>>> GOOD MORNING. THE SEPTEMBER
29, 2025 SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 9:30 A.M. I AM DAN STRAUSS,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> WE'LL HAVE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, AND IN THE
AFTERNOON, WE'LL HAVE THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I'LL MAKE
SOME STATEMENTS LATER IT THIS
MORNING ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING
TO USE BREAKS MOVING FORWARD, TO
MAKE IT MORE PREDICTABLE. AT
THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO
ADOPT THE AGENDA. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. COLLEAGUES, THIS
MORNING, OUR CHIEF OF POLICE,
FIRE CHIEF, AND CARE DEPARTMENT
CHIEF, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AND
STATE GENERAL ARE RESPONDING TO
SEND TROOPS TO PORTLAND, OREGON.
WORDS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD
SAY. THESE ACTIONS ARE
COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY,
UNWARRANTED, AND ONLY STOKE
DIVISION AND CHAOS THAT DOES NOT
EXIST TODAY. THIS HAS DIRECT
IMPACT ON OUR WORK HERE IN THE
BUDGET. BECAUSE OF THIS, I'M
PROPOSING TO SHIFT THE ORDER FOR
THE SESSION TO HEAR FIRST FROM
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
THEN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THE
COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. TO DO SO,
I WILL HAVE TO MOVE TO AMEND THE
AGENDA TO DISCUSS ITEMS IN THAT
ORDER. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE AMENDED TO
REORDER SESSION ONE ITEMS IN THE
FOLLOWING ORDER. ITEM 3, SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, ITEM 1, SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN
FINALLY, ITEM 2, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. IS THERE ANY
OBJECTION -- LET'S SEE, IS
THERE ANY OBJECTION TO AMENDING
THE AGENDA TODAY? HEARING NONE,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS
AMENDED. WE'RE GOING TO JUMP
RIGHT IN BECAUSE I KNOW FOLKS
HAVE TO STEP OUT IN ABOUT 57
MINUTES. AT THIS TIME, BEFORE WE
READ THE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD,
TODAY'S PUBLIC SAFETY DAY
ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SO USUALLY
WE HAVE COMMITTEE PRESENTATIONS
FROM DEPARTMENTS AND A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. TODAY IS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, SO I'LL
TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, CHAIR OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT,
AND THEN WE'LL READ THE FIRST
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THEN
WE'LL READ THE THIRD ITEM INTO
THE RECORD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
COLLEAGUES, TODAY IS AN
IMPORTANT DAY. I WANTED TO NOTE
SEATTLE SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO
CITY HALL THAT PUBLIC SAFETY
NEEDS TO BE OUR PRIORITY. THE
CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ITS BASIC
CHARTER RESPONSIBILITIES IN
PROTECTING, ENHANCING HEALTH,
SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT, AND THE
GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS,
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN
WORKING ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S WORK, AND
OUR WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING.
TOGETHER, WE'VE STABILIZED THE
POLICE STAFFING CRISIS, HELPED
REDUCE CRIME, STRENGTHEN OUR
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS,
SET POLICY THAT ENABLED
DETERMINATION OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT CONSENT
DECREE, AND CREATED NEW TOOLS
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO UPHOLD
OUR SOCIAL CONTRACTS. WHILE
VIOLENT CRIME DISORDER AND
PROPERTY CRIME ARE STILL A
CHALLENGE, WE'RE MAKING THE
CLEAR DIFFERENCE. POLICE HIRING
IS GOING UP WITH A NET INCREASE
OF OVER 54 OFFICERS SO FAR THIS
YEAR. SHOWING A RENEWED INTEREST
IN SERVING OUR CITY. MOST
IMPORTANT, CRIME STATISTICS SHOW
A WELCOME DECREASE OF NEARLY
50%, FEWER HOMICIDES, AND AN
OVERALL REDUCTION OF VIOLENT
CRIME EVERY MONTH SO FAR THIS
YEAR, COMPARED TO LAST. HOW DID
WE DO THIS? WE DID THIS THROUGH
A RESTORATION FRAMEWORK PLAN
FROM THE EXECUTIVE. WE DID THIS
WITH A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN
FROM THE COUNCIL. THIS WORK
INCLUDED STRENGTHENING OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING,
FIXING WEAKENED LAWS, CREATING
NEW TOOLS TO SUPPORT LAW
ENFORCEMENT'S ABILITY TO UPHOLD
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ENHANCING OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH CAPABILITIES AS
THEY RELATE TO PUBLIC SAFETY
AMONG OTHERS. HOWEVER, THERE
REMAINS A NARRATIVE REAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL PUBLIC
SAFETY DATA CAN BE EXPLAINED BY
DECLINING NATIONAL TRENDS.
DON'T BUY IT. THE COLLABORATIVE
SPIRIT BETWEEN THE MAYOR, CITY
ATTORNEY, US HERE AND CITY
COUNCIL, OTHER CITY LEADERS TO
INCLUDE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS
THAT WE'LL BE SEEING TODAY HAVE
BEEN CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING THESE
REAL RESULTS. TO BE CLEAR, THE
CHAOS OF THE SECOND TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS MONOPOLIZED
MUCH OF 2025. BUT THEIR ANTICS
CANNOT DETRACT FROM THE SUCCESS
OF THE CITY'S CURRENT PRAGMATIC
APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE. IT THIS
IS NOT SOMETHING OF THE RADICAL
LEFT LUNATICS. THIS IS ABOUT
BEING PRAGMATIC AND BEING
PROFESSIONAL. SO EITHER
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ILL INFORMED
FROM HIS STAFF OR HE'S
GASLIGHTING AMERICA. HE'S
GASLIGHTING OUR CITY. ONE OR THE
OTHER. WE'VE BEEN DOING THE
JOB, WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR WORK
IN A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO
GOVERNANCE. OUR UNIFIED APPROACH
FOCUSED ON SHARED GOALS AND
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS IS A MAJOR
DRIVER OF OUR EFFORTS. MOVING
FORWARD, IT IS ESSENTIAL WE
MAINTAIN THIS APPROACH AND KEEP
IT THIS MOMENTUM GOING. THE WORK
ISN'T OVER, AND CONTINUED
VIGILANCE AND COLLABORATION ARE
CRUCIAL TO ENSURE SEATTLE
REMAINS A SAFE AND THRIVING CITY
FOR EVERYONE. COLLEAGUES, SOME
OF THIS WORK IS ALSO IN TERMS OF
WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IT IN
TERMS OF ESSENTIALLY THE
TARGETING OF OUR SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN
THAT, AGAIN, THE GASLIGHTING
CONTINUES. SO I WANTED TO
BASICALLY WRITE MY COMMERCIAL,
IF YOU WILL, TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'D LIKE TO
SAY, YOU KNOW, FROM US HERE ON
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. THAT IS TO
SAY ATTENTION, SEATTLE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, YOU TOOK AN OATH TO
PROTECT AND SERVE TO KEEP YOUR
FAMILY, YOUR CITY SAFE. IN YOUR
WELCOMING CITY, YOU'VE BEEN
ASKED TO STAND UP TO HELP US
ACHIEVE OUR MISSION OF CREATING
A SAFE BASE IN OUR CITY. TO
INCLUDE TACKLING THE WORST OF
THE WORST, PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES WE FACE, SUCH AS DRUG
DEALERS, SEX TRAFFICKERS, AND
OTHERS PREYING ON OUR NEIGHBORS
IN NEED. MY CALL TO YOU IS TO
CONTINUE WITH THE MISSION, THE
VISION, AND THE PLAN. STAY WITH
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND FULFILL YOUR MISSION. I SAY
AGAIN, FULFILL YOUR MISSION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. WILL CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER 3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM NUMBER 3, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL TURN IT
OVER TO DIRECTOR EDER, CHIEF
SCOGGINS, AND LORI, TO WALK US
THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION. OVER
TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
BACK TODAY, PRESENTING THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET.
ALONG WITH HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE
AND BROADLY AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAMS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE
OF THE TOP STRATEGIES AND LEVELS
OF IMPORTANCE IN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET. SO VERY HAPPY
TO BE JOINED BY THE THREE CHIEFS
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENTS. WITH THAT, I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF SCOGGINS,
WHO WILL PRESENT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU, DAN. LORI, WHY
DON'T YOU START OFF BY
INTRODUCING YOURSELF ALSO?
>> HI, I'M LORI CHAN, I'M THE
DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR
SEATTLE FIRE. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US.
>> THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL GET
ROLLING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
STRAUSS, CHAIR KETTLE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, AND ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN
THE ROOM WITH US TODAY AND ON
THE SCREEN. WE'RE GOING TO WALK
YOU THROUGH THE 2026 SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BUDGET.
IF THERE'S QUESTIONS ALONG THE
WAY, WE CAN TAKE THEM AS THEY
COME OR WE CAN WAIT UNTIL THE
END. BUT AS MOST OF OUR
DISCUSSIONS IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WE'D LIKE TO GET
ANCHORED IN OUR MISSION. AND OUR
MISSION IS TO SAVE LIVES,
PROTECT PROPERTY, AND THE
ENVIRONMENT AND TO RESPOND
IMMEDIATELY WHENEVER ANY MEMBERS
OF OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S
SOMETHING WE HAVE ALL COMMITTED
TO IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S
SOMETHING WE REALLY FOCUS ON.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WHAT IT WAS 100
YEARS AGO TO WHAT IT IS TODAY,
LET'S JUST SAY WE HAVE COME A
LONG WAY. WE DO A LOT OF THINGS
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THOSE
THINGS THIS MORNING. TO GIVE YOU
AN OVERVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT
AREAS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
TODAY, OUR VISION STATEMENT IS
AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE THERE.
YOU KNOW, BEING A NATIONAL
LEADER IN ALL THAT WE DO. AND
THEN DOING IT WITH EXCELLENCE.
WE DO THAT ON SO MANY DIFFERENT
FRONTS. AREAS WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT TODAY, HOW WE'RE
BROKEN UP, HOW WE'RE MANAGED
JUST GROUNDS YOU IN THAT. WE
BASICALLY HAVE FOUR LINES OF
BUSINESS IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. OPERATIONS IS WHAT
YOU SEE. OUT OF OUR 33 FIRE
STATIONS, THE ENGINES, THE
LADDERS, THE MEDIC UNITS, ALL
THE TECHNICAL AND SPECIALTY
UNITS. THEN WE HAVE FIRE
PREVENTION. YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING
THAT COMES UP OUT OF THE GROUND
AND THE BUILT-IN ENVIRONMENT FOR
THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE,
AND VISIT HERE, OUR FIRE
PREVENTION TEAM PLAYS A PART IN
THAT, WHETHER IT'S INSPECTION,
PLAN CHECK, ENGINEERING, CODE
ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATION. ONCE
THE BUILDING IS BUILT, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW
DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY THAT
ACTUALLY TOUCHED THE BUILDING ON
AN ONGOING BASIS, JUST TO MAKE
SURE FIRE AND SAFETY EXISTS, SO
THAT'S IMPORTANT. RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT, KIND OF A STRANGE
NAME BECAUSE IT COVERS A LOT OF
THINGS. OUR FIRE CENTER. WHEN
THE CARE DEPARTMENT GETS THE 911
CALL AND THEY WILL SAY IS THIS A
FIRE OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY? IF
THEY SAY YES, THEY TRANSITION
THAT CALL TO OUR FIRE CENTER,
WHICH IS IN OUR RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT DIVISION. ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENT TRAINING, WHETHER
IT'S THE IN-SERVICE, ONGOING
TRAINING OR A NEW RECRUIT
TRAINING AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS, THAT'S ALSO UNDER
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. MAKING SURE
WE'RE READY FOR THE BIG EVENT,
WHENEVER IT OCCURS. LAST WEEK,
WE HELD A SERIES OF EARTHQUAKE
DRILLS IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, SO PAGERS WERE GOING
OFF ALL WEEK LONG. OUR FOLKS
WERE PRACTICING, EXERCISING
THOSE SKILL SETS. ALL THAT IS
PLANNED UNDER OUR RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT DIVISION. WEAKLINGS
HAVE AN ADMIN LINE OF BUSINESS
ALSO WITH OUR HR, OUR FINANCE,
OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND THEN ALL
OF OUR I.T. LIAISONS. SINCE
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MIH,
MOBILE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH, WE
THOUGHT WE WOULD PUT THAT ON THE
SCREEN. THAT PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 2019, AND IT'S
BEEN GROWING EVER SINCE. THE
FOLKS IN THAT PROGRAM, JUST
DOING AN AMAZING JOB FOR SERVING
FOLKS WHO REALLY NEED HELP.
THANKS, TIM. SO I MENTIONED OUR
FIRE ALARM CENTER. THESE ARE
JUST -- THIS IS THE TALE OF THE
TAPE, THE NUMBERS. YOU CAN SEE
THESE ARE 911 CALLS COMING IN,
WHETHER IT'S THE PHONE LINES,
THE DIRECT LINES. YOU CAN SEE
YEAR AFTER YEAR, IT CONTINUES TO
GO UP AND UP AND UP. AS WE ARE A
GROWING CITY, THIS IS WHAT WE
SHOULD PROBABLY EXPECT. A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO. MAYBE WE'VE
BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN THE
QUESTIONS WE ASK. I'M NOT SURE
WHICH, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A
LOT MORE CALLS THAT WERE COMING
IN PROBABLY 10 YEARS AGO. SO OUR
FIRE ALARM CENTER, OUR
DISPATCHERS, ALL OF OUR
FIREFIGHTER, EMTs, THEY DO AN
AMAZING JOB IN THIS SPACE.
GETTING THE CALLS TO THE RIGHT
PLACE. AND WITH US, IT CAN BE A
LITTLE TRICKY. SO MOST FOLKS MAY
THINK WHEN THE 911 CALL COMES
IN, THAT'S JUST GOING TO EQUAL
A FIRE ENGINE, LADDER TRUCK, AND
A MEDIC GOING OUT THE DOOR.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE CASE
ANYMORE. OVER THE LAST DECADE OR
SO, WE'VE CHANGED IT A LITTLE
BIT. A NURSE LINE THAT'S IN
PLACE. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE
TRACKING TO SEND ABOUT 8,000
CALLS. WE HARBOR THE HEALTH
TEAM. SO THE CALL MAY GO THERE.
AND IT CAN ALSO GO TO ALL OF OUR
UNITS OUT IN THE FIELD, SO
YOU'LL SEE IN 2024, IT WAS THE
BUSINESSEST YEAR IN OUR HISTORY.
WE RAN OVER 112,000 EMERGENCY
CALLS FOR SERVICE. YOU KNOW, IF
WE DIDN'T HAVE A NURSE LINE,
THAT WOULD BE PLUS ANOTHER
7,000. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH
ONE OR HEALTH 99, AND OUR CASE
MANAGERS, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER
BUCKET OF CALLS. BECAUSE ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WHAT YOU DON'T
SEE IS WITH OUR HELP ONE PROGRAM
WITH OUR HIGH UTILIZING
INDIVIDUALS AND OUR HIGH
UTILIZING FACILITIES, OUR
FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL OF OUR 33
FIRE DEPARTMENTS. WHAT THEY CAN
DO IS SAY THEY WILL GO INTO OUR
SYSTEM, FILL OUT A FORM. IF WE
RESPONDED TO THAT ADDRESS OVER
AND OVER AGAIN. THEN OUR TEAM
WILL ACTUALLY GO OUT AND DO A
FOLLOW-UP WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS,
CASE MANAGER, NURSE
PRACTITIONER, TO TRY TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF CALLS. THAT'S A
REAL BIG BENEFIT FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE'RE CLOSE
TO ABOUT 10 CASE MANAGERS NOW.
WE HAVE A NURSE PRACTITIONER ON
BOARD. WE'RE ABLE TO DO ROOM
CARE, PRESCRIPTIONS, ALL TYPES
OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE WEREN'T
ABLE TO DO JUST SIX OR SEVEN
YEARS AGO. THAT IS HELPING TO
KEEP THAT CAR LOW DOWN TO OUR
HISTORY ACTUALLY. SO MOVING ON
TO THE NEXT SLIDE AS YOU CAN
SEE. OUR 2025, 2026 ENDORSED AND
PROPOSED BUDGET. SO THE PROPOSED
BUDGET, $348 MILLION. THE FTEs
IN THAT COUNT WOULD BE 1,213
FTEs, SO A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENING IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. I'LL COVER SOME OF
THAT IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. AND
SO IN SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE
DEPARTMENT, WHAT WE DID, WE HAD
SOME PROJECTED REJECTIONS. THIS
ONE IS TIED TO OUR UNIT OUTAGES.
WE HAVE ABOUT 100 VACANCIES
CURRENTLY IN THE DEPARTMENT AND
OFTENTIMES. THAT MAY LEAD TO A
UNIT BEING OUT OF SERVICE FOR
ONE REASON OR ANOTHER BECAUSE WE
CAN'T STAFF IT. SO THROUGHOUT
THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, WHAT
WE'RE PROJECTING IS
APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS IN SAVINGS. THAT'S
PRETTY IMPORTANT TO NOTE. AND
THE REASON WHY, THAT'S ONLY
HALF A YEAR. IT'S BECAUSE WE
ARE GOING TO BE STARTING A LARGE
RECRUIT CLASS IN FEBRUARY IN
2026. AND OUR GOAL IS TO GET 80
RECRUITS IN THAT CLASS, SO WE
KNOW FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE
YEAR, WE PROBABLY WON'T ACHIEVE
THOSE SAVINGS. BUT THE FIRST
HALF OF THE YEAR, WE WILL
ACHIEVE THOSE SAVINGS. THE NEXT
REDUCTION AREA IS ANOTHER HALF
MILLION DOLLARS, $500,000. IN
ORDER TO MAKE THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT GO AND MOVE WITH ALL
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE
HAVE GOING, WE HAVE A LOT OF
PROJECT PROGRAMS, COMMITTEES,
AND DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE
THAT ACTUALLY DO ALL THE WORK TO
KEEP US MOVING FORWARD, KEEPING
OUR POLICIES UP TO DATE,
DEPLOYING NEW STRATEGIES,
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. WE
REDUCED ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS,
PROGRAMS, AND COMMITTEE BUDGETS
BY APPROXIMATELY 9% TO ACHIEVE
THE SAVINGS RIGHT HERE. THIS
ALLOWS US TO DO A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT THINGS. SO NOT ONE
PARTICULAR PROJECT PROGRAM OR
COMMITTEE WOULD TAKE THE WHOLE
REDUCTION. WE SPREAD IT ACROSS
ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT COMMITTEES
IN THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
NOW THIS IS A BIG ONE FOR US,
ADDING FUNDING FOR 20 ADDITIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS IN 2026. IN 2026,
OUR BUDGET GIVES US THE
PERMISSION TO HIRE 80 NEW
FIREFIGHTERS. THIS WOULD TAKE US
OUT TO 100 NEW FIREFIGHTERS FOR
2026, WHICH IS SURELY NEEDED.
OUR GOAL WAS TO KEEP PUSHING
UNTIL WE CAN ACHIEVE FULL
STAFFING. WE KNOW THIS IS A
SIGNIFICANT COST. IT'S A LITTLE
OVER ABOUT $100,000 TO TRAIN A
NEW FIREFIGHTER, SO IT'S PRETTY
EXPENSIVE. THERE'S A LOT THAT
GOES INTO THE TRAINING PROGRAMS.
BUT OUR GOAL IS THE SECOND
WEDNESDAY OF FEBRUARY TO START A
RECRUIT CLASS OF 80. AND THEN IN
OUR SECOND RECRUIT CLASS OF
2026, WE WILL COVER THE BALANCE
OF WHAT'S NEEDED TO GET TO 100
NEW FIREFIGHTERS IN 2026. SO
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT FOR US IN
REALLY TRYING TO ACHIEVE AS
CLOSE TO FULL STAFFING AS
POSSIBLE BEFORE FIFA LANDS HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THIS
GIVES YOU JUST AN OVERVIEW OF
OUR STAFFING AND WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT. ALL THE REDS ARE THE
PROJECTIONS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW BY THE END OF 2025. WE
ARE PROJECTING TO HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 120 VACANCIES.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO
GET TO 120 VACANCIES. WE'RE
WORRIED ABOUT 99 OR 100 RIGHT
NOW OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO
LOSE 20 PEOPLE, BUT WE WILL HAVE
A FEW RETIREMENTS FOR THE END OF
THE YEAR. THEY HAVE MIDTERMS
COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS. THAT'S GENERALLY PRETTY
IMPORTANT TIME FOR US RIGHT NOW.
THOSE RECRUITS REALLY HAVE TO
PERFORM, SO WE MIGHT SUFFER SOME
LOSSES THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK
WE'LL GET TO 20. IF WE DON'T,
THAT'S OKAY TOO. THAT'S MORE
HELP FOR US. THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THIS ONE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
US. ENHANCE OUR PULSE OVERDOSE
TREATMENT TEAM. THIS PROGRAM HAS
REALLY DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND
REALLY SERVING PEOPLE IN NEED.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET THIS PROGRAM
UP AND RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK. THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THIS
INVESTMENT WILL DO. MANY OF YOU
MAY KNOW FIRE STATION 31 SHOULD
BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS
YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR. WE WILL
PLAN ON EXPANDING PROGRAMS INTO
THE NORTH END OF THE CITY AND
ALSO GETTING THE PROGRAM TO RUN
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THIS ADDS
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. THIS ADDS
ADDITIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONERS.
IT ADDS ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. ALL
THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO
KEEP THIS PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD
TO SERVE COMMUNITY. THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US. AND
JUST A FEW OF THE STATS HERE.
MORE THAN 1,400 OVERDOSES
RESPONDED TO SINCE THE LAUNCH.
727 NON-DUPLICATED CLIENTS. SO
WE KNOW WE HAVE THAT MANY FOLKS
IN OUR SYSTEM THAT OUR HEALTH 99
TEAM HAS TOUCHED. THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT RIGHT THERE. AND THEN
15% OF THE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN
GIVING THE LONG ACTING VIEW.
THAT'S THE 30-DAY INJECTABLE.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A
PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS,
GIVING THEM THE TIME TO
STABILIZE, GET CONNECTED WITH
SERVICES AND START TO STABILIZE
YOUR LIFE, SO THEY COULD REALLY
START TO MOVE THEIR LIVES
FORWARD. MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD
ME SPEAK TO THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS. WE DID OUR FIRST POP UP
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THAT
WAS RECEIVED WELL. WE THOUGHT WE
MIGHT GET 10 TO 15 FOLKS WHO
TOOK US UP ON OUR OFFER. WE
ACTUALLY GOT 33 IN FOUR DAYS.
