVER. OUR
PEOPLE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS.
TANYA'S CASE MANAGERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS. THEY HAVE
RELATIONSHIPS. AND THE LATEST
THING THAT WE'VE DONE. IS WE
JUST SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TO
BRING A NURSE PRACTITIONER INTO
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. PEOPLE
NEED HELP WITH WOUND CARE. THAT
NURSE PRACTITIONER IS GOING TO
BE ABLE TO HELP WITH OUR CASE
MANAGEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP. THOSE
THINGS ARE WORKING WELL.
>> WE'RE NOT JUST FIGHTING
FIRES OUT THERE?
>> NO.
>> MAYOR, QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU
KNOW. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO REVITALIZE NOW.
HOW DOES THAT REVITALIZATION,
GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
DOWNTOWN? IS THERE A CONNECTION
THERE AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY?
AND HOW THAT -- I GUESS THE
OPTICS OF IT? TO BE ABLE TO
BRING THE VIBRANCY BACK? AND IS
THE CITY DOING THAT? IS THE
CITY -- ARE THEIR FOLKS BEING
REQUIRED TO COME TO WORK?
>> SURE. SO YES. ACTIVATION AND
GETTING HUMAN BODIES AROUND IS
A VERY COMMON PUBLIC SAFETY
STRATEGY. RIGHT NOW, 65 TO 70%
OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING
FULL TIME. AND SO IT'S A
MISNOMER TO THINK THAT WHEN I
MANDATE IT AND I WAS THE ONLY
ONE. THE PORT DIDN'T DO IT.
THE STATE DIDN'T DO IT. THE
COUNTY DIDN'T DO IT. I WAS THE
FIRST BON. AND THE ONLY MAYOR
IN THE STATE, TO MANDATE TWO
MANDATORY DAYS COMING BACK TO
WORK. AND I DID IT BECAUSE I
THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO. BUT ALSO GAVE FLEXIBILITY
FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED TO STAY
HOME FOR SOME REASON. NOW WE'LL
DECIDE THIS, IN SHORT ORDER,
WHAT A MODIFICATION OF THAT
LOOKS LIKE. I'VE TALKED TO
MANY EMPLOYERS DOWNTOWN ABOUT
INCREASING THE NUMBERS. AND SO
WE'RE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS
AS WE SPEAK. THAT IS A COMMON
TACTIC NOW. THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS, IS THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WILL STILL WORK FROM
HOME. THAT'S THE NEW REALITY.
THAT'S THE GIFT OF COVID, THAT
PEOPLE REALIZE THERE'S
FLEXIBILITY. SO WE WANT TO
STILL GIVE PEOPLE FLEXIBILITY.
BUT THAT IS A COMMON TACTIC.
I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. BUT I'LL
SAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE IT'S
SORT OF CHICKEN AND EGG. PEOPLE
WILL SAY, I'M NOT COMING
DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE.
SO WHAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY DOING
IS TRYING TO DOG EVERYTHING. IF
YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE
CREATIVE EXAMPLES. AND BY THE
WAY, I SEE MY FRIEND FROM THE
CHINATOWN ACTIVATION. AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER WU
FOR SIGNING UP. I HAVE A STRONG
ALLY, MAKING SURE THAT IN SMALL
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, AS AN
EXAMPLE. WE NEED THESE
BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE. IT'S
HARD ENOUGH, PEOPLE COMPETING
AGAINST AMAZON. AND COMPETING
AGAINST THE GIANTS IN COMMERCE
FOR THE SMALLER BUSINESSES TO
SURVIVE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT
-- WE HAVE ABOUT OVER 40
STRATEGIES. IN ACTIVATING
DOWNTOWN. AND CERTAIN YES. ONE
OF THEM DOWNTOWN. IF YOU LOOK
AT THE NUMBERS. LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS. I RECENTLY MET WITH
THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, KAREN
BASS, RECENTLY MET WITH THE
MAYOR OF PORTLAND. TED WHEELER.
OUR NUMBERS ARE COMING BACK.
I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THEM.
BECAUSE THAT'S JUST IN MY DNA.
BUT WE'RE MAKING TREMENDOUS
PROGRESS IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT
INCREASE THIS YEAR.
>> CHIEF. ABOUT 12th AND
JACKSON. A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS
BEEN GOING ON THERE. ARE WE
MAKING THE PROGRESS? UP THERE?
PARTICULARLY, IF YOU LOOK AT
LITTLE SAIGON, WHICH HAS BEEN
HIT. THE WHOLE AREA. IT'S JUST
SAD TO SEE.
>> THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
IMPACTED GREATLY. AND I TELL
YOU, EVERY SINGLE MORNING, I
DRIVE THROUGH, COME UP RAINIER
AVENUE. NORTH ON RAINIER
AVENUE. TURN ON WELLER. RIGHT
PAST, RIGHT BY THE NAVIGATION
CENTER. AND I COME RIGHT TO
12th AND JACKSON. JUST TO SEE
WHAT THE SENTIMENT IS, WHERE
ARE WE AT? AND RIGHT NOW, EVERY
SINGLE MORNING, AROUND 7:30 TO
BETWEEN 8:00. IT IS LOOKING
REALLY, REALLY CLEAR. I HAVE
OFFICERS AND STAFF AROUND 8:00.
ONLY ONE OF FEW AREAS IN THE
CITY THAT I HAVE GOT PERMANENT
STAFFING. THERE'S A SCHOOL
THAT IS RIGHT THERE. MANY OF
THOSE KIDS, THAT IF THEY COME
TO SCHOOL, AND IF THAT AREA IS
NOT CLEAR, THEY'RE WALKING
THROUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE SMOKING
FENTANYL. AND I CAN'T HAVE
THAT. THE CITY CAN'T HAVE THAT.
THE MAYOR CAN'T HAVE THAT. HE
GOES, THIS IS AN AREA. WE NEED
TO HAVE KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO
SCHOOL SAFELY. SO WE ARE
STAFFING THAT RIGHT AWAY. FROM
8:00 TO 8:00 IN THE EVENING. I
KNOW THAT IT IS NOT QUITE
PERFECT. BUT I KNOW THAT WE'RE
MAKING END ROADS IN THIS AREA.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING
CLOSELY IN THE COMMUNITY ON A
CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY. WHAT
WE REFER TO AS PLACE-BASED
STRATEGY. OUR BOB CORIANDO IS
WORKING IN LITTLE SAIGON TO DO
SIMILAR WORK. A BEAUTIFUL, SAFE
PLACE INITIATIVE THAT WAS DONE.
AND THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
ENTITIES ARE ALREADY RAISING
FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO REALLY PUSH
FORWARD ON KIND OF USING CRIME
PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND
FINDING OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN
ACTIVATE THIS SPACE. SO THERE
IS A LOT OF WORK THAT IS
ALREADY GOING INTO THIS AREA. A
LOT OF INVESTMENT THAT HAS
ALREADY TAKEN HOME HOLD. BUT IT
CONTINUOUS EFFORT. WE'VE GOT
TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS,
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
>> YEAH. YEP.
>> SEEMS TO BE REOCCURRING.
>> I THINK WE'RE TIME TO GO TO
OUR LAST POLL QUESTION. SECOND
POLL OF THE NIGHT. SECOND.
>> RIGHT.
>> WANT TO JOIN ME UP HERE SO
WE CAN LOOK AT THE RESULTLESS?
>> ALL RIGHT . FOR OUR POLL
NUMBER 2. HERE WE GO. DO YOU
FEEL -- NO. THEY CAUGHT ME OFF
GUARD. PLEASE RANK YOUR TOP
THREE PUBLIC OR COMMUNITY
SAFETY PRIORITIES IN 2024.
DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS HERE.
BUT YOU SEE THE QUESTIONS I
TAKE IT THAT THEY GO BACK AND
FORTH. THERE WE GO. TECHNOLOGY.
I GUESS THEY'RE MOVING TARGETS
HERE, HUH? I'LL GET MY PHONE
OUT.
>> IS EVERYBODY STILL
PARTICIPATING IN THIS OR WHAT?
>> OKAY. UP AND DOWN.
>> 114 RESPONSES.
>> I HAVEN'T VOTED YET.
>> ALL RIGHT. I NEED SHOULD
MUSIC.
>> BEAR WITH US.
>> WELL, I THINK HIRE MORE
POLICE OFFICERS IS DEFINITELY
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOUGH
ONES. OR AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE.
>> THAT SORT OF VIEW. ADDICTION
TREATMENT.
>> OUR RESPONSE IS CONTINUING
HERE.
>> 175 RESPONSES. WELL, IT'S
ACTUALLY GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE
PARTICIPATING IN THIS.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE
LEER TONIGHT?
>> PRETTY GOOD.
>> ABOUT 237? SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
>> JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.
>> YEAH. 226. THAT'S GREAT.
>> I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AND DO WE HIT THE TOP OF THE
LIST HERE? A FEW MORE. YEAH. DO
YOU WANT TO PICK IT UP?
