1 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:13,605 Welcome, everyone, to the birthday party for 2 00:00:13,605 --> 00:00:18,879 our awkward adolescent public safety diversion 3 00:00:18,879 --> 00:00:23,204 framework, LEAD, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, Let 4 00:00:23,204 --> 00:00:25,539 Everyone Advance with Dignity. 5 00:00:25,539 --> 00:00:27,820 Thank you so much for being here. 6 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:35,335 So on this day, 15 years ago, September 28th, 2011, which 7 00:00:35,335 --> 00:00:40,603 was two days after Occupy Seattle began, for those 8 00:00:40,603 --> 00:00:45,030 of you who remember that, the very few officers 9 00:00:45,030 --> 00:00:49,009 available to focus on low-level drug offenses, 10 00:00:49,009 --> 00:00:52,509 because there was a lot else going on, made the 11 00:00:52,509 --> 00:00:55,728 first referral to law enforcement-assisted 12 00:00:55,728 --> 00:01:00,630 diversion. They were skeptical, And a week later, the first 13 00:01:00,630 --> 00:01:06,379 person referred, Bobby Joe Simpson, was still sleeping in a 14 00:01:06,379 --> 00:01:07,700 Belltown doorway. 15 00:01:09,078 --> 00:01:11,688 We had the first tough conversation in the 16 00:01:11,688 --> 00:01:14,519 first operational work group, with officers 17 00:01:14,519 --> 00:01:18,489 learning all the barriers Bobby and his new case manager 18 00:01:18,489 --> 00:01:22,358 were confronting and the pace of durable change. 19 00:01:22,358 --> 00:01:24,665 And case managers and the 20 00:01:24,665 --> 00:01:28,620 project manager, that was me, learning how 21 00:01:28,620 --> 00:01:32,150 important it would be to achieve felt impact from the 22 00:01:32,150 --> 00:01:35,358 point of view of officers and share information 23 00:01:35,358 --> 00:01:38,700 even though recovery is slow and nonlinear. 24 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,340 Now, a lot of courage and leaps of faith preceded that day. 25 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,881 The Seattle Police Department co-designed LEAD 26 00:01:48,881 --> 00:01:51,924 completely voluntarily, even though it was coming 27 00:01:51,924 --> 00:01:54,780 into being at about the same time as the consent decree, 28 00:01:54,780 --> 00:01:57,819 this was not a part of any mandated change. 29 00:01:57,819 --> 00:02:01,325 And this would never have seen the light of day if 30 00:02:01,325 --> 00:02:05,269 it had not been for Steve Brown, then the West Precinct 31 00:02:05,269 --> 00:02:09,300 commander, and before that, the narcotics commander. 32 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:12,156 Captain Brown met us for innumerable cups of 33 00:02:12,156 --> 00:02:15,318 coffee at Pegasus in the Dexter Horton building. 34 00:02:15,318 --> 00:02:17,703 Sometimes when we would come in, he would have his 35 00:02:17,703 --> 00:02:19,038 head in his hands like this. 36 00:02:20,139 --> 00:02:23,544 He was sharing his sense of futility at arresting the same 37 00:02:23,544 --> 00:02:27,281 people over and over and nothing changing on the street, but 38 00:02:27,281 --> 00:02:31,240 also felt a lot of trepidation about making a major leap into 39 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:32,060 the unknown. 40 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,229 Eventually, he decided to recommend that Chief 41 00:02:37,229 --> 00:02:41,199 Gil Kerlikowske green light a pilot pre-booking 42 00:02:41,199 --> 00:02:44,120 diversion program we worked out together. 43 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,133 Memorably, Captain Brown explained that if the government 44 00:02:48,133 --> 00:02:52,122 of Northern Ireland could sit down with the terrorists 45 00:02:52,122 --> 00:02:55,900 and agree to join forces, SPD could work with us. 46 00:02:59,180 --> 00:03:02,002 Steve is one of the most extraordinary human 47 00:03:02,002 --> 00:03:03,377 beings I've ever met. 48 00:03:03,377 --> 00:03:06,180 He made sure that we grasped that if we were going to make 49 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:09,067 a change of this magnitude, it would have to be genuinely 50 00:03:09,067 --> 00:03:11,979 co-owned by the police sergeants and officers who would 51 00:03:11,979 --> 00:03:13,919 need to use it every day. 52 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,729 From that insight came the commitment to co-ownership that 53 00:03:17,729 --> 00:03:19,560 persists in LEAD to this day. 54 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,460 It's the true secret sauce and why we've made it to 15. 