OUR TEAM MADE OVER 200 CONTACTS,
DONE IN LINE WITH ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS OUT THERE. BUT THIS
PROGRAM IS REALLY SERVING THE
PROGRAM WELL, GETTING IT RUNNING
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WILL BE A BIG
BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR
BELIEF ON THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WHEN ONE PERSON GETS
THE HELP THEY NEED, WE ALREADY
MADE A DIFFERENCE. SO WE BELIEVE
WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON
THIS FRONT. SOME OF THE OTHER
POSITIONS THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THIS
BUDGET ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO
THE ORGANIZATION IN GROWTH AND
HOW WE SHARE. I'LL JUST COVER
THE SCREEN AND THE DATA
STRATEGIST. RIGHT NOW, I DON'T
WANT TO SAY WE'RE WINGING IT,
BUT WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD TRY TO
PUT TOGETHER ON THE REGULAR
BASIS, BUT IT IS JUST US DOING
IT. TO REALLY HELP US COORDINATE
AND HOW WE DO OUR PREDICTED
ANALYSIS, UNDERSTANDING WHERE
THE PROBLEMS ARE, UNDERSTANDING
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN
THE FUTURE. HELP US PUT TOGETHER
FUTURE PLANS. THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. WE HAVEN'T HAD A
POSITION LIKE THIS, SO WE KNOW
THIS WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US. I.T. INITIATIVES AND
RESOURCES, STAFFING SUPPORT,
THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ONE. MANY OF
YOU KNOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO
LAUNCHING OUR CRONOS STAFFING
PLATFORM IN 2026. AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE A REALLY IMPORTANT
BODY OF WORK FOR THIS POSITION
RIGHT THERE ALONG WITH MANY
OTHER STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT
THE DEPARTMENT HAS SET OUT FOR
THEM. AND THE FIRE PREVENTION
STAFFING SUPPORT, WE HAVE A
PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, WHERE THERE
IS A NUANCE ALARM, THREE AND A
QUARTER, WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO
RIGHT NOW IS BUILD FOR FALSE
ALARMS RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A FEE
POSITION RIGHT HERE. WE ARE
HAVING SO MANY NUANCE ALARMS IN
THE CITY. WE ARE NOT BILLING FOR
THREE AND A QUARTER, BUT BILLING
FOR FIVE AND A QUARTER, BUT WE
COULD BUILD A LOT MORE. OUR GOAL
IS TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY
OWNERS TO ELIMINATE THE NEXT
ALARM. THE NEXT THING WE WANT IS
OUR FIREFIGHTERS MOVING AROUND
THE CITY IN OUR LARGE VEHICLES
WITH THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS.
IT'S ONLY ANOTHER FALSE ALARM.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY
8,000 FALSE ALARMS IN THE CITY.
THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. SO
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT ONE.
THEN HUMAN RESOURCES SUPPORT.
THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ONE FOR US.
WE ARE DOING OUR ANNUAL TESTING.
LAST YEAR I WAS HERE AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, YOU SAID WHAT
DOES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEED TO
MAKE THIS ANNUAL STAFFING WORK?
WE NEEDED A POSITION IN OUR
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. THIS
IS THAT POSITION. BY THE WAY,
THE APPLICATION IS OPEN, OCTOBER
7, SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE OUT
THERE WHO IS INTERESTED IN
BECOMING A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER,
PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE ACTUALLY
HELD A WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY. WE
HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON NOVEMBER 8
IN NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE. SO AS
YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE ALWAYS
RECRUITING. BUT IT IS REALLY
GOING TO BE A LOT OF HELP THERE.
YOU ALL KNOW FIFA IS COMING, AND
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING,
EQUIPMENT, THINGS WE NEED TO
MAKE THAT GO OFF WITHOUT A
HITCH. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. AND
THEN SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT
ENFORCEMENT TEAM IS THE TEAM
THAT GOES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
GENERALLY ON THE WEEKS AND
NIGHTS, JUST MAKE SURE OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE SAFE. NOT
JUST WITH FIRE, BUT MANY OTHER
SERVICES ON THE TEAM, SO THAT'S
PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR US ALSO.
THAT WAS MY LAST SLIDE THERE. SO
I'LL PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. I'LL TURN
IT OVER TO THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE OVERSEEING YOUR
DEPARTMENT, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COLLEAGUES, IF YOU WANT
TO RAISE YOUR HANDS NOW. WE HAVE
26 MINUTES LEFT WITH THE CHIEF
AT THE MOMENT, SO I WILL ASK TO
KEEP THINGS FOCUSED. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
CHIEF SCOGGINS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, AND THE WHOLE TEAM FOR
COMING. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
OBVIOUSLY THIS BUILDS ON OUR
MONTHLY MEETINGS. I'M SURE YOU
HAVE YOUR MEETINGS WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON A REGULAR BASIS
TOO. SO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU,
BUT REALLY THE DEPARTMENT FOR
THE WORK THEY DO ACROSS THE
BOARD. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. WE THINK
ABOUT FIRE RESCUE, THOSE
TRADITIONAL THINGS, MEDIC ONE.
NOW WE HAVE A TEAM EFFORT, WHICH
PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF. BUT STILL A
MAJOR MISSION SET FOR FIRE, AND
SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE KEEPING
FRONT OF MIND. I APPRECIATE
ABOUT A GROWING CITY. IT'S
ESSENTIAL THEY CONTINUE TO GROW
WITH IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
POINT THAT'S BEEN ECOTHE
RECENTLY IN DIFFERENT WAYS REAL
QUICKLY, MAINTENANCE. THE STATE
OF OUR VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY
LADDER TRUCKS, FIRE ENGINES. CAN
YOU SPEAK TO WHERE WE ARE WITH
THE FIRE GARAGE, WHICH I HAD THE
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT. I
REALLY RECOMMEND MY COLLEAGUES
TO DO SO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
COMES TO THIS, PARTICULARLY ON
THE BIG RIGS. LADDER TRUCKS AND
THE FIRE ENGINES, HOW DO WE
REDUCE THE WEAR AND TEAR? AND
CAN WE USE -- BECAUSE I KNOW
I'VE SEEN THEM RESPONDING TO
THESE MEDICAL CALLS. IN TERMS OF
GETTING MORE OF THE CARS TO KIND
OF TAKE THAT LOAD OFF OF THOSE
BIGGER RIGS. CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THE STRATEGY OR YOUR THOUGHTS
BEHIND THAT?
>> SURE. THERE'S A FEW
QUESTIONS. WHERE ARE WE WITH THE
STATE OF THE MECHANICS? I'LL
LEAD WITH THE LANGUAGE TO THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR
HEARING US OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS IN OUR MECHANIC
STAFFING. IT'S UP TO FULL
STAFFING. GENERALLY WHAT IT
TAKES IS A FEW YEARS FOR THOSE
MECHANICS TO GET FULLY TRAINED
TO WORK ON THE ENGINES AND THE
LADDERS WITH THE PUMPS,
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS. SO GENERALLY
IT TAKES A FEW YEARS FOR THAT
NEW MECHANIC TO GET FULLY
TRAINED. BUT WE ARE IN A BETTER
PLACE WITH THE STAFFING, SO
WE'RE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. THANK YOU TO THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AGAIN.
WHAT WE SAW A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN
THE PRICES WERE CLIMBING REAL
FAST, AND THE WAIT TIMES
INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, WE PUT
A LARGE ORDER IN. TO TALK ABOUT
MANUFACTURING DELAYS, TO TALK
ABOUT PRICES. BUT THE REAL LARGE
ORDER WILL BE COMING IN 27.
THAT'S 11 ENGINES AND THREE
LADDER TRUCKS. THAT WILL BE
SIGNIFICANT TO OUR SYSTEM, SO
WE'RE DOING WELL THERE. WE ARE
HOLDING UP. WE ARE KEEPING
VEHICLES PROBABLY, MAYBE A
LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN WE
SHOULD. THE AVERAGE LIFE IS
PROBABLY BETWEEN 15 TO 20 YEARS,
DEPENDING ON THE USE, THE
MAINTENANCE, ALL THOSE THINGS,
SO WE'RE WORKING IN THAT
WINDOW, TRYING TO HOLD ON A
LITTLE BIT LONGER BECAUSE OF THE
RECRUIT CLASSES IN THE TRAINING
ACADEMY. SO WE'RE IN A MUCH
BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE JUST A
FEW YEARS AGO. WE'RE TRENDING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU,
CHIEF. AGAIN, EVERYBODY SHOULD
VISIT. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT
THOSE NUMBERS. SEPARATELY, YOU
KNOW. THIS MAY BE MORE OF A
QUESTION FOR CHIEF PUBLIC
SAFETY, BUT I'LL START BIG AND
COME BACK TO FIRE. WE HAVE
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN
SEATTLE PD AND FIRE WITH YOU
AND, OF COURSE, OUR CARE TEAM,
WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG PIECE
WITH THIS BUDGET SESSION. A PART
OF THIS IS THE STRATEGY OVERALL
IN TERMS OF HOW THESE PIECES
WORK TOGETHER. BUT SPECIFICALLY
FOR YOU, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH
WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF YOUR
CAPACITY, IN TERMS OF YOUR SPACE
HERE, LIKE THE AMOUNT OF THE
CAPACITY THAT YOU HAVE?
>> FIRST, THE TEAMS WORK REALLY
WELL TOGETHER. OUR TEAMS ARE
ALWAYS COMMUNICATING, ALWAYS
TALKING, ALWAYS SHARING
INFORMATION. THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN
ON A STEADY GROWTH PATTERN OVER
THE LAST SIX YEARS. THIS
NOVEMBER WILL BE SIX YEARS SINCE
WE PUT THAT IN PLACE. NOW, BY
THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'LL BE
UP TO TEN CASE MANAGERS, HEALTH
99, HEALTH 98, THE NURSE
PRACTITIONER IS ON BOARD. WHAT
THIS BUDGET ALSO PROVIDES IS A
SECOND NURSE PRACTITIONER. SO
GENERALLY THERE IS A MEDICAL TO
THAT HEALTH ISSUE, TO THAT
ADDICTION ISSUE. THERE ARE SO
MANY OF THOSE CALLS THAT THERE
IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO KEEP US
BUSY. IF THEY GO OUT ON DIRECT
RESPONSES, THEY'RE GOING OUT ON
ANOTHER 3,000 REFERRALS WITH THE
CASE MANAGERS, THE NURSE
PRACTITIONERS, AND WITH THE
FIREFIGHTERS. HEALTH 99 IS
REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THAT
PERSON HAS THE OVERDOSE, OUR
GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET THEM INTO
SPACE, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE,
YOU KNOW, 8, 10, 12 PEOPLE
HOVERING OVER THEM TO ACTUALLY
HELP THEM THROUGH THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESS. WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN IN
PLAY, WE ARE ONLY TAKING 25% OF
THOSE OVERDOSES THAT THEY WILL
RESPOND TO TO HARBORVIEW. OTHER
75% ARE GOING TO THE OTHER
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. IT HASN'T
BEEN OPEN FOR VERY LONG, BUT
THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE
TAKING FOLKS TO QUITE A BIT. I
CAN SAY I'M PLEASED WITH HOW
WE'RE WORKING, GOING SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK THAT WILL BE HUGE FOR THE
PROGRAM. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN
PLAY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY,
SOMETIMES ON FRIDAY. BUT WE KNOW
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IS PRETTY
IMPORTANT FOR US TOO. SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK WILL BE A BIT OF A GAME
CHANGER FOR OUR TEAMS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ONE OF THE
THINGS, I CAN'T REMEMBER
EVERYTHING ON THE FRONT. BUT THE
CHIEFS, YOU KNOW, THE LABOR
AGREEMENTS ARE IN PLACE, WHICH
IS A GREAT THING FOR OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT. WE HAD TO THINK
ABOUT PROTECTED CLASS, AND I
HAVEN'T BEEN HEARING ABOUT
THINGS BEING STOLEN OFF OUR FIRE
TRUCKS LATELY. I THINK THINGS
ARE POSITIVE IN THAT DIRECTION
TOO. ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU
KNOW, FIREFIGHTERS, IT'S A
DIFFICULT JOB, INJURIES. CAN YOU
SPEAK TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM THAT WILL RELATE TO THAT?
>> SURE. BUT FIRST, I'LL LEAVE
WITH BEING A FIREFIGHTER IS A
PRETTY PHYSICAL RIGOROUS
POSITION, PROFESSION. SO WE HAVE
A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WILL GET
INJURED WITH STRAINS AND SPRAINS
AND TWISTS AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS. BY THEN, WE ALSO HAVE A
NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS OVER THE
COURSE OF THEIR CAREER. CANCER
IS A BIG ONE. WE HAVE A LOT OF
FOLKS FOR ILLNESSES AND
INJURIES, AND THAT IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT SYSTEM FOR US. WE WORK
THROUGH ALL THE SAME PROCESS AND
ALL THE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES
WILL WORK THROUGH. WE WORK TO
TRY TO GET OUR FIREFIGHTERS
CARE, SO THEY'RE NOT LINGERING.
THE QUICKER WE COULD GET
FIREFIGHTERS TREATED AND BACK TO
A MODIFIED DUTY POSITION AND
BEING ENGAGED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, THERE'S A HIGHER
PROBABILITY WE'RE GOING TO GET
THEM BACK IN A SHORTER AMOUNT OF
TIME, WORKING AGAIN FULL TIME.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE,
YOU KNOW, WHEN A FIREFIGHTER
LOSES ONE SHIFT, AND WE COVER
THAT SHIFT WITH OVERTIME,
THAT'S PROBABLY $2,000 TO
$2,500 TO BACKFIL THAT SHIFT AND
OVERTIME. ANY TIME WE CAN GET A
FIREFIGHTER BACK, ONE SHIFT
FASTER, WE'RE SAVING SOME MONEY
ON THAT END ALSO. SO IT IS
ALWAYS OUR GOAL TO TRY TO GET
OUR FIREFIGHTERS BACK TO WORK
FASTER. WE HAVE A TEAM THAT
THEIR WHOLE FOCUS IS AT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF SCOGGINS,
THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, I'LL GIVE YOU LAST
WORD. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE
COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THEIR HANDS
RAISED AND 27 MINUTES. SO IF YOU
DO HAVE QUESTIONS THAT CAN JUST
BE READ INTO THE RECORD AND
ANSWERED ON SHAREPOINT, THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL. I'LL BE DOING
THAT LATER. WITH THAT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, THEN
MYSELF. COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. AS FIREFIGHTERS --
THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF AND
ESPECIALLY THE RANK AND FILE.
YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING EVERY
DAY IN SEATTLE, THE TRAUMA AND
TRAGEDY OF FIRES AND PEOPLE IN
MEDICAL DISTRESS AND SO ON. SO I
DO HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I'VE BEEN -- THE STAFFING
AT SFD HAS BEEN RELATIVELY FLAT
FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AT LEAST
SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.
WELL, AS SEATTLE'S POPULATION
HAS GROWN, THE STAFFING LEVELS
HAVE NOT GROWN PROPORTIONATELY.
ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE BEEN
DEALING WITH MORE AND MORE
COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX
SITUATIONS ON THE STREET WITH
THE RISE IN SHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS, WITH THE FENTANYL
CRISIS, ETC. SO I WANT TO SAY
YOUR NEEDS AND YOUR STAFFING
NEEDS, I FULLY ENDORSE THE
ADDITIONAL FTEs, I'M GLAD
YOU'RE GETTING YOUR NEEDS MEET.
MID JANUARY, IN THE CONTEXT OF
WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN L.A. HE
WAS SAYING, IN FACT, SFD WAS
UNDERSTAFF IN THAT MOMENT. WHEN
FIREFIGHTERS GET TIRED, WE LOOK
AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON OUR
OLYMPIC COAST RIGHT NOW. THAT'S
WHEN DANGER SETS IN FOR
EVERYBODY. SO I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THAT. I CALL UP
KENNY, AND I SAY WHAT IS MISSING
FROM THE BUDGET? THEN WE HAVE A
CONVERSATION OF THINGS THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED. I
JUST HAVE TO MENTION THAT. THIS
YEAR, THERE IS INTEREST IN
SEEING FOUR MORE CARS BECAUSE
THOSE ARE LESS EXPENSIVE TO
DEPLOY THE MEDICAL AID CARS THAN
BIG ENGINES, IF THAT IS
POSSIBLE. AND ALSO PERHAPS
ANOTHER EXPAND HEALTH ONE. THIS
HAS BEEN ALLOTTED PROGRAM SINCE
I'VE BEEN HERE, AND IT SEEMS
THERE USED TO BE MORE THAN ONE
UNIT. IN ANY CASE, WE ARE
DOUBLING THE BUDGET. I BELIEVE
IT WILL MERIT CONSIDERATION TO
ALSO EXPAND THE HEALTH ONE. AND
THEN FINALLY, THE NEEDS OF THE
STAFFING NEEDS ARE GREAT. I
THINK COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
MENTIONED THIS. I THINK IT'S
CALLED REBOUND? LET'S SEE.
REBOUND -- YEP, WE ALL GOT THE
SAME TEXT. ANY WAY, THAT
PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE TO KEEP
FIREFIGHTERS HEALTHY. THEY HAVE
AN EARLIER THAN AVERAGE
RETIREMENT AGE. IN ADDITION TO.
>> CHIEF?
>> SO THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT
TOPICS IT IN THERE. SO THE CITY
HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT. IN 2010,
THE CITY GREW OVER 34%. OUR CALL
LOAD HAS RISEN OVER 40% DURING
THAT SAME TIME PERIOD. SO IT IS
REAL. WHEN I HAD THE SLIDE UP OF
112,000 EMERGENCIES IN 2024,
MOST IN OUR HISTORY. YOU CAN
LOOK AT THE CLIMB OVER THE LAST
YEARS BEFORE THAT, SO IT'S
REAL. YOU'RE CORRECT. WHEN THE
FIREFIGHTERS RUN CALL AFTER CALL
AFTER CALL, BURNOUT IS REAL. WE
SEE A LOT OF TRAUMA. THE TRAUMA
IS VERY DIFFICULT. WE HAVE
AMAZING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM,
BUT WE'LL SEE A LOT OF TRAUMA.
JUST THIS PAST SATURDAY EVENING.
WE HAD A PERSON IN ONE OF THE
ELEVATORS, ONE OF THE
HIGH-RISES, AND THEIR LEGS WERE
CRUSHED. OUR FOLKS HAD TO GO IN
TO DISCONNECT THE PERSON, SO
THEY COULD GET THEM OUT. AN
ELDERLY PERSON, WHOSE LEGS WERE
CRUSHED WHEN THE ELEVATOR,
SOMEHOW MALFUNCTIONED. THAT'S
AN EXAMPLE. WE ARE SEEING ABOUT
60 OVERDOSES EVERY WEEK. WHETHER
IT IS THE CARDIAC EVENT. ALL THE
THINGS WE'RE SEEING. SO IT'S
REAL. WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF
CALLS. YOU MENTIONED THE CARS.
WE HAVE OUR DOWNTOWN A CARS AT
FIVE AND TEN, OVER HERE AT
STATION TEN. BOTH OF THOSE ARE
OVER 6,000 CALLS. IT IS OVER
6,000 CALLS. AT FIRE STATION,
OVER 6,000 CALLS. OUR CAR, 12
HOURS. OVER 33,000 CALLS. THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE THAT SAYS, YOU
KNOW, FOR UNIT UTILIZATION,
IT'S ABOUT 2,500 RESPONSES A
YEAR. ALL THOSE ENGINES AND
LADDERS AT THOSE STATIONS ARE
PRETTY BUSY TOO. SO THAT IS A
REAL CONVERSATION ON THE UNITS.
THAT'S A COMPANY THAT WILL WORK
AROUND THE NATION WITH
FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR WHOLE
FOCUS IS ON GETTING FIREFIGHTERS
BACK TO WORK IN A TIMELY MANNER.
THAT IS THEIR WHOLE FOCUS. SO
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
THEM OVER THE YEARS. WE'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE STATE AND
AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHO WOULD
USE THEM. SO IT WILL BE A
CONVERSATION THAT WILL CONTINUE.
I HOPE I ANSWERED ALL THE
QUESTIONS HERE.
>> WELL, I DID HAVE ONE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I KNOW YOU
HAVE MORE TO SAY, I WILL COME
BACK TO YOU ONCE EVERYONE HAS
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK,
NOTING WE HAVE 21 MINUTES AND
FOUR PEOPLE LEFT. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
THANK YOU CHIEF AND MS. CHAN.
I'M GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS
BRIEF. ONE IS LOOKING AT --
WELL, FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE
DOING IN LITTLE SAIGON. THANK
YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING REGARDING THE FALSE
ALARMS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW JUST
HOW MANY FALSE ALARMS THAT OUR
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARE
RESPONDING TO, WHICH TAKES THEM
AWAY FROM ACTUAL EMERGENCIES. I
WOULD ALSO SAY, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING AT THE CAPACITY OF
HEALTH 1, HEALTH 99, HEALTH 98,
THE INCREASE NEEDED FOR THOSE
ARE DEFINITELY CRITICAL. SO
YEAH, ASK MORE. HEALTH ONE,
HEALTH 99, HEALTH 98, ARE THEY
SOLELY 911 DISPATCHED OR DO THEY
EVER DO PROACTIVE STUFF? ARE
THEY EVER HANGING OUT ON RAINIER
BETWEEN MCCLELLAN AND I-90,
HINT, HINT, OR, YOU KNOW,
STRICTLY 911 DISPATCH?
>> SO HEALTH ONE AND HEALTH 99
CAN BOTH BE DISPATCHED DIRECTLY
AND THEY DO PROACTIVE FOLLOW-UP.
WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE
REFERRALS THAT HAPPENED OUT OF
THE STATIONS THAT GOES INTO OUR
SYSTEM, HEALTH ONE AND THE
MANAGER WILL GET IT, DO THE DOOR
KNOCK, AND FIND THE PERSON AND
TALK TO THE PERSON. HEALTH 98,
ITS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY IS
FOLLOW-UP ON HEALTH VICTIMS. THE
GOAL OF THAT IS TO DO THE FOLLOW
UP, SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THEY CAN DO DIRECT DISPATCH, AND
THEY BOTH DO FOLLOW UP.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. THE OTHER
QUESTION YOU MENTIONED -- I
THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING IN
THERE ABOUT WELLNESS BECAUSE I
THINK ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS AND
BURNOUT, AND HOW YOU COULD BE
LIKE ONE E-MAIL AWAY FROM LOSING
IT, RIGHT? ARE YOU LOOKING AT
INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES YOU HAVE FOR
FIREFIGHTER WELLNESS?