>> WE'LL WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE
GET HERE. MAYOR, YOU WANT TO
SAY A FEW LAST WORDS?
>> I WANT TO CLOSE IT OUT AS WE
SEE THE GRAPHS CHANGE. THIS IS
LIKE A KICKOFF. SO WE'RE GOING
TO GO TO THE COMMUNITIES WITH
YOUR PRECINCTS. AND WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TABLES AND A
DIALOGUE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE
INFORMAL. AND WE'RE GOING TO
GET JIGGY WITH IT. WE'RE GOING
TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY. WE WANT
TO TALK TO YOU. I'M GOING TO
TALK ABOUT YOUR SON CONNOR, IF
I MAY. IT IT'S NOT TOO
EMOTIONAL FOR YOU. THAT -- I'M
NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL
ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL SON THAT
OUR COMMUNITY LOST. I HAD HEARD
OF HIM. I DIDN'T KNOW HE
COACHED AT RAINIER BEACH. HE
WAS A SUPERSTAR. DID EVERYTHING
RIGHT. RAISE YOUR MIKE UP. HE
WAS AN ANGEL. AND WHAT I HOPE
WE IMPRESSED UPON YOU TONIGHT,
SASHA, WITH YOUR WORDS AND WITH
THE LEADERSHIP STANDING WITH
ME, THAT WE'RE NOT PERFECT.
BUT I HOPE WE IMPRESS UPON YOU
OUR ABILITY TO RISE TO THE
MOMENT AND OUR COMMITMENT TO
YOU. AND WHEN I HEARD ABOUT
YOUR SON'S BACKGROUND AND AS
COUNCIL MEMBER SAID. IT GETS
PERSONAL. DEPUTY MAYOR TIM
BURGESS, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
-- HE'S OLD HRAO*EUFBG ME. HE
HAD THIS IDEA, WELL, HOW
UPSTREAM DO WE GO ON TRYING TO
PREVENT VIOLENCE? AND HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE BRAINS ARE DEVELOPED?
AND DEVELOPED PREK. EVERY YEAR,
WE LOOK AT THE BRAIN DEVELOP
FROM 0 TO 4. I DON'T THINK IT
CAN GO MUCH MORE UPSTREAM THAN
THAT. LOOKING AT PRENATAL CARE,
REALIZING SOME ARE BORN
ADDICTED. THESE KIDS GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND WE KNOW
IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PATH TO
DO SOMETHING, THAT CAN LEAD TO
A BAD PLACE. YOU LOOK AT WHERE
ARE WE INVESTING? UNLIKE OTHER
CITIES. $55 MILLION TO MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE TUITION-PAID
SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO AS
UPSTREAM AS POSSIBLE. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ARREST, WHEN WE
HAVE TO MAKE ARRESTS. WE'LL
CONTINUE TO TREAT PEOPLE THAT
ARE UNHEALTHY AND SICK. AND
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WITH YOU.
SO THANK YOU THIS EVENING FOR
JOINING US. I HOPE YOU COME TO
THE PRECINCT DISCUSSIONS. I
HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SHAKE YOUR
HAND AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK. AND MY LAST THING. MAY
18th. MAY 18th IS OUR DAY OF
SERVICE. I NEED YOU -- IT'S
SYMBOLIC. LET ME TELL YOU WHY I
SAY IT'S SYMBOLIC. MAY 18 18th
IS OUR DAILY OF SERVICE. GET
YOUR BLUE SHIRT, CITY OF
SEATTLE. WE'LL PAINT SOME
GRAFFITI. PLANT FLOWERS. BUT WE
HAVE A SAYING HERE IN SEATTLE,
THAT WE ARE WINNING. LET ME
MAKE THAT CLEAR. WE ARE
WINNING. THIS IS OUR CITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE
TAKE OUR CITY FROM US. IT'S A
TEAM CONCEPT. THAT'S WHAT THAT
REPRESENTS. WE HAVE OVER 4,000
PEOPLE TO COME JOIN THE TEAM. I
WANT TO BREAK THAT RECORD THIS
YEAR. YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU
CARE. I KNOW. WE'RE ON THE
SAME TEAM. WHETHER YOU LOVE ME
OR HATE ME. LOVE THE TEAM. LOVE
THE WORK THEY'RE DOING. OKAY?
SO MAY 18th, ONE DAY OF
SERVICE. I WANT TO SEE YOU
THERE. OR -- AND I HOPE TO SEE
YOU AT THE NEXT, SHARETTE,
WE'RE GOING TO DO A NEXT
PUBLIC FORUM. THANK YOU FOR
COMING OUT THIS EVENING. [
APPLAUSE ]