55 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:27,705 We had to pass many other tests on the way to September 56 00:03:27,705 --> 00:03:32,245 28th, 2011, including, I'm just looking around to see if 57 00:03:32,245 --> 00:03:36,686 the characters in this story are in the room, including 58 00:03:36,686 --> 00:03:41,513 then Assistant Chief Jim Pugel asking for a private meeting 59 00:03:41,513 --> 00:03:46,340 with me and then ACLU Drug Policy Director Allison Holcomb, 60 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,312 looking us in the eyes and asking if this was all an 61 00:03:50,312 --> 00:03:54,062 elaborate trick to get police to exercise discretion and then 62 00:03:54,062 --> 00:03:55,717 sue them for how it was used. 63 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,139 It's a funny story, but it was also great. 64 00:04:00,139 --> 00:04:03,145 These were the honest conversations that would 65 00:04:03,145 --> 00:04:06,377 come to characterize the best moments in LEAD work, 66 00:04:06,377 --> 00:04:08,717 where leaders in each sector brought their 67 00:04:08,717 --> 00:04:11,449 hard truths to the table and pushed each other for 68 00:04:11,449 --> 00:04:14,580 answers that would allow the partnership to continue. 69 00:04:15,699 --> 00:04:18,822 King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg challenged us 70 00:04:18,822 --> 00:04:21,511 to try LEAD in Belltown because if it can work 71 00:04:21,511 --> 00:04:23,338 there, it can work anywhere. 72 00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:25,540 Thanks, Dan. 73 00:04:27,060 --> 00:04:29,959 Belltown was in really bad shape at the time. 74 00:04:29,959 --> 00:04:32,560 SPD was making massive numbers of drug arrests, 75 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,100 and yet the streets were so dominated by the drug trade 76 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:38,699 that neighborhood and business leaders were up in arms, 77 00:04:38,699 --> 00:04:40,519 demanding whether SPD and prosecutors 78 00:04:41,579 --> 00:04:44,680 don't know about the drug dealing or don't care. 79 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,980 That's an actual quote from a 2010 80 00:04:46,980 --> 00:04:49,620 Belltown Community Council meeting at the Labor Temple, 81 00:04:50,879 --> 00:04:54,379 at which neighborhood leaders volunteered to try out LEAD 82 00:04:54,379 --> 00:04:57,819 out of sheer desperation for a new strategy. 83 00:04:57,819 --> 00:05:00,723 This is an important reminder that there's no simple 84 00:05:00,723 --> 00:05:04,300 solution to deeply entrenched structural problems 85 00:05:04,300 --> 00:05:06,906 that are rooted not just in individual health 86 00:05:06,906 --> 00:05:10,545 challenges but also structural economic conditions. 87 00:05:10,545 --> 00:05:12,331 There's no magic wand. 88 00:05:12,331 --> 00:05:15,338 Yet, remarkably, after the first four 89 00:05:15,338 --> 00:05:17,891 years of the LEAD pilot in a single neighborhood, 90 00:05:17,891 --> 00:05:20,870 while the rest of downtown remains severely 91 00:05:20,870 --> 00:05:22,819 affected by the drug trade. 92 00:05:22,819 --> 00:05:25,879 In the words of SPD Sergeant Brian Krause, 93 00:05:25,879 --> 00:05:29,399 you can't buy dope in Belltown anymore. 94 00:05:29,399 --> 00:05:32,759 Steady, focused attention from officers and case managers 95 00:05:32,759 --> 00:05:36,278 alike had achieved a civility revolution in the neighborhood 96 00:05:36,278 --> 00:05:39,019 and caused other neighborhoods to ask for LEAD expansion 97 00:05:39,019 --> 00:05:41,139 ahead of schedule. 