>> SO A FEW YEARS AGO, THANK YOU
TO THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL,
WE STOOD UP OUR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH COORDINATOR POSITION THAT
REALLY LIFTED OUR PROGRAM UP,
AND THEY WERE DOING AN AMAZING
JOB. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE
PUT FORWARD IN THIS BUDGET, BUT
THERE WILL BE SOMETHING THAT
WILL BE COMING FORWARD IN THE
COMING YEARS. AS THE CALL WAS
INCREASED, THE FLAW INCREASES,
WE EVEN HAVE AN APP NOW. BUT
THERE IS SOMETHING ON THEIR
HEART OR ON THEIR MIND, THEY CAN
ACTUALLY PUT IT INTO THE SYSTEM,
THEN THERE WILL BE A FOLLOWUP.
WE HAVE PEER SUPPORT
INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF OUR FOUR FOUNDATION, WE SENT
FOLKS TO GET TRAINING DOWN IN
SAN DIEGO, SO THEY CAN SERVE US
EVEN BETTER. IT'S A PROGRAM
EVOLVING AND GROWING. IN THE
COMING YEARS, IT WILL PROBABLY
BE SOMETHING THAT COMES ACROSS
TO INCREASE IT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
CHIEF. THE LAST PLUG IS ACTUALLY
FOR MY COLLEAGUES. IF YOU HAVE
NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO
THE FIRE ALARM CITY, TOUR IT,
SIT IN ON CALLS. SEE WHAT'S
COMING IN. SEE WHAT OUR
FIREFIGHTERS ARE BEING
DISPATCHED TO. IT'S AN EYE
OPENER. IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT,
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. CHIEF AND
LORI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MY QUESTION IS, I'M GOING TO GO
FAST, CHIEF, JUST SAYING, YOU
KNOW HOW SUPPORTIVE I AM OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL AND
HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO ALL YOUR
TEAM FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO
ACROSS THE. CAN YOU REMIND US
HOW MANY UNITS ROW HAVE FOR
EACH? ONE GOT REPURPOSED. CAN
YOU JUST FOR THE RECORD, REMIND
US HOW MANY YOU HAVE FOR EACH?
>> WE WERE GETTING READY TO PUT
OUR THIRD HEALTH UNIT, WHEN THE
FENTANYL CRISIS TOOK OFF, AND WE
CONVERTED THAT UNIT TO HEALTH
99. SO HEALTH 1, HEALTH 2, AND
HEALTH 99. WE'VE ADDED HEALTH
98 NOW, SO THIS BUDGET WILL
ACTUALLY EXPAND THAT TEAM. WHEN
WE FIRST LIFTED UP THE PROGRAM
IN 2019, SOME OF YOU MAY
REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS I
SAID, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE
FIVE UNITS AROUND OUR FIVE
BATTALIONS. BUT THAT'S BEFORE
WE KNEW WE NEEDLED A HEALTH 99
AT THAT POINT. IN 2019, WE DID
NOT KNOW THAT. SO WE PIVOTED. SO
YOU HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
ORGANIZATION SHIFTING. WE
SHIFTED BECAUSE THERE WAS A
NEED. AND SO THAT'S WHERE
HEALTH THREE WENT AND TURNED
INTO HEALTH 99.
>> BUT IF YOU HAD HEALTH THREE,
YOU WOULD WELCOME THAT? I MEAN,
THERE'S ENOUGH WORK?
>> YEAH.
>> FOR YOU TO WARRANT?
>> THERE IS ENOUGH WORK.
>> YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THE
BEST YOU CAN WITH THE RESOURCES
YOU HAVE?
>> EXACTLY. OUR GOAL WITH ALL
THESE PROGRAMS IS TO PUT
OURSELVES OUT OF BUSINESS.
THAT'S OUR ULTIMATE GOAL, YOU
KNOW, IF WE CAN SOLVE THE
FENTANYL CRISIS, HEALTH 99,
HEALTH 98, THEY GO OUT OF
SERVICE. THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL
IS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. CAN YOU
REMIND ME HOW MUCH STAFF IS IN
EACH OF THESE? SO HEALTH ONE AND
HEALTH TWO BECAUSE THEY'RE THE
SAME TWO VERSIONS. HOW MANY --
YOU HAVE ONE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
OR MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL WORKER?
>> IT IS TWO FIREFIGHTERS AND A
CASE MANAGER. THOSE TWO
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE HIGHER LEVEL
OF TRAINING. THERE MAY BE DAYS
WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE ONE
FIREFIGHTER AND A CASE MANAGER.
HEALTH 99 HAS A CASE MANAGEMENT,
AND OUR NURSE PRACTITIONER WILL
GO TO WHEREVER THE HIGHEST NEED
IS. RIGHT NOW, WE ONLY HAVE ONE.
THERE'S BEEN SOME AMAZING
STORIES SINCE SHE IS TREATING
WOUND CARE OF INDIVIDUALS IN
THEIR HOMES, SO THEY DON'T HAVE
TO GO TO THE E.R. I MEAN,
THERE'S SO MANY STORIES OF
THOSE SKILLSETS. THE NEED FOR A
SECOND ONE, IT'S REAL.
>> AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
AND GOES TO THE ALTERNATIVES
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CASES YOU
GUYS ARE HANDLING WOULD MAYBE
SOMEONE WOULD HAVE CALLED SPD.
WE DON'T WANT THAT. WE WANT A
NURSE PRACTITIONER AND A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PERSON, WHO
COULD REALLY HELP THAT PERSON
ALONG WITH YOUR TWO
FIREFIGHTERS. I FULLY SUPPORT
THAT. TO ME, THAT'S A PART OF
THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE MODEL,
WHICH IS SUPER HELPFUL. THEN YOU
HAVE DATA, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
DATA. LET ME SAY THAT TOO. SPD
DOES A GREAT JOB COLLECTING THE
DATA BECAUSE IT HELPS SHOW WHY
YOU NEED THOSE THINGS. MY LAST
QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED THE
NURSE PRACTITIONER GOING TO THE
HIGHEST NEED. TEN EARLIER IN THE
CONVERSATION, YOU TALKED ABOUT
THE HIGHER UTILIZED AREAS. CAN
YOU GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHERE THE
HIGH UTILIZING FOLKS ARE? I
UNDERSTOOD TO ME, THAT'S WHEN
YOU DO FOLLOWUP WITH THEM. WHERE
ARE THESE FOLKS?
>> I'LL START WITH THAT. ALL
OVER THE CITY. YOU KNOW, THERE
COULD BE A PERSON WHO FALLS
THREE TO FOUR TIMES A DAY. THERE
COULD BE A PERSON WHO HASN'T
GOTTEN THEIR MEDICATIONS
REFILLED. THERE COULD BE A
PERSON WITH A FOOD NEED, AND ALL
THEY KNOW IS TO CALL 911 OVER
AND OVER AGAIN. SO THAT COULD BE
ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. SO WHEN
THE REFERRALS COME IN FROM THE
FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE THEY'RE
THE ONES RESPONDING TO THE
CALLS, THAT'S WHEN WE GO DO THE
INVESTIGATIONS. NOW THE HIGH
UTILIZING FACILITIES, THAT'S A
DIFFERENT STORY. WE WORK AND TRY
TO DO PUBLIC EDUCATION AT THE
DIFFERENT HIGH-UTILIZING
FACILITIES. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE KNOWS THIS.
LAST YEAR, WE INVITED THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROVIDERS. LAST SEPTEMBER, WE
INVITED THEM ALL IN BECAUSE
THESE ARE LOCATIONS THAT WE GO
TO A LOT. 1911, I THINK 22nd
AVENUE SOUTH. NUMBER ONE,
RESPONSE LOCATION. DOCTORS,
NURSES, CASE MANAGERS, ALL THOSE
THINGS, BUT YOU HAVE A BUILDING
FULL OF PEOPLE WITH HIGH NEEDS.
WE INVITED THEM IN, WE WANTED TO
TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE WERE SEEING
AT THESE LOCATIONS. THEN OVER
THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, WE SPENT
DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE
SEATTLE, TALKING TO FOLKS. OUR
FOLKS WERE MEETING WITH THEM,
TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. WE
SAID HEY. JOHN WAS GOING IN,
TRAINING THEIR STAFF OR FIRE
PREVENTION TEAM WAS GOING IN,
TRYING TO HELP MODIFY THEIR
ALARM SYSTEMS. SO WE TRY TO MAKE
THIS AN INTERACTIVE EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION TO TRY TO BRING DOWN
THE CALL LOAD. WE ALSO OFFER
THEM INFORMATION ON SYSTEMS. IF
THEY'RE BUILDING, IT SHOULD BE
DESIGNED WITH THIS AND THIS IS
WHY. WE OFFER ALL THOSE THINGS
UP. WE HAVE HIGH-UTILIZING
INDIVIDUALS, AND WE HAVE
HIGH-UTILIZING FACILITIES. THEY
BOTH NEED DIFFERENT
PRESCRIPTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. WITH TEN MINUTES
REMAINING, WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AND THEN MYSELF.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU, CHIEF SCOGGINS AND THANK
YOU, LORI, FOR BEING HERE THIS
MORNING. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO EXTEND MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO
EVERY MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR THE CRIMINALLING
A WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY. I'M
JUST GOING TO READ ALL MY
QUESTIONS INTO THE RECORD, SO WE
CAN ALL MAKE SURE WE CLOSE OUT
ON TIME, JUST WITH RESPECT TO
THAT. FIRST, I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE HOW APPRECIATIVE WE
ARE OF THE DETAILED UNIFORM
STAFFING DATA OVER THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS, INCLUDING PROJECTS,
GRADUATES, SEPARATIONS, AND NET
VACANCY RATES. I'M WONDERING IF
YOU COULD FOLLOW UP. COULD YOU
LET US KNOW HOW ADDITIONAL, THE
ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION FOR 20
RECRUITS WILL IMPACT SEATTLE
FIRE'S ABILITY TO RESPOND? WE
WOULD LOVE TO KNOW AND PRACTICE
WHAT 20 ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS
DOES FOR OUR CITY, KNOWING OUR
CITY IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND
EXPAND PER ALL OF OUR GROWTH
PROJECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THANK
YOU FOR SHARING ABOUT THE
SEPTEMBER POP-UP CLINIC, I THINK
THOSE NUMBERS ARE. CURIOUS ABOUT
HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO EXPAND
THESE POP-UPS. WE HEARD FROM A
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS HOW
SUCCESSFUL THIS WAS AND WOULD
LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THEM. SO
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW
THESE COSTS ARE REFLECTED IN THE
BUDGET. SECOND QUESTION RELATED
TO HEALTH 99 AS WELL. WHAT ARE
THE PROJECTED NUMBERS, HOURS OF
NUMBERS OF SERVICE THAT WOULD BE
ADDED THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL 3
FTE. I KNOW IT ADDS AN
ADDITIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONER
AND STRATEGIC ADVISER, BUT WHAT
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE?
WE ALSO RECENTLY HEARD FROM THE
CARE DEPARTMENT, SO HOPING WE
CAN WALK THROUGH THE OVERLAP
BETWEEN THE HEALTH ONE TEAM AND
THE PROPOSED CARE EXPANSION.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO LOW ACUITY
RESPONSES, SO WOULD LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THESE SYSTEMS
WORK TOGETHER. WOULD LIKE TO
ALSO FOLLOW UP AND UNDERSTAND A
BIT MORE ABOUT THE FIFA SUPPORT
INVESTMENTS AND WHAT THOSE WILL
MEAN ON THE GROUND FOR THE
DEPARTMENT. AND LASTLY, KIND OF
BUILDING ON THE POINT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON RAISED
ABOUT THE INCREASED AMOUNT OF
BURNOUT WE'RE SEEING IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND OVERTIME HOURS.
WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
SOME OF THE BROADER HEALTH AND
RECOVERY SOLUTIONS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT HAS LOOKED INTO. IT
HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION
THERE'S A PROGRAM CALLED READY
REBOUND SERVING FIREFIGHTERS,
JURISDICTIONS ACROSS WASHINGTON
STATE, AND WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF
THIS IS SOMETHING IN
CONSIDERATION OR IN THE MIX FOR
THE DEPARTMENT. AND WITH THAT, I
YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. CHIEF, YOU DO HAVE
JUST A MINUTE, IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO RESPOND THERE.
>> WELL, THAT WAS A LOT. IT
WOULD BE HARD TO PICK ONE. BUT
I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. IT IS APPRECIATED.
AND YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHEN
YOU SEE THE FIREFIGHTERS WORKING
A LOT IN THE STATIONS, YOU THINK
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE
DOING. BUT YOU KNOW, THE
MARINERS GAMES, THE SEAHAWKS
GAMES, THE CONCERTS, THE
SOUNDERS GAMES. SO OVER 600
EVENTS ALSO THAT WE STAFF IN THE
CITY. NEXT WEEKEND WILL BE A BIG
ONE FOR US WITH THE SEAHAWKS
PLAYING, THE MARINERS ARE IN THE
PLAYOFFS, AND ALL THE OTHER
THINGS HAPPENING. SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND OUR
FIREFIGHTERS REALLY APPRECIATE
HEARING THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU. SEEMS LIKE ALL MY
OTHER COLLEAGUES RECEIVED THE
MESSAGE FROM KENNY STEWART. I'M
SURE ALL OF US WILL BE FOLLOWING
UP WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR
ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS JUST A
MINUTE AGO. COLLEAGUES, I WANT
TO BRING TO OUR GENERAL
ATTENTION TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
I SEE A NEW HAND. I'M GOING TO
MAKE MY COMMENTS, THEN I'LL
CALL ON YOU WITH THE TIME
REMAINING. THIS IS A DEPARTMENT
THAT IS ALL GENERAL FUND
SUPPORTED. THIS IS DIFFERENT
THAN MANY OF THE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING
AT. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR SIX
YEAR LOOK BACK THERE, ARE NO
OTHER JUMPSTART FUNDS BEING USED
HERE. READING FROM THE SIX-YEAR
LOOKBACK, I WILL GIVE A POSITIVE
KUDOS TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S
DISTRICT. THIRD PARAGRAPH, IN
ADDITION TO PERMANENT LADDER
TRUCK AND MEDIC RESPONSE UNIT IN
THE RELATED FUNDING, WERE ADDED
IN 2023 IN WEST SEATTLE, TO
REPLACE THE TEMPORARY SERVICES
ESTABLISHED DURING THE CLOSURE
OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE. JUST
WANT TO NOTE THAT A GOOD THING
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS
RECEIVED ALL THE DOG PARKS AND
THE PERMANENT STAFFING THERE. I
WANT TO LOOK AT THE SIX-YEAR
LOOKBACK. THE AVERAGE OF
APPROXIMATELY 6%, THE BUDGET HAS
INCREASED PER YEAR. FIREFIGHTERS
COMPROMISE 90% OF YOUR BUDGET.
BECAUSE THIS IS A FIRST
RESPONDER DEPARTMENT, WHERE IT
IS THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR JOB
DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK
AND EVERYONE DOWN IN
HEADQUARTERS WHO HELP MAKE THE
DEPARTMENT FUNCTION. WE KNOW AS
IT SAYS, 90% OF FUNDING IS IN
YOUR PERSONNEL. JUST MAKING A
COUPLE OF STATEMENTS. YOUR
FOLLOW-UP WORK THAT YOU
DESCRIBED VERY CLEARLY HAS
DEMONSTRATED RESULTS OF THE
OVERDOSE DATA THAT HAS
STABILIZED. IT'S STILL IN A BAD
PLACE, BUT IT HAS STABILIZED
BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE TO TRANSFER HEALTH ONE TO
HEALTH 99. I'LL BE LOOKING
FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING IF WE
NEED TO EXPAND HEALTH ONE AS
WELL. WATER BASED RESPONSE HAS
IMPROVED, AND I'LL FOLLOW UP
WITH SOME QUESTIONS THERE. I
WILL ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH
QUESTIONS ABOUT REVIEW. IF YOU
DO NEED MORE STAFFING, I KNOW
IT'S BEEN A PERENNIAL QUESTION
OF MINE AND FOLLOWING UP ABOUT
THE FIREFIGHTER INJURIES. I DO
WANT TO TOUCH BASE IN LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET. WE HAD THE
QUESTION ABOUT RECRUITMENT. THIS
YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE MORE RECRUIT
CLASSES. IS THIS AN ADDITIONAL
CLASS OR SLOT WITH AN EXISTING
CLASS?
>> TWO CLASSES A YEAR,
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN THOSE
CLASSES.
>> AND DO WE NEED TO HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL CLASS, SO WE ARE
DOING THESE CYCLES ON THE MORE
FREQUENT BASIS?
>> WELL, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
INCREASE THE SIZE OF OUR
CLASSES. SO A FEW YEARS BACK, WE
WERE DOING CLASSES OF 30 OR 40.
I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER IN
FEBRUARY, WE'LL BE DOING A
CLASS OF 80. THE CLASS WE
STARTED IN THE SECOND WEDNESDAY
OF AUGUST WAS 62. SO WE WILL
EXPAND THE SIZE OF OUR CLASSES
AS OPPOSED TO ADDING A THIRD
ONE. THE TRAINING TEAM HAVE ALL
THE OTHER TRAINING WE HAVE TO DO
ON A REGULAR BASIS ALSO.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I KNOW THE
CHIEF NEEDS TO LEAVE IN ABOUT
TWO MINUTES, SO YOU'VE GOT TWO
MINUTES. WE CAN KEEP TALKING AS
WELL ONCE THE CHIEF HAS TO
LEAVE. OVER TO YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
CHIEF FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I
ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUR
CONVERSATIONS AND REGULAR, AND
OUR ONGOING PARTNERSHIP TO
ADDRESS THE MANY SHARED
CHALLENGES ACROSS THE CITY AND
MY OWN COUNCIL DISTRICT. SO
REALLY APPRECIATE THE BRAVE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER THEIR ROLE,
WHATEVER THEIR FUNCTION FROM THE
FRONTLINE RESPONDERS TO PLANNERS
AND BEAN COUNTERS. THEY ALL MAKE
A TREMENDOUS IMPACT, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYONE. JUST A
QUICK ASIDE. CHAIR, I REALLY
APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOU
CALLING OUT SOME GOOD WINS ABOUT
DISTRICT ONE, OUR DOG PARKS, AND
OUR FIRE STATIONS THAT WERE MADE
PERMANENT. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND HELPING GET
THOSE DONE. AS BUDGET CHAIR,
I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR
INCREASED PARTNERSHIP IN
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
DISTRICT ONE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE
THREE TIMES MORE REPRESENTED IN
THE NUMBER OF PROBLEM RVs
COMPARED TO ANY OTHER COUNCIL
DISTRICT. WHERE SHE 27% MISSING
SIDEWALK GAP ACROSS OUR CITY.
SECOND WORSE COUNCIL DISTRICT IN
THAT REGARD. FIRST IS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THEN OUR
PARKS RESTROOM AUDIT, THE WORST
MOST EGREGIOUS RESTROOMS ARE IN
DISTRICT ONE. THANK YOU FOR
CALLING OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF
THE GOOD. LOOKING FOR YOUR
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP, AS WE
ADDRESS THE CONTINUED
OPPORTUNITIES ON SOME OF THE
DISTRICT ONE SPECIFIC NEEDS. I
JUST HAVE A QUESTION THAT I'LL
READ INTO THE RECORD FOR THE
INTEREST OF TIME. AND I'VE
HEARD IT ADDRESSED MOSTLY
OBLIQUELY IN DIFFERENT AREAS,
BUT JUST WANT TO ASK IN ONE KIND
OF FULL SWEEP HERE. SO AS WAS
NOTED EARLIER, SEATTLE HAS ONE
FIREFIGHTER -- DENVER, SAN
FRANCISCO, BOSTON, AND IN
CERTAIN INSTANCES, LIKE THE CASE
OF SAN FRANCISCO, FOR EXAMPLE,
AND BOSTON, WE HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER STAFFING,
FIRE STAFFING THAN THOSE KIND OF
PEER CITIES. THIS, AMONG OTHER
THINGS INEVITABLY MEAN OUR
FIREFIGHTERS ARE BEING ASKED TO
DO MORE WITH LESS, NOTABLE
IMPACTS ON MORALE, WHICH HAS
BEEN CALLED OUT. CAN YOU SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT MORE TO HOW IT THIS
STAFFING GAP IS IMPACTING
RESPONSE TIMES? AND WHAT
SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THE
DEPARTMENT IS PURSUING TO ENSURE
WE'RE KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE,
DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, ALSO
MINDFUL OF, YOU KNOW, THE GROWTH
THAT WE JUST ALLOWED FOR IN OUR
RECENT COMP PHASE ONE PROCESS.
JUST WANTED TO READ THAT INTO
THE RECORD, AND WOULD APPRECIATE
SOME ADDITIONAL CLARITY THERE.
BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO
AND THE ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT
TEAM. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> CHIEF, IF YOU'VE GOT A
TEN-SECOND RESPONSE, YOU'RE TWO
MINUTES LATE.
>> IT'S LONGER THAN A
TEN-SECOND ANSWER, BUT I'LL
RESPOND BACK TO THAT. BECAUSE IT
IS REFLECTED IN THE HIGH CALL
RESPONSES AT OUR ENGINES,
LADDERS, AND AID CARS. THAT'S
THE SIMPLE ANSWER, WHEN YOU SEE
OUR UNITS RUNNING VERY HIGH
NUMBERS. BUT WE WILL RESPOND
BACK TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. AND CHIEF, THANK
YOU FOR COMING BACK TODAY. THANK
YOU FOR COMING TO COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE
FIREFIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS,
EVERYONE IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR KEEPING OUR
PEOPLE SAFE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. HAVE A
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO DO
GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I DO WANT TO CHECK IN
WITH DIRECTOR NOBLE, SINCE
USUALLY IN THE BEGINNING OF
THESE PRESENTATIONS, WE ASK IF
THERE IS ANYTHING CENTRAL STAFF
WANTS TO ADD IN AT THIS TIME?
I'M SEEING NOTHING FROM YOU?
FANTASTIC. COLLEAGUES, LAST WEEK
WE HAD THE SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT GO OVER.
ON FRIDAY, WE CHANGED THE WAY
OUR SCHEDULE WORKED WITH HOW WE
HAD OUR BREAK. AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, IF WE GET TO A POSITION
LIKE 12:30 P.M., I'M JUST GOING
TO TAKE THE BREAK THEN AND
RESTART A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. SO
I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW
WHERE WE ARE AT MOVING FORWARD
TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE
PREDICTABLE. GRANT IT THIS
MORNING'S SESSION WAS
UNPREDICTABLE DUE TO THE FACTORS
OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL. IF WE
HAD BEEN DURING A WEEKDAY WHEN I
FOUND OUT THE INFORMATION, I
WOULD HAVE JUST CHANGED THE
SCHEDULE. BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS
NOT TIME TO NOTICE IT, THAT'S
WHY WE JUST SWITCHED THE
PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING, AND
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK
RIGHT NOW. I SEE BRIAN MAXEY AND
ANGELA COMING UP. WE'RE GOING
TO COME BACK HERE AT 11:00 A.M.
AND RESTART WITH YOUR
PRESENTATIONS STRAIGHT UP AT
11:00, IF THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE HERE? SO WE ARE ALSO
GOING TO BE WALKING INTO A
PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK. AS
THINGS HAVE CHANGED, COLLEAGUES,
I'M MAKING A COUPLE OF REMARKS
ABOUT PUBLIC HEARINGS. HAVING
CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ ABOUT HOW THINGS HAVE
CHANGED SO MUCH WITH PUBLIC
HEARINGS FROM 2018 TO 2019 TO
TODAY. WE PREVIOUSLY NEVER HAD
THE VIRTUAL OPTION. AND SO
WORKING IN HOW WE MANAGE A
VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING, YOU
KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH
SOME GROWING PAINS. I REALLY
WANT TO COMPLIMENT JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR HOW SHE
STRUCTURED IT, BRINGING IT
ACTUALLY DOWN TO A MINUTE PER
PERSON SEEMS TO ACTUALLY HELP
THINGS FLOW. SO NEXT WEEK, NEXT
TUESDAY WILL BE OUR FIRST OF TWO
PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE'RE GOING TO
START AT 1:00 P.M. WITH THE
VIRTUAL SESSION, AND 5:00 P.M.
WITH THE IN-PERSON SESSION. WE
WILL -- I'LL BE MAKING THE
CHANGE THIS YEAR TO ONLY PROVIDE
ONE MINUTE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT,
WE CAN CHANGE IT. THIS IS A
MOMENT WHERE WE, AS THE COUNCIL,
ARE GOING THROUGH CHANGES TO HOW
SOCIETY DOES BUSINESS WITH THESE
VIRTUAL CALL-IN TIMES,
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DID NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE IN 2019. WE HAD
THEM, WE JUST DIDN'T USE THEM.
WE USED THEM TODAY. SO NEXT WEEK
ON TUESDAY, WE WILL HAVE VIRTUAL
PUBLIC COMMENTS STARTING AT
1:00. IN-PERSON COMMENTS
STARTING AT 5:00. ONE MINUTE PER
PERSON, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO
AS LATE AS IT TAKES. SO PLEASE
BE READY TO BE PRESENT AND
ATTEMPTIVE INTO THE EVENING NEXT
TUESDAY. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE
SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS RIGHT NOW?
I'M SEEING NONE. SO WE'RE
GOING TO TALK A PAUSE AND RETURN
HERE IN 27 MINUTES. SO IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, WE WILL BE IN
RECESS. HEARING NO OBJECTION, WE
ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 11:00 A.M.
THANK YOU. [ MEETING WILL RESUME
AT 11:00 A.M. ]
>>> AWARD WINNING SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
WE WILL COME BACK TO ORDER. THE
TIME IS 11:06 A.M. WILL THE
CLERK CALL THE ROLL? WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, RINCK, AND
NELSON EXCUSED MOMENTARILY.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> OH, YOU DID. HERE. SORRY.
>> AND CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
COMING BACK TOGETHER AFTER
RECESS. WE HAVE THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE TO
PROVIDE THEIR PRESENTATION.
WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH
BRIAN AND ANGELA SOCCI. THE
CHIEF WILL BE COMING DOWN AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO IF WE CAN
GET TO THAT PART OF THE
PRESENTATION, WE'LL PAUSE
AGAIN. EVERYTHING IS OKAY. FOR
THE RECORD, I WANT TO STATE WHY
WE MADE THE CHANGES EARLIER THIS
MORNING. I UNDERSTOOD THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION WAS PROBABLY THE
ONLY PRESENTATION TODAY THAT
COULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN ONE
HOUR, 60 MINUTES. AND THAT IS
THE REASON WE PUT THEM FORWARD.
I DID SEE IN PERSON THE CHIEF
AND THE ENTIRE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TEAM THAT'S UP HERE
PRESENTING. THEY WERE HERE AT
CHAMBERS AT 9:30, AND I THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND
PROMPT. WE JUST KNEW THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD BE OPEN
AND COMPLETED BY 10:30, AND NO
OTHER DEPARTMENT WE WOULD SPEAK
OF TODAY COULD ALSO COMPLETE
THAT TASK IN THAT TIME. SO WITH
THAT, CAN YOU -- CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE READ THE FIRST ITEM INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED BY
BRIAN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
AND ANGELA SOCCI, THE CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS ALWAYS,
DAN EDER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE. WITH THAT,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU ALL TO
WALK US THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> SO GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
STRAUSS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
HERE TO PRESENT ON THE PROPOSED
2026 BUDGET AND GIVE THE
OVERVIEW. AS YOU INDICATED, THE
CHIEF IS IN A PRESS CONFERENCE
RIGHT NOW, AND WILL BE RETURNING
TO FIELD SOME OF THE MORE
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. ONCE HE'S
AVAILABLE, I'LL BE ABLE TO
PINCH HIT IN HIS ABSENCE, AND
APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY. THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I
THINK, THERE'S A GENERAL
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE DO AND
THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK. HOWEVER,
THE CHIEF DEFINITELY WANTED TO
LEAN INTO THE DEPARTMENTAL
PRIORITIES, TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE
DO OUR WORK, WHAT OUR GOALS ARE,
ESPECIALLY MOVING INTO 2026. THE
DEPARTMENTAL PRIORITIES, ARE
CRIME PREVENTION, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND
WELLNESS, CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT, AND RETENTION AND
RECRUITMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS JUST A FEW OF THESE,
JUST TO FLESH OUT A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THESE PRINCIPLES ARE
AND WHY THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT TO
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE TRADITIONAL MODEL OF CRIME
RESPONSE, 911 CALLS,
PRODUCTIVITY, OUT THERE IN THE
STREET. CHIEF BARNES IS VERY
FOCUSED ON THE FRONT END OF
THAT. NOT JUST BEING REACTIVE TO
CALLS FOR SERVICE, BUT GETTING
OUT AHEAD OF IT. WORKING WITH
OUR COMMUNITIES, WORKING WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS, HAVING A MORE
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CRIME
PREVENTION TO HOPEFULLY REDUCE
CRIME BEFORE IT EVER HAPPENS. OF
COURSE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO
RESPOND. OF COURSE, WE'LL
CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE. BUT
GETTING OUT ON THE FRONT END AND
USING EVERY STRATEGY THAT WE
HAVE AT THE CITY LEVEL TO
PREVENT CRIME IS A FAR MORE
PRODUCTIVE STRATEGY THAN SIMPLE
RESPONSE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
IS PART OF CRIME PREVENTION, BUT
ALSO IN TERMS OF AMPLIFYING AND
SOLIDIFYING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S LEGITIMACY WITH
COMMUNITY. WE CANNOT SPEAK EARLY
AND OFTEN ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE'RE
DOING IT. TRY TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE
DOING. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HELP
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
KNOW WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS
WITH US, FROM US, EXCUSE ME.
EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND WELLNESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS GONE
FORGOTTEN. IF YOU LOOK AT PILLAR
SIX OF THE 21st CENTURY, POLICE
AND PLAN THAT WAS PROPOSED BY
THE TASK FORCE UNDER PRESIDENT
OBAMA. EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND
WELLNESS IS CRITICAL. AS THE
REPORT NOTED, HURT PEOPLE, HURT
PEOPLE. SO IF YOU HAVE A
HEALTHY, IMBALANCED, WELL
SUPPORTED WORK FORCE, YOU
ACHIEVE BETTER OUTCOMES. THAT'S
WHY IT IS A DEPARTMENTAL
PRIORITY AND VERY IMPORTANT FOR
THIS DEPARTMENT. CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT. AS WE EXIT THE
CONSENT DECREE, AND I KNOW CHIEF
BARNES IS ARRIVING AT THIS
MOMENT, SO I WILL DEFER TO HIM.
BUT JUST FINISHING MY SENTENCE.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AS WE
MOVE INTO 2026, AND AS WE EXIT
THE CONSENT DECREASE, WILL BE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO MOVE INTO ITS NEXT
PHASE. THE CITY TOOK OWNERSHIP
OVER THE ACCOUNTABILITY
STRUCTURES, AND THAT CANNOT BE
FORGOTTEN.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. THANK YOU,
CHIEF. WE'RE ON SLIDE TWO, SO
EVERYTHING IS RUNNING RIGHT ON
TIME. WE ALSO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA NOW PRESENT WITH US AS
WELL, SO PERFECT TIMING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN. I'M
GOING TO ASK FOLKS TO HOLD
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END, THEN
WE'LL GO THROUGH ONE BY ONE.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU TODAY. AS OUR CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER, BRIAN MAXEY
ELUDED TO, WHICH IS HERE ON THE
BOARD, OUR DEPARTMENTAL
PRIORITIES. WHEN I SAY OUR
DEPARTMENT, I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY, YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, THOSE IN POSITIONS
OF LEADERSHIP, SUCH AS YOURSELF,
AND OUR DEPARTMENT. WE ARE ONE
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE ONE SEATTLE.
FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, I'VE
TAKEN TIME, REALLY PROBABLY
BEFORE THAT, TO NOT ONLY
RESEARCH, BUT TO LISTEN TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. TO LISTEN TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I'VE ASKED
THEM WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT
FROM OUR PROPERTY? AND THAT'S
WHAT YOU SEE. THEY WANT US TO
PREVENT CRIME. NOT JUST TO
RESPOND TO IT. SOMETIMES WHEN
POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO
CRIMES, YOU GET DISPARAGED
OUTCOMES. BUT THEY DO NOT EXIST
IF YOU'RE PREVENTING CRIMES IN
THE FIRST PLACE. IN MY FORMER
JOB, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF ARRESTS, WHILE THE AT
SAME TIME, REDUCING CRIME,
MEANING THERE'S A WAY TO REDUCE
SOME OF THE HARM OR THE
DISPARITIES YOU MIGHT SEE IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR OTHER
SYSTEMS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
DOING WITH CRIME PREVENTION.
WE'RE FOCUSING ON PEOPLE,
DETERMINING WHO NEEDS HELP AND
WHO IS NOT HERE TO HELP. WE'RE
FOCUSING ON PLACES. WE ARE
FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE FOCUSING ON
PROBLEM SOLVING. IN ORDER TO
SOLVE A PROBLEM, WE NEED THE
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF EVERYONE
IN THIS ROOM TO INCLUDE OUR
COMMUNITY. TO GET TO THE
UNDERLINING ISSUES THAT ARE
CAUSING THE ISSUES WE'RE SEEING
IN SPECIFIC SPACES
TRADITIONALLY, AREAS TO
DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES WE NEED
TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, HOW TO REMAIN
CONSISTENT, AND HOW TO CREATE A
CONSISTENT RESPONSE WITH A SENSE
OF URGENCY. AND I BELIEVE THAT
IN EVERYTHING YOU SEE,
SPECIFICALLY IN OUR BUDGET,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CRIME
PREVENTION, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND
WELLNESS, CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT, AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. AND SO WITH THAT, I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO ANGELA
SOCCI, WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH
OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANGELA
SOCCI, SPD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF BUDGET AND FINANCE. HAPPY TO
BE HERE THIS MORNING, TO SHARE
WITH YOU OUR 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET. YOU MAY RECALL THE 2025
AND 2026 BIANNUAL BUDGET FUNDED
15 NET NEW OFFICERS IN EACH
YEAR. I PREPARED A SIMILAR SLIDE
LAST YEAR THAT SHOWED THE
YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE WITH THOSE
30 NET ADDS. SINCE THE LAST
BUDGET PRESENTATION, SPD HAS
HIRED 168 OFFICERS OR 93 NET
OFFICERS. THE CITY HAS MADE MANY
INVESTMENTS TO OUR RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION EFFORTS. WE'RE
FINALLY SEEING A RETURN ON THAT
INVESTMENT. WE JUST DID NOT
ANTICIPATE THIS LEVEL OF
SUCCESS, AND ARE HAVING TO
ADDRESS THE FUNDING GAP IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET. YOU'LL SEE ON
THE CHART HERE, MANY OF THE
OFFICERS WE'VE HIRED OVER THE
LAST YEAR ARE NOT YET DEPLOYED,
BUT WE EXPECT IN 2026 TO SEE A
SIZABLE INCREASE IN OUR
IN-SERVICE OFFICERS. CURRENT
PROJECTIONS WILL SHOW US ANY OF
THE YEAR AROUND 960 OFFICERS ON
THE STREET. IN 2026, WE EXPECT
THAT NUMBER TO RISE BY ABOUT
100. SO ENDING THE YEAR WITH
CLOSE TO 1,200 IN SERVICE,
SORRY. THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
RESTORES ONGOING FUNDING FOR
THESE OFFICER POSITIONS. 143 TO
BE EXACT, FOLLOWING THE YEAR OF
HISTORIC HIRING AND ALSO
RETENTION. WHILE ALSO REDUCING
VARIOUS BUDGET ACCOUNTS TO HELP
OFFSET THE CITY'S PROJECTED
REVENUE SHORTFALL. YOU'LL
NOTICE ON THE SLIDE, THE 2026
ENDORSED BUDGET OF ABOUT $465
MILLION INCREASES TO ABOUT $485
MILLION. FOR ROUGHLY A 4%
INCREASE. LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO
THAT HIRING. THE COMING SLIDES
WILL GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THE
CHANGE.
ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT TO START
OFF FIRST WITH OUR SPD GENERAL
FUND REDUCTION. THIS SLIDE HERE
REPRESENTS A NUMBER OF
REDUCTIONS ACROSS VARIOUS
DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED, PROPOSED BY SPD TO
MEET A CUT TARGET TO ULTIMATELY
HELP OFFSET THE GENERAL FUND,
PROJECTED GENERAL FUND
SHORTFALL. THE GOAL HERE WAS TO
MEET OUR REDUCTION TARGET TO
HELP BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND
BUDGET, WHILE ALSO MINIMIZING
THE IMPACT TO PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES. THIS REDUCTION
INCLUDES A REDUCTION FOR OUR
VEHICLE ACCOUNT. THE $305,000
WAS ADDED A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN
WE EXPANDED THE UNIT. WE ARE
ACTUALLY PURCHASING THOSE UNITS
THIS YEAR. AND SO THAT ONGOING
FUNDING IS NO LONGER NEEDED
GOING FORWARD TO SUPPORT THAT
VEHICLE PURCHASE. AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE'RE SEEING DECREASE
IN OFFICER SEPARATION. AS A
RESULT, OUR SEPARATION PAY OUT
AMOUNT IS PROJECTED TO BE LESS
IN 2026 THAN IT WAS. WE ARE
SEEING THE SAME THING IN 2025.
THAT BUDGET HAD BEEN INCREASED
POST 2020 WHEN WE SAW
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TODAY IN
SEPARATION. WE HAD TO SUPPLEMENT
THAT BUDGET WITH AN AD. WE ARE
BACKING THAT OUT NOW THAT WE'VE
SEEN OUR OFFICER'S SEPARATION
DECLINE. THIS MARKETING ITEM FOR
$550,000. THAT REPRESENTS THE
ACTUAL CONTRACT COST WE
ANTICIPATE FOR OUR RECRUITMENT
MARKETING CAMPAIGN. WE SINCE
HIRED A NEW THIRD PARTY
CONSULTANT TO HELP WITH THE
RECRUITMENT MARKETING AFTER
RUNNING THE NUMBER, THE CONTRACT
PUT FORTH BY THAT CONSULTANT WAS
$550,000 LESS THAN BUDGETED. WE
DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY IMPACTS TO
THE NUMBER, THE QUANTITY OF ADS,
THE QUALITY OF ADS. IF YOU
HAVEN'T VISITED OUR WEBSITE, WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF NEW VIDEOS
POSTED. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
CHECKING IT OUT. WE'RE EXCITED
ABOUT THE NEW PARTNERSHIP, AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THIS
REDUCTION IS ABLE TO HELP
MITIGATE THE GENERAL FUND
SHORTFALL WITHOUT HAVING ANY
NOTABLE IMPACTS ON OUR ABILITY
TO RECRUIT NATIONALLY.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING, $450,000. AS MANY OF
YOU I'M SURE HEARD WE HAVE --
THE DEPARTMENT, I THINK ALL THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS HAVE
REDUCED THEIR TRAINING EXPENSES
AND HAVE GONE THROUGH A SPENDING
FREEZE PROCESS IN PARTNERSHIP
FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO HELP
BALANCE THE BUDGET. WE PLAN TO
CONTINUE THOSE SPENDING
RESTRICTIONS INTO 2026 AND
REDUCE OUR TRAVEL COST AND
TRAINING COST ASSOCIATED WITH
ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND OTHER
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SEND INDIVIDUALS TO
PURSUE TRAINING. WE HAVE A VERY
ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAM WITHIN
THE CITY. ALL OF OUR STATE
TRAINING WILL CONTINUE TO BE
MET. THIS IS TRULY FUNDING THAT
IS USED FOR TRAINING ABOVE AND
BEYOND OUR BASIC OFFICER
IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND OUR
RECRUITMENT TRAINING. THERE IS
AN ADDITIONAL CUT FOR $395,000
FOR TEMPORARY AND TERM LIMITED
EMPLOYEES. THOSE POSITIONS,
SPECIFICALLY, EXPIRED IN 2025,
SO THAT BUDGET SAVINGS, THOSE
POSITIONS HAVE ALREADY ENDED.
THOSE ASSIGNMENTS HAVE ENDED.
NOT CONTINUE THOSE POSITIONS
NEXT YEAR FOR A SAVINGS OF
$395,000. ADDITIONALLY THERE'S
A VACANCY RATE FOR CIVILIAN
POSITIONS. THIS IS JUST A
STANDARD 4% VACANCY RATE THAT
CAPTURES SAVINGS FROM NORMAL
TURNOVER FOR OUR CIVILIAN
POSITIONS. THEN LASTLY, THERE'S
A $943,000 CUT TO OUR OVERTIME
BUDGET. AGAIN, THE GOAL HERE WAS
TO MEET THE GENERAL FUND TO HELP
BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET
WHILE MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF
SERVICE LEVELS. THESE ITEMS HERE
WERE SELECTED FOR THAT REASON.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OVERTIME,
THE OVERTIME REDUCTION, WHICH WE
EXPECT TO ABSORB AND SPREAD OUT
ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T
ANTICIPATE ANY OF THESE HAVING
ANY SIZABLE IMPACT TO THE DIRECT
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES. ALL
RIGHT. AS WE NOTED PREVIOUSLY,
THERE'S A $26 MILLION AD FOR
OFFICER HIRING IN 2026. THIS
ADDITION FUNDS $143 POSITIONS,
INCREASING OUR FUNDED LEVEL FROM
$1,057 IN THE ENDORSED BUDGET TO
$1,084 IN THE 2026 PROPOSED.
THIS REPRESENTS A 13% INCREASE
IN THE FUNDING. 12% INCREASE IN
THE FTE, FUNDED FTE LEVEL. I
WILL REMIND THAT OUR AUTHORIZED
STRENGTH IS 1,277 OFFICERS. WE
ARE FUNDING BASED ON WHAT WE
ANTICIPATE TO ACTUALLY FILL IN
2026, AND ALSO ADDING ONGOING
FUNDING FOR THE POSITIONS THAT
WERE ADDED OVER THE LAST YEAR
THAT WEREN'T ANTICIPATED IN THE
2026 ENDORSED BUDGET. ITEM TWO
HERE. I WANT TO CALL OUT THE
PUBLIC INVESTMENTS. THE PROPOSED
BUDGET ADDS TWO OFFICERS TO
SUPPORT OUR HIGH-VOLUME, PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUESTS. IT ALSO
ADDS FUNDING AND REMOVES THE
SUNSET DATES FOR TWO POSITIONS
THAT WERE ADDED IN THE 2026
MID-YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL, TO ALSO
ADDRESS THE WORKLOADS WE WERE
FACING. 2024, WE RECEIVED OVER
17,000 PDRs, REPRESENTING AN
INCREASE OF MORE THAN 25% SINCE
2020. THIS AMOUNT RECEIVES
COMBINED TOTALS OF ALL OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS SEATTLE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A COMPLETION
RATE OF AROUND 69%. ALL THAT
CONSIDERED THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC
SAFETY TEAM, CONVENED A WORK
GROUP TO ADDRESS THAT 69%
COMPLETION RATE SPECIFICALLY.
PUT FORTH A HANDFUL OF
RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME WHICH ARE
ADDRESSED IN THIS BUDGET. THE
WORKER IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ISSUES
WITHIN THE WORK FLOW THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASE AND
PROCESSING TIME, INCLUDING
STAFFING. WE MADE SOME
PROBLEMATIC CHANGES, POLICY
CHANGES. THIS BUDGET ADDRESSES
SPECIFICALLY THE NUMBER OF STAFF
AND THE UNIT AVAILABLE TO
ACTUALLY PROCESS THE PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUEST WE RECEIVED.
THIS REPRESENTS A 14% CHANGE IN
BUDGET FOR THE GROUP. THEN ALSO
IT'S A 6% CHANGE TO THE COUNT
FOR THAT UNIT. ITEM 3, THE
BUDGET ALSO FUNDS, PROVIDES
$435,000 TO IMPLEMENT CCTV ON
CAPITOL HILL. THIS INCLUDES
ONE-TIME AND ONGOING FUNDING FOR
THAT EXPANSION. THESE CAMERA
SYSTEMS CONTINUE TO REDUCING
CRIME BY ASSISTING AND
COLLECTING EVIDENCE RELATED TO
SERIOUS AND/OR VIOLENT ACTIVITY.