98 00:05:41,139 --> 00:05:43,379 In 2015, based on-- 99 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,220 I hope that's not me. 100 00:05:47,220 --> 00:05:49,459 I think it may be me. 101 00:05:51,579 --> 00:05:54,500 In 2015, based on the incredible word of mouth 102 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:56,399 about the collaborative breakthrough happening 103 00:05:56,399 --> 00:05:59,500 in Seattle with former opponents working together 104 00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:03,199 to improve street conditions, the Obama White House 105 00:06:03,199 --> 00:06:05,899 hosted a national LEAD symposium. 106 00:06:05,899 --> 00:06:10,199 Deanna Nolet, Jim Pugel, Vic Mays, Chad Winfrey, Leslie 107 00:06:10,199 --> 00:06:13,841 Mills, Natalie Walton Anderson, Kris Nyrop, Dan 108 00:06:13,841 --> 00:06:17,026 Satterberg, and Santa Fe LEAD partners, Santa Fe had 109 00:06:17,026 --> 00:06:19,612 started operating at that point, explained 110 00:06:19,612 --> 00:06:22,451 the model to delegations from jurisdictions around the 111 00:06:22,451 --> 00:06:25,040 country, who then returned to their communities and began 112 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,060 to replicate the model. 113 00:06:27,060 --> 00:06:30,711 At that event, I said, "If I'm still up here in front of a 114 00:06:30,711 --> 00:06:35,480 room talking about the current version of LEAD in 10 years, 115 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:40,338 shoot me, because it's supposed to change things. 116 00:06:40,338 --> 00:06:42,220 It's supposed to change the landscape." 117 00:06:42,220 --> 00:06:46,665 Okay, the good news is no one needs to shoot me, because LEAD 118 00:06:46,665 --> 00:06:50,819 has evolved so much to meet the changing landscape. 119 00:06:50,819 --> 00:06:53,918 In 2020, LEAD partners recognized that it doesn't 120 00:06:53,918 --> 00:06:56,500 make sense to wait for police or emergency 121 00:06:56,500 --> 00:07:00,105 services to identify problems that neighborhoods, businesses, 122 00:07:00,105 --> 00:07:03,019 and outreach workers can readily find on their own. 123 00:07:04,420 --> 00:07:07,177 With community referrals to LEAD, which started 124 00:07:07,177 --> 00:07:09,600 in 2020, we can reduce the flow of calls into 125 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,439 911, alleviate the burden on police, 126 00:07:12,439 --> 00:07:15,740 while still always prioritizing police referrals. 127 00:07:15,740 --> 00:07:17,079 Hello, Mayor and team. 128 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,560 We integrated LEAD case management with strategies 129 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,240 to improve conditions in specific places 130 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,920 through encampment resolution and neighborhood safety teams. 131 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,399 And now we're beginning to integrate with CARE community 132 00:07:33,399 --> 00:07:36,646 crisis responders, providing long-term follow-up to 133 00:07:36,646 --> 00:07:39,608 situations that they are called to respond to as the 134 00:07:39,608 --> 00:07:43,199 city's third co-equal public safety department. 135 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,920 Not everything has been wine and roses. 136 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,399 Perhaps we made it all look a bit too easy, because 137 00:07:51,399 --> 00:07:54,733 starting about a decade ago, less well-designed diversion 138 00:07:54,733 --> 00:07:58,180 strategies flooded the national landscape, more focused 139 00:07:58,180 --> 00:08:01,343 on preventing cases from being filed in court than 140 00:08:01,343 --> 00:08:04,627 on whether the people diverted were actually 141 00:08:04,627 --> 00:08:05,975 getting better. 142 00:08:05,975 --> 00:08:08,865 And as public opinion has zigzagged 143 00:08:08,865 --> 00:08:12,685 between ideological extremes on public safety, LEAD 144 00:08:12,685 --> 00:08:16,778 has struggled to scale because it's by definition a middle road 145 00:08:16,778 --> 00:08:20,103 that both embraces enforcement and is centered on a 146 00:08:20,103 --> 00:08:23,620 radical transformation in how we respond to acute 147 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:27,560 needs. In a polarized landscape, LEAD is confusing 148 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,201 because it doesn't fully belong to either side. 149 00:08:31,201 --> 00:08:34,302 But in the end, almost everyone wants what LEAD 150 00:08:34,302 --> 00:08:37,440 does: helping officers and other first responders to 151 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,783 see better long-term outcomes for their efforts 152 00:08:40,783 --> 00:08:43,865 and fostering change for individuals who deserve to 153 00:08:43,865 --> 00:08:46,658 have a better chance at meaningful lives and happiness. 