HOLDING CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE,
AND REMOVING DEADLY WEAPONS OFF
THE STREET. I KNOW WE SPENT TIME
OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS
DISCUSSING THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC
WITH YOU ALL. THIS ITEM FUNDS
THE EXPANSION INTO CAPITOL HILL.
THESE CAMERAS HAVE ALREADY
PROVEN TO BE A CRITICAL TOOL
USED PRIMARILY BY OUR REAL-TIME
CRIME CENTER IN SUPPORT OF OUR
PATROL EFFORTS. ITEM 4, THE
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ONGOING
BUDGET FOR ONE FTE, DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, INCLUSION OFFICER. THIS
POSITION WAS IDENTIFIED -- WAS
AN IDENTIFIED NEED IN 2022,
WHICH WE FILLED WITH A TERM
LIMIT POSITION. THAT POSITION
EXPIRED IN 2025. THIS PARTICULAR
ITEM ADDS AN ONGOING POSITION
AND FUNDING FOR THAT WORK TO
CONTINUE. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
THIS PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
IS A DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RSJ,
WORK PLAN COMPLETION OF EQUITY
TOOLKITS, ADVISING LEADERSHIP ON
ISSUES RELATED TO DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, INCLUSION. THIS IS A
CRITICAL NEED FOR US. ESPECIALLY
AT A TIME WHERE WE ARE WORKING
TO ADVANCE THE CHIEF'S
PRIORITIES, DISCUSSED EARLIER.
ITEM FIVE, FIFA EQUIPMENT COST.
BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $757,000.
TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, IN
ADVANCE OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP
GAMES. SPECIFICALLY WE'RE
LOOKING TO PURCHASE BARRIERS,
TRAILER PACKAGES, AND ALSO
FURTHER EXPAND THE CCTV CAMERAS
IN THE STADIUM DISTRICT, TO
INCREASE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
IN ADVANCE OF THE GAMES. REVENUE
SUPPORTING THIS ITEM WERE HELD
IN RESERVE IN 2026 AND ARE BEING
APPROPRIATED TO SPD IN THE 2026
PROPOSED.
THAT'S THE OVERVIEW. HAPPY TO
FILL ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY FINAL
WORDS BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS?
>> I KIND OF BEGIN AND END THE
SAME WAY, AND THAT'S THANK YOU.
WE CANNOT FULFILL OUR MISSION TO
PROTECT THE COMMUNITY HERE
WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF OUR
TAXPAYERS AND WITHOUT THE
STEWARDSHIP AND OVERSIGHT OF OUR
CITY COUNCIL. I WANT TO THANK
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUDGET
AND FINANCE, ANGELA SOCCI, FOR
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I LEARNED
A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I WAS A
YOUNG CAPTAIN, TO SPEND AS MUCH
TIME IN BUDGET AND FINANCE AS
YOU POSSIBLY CAN. IF YOU'RE
EXPECTED TO DO THIS AT A HIGH
LEVEL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BRIAN
MAXEY AS WELL, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND YOUR GUIDANCE IN
GETTING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, AS THE CLAIRE OF THE
COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THIS
DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR OPENING STATEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF BARNES FOR
BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR THE
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS JUST
HELD. VERY IMPORTANT. I ALSO
WANT TO WELCOME MR. MAXEY AND
MS. SOCCI. THIS TIME OF THE YEAR
TO TALK BUDGET IS ALWAYS
INTERESTING. OF COURSE, WE DO
THIS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR
AS WELL. BUT TO GO INTO
SPECIFICS IS NICE. OF COURSE,
DIRECTOR EDER AND OUR OWN,
DIRECTOR NOBLE, WELCOME BACK.
BUDGET PEOPLE, FTEs, THIS IS
PROBABLY THE CENTER OF MOST
THINGS. THE ONBOARDING OF NEW
OFFICERS. I BELIEVE IT BEING
STAFFING, WE WERE GOING TO MAKE
PROGRESS. MAYBE NOT AS MUCH, BUT
WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION AS NEEDED TO
ACHIEVE THE GOALS WE HAVE. I'M
THANKFUL TO RECOGNIZE
ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE AND
REFLECT THE GREAT WORK THAT'S
BEEN DONE. REFLECTING ALL THE
WORK WE'VE DONE AS WELL,
WHETHER IT IS RECRUITING,
RETENTION, INCENTIVES, TO ALL
THE OTHER PIECES TO INCLUDE
LEADERSHIP. I THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO
MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM. AS I SAID
MANY TIMES, NOTHING BUILDS
MOMENTUM THAN MOMENTUM. WE
DEFINITELY HAVE MOMENTUM, BUT WE
NEED TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING
ON. THEN WE ALSO NEED THE BUDGET
SUPPORT FOR THIS PIECE TO COME
IN AS WELL. MORE SPECIFICALLY,
RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION. YOU
KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT PIECES
HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE DEIA
PEACE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A
LITTLE BIT MORE IN A SENSE, I
UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOMEBODY,
TEMP, THEN NOT THERE NOW? HAVE
WE BEEN ABLE TO STEP FORWARD
WITH THIS POSITION?
>> WE HAVE NOT. THE POSITION WAS
A LIMITED TERM EMPLOYMENT, AND
THAT TERM ENDED THREE MONTHS
AGO. AND SO THIS REQUEST OR THIS
ADDITION RATHER IS TO FILL IT.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS POSITION
AND KIND OF WHAT WE WANT FROM
IT, A COUPLE OF THINGS COME TO
MIND. NUMBER ONE, PARTNER WITH
OTHER COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCACY
GROUPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR
RELATIONSHIP, WHICH IS A PART OF
WHAT IT IS WE SHOULD BE DOING
HERE. BEING ABLE TO PUBLISH AN
ANNUAL REPORT ON OUR EFFORTS.
TRACK PROGRESS, IDENTIFY
CHALLENGES, AND AREAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. PARTNER WITH OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER OR
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT PARTNERS TO
ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALSO
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE
RESPONSIBILITIES. DEVELOP AND
IMPLEMENT OUR DEI STRATEGIES TO
ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION AND OUR
VALUES AS WELL. ALSO TO ADVISE
ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
COMMAND STAFF ON THE ISSUES OF
EQUITY AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR
RESPONSES AND OUR COMMUNITY
CONCERNS. LOOK AT OUR POLICIES
AND OUR PROCEDURES. IT'S
SOMETHING I HAD IN THIS POSITION
WHEN I WAS IN MADISON. AS YOU
READ POLICY, THE POLICIES WERE
REALLY WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT DID
NOT LEND ITSELF TO EQUITY. IT
MIGHT SEEM LIKE A SMALL THING TO
SOME PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T THINK
IT WAS. EVERYTHING REFERRED TO
POLICE OFFICERS. THEY WENT
THROUGH AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN DO A BETTER JOB WITH OUR
LANGUAGE BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE
WORDS MATTER, AS WELL AS LOOKING
AT PRINCIPLES OF DEI AND, OF
COURSE, TRAINING. TRAINING IS
REALLY BIG FOR US, ENSURING
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IT'S NO
SECRET THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD
SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD,
REGARDING HOW WE TREAT EACH
OTHER. I THINK AT THE CENTER OF
ALL THAT, COULD BE HOW WE VALUE
EACH OTHER, WHO ARE DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. OBVIOUSLY
THE CULTURE CHAIN REALLY STARTS
WITH YOU. BUT HAVING SOMEBODY BY
YOUR SIDE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS
POSITION, WILL BE REALLY
IMPORTANT. IT'S SOMETHING WE
COULD LOOK AT. YOU MIGHT NOT
REALIZE, BUT THE BEGINNING OF
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WE GET THE
THREE CHIEFS TOGETHER IN PUBLIC
SAFETY. THIS IS SOMETHING AS WE
START NEXT YEAR, WHEN YOU'RE IN
THAT BRIEFING, WE COULD SAY HEY,
WE'RE STEPPED OUT ON THIS
FRONT. ANOTHER THING THAT WILL
GO WITH STAFFING THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND I DON'T THINK IT
WAS IN HERE. WELL KIND OF
INDIRECTLY. WE ARE ADDING THESE
OFFICERS ON BOARD. IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH OVERTIME. WE
GOT TO GET A HANDLE ON OVERTIME.
CHIEF SCOGGINS TALKED ABOUT
THIS, BRINGING FIREFIGHTERS BACK
BECAUSE EACH SHIFT TRANSLATES TO
DOLLARS. IN TERMS OF OVERTIME,
BRINGING OFFICERS ON BOARD,
TRYING TOKING MAN, AND HOPEFULLY
REDUCE OVERTIME, CAN YOU SPEAK
TO THAT TOPIC?
>> YES, I CAN. I THINK AS WE
BRING ON MORE POLICE OFFICERS,
THERE WILL BE LESS OPPORTUNITY
FOR OVERTIME. BUT BECAUSE WE'RE
IN A VERY BUSY CITY. WE DO HAVE
A LOT OF SPECIAL PROJECTS AND
PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE QUITE
FRANKLY TRYING TO MANAGE. MOST
OF THEM, TODAY, WE ARE MANAGING
WITH OVERTIME. SO AS WE BRING ON
NEW OFFICERS AND IT DOES TAKE
TIME. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AT
BEST, A YEAR BEFORE AN OFFICER
OR MAYBE TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT
OFFICER IS REALIZING THEIR
POTENTIAL. I THINK THAT'S VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT WE KNOW. WE'RE
GOING TO CHIP AWAY AT THIS. WE
WILL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTING A NEW
TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. I CALL
IT TELESTAFF, BUT I'M SURE
THERE'S A MORE PROPER TERM TO
IT. BUT TELESTAFF WILL HELP YOU
WITH THAT. YOU'LL HAVE YOUR
SCHEDULE IN THERE, AND YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO TRACK WHERE WE ARE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE OFFICERS AND
COMMANDERS THAT ARE USING THEIR
OWN SPREAD SHEETS TO TRACK
PEOPLE AND KEEP UP WITH WHERE
PEOPLE ARE. WE HAVE TO DO A
BETTER JOB WITH THAT. THAT'S A
PROJECT BEING LED BY CEO, BRIAN
MAXEY. ONCE WE GET THAT PROGRAM
UP AND RUNNING, IT SHOULD HELP
US BETTER TRACK WHERE WE ARE
SPENDING TIME WITH OVERTIME. SO
WE ARE CERTAINLY AWARE OF THAT.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
WE CANNOT DO OUR JOB AT THIS
PARTICULAR POINT WITHOUT THE
OVERTIME THAT WE'RE USING.
>> THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO
KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS A BUDGET
PIECE TO THAT AND THAT IS THE
COMMAND STAFF. OBVIOUSLY
THERE'S BEEN CHANGES. CHANGES
WERE NEEDED. LET ME SAY THAT
UPFRONT. AND YOU'RE BRINGING
IN, YOU'RE MOLDING YOUR COMMAND
STAFF TEAM, BUT THERE'S A COST
TO THAT TOO. I JUST WANTED TO
RAISE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC. I THINK THIS IS
ANOTHER AREA, LIKE WHEN WE HAVE
THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
BRIEFING, SHOWING HOW THINGS
HAVE SETTLED OUT IN TERMS OF
COMMAND STAFF AND BASICALLY
MAKING YOUR IMPRINT ON THE
DEPARTMENT AND MOVING FORWARD TO
ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS. BUT CAN
YOU SPEAK GENERALLY, WELL
ACTUALLY MORE IN DETAILS, YOUR
CHOICE, REGARDING THE COMMAND
STAFF PIECE?
>> SURE. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
THINGS I LOOKED AT DURING MY
FIRST REALLY MONTH ON THE JOB IS
WHAT TEAM DO I NEED AROUND ME TO
GET THE JOB DONE? THERE WERE
SEVERAL THINGS I NEEDED TO MAKE.
THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT
WERE IN POSITIONS THAT WE NEEDED
TO COLLAPSE THOSE BURROS AND
HAVE DONE THAT. SO WE ARE
THROUGH ATTRITION,
REORGANIZATION, REDUCING SOME OF
THOSE. I DO INTEND TO MAKE
ADDITIONAL CHANGES UNTIL, YOU
KNOW, THE COMMAND STAFF IS
COMPLETE. I FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THE TEAM THAT I HAVE TO
MOVE US FORWARD. I WANT TO BE
HERE FOR AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW
ME. I THINK THE COMMUNITY MEMBER
CERTAINLY DESERVES THAT. NOTHING
AGAINST MY PREDECESSOR OR ANYONE
ELSE. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE
MATTER IS, THIS IS A BIG
DEPARTMENT. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF
ENERGY, A LOT OF TIME AND
ATTENTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT
PLACE. I'VE STUDIED POLICE
DEPARTMENTS, AND I KNOW FOR A
FACT, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, MY
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE AT
COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT. SO
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I BROUGHT
ON SOMEONE TO HELP US WITH
COMMUNICATION. I KNOW
OFTENTIMES, IN THIS SEASON, WE
HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN
MANAGE SPECIAL PROJECTS AND
COMMUNICATE WITH COUNCIL. SO I
HIRED A CHIEF OF STAFF, NOT TO
REPLACE THE WORK CEO MAXEY IS
DOING WITH YOU ON THE
LEGISLATIVE FRONT, BUT TO WORK
WITH YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, SO YOU
DON'T HAVE TO CALL US AND ASK
US WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS,
THAT WE CAN PRODUCE A PRODUCT
FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF, SO YOU
CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. SO I BROUGHT ON
THAT. I WANTED TO BRING ON
ANOTHER DEPUTY CHIEF BECAUSE
THERE'S NOT, THERE WASN'T
REALLY A CLEAR LINE OF
RECESSION. REALLY DOESN'T MAKE
A LOT OF SENSE TO ME BECAUSE WE
HAVE INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT SIDE
AND A PATROL RESPONSE AND
PROACTIVE SIDE, WHICH QUITE
FRANKLY ARE ALMOST LIKE HAVING
TWO SEPARATE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
SO I NEEDED TO BRING IN PEOPLE
WHO I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO DO
THE RIGHT JOB. WE WERE ABLE TO
DO THAT. WE ARE CERTAINLY
WORKING WITHIN THE PARAMETERS
THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. I CERTAINLY RUN
THINGS BY THEM THAT HAS A
BUDGETARY IMPACT TO IT AND WILL
CONTINUE TO GROW OR EXPAND OR
REDUCE AS WE THINK IS
APPROPRIATE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
HERE IN SEATTLE.
>> I RECOGNIZE WE'RE IN A
PERIOD OF TRANSACTION. HOPEFULLY
THINGS WILL SETTLE OUT AT THAT
POINT, AS WE GET BACK INTO
COMMUNITY BUSINESS IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR. CAN I
JUST ADD ONE LAST THING, CHAIR?
CCTV WAS ON HERE. WITH THE
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER ON CCTV,
I RECOGNIZE IT WAS A CHALLENGING
PROCESS AND A CONCERN. I
RECOGNIZE THAT CONCERN. I WANT
TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW I DID TALK
TO CHIEF BARNES ABOUT THIS AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING THINGS
TO THE LETTER OF THE CROSS T'S
AND DOT I'S, MAKING SURE
EVERYTHING IS DONE ACCORDINGLY.
FOR THE PEOPLE TO KNOW. I HAD
THE SAME CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR
HARRELL, AS I MENTIONED, CHIEF
BARNES, AND MENDEZ. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT
ENGAGEMENT. I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION WE HAD ON THAT
TOPIC IN ENSURING WE'RE DOING
RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. FOR THE RECORD, ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HERE
ABOUT THE TIME THE CHIEF ALSO
STARTED PRESENTING, JUST SO THE
RECORD REFLECTS. AS WELL
EVERYONE HAS THEIR HAND UP. SO
IF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK
QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES FOR TEN
MINUTES, WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL
1:10 P.M. I KNOW. I'M TRACKING,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. I'M
GIVING EVERYONE THAT AWARENESS.
I'M REQUESTING THAT FOLKS KEEP
THEIR QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES TO
FIVE MINUTES, SO WE CAN GET
THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY.
WITH THAT, I HAVE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I DO SAY THIS IS
GOOD, BAD NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO
THE BUDGET. BY THAT, I MEAN IT
IS GREAT TO HAVE THE CHALLENGE
OF HOW TO PAY FOR NEW RECRUITS
THAT HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING
STRUGGLE. AND JUST WHILE I'M ON
IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
SETTING UP THE NIGHT MARKET
YESTERDAY OR SATURDAY. I WAS
SEEING A LOT OF INTEREST FROM
THE PUBLIC. PASSES THE LAW AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. IT THIS IS
US BOTH WORKING TOGETHER. IN
FEBRUARY 15, 2022, WE RECEIVED
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MOTHERS
FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY,
FOUNDED BY REVEREND HARRIET.
SAYING THERE SHALL BE MAINTAINED
ADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION IN
EACH DISTRICT OF THE CITY. THAT
IS CITY CHARTER, ARTICLE VI,
SECTION I. I'VE REFERENCED THAT
BEFORE. SO WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE'RE
TRYING TO FULFILL IT HERE. THE
QUESTION I HAVE IS AT THIS
CURRENT, BUT AT THIS CURRENT
PACE, I BELIEVE THE GOAL WAS
AROUND 1,400. IS THERE AN
ESTIMATE FOR WHEN WE WILL ATTAIN
THAT? BUT MORE IMMEDIATELY, I DO
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN JANUARY OF
2024, I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL
BASICALLY REPEATED SOME
INFORMATION THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ALSO RECEIVED, THAT OTHER CITIES
IN THE REGION IN COMPETITION
WITH US FOR RECRUITS WOULD CALL
THE -- IT SAYS OTHER AGENCIES
CALL APPLICANTS WITHIN 48 HOURS
TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP BY
DISCUSSING THE PROCESS,
ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS, AND
BEING A POINT OF CONTACT. AND
WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT, WHEN IT WAS
MADE CLEAR TO ME WE WERE NOT
DOING THAT, THEN THAT IS WHY I
PUT FORWARD THAT LEGISLATION TO
REFORM HOW THE HIRING PROTOCOLS
ARE IMPLEMENTED AND THROUGH A
STAFFER AT HR TO BE ABLE TO
PROCESS THAT. SO WE ARE NOW
LOOKING AT THE FRUITS OF THOSE
EFFORTS. AND SO JUST LOOKING
LONG-TERM BUDGET, THAT'S ONE OF
MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. THERE
WAS A QUOTE IN THERE THAT
MENTIONED SCORE. I WANTED SOME
INFORMATION ON THIS. I THINK IT
MENTIONED WE ARE NO LONGER
DEPENDING ON THAT CONTRACT. IS
THAT THE CASE THERE? SO WE'RE
NOT GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THAT
ANYMORE? HAVE WE RESOLVED THE
SITUATION AT THE KING COUNTY
JAIL, WHERE MEDICAL SCREENINGS
ARE PREVENTING OUR OFFICERS FROM
BEING ABLE TO DROP PEOPLE OFF,
AND IT'S TAKING THEIR TIME
BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GO TO
HARBORVIEW FOR MANY HOURS FOR
MEDICAL ATTENTION?
>> YEAH, I'LL RESPOND TO THAT.
THE ANSWER TO YOUR FIRST
QUESTION IS WE'RE GOING TO TRY
TO HIRE AS MANY OFFICERS AS WE
CAN. I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO
HELP AT LEAST 200 OFFICERS A
YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
BECAUSE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
OFFICERS WHO DO NOT COMPLETE THE
PROCESS. THERE WILL BE OFFICERS
WHO WILL NOT COMPLETE FIELD
TRAINING. THEY KNOW WHAT MY
NUMBER IS FOR THIS YEAR. THEY
SMILE BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS
ASKING, I'M ALWAYS PUSHING
BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A GREAT
PLACE TO WORK. I BELIEVE THAT
OUR RECRUITING TEAM IS BEING
RESPONSIVE. I RECRUIT MYSELF. I
ACTUALLY PUSHED A YOUNG MAN TO
APPLY AND FOLLOW THE PROCESS,
UNKNOWING TO MY STAFF AND GOT
REGULAR UPDATES FROM HIM. HE
CHOSE TO MOVE TO TEXAS TO BE
CLOSER TO HIS MOTHER, SO HE IS
WORKING DOWN THERE NOW. BUT I
THINK THE PROCESS IS GOING WELL.
I'M TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING I
CAN TO SUPPORT THE TEAM. MUCH OF
THE PROCESS OCCURS IN
BACKGROUNDS, AND I KNOW THAT
THEY'VE BEEN CELEBRATED AND
WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND
HAVING A LOT OF COMRADERY. I'M
GIVING THEM EVERYTHING I CAN TO
MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS MOVES
FORWARD. THAT USUALLY TAKES THE
LONGEST, BUT PEOPLE ARE BEING
CALLED AND THE PROCESS, I
BELIEVE, IS WORKING. TO THE
QUESTION ABOUT SCORE, THEY MIGHT
HAVE SOME MORE RESPONSES TO
THAT. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH
THAT ARTICLE. I'LL BE CLEAR, I
DO NOT READ, SO I WILL NOT
RESPOND TO THAT. BUT IF YOU HAVE
SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU
WANT, WE WILL GLADLY GET WITH
YOU IN WRITING.
>> IF YOU CAN, ONE MORE
QUESTION, THEN WE'LL NEED TO
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT COUNCIL
MEMBER.
>> MY QUESTION WAS HAVE WE
RESOLVED THE ISSUE AT KING
COUNTY JAIL OF THE MEDICAL
SCREENINGS?
>> SURE, I CAN ANSWER THAT
QUESTION. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS
LEADING THAT EFFORT. HE HAS PUT
TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP THAT
INCLUDES HARBORVIEW. THEY HAVE
TAKEN A VESTED INTEREST IN THE
NUMBER OF WHAT'S CALLED MEDICAL
REFERRALS. OF COURSE, WE ARE
TRACKING THOSE, AND WE'RE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE
ISSUE LIES. I KNOW THAT A
CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED BETWEEN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
CHIEF WHO WILL ROAR TO LOOK AT
SPACE WITHIN THE JAIL THAT COULD
BE USED AS A MEDICAL FACILITY
TREATMENT FACILITY THAT I THINK
WOULD REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
AND SO WE HOPE, YOU KNOW. THE
GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE ALL
COOPERATING, WE ARE ALL
COMMUNICATING. WE'VE HAD
SEVERAL MEETINGS, AND I'LL
DESCRIBE THOSE AS VERY
PRODUCTIVE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN IF
THAT IS OKAY, MR. CHAIR? I WANT
TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR FOR COLLABORATING WITH
KING COUNTY. ADDRESSING THE
ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE
HAVE, THAT WE ARE NOW CONFIDENT,
THAT WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH SPACE
ALLOCATED TO THE CITY NEEDS TO
ADDRESS THE CITY'S JAIL
POPULATION REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE
LIQUIDATED THE FINANCE CHANNEL
RESERVE THAT HAS BEEN HELD FOR
THE SCORE, POTENTIAL SCORE
CONTRACT, WHICH WE HAVE NEVER,
IN FACT, EXECUTED, AND DID NOT
END UP NEEDING. SO THAT MONEY
HAS BEEN PUT TO WORK IN A
VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING EXTRA
COSTS IN SPD, BUT ACROSS THE
BOARD FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EDER.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE
TWO QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST OF ALL,
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF BARNES AND
ANGELA SOCCI TODAY. THANK YOU
FOR THE INFORMATION AND, OF
COURSE, BRIAN MAXEY, ALL THREE
OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS HERE, AS
WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
DURING THE DEFUND MOVEMENT AND
ALSO LOOKING AT THE CHART OF
TRYING TO GET OUR OFFICERS BACK
ONLINE AND WHAT THE CITY NEEDS,
AN UNDERSTANDING OUR CITY HAS
GROWN, AND WE NEED PUBLIC
SAFETY. THAT'S JUST COMMON
SENSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
WEATHERING THE STORM WITH US.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THREE, THE
CHIEF OF POLICE, AND SO FOR ME,
IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT POLITICAL
IDEOLOGY, BUT ABOUT US TAKING
THE OATH TO SAY WE WILL HAVE A
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT AND
DEFEND OUR RESIDENTS IN THIS
GREAT CITY. SO I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THAT AND IT HASN'T BEEN
EASY. I KNOW BRIAN HAS BEEN WITH
US FOR THE WHOLE TIME, AND WE'RE
HERE TODAY. SO LET ME JUST ASK.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE'S
BUDGET AND ONE IS OPERATIONAL.
ON THE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONS,
ANGELA, YOU WENT THROUGH ALL
FIVE OF THEM? IS THERE A TOTAL
FOR ALL FIVE OF THEM? DO YOU
HAVE A TOTAL?
>> THE TOTAL AD FOR OUR BUDGET?
>> YES, FOR THE FIVE SIGNIFICANT
ADDITIONS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE
IT, JUST GET IT TO US THAT WILL
BE FINE.
>> SO YEAH, I CAN SEND YOU THE
EXACT AMOUNT.
>> OKAY.
>> THE CHANGE IS ABOUT THE
ENDORSED SPECIFICALLY. I BELIEVE
IT'S ABOUT $20 MILLION. I'LL
SEND YOU THIS. IF YOU'RE JUST
LOOKING AT THE ADDITIONS.
>> I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE
ADDITIONS. THAT'S PERFECT,
THANK YOU. OPERATIONAL. THIS IS
A QUESTION THAT JUST CAME UP. WE
HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION FROM
CHIEF SCOGGINS FROM THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. ON PAGE 12,
THEY TALKED ABOUT FIFA FOR
EQUIPMENT. AND THEN I NOTICED
WITH SPD ON PAGE 10, YOU HAVE
FIFA AND EQUIPMENT. SO I'M
WONDERING IF WE ARE DUPLICATE
THERE OR THE EQUIPMENT COSTS --
OR HOW ARE YOU WORKING WITH SFD
ON THOSE COSTS? I DON'T KNOW,
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING.
>> WE'RE COORDINATING ACROSS
THE DEPARTMENT. THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IS LEADING THAT EFFORT.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY
DUPLICATION. WE'VE PARTNERED
WITH SDOT AND OTHERS TO TALK
ABOUT HARDENING IN ADVANCE OF
FIFA. OUR PACKAGE SPECIFICALLY
INCLUDES THE MOBILE BARRIERS AND
SOME OTHER THINGS.
>> RIGHT. ON PAGE TEN, YOU LIST
EXACTLY WHAT YOUR EQUIPMENT
COSTS ARE. I'M NOT TRYING -- IT
JUST SAYS FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT
COSTS. AND SO I DID HAVE A
QUESTION, BUT I WANTED IT IN
LIEU OF TIME WHEN THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS HERE. I
DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE UP ANYMORE
TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
ANTICIPATED COST IS. JUST ON THE
EQUIPMENT COST. THAT WOULD BE
PERFECT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. THREE MINUTES,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL HOLD
THE RECORD CURRENTLY.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF I
COULD BEAT THAT RECORD. AGAIN, I
WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR SOCCI AND
CHIEF BARNES FOR BEING HERE.
I'LL JUST READ THE QUESTIONS I
HAVE INTO THE RECORD.
>> TAKE SOME BACK AND FORTHS.
>> YOU ARE CURRENTLY THE ONLY
COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS ALSO
EMPLOYED BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. ONCE YOU'RE NOT A
COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS AM I
GOING TO HAVE A JOB TO COME BACK
TO?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER
THIS.
>> BE REAL HERE. BROTHER'S GOT
TO EAT. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO
APPLAUD YOU FOR RETAINING THE
DEI POSITION. BECAUSE WHILE WE
HAVE SO MANY FOLKS WHO ARE
RUNNING AWAY FROM IT, WE ARE
EMBRACING IT. YOU KNOW, THAT
MAKES ME VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
ALSO IN THIS WEEKEND'S PAPER,
THERE IS INFORMATION BEFORE THE
BADGE PROGRAM AND HOW THAT
PROGRAM IS REALLY HELPING TO --
I SEE IT AS WEEDING OUT OR
VETTING PROCESS, YOU KNOW, FOLKS
WHO ARE COMING IN TO THAT
PROGRAM MIGHT REALIZE THIS
AIN'T THE CAREER FOR ME. AT THE
SAME TIME, IT GIVES OUR FOLKS IN
TRAINING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK
AT THESE RECRUITS GOING MAYBE
THIS ISN'T THE CAREER FOR YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE IS
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IN
THE COUNTRY. AGAIN, KUDOS TO THE
DEPARTMENT. SO SOME OF THE
THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
ABOUT. I SEE IN THIS BUDGET,
THERE'S ALLOCATION FOR THE
STADIUM DISTRICT AND FOR CAPITOL
HILL, BUT NO MENTIONS FOR BUDGET
ALLOCATION FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT
AROUND GARFIELD. DO WE HAVE A
BUDGET ITEM FOR THAT YET?
>> YES, THAT WAS ALLOCATED IN
2025, SO WE HAVE FUNDING FOR
GARFIELD, SPECIFICALLY $375 AND
ONE-TIME COST AND $50,000 FOR
MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM.
>> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. AND
GIVING THAT THEY'RE THREATENING
TO PULL FIFA FUNDING FROM
SEATTLE. HAS THAT FIGURED INTO
OUR CALCULATION? IF THEY FOLLOW
THROUGH WITH ANY OF THIS STUFF?
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE,
REGARDING THE FEDERAL FUNDING
IS, I KNOW WE CURRENTLY HAVE
JACK GRANT FUNDING, AND
WONDERING IF WE'RE BASICALLY
MAKING ALLOWANCES OR CONTINGENCY
PLAN. IF THAT FUNDING JUST GOES
AWAY?
>> I'LL JUMP IF AND TAKE THAT
ONE, AT LEAST AS A FIRST STEP. I
KNOW THE MAYOR IS FULLY
EXPECTING WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
A FIFA LOCATION. FIFA HAS GIVEN
US EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT'S THE CASE, AND WE'RE
PLANNING ACCORDINGLY. WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD WITH ACQUIRING
EQUIPMENT, TRAINING STAFF,
MAKING SURE WE ARE FULLY
PREPARED TO BE AMONG THE BEST
LOCATIONS FOR FIFA GAMES WITH
THE WORLD'S EYES UPON US. WE
SHOULD DO NOTHING LESS.
>> ALL RIGHT, COOL. A COUPLE OF
OTHER THINGS AND MAYBE WE COULD
HAVE A DISCUSSION OFFLINE. I
THINK IT'S SOMETHING CHIEF, YOU
AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF REALLOCATING
DOLLARS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
SLATED FOR HIRING BONUSES,
LATERAL BONUSES, MAYBE SHIFTING
THOSE TO A RETENTION BONUS? FOR
THOSE HOUSES WHO HAVE STUCK WITH
US FOR QUITE A WHILE? AND I'LL
ALSO LOOK AT THE REDUCTIONS IN
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. DOES
THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO BE
SENDING LESS FOLKS TO
CONFERENCES? LESS FOLKS TO
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING LIKE CERTIFICATIONS,
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS? AND
AGAIN, THE QUESTION ABOUT ARE WE
PLANNING FOR THE POSSIBILITY THE
JAG GRANT FUNDING WILL JUST BE
CUT COMPLETELY? SO THOSE ARE
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE
THAT AGAIN, MAYBE WE COULD
DISCUSS OFFLINE. BUT GIVEN
OTHERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, I
WOULD JUST LEAVE MINE THERE, AND
SEE ABOUT GETTING SOME
ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH YOU TO DIVE
A LITTLE DEEPER INTO SOME OF
THESE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. BEFORE WE
MOVE ON, YOU HAD SOME VERY GOOD
QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE
RETENTION BONUS. I WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE THE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND
ON THE RECORD BECAUSE I THINK A
NUMBER OF US HAVE THAT QUESTION?
>> I BELIEVE THE RETENTION BONUS
OR IF WE WERE TO DO A RETENTION
BONUS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AN
ADDITION. I DON'T THINK WE
COULD MOVE HIRING BONUSES TO
PERSONS WHO ARE HERE BECAUSE
THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF MOVING
PARTS IN TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW
THAT'S ACTUALLY SUPPOSE TO
WORK. DOES EVERYONE GET IT? DOES
EVERYONE GET THE SAME AMOUNT? IS
IT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE
DURING 2020? THERE'S A LOT OF
QUESTIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE
ANSWERED. WE HAD SOMETHING
SIMILAR TO THAT, A LONGEVITY
INCENTIVE. BASED ON THE NUMBER
OF YEARS YOU WORKED AT THE
DEPARTMENT, YOU ACCUMULATED
POINTS, WHICH TRANSLATED INTO A
LONGEVITY BONUS AROUND CHRISTMAS
TIME. BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT
HAVE TO BE NEGOTIATED. PROBABLY
A LABOR UNION THAT WOULD WANT TO
WEIGH IN ON THAT. I'M SURE THE
EXECUTIVE WANTS TO WEIGH IN ON
THAT. BUT I'VE CERTAINLY HEARD
THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FROM
PEOPLE. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
MISNUMBER THAT THERE'S SCORES
OF PEOPLE WHO LEFT AND THEN CAME
BACK AND WAS ABLE TO GET A
HIRING BONUS. I THINK THE NUMBER
WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND TEN
OFFICERS THAT ACTUALLY DID THAT
OUT OF THE 900 THAT WE HAVE NOW.
I WANT TO CLEAR THE RECORD UP,
THAT CONVERSATION WAS A LITTLE
OVERINFLATED, BUT I DO
UNDERSTAND IT IS A SPOT OFFICERS
ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT, BUT I
DON'T THINK WE COULD SOLVE THAT
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. UP NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND MYSELF.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU
CHIEF BARNES AND MR. MAXEY FOR
YOUR WORK HERE TODAY. I'LL DIVE
INTO SOME OF THE POINTS HERE.
LEV HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DEI
POSITION SPECIFICALLY. IN THIS
BUDGET, WE HAVE ONE PROPOSED DEI
POSITION, AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO
ANY OF THE HISTORY BEHIND THE
POSITION? IS THIS BRAND NEW OR
HAS IT BEEN IN THE BOOKS?
>> THIS POSITION WOULD BE BRAND
NEW AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER
POSITION THAT WAS A LIMITED
TERM. AN EMPLOYEE IS NO LONGER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT. I'LL SAY
THE POSITION WAS ADDED BY THE
EXECUTIVE. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO
OFFICER SOME CUTS, AND THIS IS
ONE THAT WAS NATURALLY CUT
BECAUSE IT EXPIRED AND THE
EXECUTIVE ACTUALLY ADDED THAT.
THE CITY OVERALL ADHERENCE TO
HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK TRULY IS.
I THINK, IF I MAY, THIS IS ONE
CITY THAT ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS
WHAT THE DEFINITION OF THAT IS.
>> AND TO DEI WORK, I WANTED TO
ASK WHAT PLANS DO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO ENSURE
THE PROTECTION OF OUR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, NOTING MANY MEMBERS
OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY HAVE HAD
NEGATIVE INTERACTION WITH THE
COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS, AND COULD YOU ELABORATE A
LITTLE BIT ON HOW WE'RE DOING
WORK TO GAIN TRUST WHILE ALSO
KEEPING IN MIND, THE EXPANSION
OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES
THAT ARE GOING ON IN
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS CAPITOL
HILL?
>> YEAH. I THINK TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION, IT REALLY COMES DOWN
WITH THE WAY IN WHICH WE ALL, AS
A DEPARTMENT, HAVE APPROACHED
COMMUNICATION. HOW WE HAVE
APPROACHED TRANSPARENCY. WE HAD
AN ISSUE EARLIER IN MY TENURE,
FOR WHICH, YOU KNOW, OUR
DEPARTMENT HAD A
MISINTERPRETATION. IT CAUSED
SOME PROBLEMS, AND I APOLOGIZED
FOR THAT. THEN I TALKED ABOUT
HOW TO FIX IT. THEN WE MET WITH
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND
THEY TALKED ABOUT DOING A MICRO
COMMUNITY POLICING PLAN THAT WAS
LED BY SEATTLE UNIVERSITY AROUND
THIS PARTICULAR AREA. THE ISSUES
WE WERE SEEING WITH THIS AREA.
WE STILL HAVE OUR LGBTQ+, I MET
WITH ORGANIZERS OF THE PRIDE
PARADE, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE
CAN CLOSER COME TOGETHER. WE
TALKED ABOUT OFFICERS WHO ARE IN
THE DEPARTMENT, WHO ARE LGBTQA
PLUS WANTED
THAT I CAN DO TO REASSURE. WHEN
THOSE NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS, THE
IDEA IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE
CULTURE OF
THE AGENCY IS, WHICH IS WHAT
WE ALLOW AND WHAT WE DO NOT
ALLOW.
WE DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE
MISTREATED NO MATTER WHAT
THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE.
TO THAT END, WE HAVE ONE OF
THE MOST ROBUST
ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESSES REALLY
IN THE
COUNTRY THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
AND SO WE HAVE REGULAR
AUDITS, SOLICITED AND
UNSOLICITED.
WE HAVE WAYS OF
EVALUATING OFFICER PERFORMANCE
FOR DEPARTMENTAL POLICY
VIOLATIONS AND THOSE THINGS I
THINK
WILL ADD TO IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO TRUST
WITH COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD ISSUES,
THE IDEA IS THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE
UP.
YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO COMMUNICATION AND WORK ONE
DAY AT A TIME, EVEN IF THE DOOR
IS
SLAMMED IN YOUR FACE, AND I
HAVE HAD THAT HAPPEN BEFORE, YOU
COME
BACK AND TRY AGAIN.
WE ARE CERTAINLY COMMITTED TO
THAT.
I REALLY WANT TO SHOW THE
DEPARTMENT, EXCUSE ME, SHOW
THE CITY WHO OUR DEPARTMENT IS.
AND WE HAVE OFFICERS
WHO SOMETIMES DON'T WANT TO BE
VULNERABLE, I GET THAT, BUT
TO SAY I'M PART OF THE
COMMUNITY
AS WELL.
AND IF WE CAN DO THAT, I
THINK WE START TO GET CLOSER TO
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PRODUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIP.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, CHIEF
BARNES.
AND BUILDING ON THIS POINT
AND EVEN BUILDING ON THE PRESS
CONFERENCE WE PARTICIPATED
IN EARLIER THIS MORNING, I'M
WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK
TO HOW SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WILL WORK TO
DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES FROM
FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOWING THERE'S
AN
INCREASED CHILLING
EFFECT HAPPENING ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY,
PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT
THE RHETORIC FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS
INCREASED CONCERNS WITH RISING
USAGE
OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
OUR POLICIES REQUIRE
OUR OFFICERS TO BE
CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE EVEN WHEN
THEY'RE
SERVING SEARCH WARRANTS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF AN
OPPORTUNITY WHERE OFFICERS COVER
THEIR
FACE, IF THE COMMUNITY MEMBER
ASKS
FOR A BADGE OR A BADGE NUMBER,
WE
DO THAT.
WE GIVE THEM THAT.
AND THEN ANYONE CAN FILE A
COMPLAINT AGAINST
A POLICE OFFICER IF THEY THINK
THEY HAVE
SEEN SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
IN LINE WITH THE VALUES OF OUR
CITY AND IT IS INVESTIGATED BY
THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND SO WE REALLY, YOU KNOW,
CAN WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE
WORK
WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS.
WE HAVE OPERATIONS WITH FBI,
WE HAVE OPERATIONS WITH DEA,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SO WE DO
WORK WITH THEM, BUT OUR OFFICERS
KNOW
IF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TURN
INTO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT,
CHECK
OFF, COME BACK TO THE
STATION, AND THEY WORK FROM
THERE.
UNTIL AT SUCH TIME WE
CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THAT HAS
SHIFTED OR CHANGED.
OUR OFFICERS UNDERSTAND WHAT
WASHINGTON STATE LAW IS.
OUR OFFICERS UNDERSTAND WHAT
OUR POLICIES ARE.
AND WE'RE WORKING TO INSURE
THAT WE'RE NOT CONFUSED FOR
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT, AND
BECAUSE I
KNOW WE HAVE CONSTITUENTS
WHO MAY BE WATCHING, IF YOU HAVE
A
QUESTION, FEEL FREE TO CALL 911.
WE CAN TELL YOU IF THAT'S US,
IF WE'RE THERE OR NOT THERE.
AND WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES
MAY BE BECAUSE I GET THAT
QUESTION
A LOT FROM PEOPLE, WHAT
SHOULD THEY DO.
I ALWAYS TELL THEM TO JUST GIVE
911 A CALL.
BUT AS WE WORK TO
ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS THEY CAN
CALL POLICE OFFICERS WHO THEY
KNOW.
AND THOSE POLICE OFFICERS
ARE SOMETIMES QUICKER TO BE ABLE
TO SAY NO, WE'RE NOT OVER
THERE,
OR I HEARD THAT WE MAY BE DOING
AN
OPERATION OR YES, DO YOU SEE
A POLICE CAR OUT WITH SEATTLE
POLICE?
IF SO, THAT'S US.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND CHAIR, I HAVE ONE
MORE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE A
RESPONSE
HERE TODAY AND THEN I'LL READ
MY LAST QUESTION INTO THE
RECORD.
THANK YOU.
TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT, WILL THE
PROPOSED ADDITIONS OF STAFFING
ADDITIONS ADDRESS THE
RISING CAUSE OF OVERTIME,
OVERSPENDING BY THE SEATTLE
POLICE
DEPARTMENT WITH THE RISE IN
HIRING,
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE
INITIAL
PILOT OF THE CCTV
SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM WAS PITCHED
AS A MATTER
TO TRY TO ADDRESS OUR LACK
OF OFFICERS BUT NOW WE'RE IN
A TREND OF HIRING MORE OFFICERS
SO IN LIGHT OF THIS, ARE THERE
PLANS TO REDUCE OR SCALE BACK
AN EXPANSION OF SURVEILLANCE?
>> YEAH, I DON'T
KNOW, AT LEAST I DID NOT SAY
THAT, BUT CCTV
CAMERAS,
PUBLIC SPACE CAMERAS ARE USED
USUALLY
IN INVESTIGATIONS WHICH MEANS
UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETHING HAS
HAPPENED.
THOSE OFFICERS ARE NOT
WATCHING THOSE CAMERAS.
THOSE ARE ANALYSTS AND THEY
HAVE TO SUBMIT THEIR PAPERWORK
AND THEIR JUSTIFICATION TO
THE ANALYSTS AND THEN THE
ANALYSTS
WILL GO BACK AND THEY WILL
LOOK AT IT.
AS FAR AS OVERTIME, YES,
HIRING MORE OFFICERS WILL
EVENTUALLY HELP BRING THE
OVERTIME DOWN
BUT IT WILL NOT BE AN IMMEDIATE
FIX
TO THE PROBLEM OF OVERTIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I WAS HERE
DURINGTHOSIS DISCUSSIONS RELATED
TO THE
ANITION SURVEILLANCE
EXPANSION, BUT UPON GOING BACK
AND
WATCH SMG OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS
IT WAS PITCHED AS ALSO AN EFFORT
TO
ADDRESS THE STAFFING
SHORTAGE AND THE ABILITY TO
RESPOND.
AND TO READ MY FINAL
QUESTION JUST INTO THE RECORD
FOR
THE PURPOSES OF TIME, NOW THAT
THE CONSENT DECREE HAS
CONCLUDED,
I WOULD LIKE TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
DEPARTMENT'S PLAN FOR
COMING INTO COMPLIANCE WITH I-
940'S REQUIREMENT FOR
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS OF
DEADLY USE
OF FORCE BY SPD AND HOPE WE
CAN CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.
>> IF I CAN HAVE ONE
MINUTE, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT
LIKE NOW.
SO --
>> GREAT.
>> YEAH, WE CERTAINLY DO
NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF
THE CONSENT DECREE TO BEGIN
THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS.
WE HAVE BEEN FORMALLY
APPROVED TO JOIN THE IIT CANE
COUNTY WHICH IS A CONGLOMERATE
OF
ABOUT 13
DEPARTMENTS. KING COUNTY WOULD
BE THE
LEAD, WASHINGTON STATE WOULD BE
ANOTHER AND THEY WOULD DRAW
RESOURCES FROM
THAT INVESTIGATIVE TEAM TO COME
IN.
THE WAY WE ARE POSITIONING
THAT IS THERE IS A DISCREET TYPE
OF INCIDENT THAT FALLS UNDER
THAT
JURISDICTION FOR THE
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM.
WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY GOING TO
CURTAIL OUR OWN
ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS SO
THE IAT IS
A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
WE DO THE ADMINISTRATIVE, AND
SO BOTH WILL CONTINUE.
THERE WILL BE SOME NIPS
AND TUCKS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
ALLOWED TO DO, ESPECIALLY AROUND
TRANSPARENCY AND AROUND MEDIA.