154 00:08:48,298 --> 00:08:52,043 I'm so excited to listen to the panel of LEAD alumni 155 00:08:52,043 --> 00:08:53,740 later in this program. 156 00:08:55,139 --> 00:08:58,480 While you're here, please make sure to look at the posters 157 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,581 of the many courageous police leaders, sergeants, and 158 00:09:01,581 --> 00:09:04,240 officers, prosecutors, community leaders, and 159 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,149 public officials whose vision and resolve 160 00:09:07,149 --> 00:09:09,677 has kept the flame burning for 15 years. 161 00:09:09,677 --> 00:09:13,027 It's no exaggeration to say that without those people, this 162 00:09:13,027 --> 00:09:16,177 project would have collapsed long ago. 163 00:09:16,177 --> 00:09:18,798 I've already remembered other names we should have included. 164 00:09:18,798 --> 00:09:21,995 I'm sure you'll also think of key people we should recognize 165 00:09:21,995 --> 00:09:23,340 at the 20th anniversary. 166 00:09:23,340 --> 00:09:26,250 So please feel free to add other founders and early 167 00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:29,519 champions on the post-its at the table in the back. 168 00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:32,197 Finally, I want to thank my colleagues Ashley Nierbevig 169 00:09:32,197 --> 00:09:34,894 and Sam Wolf for the incredible lift they took on to 170 00:09:34,894 --> 00:09:36,259 organize this event. 171 00:09:36,259 --> 00:09:39,538 They were working last night at midnight and again at 6:00 a.m. 172 00:09:39,538 --> 00:09:41,623 I'm not sure how much sleep has been had or how much sense 173 00:09:41,623 --> 00:09:43,480 they're going to make when you talk to them. 174 00:09:45,940 --> 00:09:47,418 Thank you both. 175 00:09:47,418 --> 00:09:50,432 And to the PDA operations team and project management team for 176 00:09:50,432 --> 00:09:54,259 all the details they attended to make today happen. 177 00:09:54,259 --> 00:09:57,200 Now, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce 178 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,740 our current elected prosecutor, Leesa Manion, 179 00:09:59,740 --> 00:10:02,700 who deeply embodies the core values and principles 180 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:05,798 that underpin LEAD and whose continuing partnership 181 00:10:05,798 --> 00:10:07,820 we're so grateful to have. 182 00:10:07,820 --> 00:10:16,658 - Hello, everyone. 183 00:10:16,658 --> 00:10:19,546 It is such a great honor to be here with all of you 184 00:10:19,546 --> 00:10:23,320 celebrating 15 years of law enforcement assisted diversion 185 00:10:24,940 --> 00:10:28,283 15 years ago Seattle King County took an important step toward 186 00:10:28,283 --> 00:10:31,432 a different way of responding to people whose involvement 187 00:10:31,432 --> 00:10:34,748 with the criminal legal system stem from behavioral 188 00:10:34,748 --> 00:10:38,720 health needs like substance use, untreated trauma, and 189 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,037 other challenges. 190 00:10:40,037 --> 00:10:42,013 LEAD was one of the very first 191 00:10:42,013 --> 00:10:45,173 pre-booking diversion programs for people at 192 00:10:45,173 --> 00:10:48,600 high risk of committing law violations due to these 193 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,673 circumstances. And our community would not have 194 00:10:51,673 --> 00:10:55,163 taken this leap and we would not be here today if not 195 00:10:55,163 --> 00:10:57,000 for the vision of Lisa Daugaard. 196 00:10:58,100 --> 00:11:01,080 Thank you, Lisa, for your years of advocacy 197 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,220 and for your leadership in this space. 