AND ALSO ACCESS TO THE SCENE
ITSELF AND THE CRIME SCENE
INFORMATION.
BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL
OF THAT.
OUR GOAL IS TO
PRESERVE EVERYTHING THAT WE
LEARNED
OUT OF THE CONSENT DECREE
AND CONTINUE TO BE AN EXEMPLAR
FOR THOSE
INVESTIGATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAXI.
THAT'S A GREAT UPDATE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER REVARA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU CHIEF AND BRIAN AND
ANGELA FOR BEING HERE.
I HAVE A LOT OF
SIMILAR QUESTIONS AS MY
COLLEAGUES.
A COUPLE THAT I HAVE IN
ADDITION IS, ONE IS IN TERMS OF
BEING
FULLY STAFFED IN 2019, I SEE
THERE WAS A NUMBER BETWEEN
1200 AND 1400.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS
EVEN FULLY STAFFED FOR
CONSIDERING
THE POPULATION OF OUR SIZE.
SO AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO
ANSWER THAT NOW, BRIAN.
BUT YOU MAY HAVE THE
INFORMATION ON WHAT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED
TO BE FULLY STAFFED FOR
A POPULATION OF THIS SIZE.
AND I'LL SAY HAVING
INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER CITIES
IS
ALSO HELPFUL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
I WAS LOOKING AT AT LEAST FROM
MY CURSORY RESEARCH ON CITIES
LIKE BOSTON AND BALTIMORE WHO
ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE THEY
HAVE LESS POPULATION SIZE THAN
WE
DO AT THIS POINT, HAVE A
SWORN OFFICER NUMBER THAT LOOKS
TO BE
CLOSER TO 2,000.
AGAIN, THAT WAS CURSORY, SO
PLEASE DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT.
BUT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT DOES
FULLY STAFFED MEAN.
WE'RE CLEARLY NOT TO OUR 2019
NUMBERS.
BUT I AM GLAD THAT WE'RE IN
A BETTER DIRECTION THIS YEAR.
SO CHAIR, IF IT'S TOO MUCH
TIME, THEY CAN ANSWER LATER AT
YOUR
DISCRETION.
>> I CAN MAKE THAT REALLY QUICK.
WE'RE CURRENTLY CONDUCTING A
STAFFING STUDY OF PATROL
AND PATROL ONLY, LOOKING AT OUR
RESPONSE TIMES, THE NUMBER
OF CALLS WE HAVE, THE COMPLEXITY
OF CALLS, AND HOW THEY HAVE
INCREASED OVER THE YEARS.
AND SO I HOPE TO HAVE THAT STUDY
ON MY DESK HOPEFULLY SOME TIME
IN OCTOBER.
AND TO THE QUESTION OF HOW
MANY OFFICERS YOU MENTIONED
2,000,
AS I LOOK AT CITIES SIMILAR TO
US, THAT NUMBER SEEMS TO BE IN
LINE.
BUT I WILL OF COURSE AS
A SCIENTIST WAIT UNTIL THE
STUDY,
BUT I WOULD NOT COMPLAIN
ABOUT HAVING 2,000 POLICE
OFFICERS.
>> AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING --
I JUST SAY IT MORE IN THE
CONTEXT OF WHAT I'M SEEING
OTHER
CITIES, IF I'M WRONG, PLEASE
CORRECT
ME, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHEN WE SAY FULLY STAFFED,
IT SEEMS TO BE UNCLEAR, AT LEAST
TO ME, WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND IT IS A
CHARTERED RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
CITY,
SO THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING THE
QUESTION.
ON THE CCTV, BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, I'LL JUST
SAY
THERE SEEMS TO BE, I HAVE
ALWAYS THOUGHT OF CCTV AS
HELPING WITH
INVESTIGATIONS, AS
THE CONVERSATIONS YOU AND I HAVE
HAD, AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO
RESPOND IN REAL TIME IF
WE'RE ABLE TO.
I UNDERSTAND THERE
AREN'T OFFICERS SITTING THERE
ALL
DAY JUST WATCHING THE CAMERAS.
BUT IF SOMEONE CALLS SOMETHING
IN, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY
TO. IS THAT CORRECT?
BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT
OF CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHETHER OFFICERS ARE JUST
SITTING
THERE ALL DAY WATCHING PEOPLE,
AND
IT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN AND
QUESTION.
AND THEN, THANK YOU FOR
CONFIRMING THAT.
I'M GOING REALLY FAST, WHICH I
HAVE TO SAY IS VERY HARD FOR A
PUERTO RICAN.
I MEAN, JUST, AND I SAY
THAT WITH PRIDE BECAUSE WE JUST
LOVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE.
AND WE'RE VERY -- WE LIKE
TO FIND OUT INFORMATION.
DOESN'T MEAN OTHERS AREN'T.
JUST MEAN IF YOU KNOW PUERTO
RICANS WE'RE QUITE CHATTY AND
I CERTAINLY AM ONE.
MY LAST QUESTION, CHAIR, AND
THEN I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS
BUT I'LL PUT THEM IN THE
TRACKER.
ON THE TRAINING SIDE WHEN I
SEE THERE'S A REDUCTION
IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, I
WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES
NOT MEAN REQUIRED TRAINING AND
TRAINING FOR INSTANCE, I LOVE
TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
YOU
DO IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY
POLICING, CHIEF.
I SO APPRECIATE THE
MANY CONVERSATIONS YOU AND I
HAVE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF COMMUNITY POLICING.
IF OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, ARE IN
THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE A
PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, AND THEY
WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT
COMMUNITY.
AND EVERYONE IN THAT COMMUNITY
HOLISTICALLY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR
BACKGROUND, YOU SERVED IN THE
MILITARY, THEN YOU WERE
A HISTORY TEACHER, WHICH IS IN
MY HOUSE VERY, VERY REGARDED,
HISTORY.
AND THEN YOU WENT INTO THIS
COMMUNITY POLICING SPACE,
AND NOW HERE YOU ARE, A CHIEF,
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
AND ALSO, SUPER APPRECIATE THIS
COMMUNITY POLICING PIECE
BECAUSE I OFTEN FEEL THAT PART
OF
THE ISSUES THAT SOMETIMES WE
SEE WITH THE SUBSECTION OF THE
FORCE IS THAT THERE IS THAT
MISSING PIECE OF COMMUNITY
POLICING, SO
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT
KIND OF TRAINING OFFICERS
ARE REQUIRED TO DO.
AND ALSO, CONFIRMING THAT
THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PIECE IS NOT THAT, THAT SOMEHOW
WE'RE LACKING ON SOMETHING THAT
WE SHOULD BE DOING OR
FOREGOING RATHER SOMETHING WE
SHOULD BE
DOING.
I DON'T -- I WANT TO MAKE
SMUR THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
>> SO OFFICERS ARE STILL
DOING THEIR MANDATORY IN
SERVE TRAINING THAT IS REQUIRED.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO OF
COURSECOURSE
SOME MONEY BACK THIS YEAR,
I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD NOT BE
THE CASE NEXT YEAR.
ANGELIQUE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE
BEEN CREATIVE WITH SOME OF
THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE
ASSET FULL FITTURES FOR
TRAINING AND THEY CAN SUBMIT
TRAINING REQUESTS AND IF
APPROVED
WE STILL SEND THEM TO THOSE
TRAININGS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
WE HAVE RESERVED ENOUGH
BUDGET TO INSURE THAT ANYONE WHO
HAS A
REQUIRED CERTIFICATION,
COUNCILMEN SOLOMON MENTIONED
THE TRAININGS, IF YOU'RE IN --
IN A
SPECIALIZED UNIT THAT REQUIRES
A CERTIFICATION IN ORDER TO
PERFORM YOUR BASIC JOB
FUNCTIONS THOSE WILL CONTINUE.
WE HAD BUILT OUT THE BUDGET TO
ALLOW ANY EMPLOYEE TO SUBMIT
A REQUEST FOR TRAINING EVEN IF
IT WASN'T NECESSARILY RELEVANT
TO THEIR DAY TO DAY JOB
FUNCTION JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DEVELOPING OUR PERSONNEL
AND SUPPORTING THEIR
PROFESSIONAL
GOALS. WE HAVE HAD TO SCALE THAT
BACK
SOME, SO IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING
A REQUEST FOR TRAINING THAT'S
NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO YOUR
CURRENT
JOB FUNCTION OR AN ANTICIPATED
JOB FUNCTION, WE ARE
CURTAILING SOME OF THAT, BUT WE
HAVE
RESERVED BUDGET TO CONTINUE
IT AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
IT'S JUST GOING TO REQUIRE
A LITTLE MORPH JUSTIFICATION
AND IT'S NOT AS OPEN AS IT WAS
BEFORE. JUST GIVEN THE BUDGET
CONSTRAINTS.
WE HAVE ALSO RESERVED
BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR
MANAGEMENT TRAINING TO MAKE SURE
THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN
OUR LEADERSHIP AND MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND
SKILLS TO BE EFFECTIVE LEADERS.
SO THERE WAS A SMALL REDUCTION
THERE, BUT WE DID RESERVE A
PORTION OF THE
BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT
PURPOSE.
>> WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT MANAGERS HAVE THE
TRAINING, THE NECESSARY TRAINING
TO BE
ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR FOLKS.
AND CHIEF, AND BRIAN, I
WOULD LOVE TO TALK MORE ABOUT
THE TRAINING THAT'S REQUIRED
AND
CULTURALLY
SENSITIVE AND THINGS OF THAT
NATURE WHICH I THINK
GO ALONG WITH COMMUNITY
POLICING.
I KNOW, CHIEF, YOU AND I
HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, SO I'LL
LEAVE THAT SINCE WE DON'T
HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEN
RIVERA. COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU.
BRIAN AND ANGELA AS WELL
FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
INSIGHTFUL OVERVIEW OF THE
DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET
AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL YOU ALL
DO EVERY DAY TO KEEP US SAFE,
AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE YOU
PLAY IN OUR -- IN IMPLEMENTING
OUR BROADER PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS
AND
STRATEGIES.
SO MY QUESTION PERTAINS TO
AN INVESTMENT FROM LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY WISE FOR ANY
DEPARTMENT IF THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT ASKS FOR
NEW SPENDING
OR NEW PROGRAMMING WITHIN A
BUDGET TO AND WE ACTUALLY
FUND IT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ACTUALLY GETS IMPLEMENTED AND
IT'S PRUDENT FOR DEPARTMENTS IF
WE AS
A COUNCIL ADD NEW INVESTMENTS
ON TOP OF THE BUDGET TO
A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT THAT YOU
WORK EFFICIENTLY AND
WITH URGENCY TO IMPLEMENT
AND IMPLEMENT THOSE INVESTMENTS
AS WELL.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT LAST
YEAR'S, AN ITEM FROM LAST
YEAR'S
BUDGET.
SO SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO 30
BY 30.
SO IN 2025, THAT ADOPTED
BUDGET, WE INCLUDED BUDGET
LEGISLATION TO ADD AN FTE, AND I
THINK
THAT WAS A STRATEGIC ADVISER 3,
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, TO
SUPPORT
THE 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE.
WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL
TO ADD I THINK 30, HAVE AT
LEAST 30% OF THE FORCE
REPRESENTED BY
WOMEN BY 2030, IF I'M RECALLING
CORRECTLY.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY DIRECTLY IN
RESPONSE TO SOME VERY HIGH
PROFILE ISSUES IN THE
DEPARTMENT WITH RESPECT TO
CULTURE
AND ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN.
AND WE -- SO I SPONSORED, I
WAS A SPONSOR OF THAT BUDGET
INVESTMENT AND WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AS WELL
WHO WAS A COSPONSOR ALONG
WITH FORMER MEMBER MOORE,
CHAMPIONS FOR THIS CAUSE.
BUT JUST BE CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND, I KNOW THERE WAS A
DEI POSITION FUNDED AND I THINK
THAT'S TERRIFIC AND THAT'S
INTENDED TO BE SEPARATE AND
INDEPENDENT OF THIS 30 BY
30 POSITION TO BETTER SUPPORT
THE
HIRING AND CULTURE OF
EXCELLENCE FOR EVERYONE,
ESPECIALLY WOMEN.
HAS THAT POSITION BEEN FILLED?
AND QUESTION ONE, AS PART OF
THAT, QUESTION TWO IS
WHAT ACTIONS CAN THIS COUNCIL DO
TO
BETTER SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT
TO ACHIEVE A MORE DIVERSIFIED
AND REPRESENTATIVE POLICE FORCE?
>> I'LL LET THEM TAKE
THE FIRST PART AND I'LL TAKE
THE SECOND
PART.
>> NO, THE POSITION HAS NOT BEEN
FILLED. IT WAS AN UNFUNDED
POSITION AND
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOMESOME OUR
BALANCES IN 2025, WE HAD TO
LEAN INTO CIVILIAN VACANCIES IN
ORDER TO MANAGE SOME OF OUR
REDUCTIONS FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S NOT AS
THOUGH WE HAVE IN ANY WAY
STOOD DOWN ON THAT IMPORTANT
WORK.
WE DO HAVE A DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT WHO IS SUPERVISING
PROJECT MANAGERS WHO
ARE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE 30
BY
30.
THAT'S ALSO IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE WOMEN'S ALLIANCE,
WHICH
IS AN ORGANIC GROUP THAT
INVOLVED WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT
TO
HELP TACKLE THOSE ISSUES.
AND THE RSJI CHANGE TEAM,
WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE LED BY
THAT
DEI POSITION.
HAS ALSO LEANED AND PARTNERS ON
THE 30 BY 30 WORK AS I'M SURE
YOU SAW, WE DID PROCEED WITH
THE ANALYSIS OF CHILD CARE AND
WHETHER THERE WAS A
VIABLE PATHWAY FOR THAT.
WE RESPONDED TO THE SLY ON
THAT AND PROVIDED THE
INFORMATION FROM OUR CONSULTANT
ON THAT.
SO THE WORK CONTINUES, BUT
VERY DIRECTLY TO YOUR QUESTION,
NO, THAT POSITION HAS NOT YET
BEEN
FILLED.
>> AS FAR AS SUPPORT, YOU KNOW,
IT TAKES SOME TIME.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE
PATIENT.
I LEFT A POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE
28% OF THE SWORN OFFICERS WERE
WOMEN.
AND THAT PROCESS STARTED IN
1977 WITH CHIEF DAVID COOPER,
WHO WALKED INTO THE DEPARTMENT
AND WE'RE STILL FRIENDS TO THIS
DAY, AND SAID WHY ARE ALL THE
WOMEN WRITING PARKING TICKETS OR
IN JUVENILE SERVICES?
AND HE TOOK A LOT OF
BACKLASH FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE
FOR
CHANGING THE DEPARTMENT.
HE SINGLE- HANDEDLY STARTED
THE DEPARTMENT ON THE ROAD
TO VALUING PEOPLE IN ALL
POSITIONS.
THAT TOOK A LONG TIME.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG
TIME FOR US TO GET THERE.
BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE AS
I HAVE DONE, TO PROMOTE WOMEN.
I HAVE THREE OF MY
COMMAND STAFFS ARE WOMEN.
MAYBE FOUR, ACTUALLY.
MY STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR IS A
WOMAN.
BUDGET.
WE'RE SHOWING THAT
THIS DEPARTMENT IS A PLACE FOR
YOU, AND IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE
LAST THING ABOUT THAT IS YOU
DON'T ATTRACT WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU ATTRACT WHO YOU ARE.
AND SO AS WE CONTINUE TO
SHOW THAT
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
A PLACE THAT IS WELCOMING TO ALL
PEOPLE AND A PLACE WHERE YOU
CAN COME AND BE SUCCESSFUL,
THOSE NUMBERS WILL RISE.
THIS POSITION WILL
CERTAINLY HELP IT.
WE HAVE NOT HIRED FOR
THAT POSITION YET, BUT WE'LL
TALK WITH STAFF AND SEE WHERE WE
ARE ON THAT AND WE'LL KEEP YOU
UPDATED.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
ON ONE HAND, I'M ENCOURAGED
BY SOME OF THE INITIAL EFFORTS
THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN TO
BETTER
RETAIN AND ATTRACT WOMEN.
SOME OF WHICH YOU ACCOUNTED
FOR JUST NOW, CHIEF.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD
CELEBRATE SOME OF THAT INITIAL
PROGRESS, AT LEAST THE INITIAL
STEPS
TAKEN.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM
DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT
A SPECIFIC COUNCIL INVESTMENT
TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE
HEAD
ON AS ONE TOOL IN BROADER SET
OF TOOLS HAS NOT BEEN SPENT OR
HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL MOVE ON TO MY QUESTION --
MY NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE. SO REDUCING GUN
VIOLENCE
IS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR
MY OFFICE.
CHIEF, I APPRECIATE
YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN ADDRESSING
SOME BETTER ADDRESSING SOME
SPECIFIC GUN VIOLENCE CHALLENGES
IN
MY DISTRICT EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AND THE CONTINUING ONGOING WORK
THAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND GUN VIOLENCE, HUGE CHALLENGE
ALL OVER THE CITY.
IN CERTAIN AREAS,
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MORE IMPACTED
THAN OTHERS.
AND WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH.
COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
THAT FOCUSES HEAVILY ON GUN
VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, PREVENTION
HELPS, YOU KNOW, BETTER ADDRESS
GUN
VIOLENCE AND ACTUALLY
RESPONDING TO IT.
AND CIRCLING BACK TO THE FIRST
PILLAR REFLECTED ON YOUR
SLIDE NUMBER ONE, THE FIRST FULL
SLIDE THERE OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S KIND OF MISSION
AND GOALS, IT
SAYS CRIME PREVENTION.
SO WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE
OVERARCHING STRATEGY TOTO
IN THIS CASE GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION.
PART OF THAT IS, WELL, I'M
PROUD
TO HAVE WRITTEN SOME
INVESTMENTS IN THE PROPOSAL
RENEWAL
THAT'S BEFORE VOTERS TO INCLUDE
AMONG OTHER THINGS ADD MORE
AFTER
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
OF INVESTMENTS FOR YOUTH THAT
ARE AT RISK OR OPPORTUNITY FOR
CRIME AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
INCLUDING GUN VIOLENCE.
SO SPANS THE GAMUT.
BUT WHAT KIND OF -- WHAT FURTHER
INVESTMENTS, AND IT REQUIRES A
MULTIDEPARTMENT EFFORT, LIKE
THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHY I DID
THIS.
IN ANY EVENT, IT REQUIRES A
MULTIDEPARTMENT EFFORT,
INCLUDING YOURS, PLAYS A ROLE
IN
THAT. WHAT FURTHER INVESTMENTS
CAN WE DO TOGETHER TO TRY TO
DRIVE DOWN
GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES?
>> WE HAVE TO -- WELL, FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE
HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
ADDRESS
GUN VIOLENCE.
IT'S CALLED SEATTLE CENTRIC
POLICING.
I GAVE THE COUNCIL A BIT OF A
PREVIEW, THE THINGS I
MENTIONED BEFORE AS
UNDERSTANDING
PLACE, EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT
HAS A
PRIORITY AREA, AND
WE'RE
MEASURING OUR TREATMENT AND
WE'RE MEASURING THE DOSAGE OF
WHAT IT TAKES IN THOSE
PARTICULAR AREAS.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE
IN THOSE AREAS, AND I WANT
TO CIRCLE BACK TO THAT FOR A
MINUTE
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AND COMMUNICATION AS WELL AS
PROBLEM SOLVING, BRINGING
EVERYONE TOGETHER TO THE TABLE.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
PERSON BASED WHAT CAN YOU DO,
THINK
OF IT THIS WAY.
WE DID SOME RESEARCH WHEN
I FIRST GOT HERE OF WHO WE
CAUGHT WITH WEAPONS, WHO WE KNOW
HAVE FIRED THAT WEAPON.
WE GOT A
SHELL CASING SOMEWHERE, LATER ON
WE FIND THE PERSON
WITH THAT WEAPON.
THERE WERE ABOUT 63
PEOPLE, PERSONS ON THAT LIST IN
THE
LAST 18 MONTHS THAT WE KNEW HAD
FIRED
WEAPONS IN THE CITY.
AND HELD THOSE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT INVESTMENT
COULD THE CITY MAKE IN 63
FAMILIES?
COULD WE INSURE THAT OUR
CARE TEAM COULD GO OUT AND TALK
TO THEM ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
COULD WE INSURE THAT OUR
FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN GO OUT AND
TALK TO THEM ABOUT SOME OF
THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE
IN
DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR
EMOTIONAL AND THEIR PHYSICAL
SHAPE?
COULD THE CITY PROVIDE HOUSING,
JOBS, COULD THEY HELP FAMILIES
WITH PARENTING?
IT TAKES REALLY A WHOLE
OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE
HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED AND IF WE WORK
TOGETHER,
WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THOUGHT BROUGHT ME HERE
BECAUSE THE CITY HAS COMMITTED
TO DOING
THAT, THE COUNCIL HAS
COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, I THINK
WE'RE GOING TO SEE GUN VIOLENCE
BEING
REDUCED.
IT HAS GONE DOWN.
CERTAINLY NOT AS FAST
AS EVERYONE WOULD WANT IT, BUT
IT STILL IS A BIG CITY WITH
BIG CITY PROBLEMS.
AND I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT
JOB. ARE WE PERFECT?
NO, BUT AS ALWAYS, TRY TO
REMIND MYSELF FROM TIME TO TIME,
GOOD IS NOT THE ENEMY OF
PERFECTION.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THAT.
FINAL COMMENT THAT I HAVE IS
PERTAINS TO A LINE OF
QUESTIONING AND DISCUSSION
FROM MY COLLEAGUES EARLIER
AROUND
POLICE
HIRING. THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER
OF
STAFFING THAT IS NEEDED
VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY AND
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THAT
GAP.
SO I NOTE THAT THERE IS A
ROUGH GOAL SOMEWHERE, I DON'T
KNOW
THE SOURCE, TO BE HONEST, BUT
THERE'S A ROUGH GOAL OF
MAKING SURE WE HAVE ROUGHLY 1400
DEPLOYABLE OFFICERS.
I NOTE THE MENTION THERE
BY ANGELA EARLIER OF THE
AUTHORIZED
STRENGTH OF 1,277.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT RELATES
TO THE GOAL VERSUS THE
INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO BE
CONTAINED
IN THE PENDING STUDY THAT SHOULD
BE ON YOUR DESK LATER NEXT MONTH
ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PATROL
OFFICERS.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
APPROPRIATE OR BEST NUMBER
IS, BUT WE NEED PLENTY MORE THAN
WE HAVE TODAY.
AND ALSO, EVEN IF WE HAVE THE
BARE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF
OFFICERS FROM A PATROL
PERSPECTIVE TO
ALLOW US TO MEET OUR RESPONSE
TIMES, I THINK OUR OFFICER
RECRUITMENT, HIRING
EFFORTSES ARE GOING TO SUFFER
AND
LANGUISH UNTIL WE BUILD BACK UP
FULLY OUR
SPECIALIZED UNITS AND HAVE THEM
MAINTAIN TO THEIR PRE-
PANDEMIC LEVELS OF READINESS AND
RESPONSIVENESS, WHETHER
THOSE SPECIALTY UNITS ARE BOMB
UNITS OR GANG UNITS OR ALL OF
THE TYPE
OF WHATEVER WE'RE CALLING
THEM NOW WITH THE SAME
UNDERLYING
FOCUS.
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR
DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
A TOP 20 BIG CITY IN
AMERICA MORE UNIQUE AND MORE
ALLURING AND ATTRACTIVE TO
POTENTIAL
HIRES.
WE NED TO REBUILD
THOSE SPECIALTY UNITS UP IN MY
VIEW.
AND AGAIN, IT'S GOOD TO
HAVE PATROL OFFICERS.
WE NEED THEM.
BUT WE NEED TO ALSO IN
PARALLEL MAKE SURE WE'RE FULLY
RESTORING AND MAKING SURE WE
HAVE
APPROPRIATE SPECIALTY UNITS
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> AND THAT WAS MY LAST
COMMENT, QUESTION, BUT I
APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK YOU ALL DO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UNLESS YOU ALL
HAVE --
>> JUST ONE RESPONSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I DO AGREE WITH YOU.
REBUILDING THOSE SPECIAL
TEAMS ALWAYS HELPS WITH
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION,
BECAUSE
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT
THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AROUND THE
DEPARTMENT AND TO GROW.
AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ENTER
ANY ORGANIZATION, THEY GROW.
THEY BECOME MORE SEASONED.
THEY LEARN THINGS.
THEY DEVELOP THEIR INTERESTS.
AND HAVING THOSE POSITIONS
AVAILABLE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO
HARBOR, THEY CAN GO TO
BOMB, LIKE YOU MENTIONED,O GO
TO S.W.A.T. HELPS US RETAIN
PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN MOVE
AROUND.
IT'S ONE
OF THE ALLURES, I THINK, OF
POLICING.
NO DAY IS EVER THE SAME,
BUT BEING ABLE TO USE
YOUR SPECIALTIES TO HELP OTHER
PEOPLE IS CERTAINLY A
RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION TOOL.
SO THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
COUNCILMEN HOLLINGSWORTH
AND THEN I HAVE LAST WORD.
WELL, WE'LL HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WITH THE
LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
I'LL BE FAST. I'M SURE YOU
HAVE HEARD
THAT BEFORE BUT I REALLY WILL
BE.
THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR BEING
HERE.
AND FOR SPD TEAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK
WOULD MAKE IT REALLY PALATABLE
FOR
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND HOW INVESTMENTS
EQUATE TO OUTCOMES IS THE
INCREASED STAFFING THAT WE
HAVE, THAT IS BEING PROPOSED
LIKE
FOR BUDGETING AND HEARD THAT,
HEY, OUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL
ON THAT FRONT, WE'RE RECRUITING
MORE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN FOR PEOPLE?
IS THAT LOWER RESPONSE
TIMES, MORE VISIBLE OFFICERS, IS
THAT
MORE ENGAGEMENT?
IS THERE GOING TO BE MORE,
A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIVENESS
FROM
PEOPLE?
OFTENTIMES WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS
GET THE RESPONSE OFTENTIMES
FOR DIFFERENT PUBLIC SAFETY
EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS FINE, BUT
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE FRONT FACING
WHEN
IT COMES TO SPD TO COMMUNITY, TO
ANSWER SOME OF THOSE FOLLOW
UP, WHETHER IT'S A CASE,
WHETHER IT'S RESPONSE TO
THINGS.
CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE SEEN A LEVEL OF MORE
RESPONSIVENESS WHICH IS
GREAT, BUT I THING SOMETHING TO
HAVE THAT DEDICATED SERVICE TO
THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL
TO PEOPLE TO SEE THIS INVESTMENT
EQUATES TO WHAT OUTCOMES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> THANK
YOU. I AGREE WITH THAT.
AGAIN, I JUST REMIND PEOPLE
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HIRING
OFFICERS NOW, IT'S GOING TO
TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THEM
THROUGH
THE PROCESS TO WHERE THEY CAN
GO OUT AND REALLY DO SOME
PROBLEM SOLVING AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
BUT AS WE'RE ABLE TO
BRING PEOPLE IN, WE CAN SHIFT
PEOPLE
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
BOMB TECHS WE HAVE OR INCREASE
THE NUMBER IN OUR HARBOR PATROL
OR
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
DETECTIVES SO THAT THEY CAN
HAND SML OF THE WORKLOAD AND
CALLS
WE HAVE, AND I THINK WE CAN
CREATE A METRIC FOR TRACKING
THAT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO BE
PATIENT TO SEE WHAT THOSE END
RESULTS ARE AND HOW IT AFFECTS
THEIR DAILY LIVES.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THAT'S IT.
I'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS
LATER ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> YOU HAVE TAKEN THE NEW
RECORD FROM COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
WITH TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
I'M UP NEXT.
HOPEFULLY I WILL BE SOMEWHAT
SIMILAR, BUT AS
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
SAYS, I HAVE
HEARD IT BEFORE, EVEN FROM
MYSELF.
GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
READ FROM THE SIX- YEAR LOOK
BACK
THAT CENTER STAFF HAS CREATED
ABOUT THE BUDGETS FOR EACH
DEPARTMENT.
QUOTING HERE, BETWEEN 2019 AND
2025, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET GREW BY $53
MILLION, A 13% INCREASE.
DURING THE SIX- YEAR PERIOD,
SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT
PROGRAMS WERE TRANSFERRED OUT OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING
THE SHIFT OF 911 CALL CENTER
AND ASSOCIATED STAFF TO THE
CITY'S CARE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU EXCLUDE THE REDUCTIONS
OF SPD'S BUDGET THAT RESULTED
FROM TRANSFERRING THE PROGRAMS
AND PERSONNEL OUT OF SPD,
SPD'S BUDGET WOULD HAVE SHOWN
AN
APPROXIMATELY 23%
INCREASE BETWEEN 2019 AND 2025.
AND THAT LABOR COSTS
FOR OFFICERS ARE THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF SPD'S
BUDGET.
SO THIS INCREASE HAS HAD
A SUBSTANTIAL BUDGETARY IMPACT.
I NOTE THIS FOR THE RECORD
BECAUSE MUCH LIKE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THIS IS A
GENERAL FUND SUPPORTED
DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL
REVENUES. WE DON'T HAVE JUMP
START.
WE DON'T HAVE THESE OTHER
THINGS THAT MANY OTHER
DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR CITY DO
HAVE.
I DO NOTICE THAT IN HERE,
AND MAYBE WE'LL GET TO THIS,
IT MIGHT BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS
NOW OR ON SHARE POINT WHICH
IS THAT THE NARCOTICS UNIT WAS
DECREASED
WITH ITS FUNDING BUT IT
ALSO LOOKS LIKE IT WAS ALONG
WITH SPECIAL VICTIMS, SPECIAL
INVESTIGATIONS, VIOLENT
CRIMES, WERE TRANSFERRED INTO
THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BSL.
IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
THAT UNIT IS STILL WHOLE EVEN
THOUGH IT'S IN A DIFFERENT BSL
OR
WHAT IS THE
CHANGE WITH NARCOTICS AT THIS
TIME?
IF YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO
ME, I'M HAPPY TO PUT THAT ON
SHARE
POINT.
>> I MAY HAVE TO.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER,
TRYING TO THINK IF YOU'RE
TALKING
ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE THEY
SIT IN THE DEPARTMENT, THE UNIT
IS STILL FUNCTIONING.
THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME
SUPERVISION, STILL WORKING
THE SAME CASE LOADS.
>> FANTASTIC.
I'LL COME BACK WITH A
MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION ON SHARE
POINT. JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT
THE
BUDGET REFORM THAT WAS DONE WITH
THIS TEAM, THE CHIEF AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE LAST YEAR
HAS HELPED US HAVE A MORE
TRANSPARENT VIEW INTO THE
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND I
WOULD SAY THAT HAS BEEN
SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR THE
PUBLIC, FOR COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND ANYONE TRYING TO
HAVE A BETTER
INUNDERSTANDING OF HOW
YOUR BUDGET WORKED.
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE
IT, THE OVERTIME IS A CLEAR KNMP
OF HOW WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE A
MORE CLEAR CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT THAT FUNDING IS, WHY IT'S
NEEDED, WHAT REDUCTIONS
OR ADDITIONS DUE TO THAT BSL, SO
I WANT TO THANK YOU THERE.
QUESTION I DID NOT PREP YOU
FOR IS MISSING, MURDERED,
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
CALLING IN FROM THE
TRIBAL SUMMIT THAT WE HAD LAST
WEEK,
CHIEF, IF YOU WOULDN'T
MIND TAKING A MINUTE OR TWO
TO DESCRIBE SOME OF
THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT
COLLABORATING WITH TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS,
THE NEED FOR INFORMATION
SHARING, THE BARRIERS
WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND WHERE
WE'RE GOING FORWARD ON THIS,
AND
THE QUESTION ABOUT BUDGET IS, DO
YOU HAVE A BUDGET FOR IT?
>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS
ESTABLISHING AN MOU DOESN'T
REALLY REQUIRE TOO MUCH OF
A BUDGET BUT THE IDEA IS WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE AS I MEET WITH
SOME
OF THE TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS
THAT WE HAVE INFORMATION
SHARING AND MOU AGREEMENTS OR
MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING
IN PLACE SO IF SOMEONE GOES
MISSING AND MURDERED, WE CAN GET
AS
MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THAT
PERSON
AS POSSIBLE, AND AGAIN, UNDER MY
ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE
NEVER GOING TO TURN DOWN HELP
FROM ANOTHER AGENCY, TRIBAL
AGENCY
OR ANOTHER CITY THAT WANTS TO
COME IN AND HELP.
NOW, WE ARE BOUND BY LAW ABOUT
WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN GIVE
OUT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BUT HAVING THAT
MEMRANDOM OF UNDERSTANDING,
THAT INFORMATION SHARING ALLOWS
US
TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION AND
THEN THEY COULD, OF COURSE,
SHARE
IT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE
OUT SEARCHING OR LOOKING FOR
THAT
PERSON.
AND AGAIN, WE JUST BELIEVE
THAT INFORMATION SHARING AND
WORKING
TOGETHER WORKS.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WITH ONE OF THE NATIONS
AND
I REALLY ENJOYED THE
CONVERSATION, GOT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR
ABOUT SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS,
AND
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
WORKED ON IN WISCONSIN,
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR, WITH A
STATE SENATOR, THE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE THERE
IN SHEILA STUBBS SO I CAN SEND
YOU
AN ARTICLE ABOUT THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE
BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT FOR A LONG
TIME, BUT THE POINT IS WE WANT
TO
MAKE SURE WE CAN BRING AS MANY
RESOURCES AS WE CAN TO BEAR
WHEN SOMEONE GOES MISSING OR
SOMEONE IS MURDERED SO WE CAN
GIVE THEM
JUSTICE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
MOVING ON, OUR POLICE
HIRING NUMBERS ARE OFF THE
CHARTS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS
YEARS.
FIRST, I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM
FOR THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
THE QUESTION HERE, YOU KNOW,
I HEARD YOU SAY JUST A MOMENT
AGO, YOU RECRUIT NOT WHO YOU
WANT,
YOU RECRUIT WHO YOU ARE.
CAN YOU SHARE WHAT
HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIRING
SPIKE?
>> POLICE OFFICERS WHO WANT TO
BE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY WANT TO
COME TO A CITY THAT THEY
CAN IDENTIFY WITH.
AND THE REASON I THINK
THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP,
NOT BECAUSE OF ME, BUT BECAUSE
OF
MY STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE
OF THE CITY.
THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO WORK FOR
A CITY WHERE THEY'RE SUPPORTED
FROM THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS.
YOU'RE JUST AS MUCH A BOSS AS
I AM OR AS CEO MAXEY IS TO A
YOUNG RECRUIT.
THEY WANT TO KNOW THEY'RE
GOING TO COME TO A CITY WHERE
THE
EXECUTIVE, WHERE THE
MAYOR SUPPORTS THEIR WORK
AND UNDERSTANDS HOW DIFFICULT
THIS WORK IS.
AND I THINK THEY'RE SEEING
THAT.
THEY WANT A COMMUNITY THAT WILL
EMBRACE THEM AND HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT ARE
ONGOING CHALLENGES THAT HAVE
BEEN
GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME
HERE IN
SEATTLE AND THAT WE'RE
COMMITTED TO DOING BETTER.
AND I THING THAT'S WHAT THEY
SEE.
IT'S A BIG DECISION.
I CAN TELL YOU, TO DECIDE
TO COME TO A NEW CITY AND BECOME
A POLICE OFFICER.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO
CONSIDER.
LIVEABILITY,
AFFORDABILITY, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE GOING
TO FEEL WELCOME IF YOU'RE A
LITTLE
DIFFERENT.
I THINK THEY FIND THAT AND
THEY WILL SEE THAT IN SEATTLE.
AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE.
I REALLY MEAN THAT.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT
GOING TO HOLD EACH OTHER
ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE WORK AT
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
AT ALL LEVELS OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, COPS,
COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS AND
UNDERSTANDING THE WORK
IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME HERE.
THE MONEY OBVIOUSLY IS A BIG
ALLURE, BUT BEHIND THAT, WHAT
TYPE OF CITY AM I COMING TO
WORK FOR?
AM I GOING TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY ACTIONS.
ARE PEOPLE GOING TO MAKE
SURE I'M SUPPORTED?
ACCOUNTABILITY HAPPENS
LONG BEFORE THERE'S A DISPARATE
OUTCOME.
I THINK THEY SEE THAT IN
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
ABOUT HARBOR PATROL AND
ADDRESSING DRUG DEALING IN THE
PLACE BASED
STRATEGIES YOU WERE REFERRING
TO A MINUTE AGO, JUST NOTICE
THAT EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS HAS
A PLACE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION.
FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT, IT'S
SOTO.
MAYBE SOMEWHERE ELSE AS WELL
FOR DISTRICT 2, 12th AND
JACKSON.
DISTRICT 3, CAPITOL HILL
AND FIRST HILL.
DISTRICT 4 IS
MAGNUSON. DISTRICT 5 IS LAKE
CITY AND
AURORA. DISTRICT 6 IS AURORA AND
THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE, AND
DISTRICT
7 IS THIRD AND BELL TOWN NOW.
SO I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
ABOUT WHAT MORE WE NEED TO DO
TO IMPLEMENT YOUR PLACE
STRATEGIES.
MY LAST QUESTION HERE,
REGARDING HARBOR PATROL AS WELL,
WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE FULLY FUNDED
THERE.
MY LAST QUESTION FOR THIS
MORNING'S SESSION, WE'RE NOW
INTO THE AFTERNOON, IS
REGARDING THE SPEED CAMERAS, RED
LIGHT
CAMERAS, I KNOW THIS IS AN
INTERDEPARTMENT TEAM WITH
YOU AND SDOT AND ALSO REQUIRES
A THIRD PARTY VENLDER.
IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THE THIRD Y VENDOR
IS TAKING
LONGER THAN WE WOULD LIKE.
WHAT'S THE CURRENT
SITUATION REPORT ON THIS?
WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE?
I THINK THE UNDERLYING
QUESTION YOU'RE GETTING FROM ME
IS WE'RE -- WE'RE NOT VERY
PATIENT
ANYMORE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS THINGS
DEPLOYED.
WHAT'S -- DO YOU HAVE
ANY SITUATION REPORT AT THIS
TIME?
>> I DO KNOW WE HAVE A MEETING
WITH SDOT THIS AFTERNOON
TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC.
AND THEN I'LL LET CEO MAXEY
IF HE HAS ANYTHING FURTHER TO
TALK
ABOUT.
>> I THINK AS YOU SAY IT'S AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL EFFORT WITH
A THIRD PARTY VENDOR.
THE COMPLEXITY IS WHEN WE HOLD
SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
SIDE AND WE HOLD THE CONTRACT,
SDOT DOES THE LOGISTICS, THE
IMPLEMENTATION, AND SOME OF THE
COMPLEXITIES ARE AROUND
OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
GETTING POWER TO POLES,
REPLACING THE POLES IF
THEY CAN'T SUPPORT THE
ADDITIONAL
EQUIPMENT, MOVING
OTHER UTILITIES OFF OF THOSE
POLES.
SO EACH SITE HAS SORT OF A
LAUNDRY LIST OF LOGISTICS
THAT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT.
AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY
WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PACE
OF THE DEPLOYMENT.
HAPPY TO DIG INTO THIS FURTHER,
AND KNOW THAT MORE
COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IS
BEING PROVIDED TO
THE CHIEF PRIOR TO
TODAY'S MEETING WITH SDOT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST READING LOUD AND
CLEAR FROM ALL OF US ON THE
DAIS, I'M GOING
TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE RIGHT
NOW, IS THAT WE ARE PINING FOR
THESE TRAFFIC CAMERAS TO BE
DEPLOYED
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE
WE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR IT.
AND SO JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT
9 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE WHO GET
A TICKET FROM ONE OF THESE
RED LIGHT OR SPEEDING CAMERAS DO
NOT
GET A TICKET A SECOND TIME.
THAT MEANS 90% OF PEOPLE
BEGIN OBEYING SOCIETAL BEHAVIOR,
SOCIETAL NORMS AND WITH SO
MANY PEOPLE STILL BEING HIT AND
STRUCK ON THE STREETS
BY VEHICLES AND OTHER MODES,
WE'RE ANXIOUS TO GET THIS OUT
FASTER.
>> YES, SIR.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I WAS NOT THE
LONGEST, I WAS NOT THE SHORTEST.
PLEASE, CHIEF.
>> IF I COULD MAKE ONE FINAL
COMMENTS.
I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT
THAT I THANK COUNCIL FOR
THEIR QUESTIONS AND FOR THEIR
CONCERN
AND CERTAINLY FOR HELPING
TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I WANT TO THANK THE
PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF FROM THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE, PUBLIC SAFETY CHIEF,
I WANT TO THANK ANGELA AND
CEO BRIAN MAXEY FOR ALL THEIR
WORK, AND FINALLY, I DO WANT TO
THANK
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AS
NOTED, AND ANGELA'S
PRESENTATION, ATTRITION IS
SLOWING DOWN, AND I THINK
IT'S SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE THE
THINGS
ARE CHANGING A BIT.
I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THAT THEY ARE CERTAINLY
BEING SUPPORTED BY THIS COUNCIL
AND
WANTING TO DO THE WORK IN
THE RIGHT WAY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RIGHT
WAY, IN A PROCEDURAL JUSTICE
WAY THAT'S GOING TO, NUMBER
ONE,
REDUCE CRIME, AND ALSO ADD
LEGITIMACY TO PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE WORK THAT PEOPLE
SIGN
UP FOR TO DO.
YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THAT.
THE COMMUNITY POLICING, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE
TO COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME
TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE
MOVING TOWARD A MORE
NEIGHBORHOOD ORIENTED APPROACH
IN SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'RE DOING AND SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE BEEN
ASKED
BY CITY COUNCIL TODAY.
THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, BOTH OUR SWORN
AND OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, LAST
WORD AND THEN I'LL GIVE US A
LITTLE ORIENTATION FOR COMMITTEE
FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN
CHIEF BARNES AND THE TEAM FOR
BEING
HERE.
BUT I ALSO REALLY WANT
TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL
THE QUESTIONS AND DIGGING
INTO DIFFERENT PIECES.
YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING UP WHAT
WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS LAST
YEAR BECAUSE WHAT IT SHOWS IS
WE ARE PROFESSIONAL.
IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE DOING OUR
JOB, AND IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE
IN FACT CONTRARY TO EVERYTHING
IN TERMS OF THE GASLIGHTING AS
I STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF
TODAY'S MEETING, AND THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
AND WITH RESPECT TO THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY IN LIGHT OF THE
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS SO THANK
YOU, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR KETTLE.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, I
AM GOING TO HAVE US BREAK FOR
LUNCH.
WE HAD A HALF- HOUR BREAK
EARLIER TODAY, SO WE'RE GOING
TO DO
30 MINUTES AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO -- SO WE'RE
GOING TO DO -- I'LL GIVE A
COUPLE EXTRA MINUTES.
AT 1:20 WE'RE GOING TO RESTART.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE LUNCH
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND DO
CARE AS SOON AS WE GET BACK.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO 1 CLECK
20 AS OUR RETURN TIME.
AND WE'LL TAKE UP CARE AND
HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS SOON AS
WE RETURN.
NOT AT THE SAME TIME BUT
ONE AFTER ANOTHER, YES, YES.
WONDERFUL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT
THIS TIME?
>> THANK
YOU, CHAIR. SO JUST TO CONFIRM,
WE'RE
GOING TO DO LEFT TODAY IS CARE
AND
HSD.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OKAY, AND JUST FOR THE
RECORD, CHAIR, I THINK
30 MINUTES IS NOT VERY MUCH
TIME SINCE WE'RE HERE ALL DAY.
AND WE HAVE EMAILS AND OTHER
THINGS. SO THERE'S A WAY TO
EXPAND
THAT BY A LITTLE BIT, I DON'T
KNOW
IF I'M THE ONLY ONE FEELING
THAT
WAY, BUT WOULD APPRECIATE THE
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
YES, ON A GIVEN DAY, WE WOULD
HAVE AN HOUR LUNCH.
THANKS, AND BECAUSE
OUR EXECUTIVE -- THE MAYOR
HARRELL AND OUR DEPARTMENTS WERE
RESPONDING TO FEDERAL OVERREACH
AND UNNECESSARY CLAIMS OF
COMING TO OUR REGION, WE HAD TO
HAVE A
HALF- HOUR BREAK EARLIER TODAY.
SO THAT'S THE ISSUE OF THE DAY.
THANK YOU.
SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
WE ARE ON
RECESS UNTIL 1:20 P.M. THANK
YOU.