198 00:11:09,038 --> 00:11:12,038 Instead of relying solely on arrest and prosecution, 199 00:11:12,038 --> 00:11:16,759 LEAD created a new pathway toward services, support, 200 00:11:16,759 --> 00:11:19,850 connection and the opportunity to address 201 00:11:19,850 --> 00:11:24,057 circumstances underlying repeated system involvement. 202 00:11:24,057 --> 00:11:27,139 And from the beginning, LEAD was a true collaboration 203 00:11:27,139 --> 00:11:29,740 between law enforcement, behavioral health 204 00:11:29,740 --> 00:11:33,220 providers, prosecutors, and community groups. 205 00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:36,831 And I want to thank every single one of these partners who 206 00:11:36,831 --> 00:11:39,580 continue to make the work to make LEAD happen. 207 00:11:39,580 --> 00:11:42,038 It is a true team effort. 208 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:46,951 And what began as a local experiment and a singular belief 209 00:11:46,951 --> 00:11:50,423 that we could do better has grown and evolved into a model 210 00:11:50,423 --> 00:11:53,759 that has been adopted and adapted by jurisdictions across 211 00:11:53,759 --> 00:11:56,038 the country and beyond. 212 00:11:56,038 --> 00:11:59,913 That growth reflects the hard work and dedication of countless 213 00:11:59,913 --> 00:12:03,557 partners, including the hard work of people whose 214 00:12:03,557 --> 00:12:06,447 lives LEAD is intended to serve. 215 00:12:06,447 --> 00:12:10,110 LEAD has delivered real value in our community 216 00:12:10,110 --> 00:12:13,080 by helping stabilize and improve the life 217 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,219 circumstance of LEAD participants. 218 00:12:16,219 --> 00:12:19,557 This 15-year anniversary is a moment to 219 00:12:19,557 --> 00:12:22,543 recognize our shared history, our partnership, 220 00:12:22,543 --> 00:12:25,427 our challenges, and our growth and evolution in 221 00:12:25,427 --> 00:12:26,860 thinking and approach. 222 00:12:28,177 --> 00:12:32,024 Today's celebration is also a time for us to take stock of not 223 00:12:32,024 --> 00:12:35,816 only what we have accomplished, but also to recommit to 224 00:12:35,816 --> 00:12:39,340 our values as LEAD heads into its next 15 years. 225 00:12:40,340 --> 00:12:43,446 To continuing to learn what is possible when we center healing 226 00:12:43,446 --> 00:12:47,129 and recovery in our approach to addressing substance use 227 00:12:47,129 --> 00:12:50,990 and other underlying needs, to taking scrutiny head 228 00:12:50,990 --> 00:12:55,120 on with transparency and evidence based evaluation, 229 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,639 and to always seeking continuous improvement. 230 00:12:58,639 --> 00:13:02,440 That because in the end, that is what LEAD is all about. 231 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,918 The courage to pursue a different path 232 00:13:04,918 --> 00:13:07,820 in search of a better way to serve our community. 233 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,019 And we can all share in the pride of an idea 234 00:13:11,019 --> 00:13:15,120 that was born here that evolved to help inspire communities 235 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:19,480 far beyond our region to ask a fundamental question: 236 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:21,177 Is there a better way? 237 00:13:22,259 --> 00:13:26,220 Fifteen years later, that question and the value of LEAD 238 00:13:26,220 --> 00:13:30,379 has delivered and continues to guide and inspire us. 239 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:34,100 Congratulations to every single person 240 00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:36,220 who has been part of our LEAD journey, 241 00:13:36,220 --> 00:13:40,288 And thank you to everyone who has played a role, large 242 00:13:40,288 --> 00:13:44,543 or small, into turning an innovative Seattle idea into 243 00:13:44,543 --> 00:13:49,259 a movement of possibility, hope, connection, and recovery. 244 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:57,720 Thank you, Sam. 245 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:58,980 Good afternoon, everyone. 246 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:04,298 Well, it's a great pleasure to be here with you all. 247 00:14:04,298 --> 00:14:07,067 I just want to thank the panelists, the 248 00:14:07,067 --> 00:14:08,538 LEAD participants. 249 00:14:08,538 --> 00:14:09,379 You all were amazing. 250 00:14:09,379 --> 00:14:11,740 It was like half an hour of fighting back tears. 251 00:14:16,259 --> 00:14:19,412 Your stories are so inspiring and I think really just 252 00:14:19,412 --> 00:14:21,980 remind all of us why we do the work that we do. 253 00:14:21,980 --> 00:14:22,538 Thank you. 254 00:14:23,759 --> 00:14:25,620 I feel like everything's kind of been said, 255 00:14:25,620 --> 00:14:26,980 but I'm going to say it all again. 256 00:14:26,980 --> 00:14:32,259 So 15 years ago, right here in Seattle, 257 00:14:32,259 --> 00:14:36,177 Lisa Daugaard was fighting the war on drugs in our courtrooms. 258 00:14:36,177 --> 00:14:39,000 Seattle's West Precinct Captain at the time, Steve Brown, 259 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,259 asked her what she imagined a different approach 260 00:14:41,259 --> 00:14:42,798 could look like. 261 00:14:42,798 --> 00:14:45,000 The question brought together a group of people 262 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,158 who looked at a broken cycle and decided 263 00:14:47,158 --> 00:14:49,580 to build something different. 264 00:14:49,580 --> 00:14:52,200 Police, prosecutors, public defenders, 265 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:56,240 and community leaders sat down and asked a hard question. 266 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,320 What do we do when someone's contact 267 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,379 with the criminal legal system is rooted in addiction, 268 00:15:01,379 --> 00:15:03,918 mental illness, or poverty? 269 00:15:03,918 --> 00:15:07,177 What do we do when we know that jail isn't the answer? 270 00:15:07,177 --> 00:15:09,798 And everyone in the room knows that. 271 00:15:09,798 --> 00:15:13,778 And the answer was LEAD, law enforcement assisted diversion. 272 00:15:13,778 --> 00:15:17,139 And for 15 years, that answer has held up. 273 00:15:17,139 --> 00:15:18,960 It has spread across the country, 274 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,379 and it has answered crisis with connection. 275 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:24,480 I want to take a moment to recognize all the people 276 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,700 in this room who have made this possible. 277 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:29,379 And of course, there's too many of you to name individually, 278 00:15:29,379 --> 00:15:32,677 but to the city, county, and state elected leaders 279 00:15:32,677 --> 00:15:34,840 who helped to launch and support this work, 280 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:36,519 and to all the community advocates 281 00:15:36,519 --> 00:15:38,360 who have kept it going, thank you. 282 00:15:39,620 --> 00:15:41,000 Thank you for your continued partnership 283 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,899 and leadership on public safety. 284 00:15:43,899 --> 00:15:46,860 To our community leaders, service providers, 285 00:15:46,860 --> 00:15:49,100 case managers, and outreach workers, 286 00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:52,200 some of whom have been doing this work since day one, 287 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:52,658 thank you. 288 00:15:53,879 --> 00:15:56,480 And to our partners at Purpose Dignity Action, 289 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,216 the Seattle Police Department, and the King County 290 00:15:59,216 --> 00:16:02,100 Prosecuting Attorney's Office, this only works because 291 00:16:02,100 --> 00:16:05,418 you all have been willing to sit together year after 292 00:16:05,418 --> 00:16:07,580 year, even when it's hard. 293 00:16:07,580 --> 00:16:10,730 I want to be clear about why LEAD matters to me and why 294 00:16:10,730 --> 00:16:13,960 it matters to this city's approach to public safety. 295 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,379 Public safety isn't just one thing. 296 00:16:16,379 --> 00:16:20,009 It's the essential work of our first responders showing 297 00:16:20,009 --> 00:16:23,557 up when someone calls 9-1-1, but it's also prevention, 298 00:16:23,557 --> 00:16:26,546 it's also intervention, and it's also the upstream 299 00:16:26,546 --> 00:16:29,392 investments that mean fewer moments ever become 300 00:16:29,392 --> 00:16:30,918 crises in the first place. 301 00:16:30,918 --> 00:16:34,182 We know that we cannot arrest our way out of the challenges 302 00:16:34,182 --> 00:16:37,379 facing our neighborhoods, and we've never been able to. 303 00:16:37,379 --> 00:16:40,291 What we can do is build a system with more than one 304 00:16:40,291 --> 00:16:43,711 door, so that when someone is struggling, there's a path 305 00:16:43,711 --> 00:16:47,057 towards stability instead of just a path to a jail cell. 306 00:16:47,057 --> 00:16:51,177 And that's what LEAD has proven for 15 years and counting. 307 00:16:51,177 --> 00:16:54,216 It's harm reduction and case management built for 308 00:16:54,216 --> 00:16:57,072 people who don't always fit into office hours and 309 00:16:57,072 --> 00:16:58,200 appointment slots. 310 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,519 It's outreach in the neighborhoods where 311 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,687 people actually spend their time and it works. 312 00:17:03,687 --> 00:17:07,211 Independent researchers at the University of Washington 313 00:17:07,211 --> 00:17:09,880 have found that LEAD reduces rearrest and increases 314 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,548 rates of permanent housing for the people it serves. 315 00:17:12,548 --> 00:17:15,115 And that's not just a talking point that's 15 316 00:17:15,115 --> 00:17:18,044 years of evidence I also want to be honest with 317 00:17:18,044 --> 00:17:21,295 you today because that's what this moment deserves 318 00:17:21,295 --> 00:17:24,045 implementation of this model has faced real 319 00:17:24,045 --> 00:17:27,991 budget pressure in recent years and providers have had to 320 00:17:27,991 --> 00:17:32,180 do more with less I know this has not been easy for the case 321 00:17:32,180 --> 00:17:34,894 managers and outreach workers in this room but 322 00:17:34,894 --> 00:17:37,817 I also know that they have adapted and kept showing 323 00:17:37,817 --> 00:17:40,394 up for people because that's what LEAD 324 00:17:40,394 --> 00:17:44,019 practitioners have always done as we chart Seattle's 325 00:17:44,019 --> 00:17:46,557 public safety future together from expanding 326 00:17:46,557 --> 00:17:49,160 community violence intervention through CARE 327 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,112 to our approach in neighborhoods like Little Saigon and North 328 00:17:52,112 --> 00:17:55,539 Beacon Hill LEAD remains a critical and valued component 329 00:17:55,539 --> 00:17:56,462 of that work. 330 00:17:56,462 --> 00:17:58,307 LEAD is not a side program. 331 00:17:58,307 --> 00:18:00,240 It is an integral framework 332 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,458 of connection and recovery for how we respond to crisis with 333 00:18:03,458 --> 00:18:05,259 accountability and compassion. 334 00:18:06,298 --> 00:18:10,825 So on this 15th anniversary, my commitment to you is this: LEAD 335 00:18:10,825 --> 00:18:14,574 will continue to be a keystone as we build a comprehensive, 336 00:18:14,574 --> 00:18:17,798 diversified approach to public safety in Seattle, 337 00:18:17,798 --> 00:18:21,400 one where every neighbor gets the response they actually need. 338 00:18:22,420 --> 00:18:24,617 Now, as I close, I want to introduce someone 339 00:18:24,617 --> 00:18:26,700 whose office plays an essential role 340 00:18:26,700 --> 00:18:28,557 in making that vision real. 341 00:18:28,557 --> 00:18:30,519 She has been a steady partner in this work, 342 00:18:30,519 --> 00:18:32,798 from pursuing extreme-risk protection orders 343 00:18:32,798 --> 00:18:35,000 to keep guns out of dangerous hands 344 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,117 to standing behind the kind of creative, 345 00:18:37,117 --> 00:18:39,960 dignity-centered solutions that LEAD represents. 346 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:41,856 Please join me in welcoming Seattle City 347 00:18:41,856 --> 00:18:42,920 Attorney Erika Evans. 348 00:18:52,857 --> 00:18:54,880 Good afternoon, everyone. 349 00:18:56,837 --> 00:18:59,836 My name is Erika Evans, and I am your elected 350 00:18:59,836 --> 00:19:01,500 Seattle City Attorney. 351 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:02,160 I want to thank... 352 00:19:05,220 --> 00:19:05,880 Thank you. 353 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,038 Thank you, Mayor Wilson, for that introduction. 354 00:19:09,038 --> 00:19:11,940 And happy birthday to LEAD. 355 00:19:11,940 --> 00:19:15,363 You know, I've been a prosecutor at all levels, from serving as 356 00:19:15,363 --> 00:19:18,883 a city prosecutor at the Seattle City Attorney's Office to 357 00:19:18,883 --> 00:19:23,160 serving as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney's 358 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,314 Office. And what I've learned from 359 00:19:26,314 --> 00:19:31,117 practicing at all levels is that seeking justice does not mean 360 00:19:31,117 --> 00:19:35,053 simply prosecuting every single case that comes 361 00:19:35,053 --> 00:19:36,490 across your desk. 362 00:19:36,490 --> 00:19:38,885 Instead, seeking justice means 363 00:19:38,885 --> 00:19:42,400 using our discretion to determine what the right 364 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:43,307 approach is. 365 00:19:43,307 --> 00:19:45,862 And sometimes that right approach is 366 00:19:45,862 --> 00:19:49,057 going hard with traditional prosecution. 367 00:19:49,057 --> 00:19:52,000 And sometimes that right response 368 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,960 is actually having the courage to realize that 369 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,707 the underlying behavior is best addressed another 370 00:19:59,707 --> 00:20:03,278 way. Discretion is one of the most powerful tools 371 00:20:03,278 --> 00:20:05,519 the tools we have as prosecutors. 372 00:20:05,519 --> 00:20:09,480 And with that comes a great level of responsibility. 373 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:10,940 And you know what? 374 00:20:10,940 --> 00:20:14,276 Having the wisdom to understand this balance 375 00:20:14,276 --> 00:20:17,700 in our decision-making is what actually makes 376 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:22,117 our communities and our -- the people in our city safer. 377 00:20:22,117 --> 00:20:24,817 And that's what LEAD is exactly about. 378 00:20:26,380 --> 00:20:30,096 To be clear, LEAD and diversion is not us as 379 00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:34,880 prosecutors stepping away from our responsibility. 380 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:39,374 It means looking at a person as a whole and asking ourselves 381 00:20:39,374 --> 00:20:43,040 what is needed to break the cycle of addiction or 382 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,519 houselessness for this person. 383 00:20:45,519 --> 00:20:49,451 We heard from the panel how LEAD has been life changing, 384 00:20:49,451 --> 00:20:53,038 how it's given folks everything that they needed, 385 00:20:53,038 --> 00:20:54,919 gave them their life back. 386 00:20:56,019 --> 00:20:59,509 One of the most powerful parts of LEAD is the 387 00:20:59,509 --> 00:21:03,582 relationships that can develop over time between 388 00:21:03,582 --> 00:21:06,200 prosecutors and participants. 389 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,220 And that's what's happened with LEAD over these last 15 years. 390 00:21:10,220 --> 00:21:12,920 I want to recognize someone from my office. 391 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,557 Heather Amen, will you please stand? 392 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,798 Remain standing, Heather, please. 393 00:21:24,798 --> 00:21:25,117 Thank you. 394 00:21:26,940 --> 00:21:30,596 Heather has been tirelessly working, so committed to the 395 00:21:30,596 --> 00:21:32,577 mission and the spirit of LEAD. 396 00:21:33,857 --> 00:21:38,798 I want to give an example of how Heather specifically 397 00:21:38,798 --> 00:21:42,837 went from being a prosecutor against one of 398 00:21:42,837 --> 00:21:47,357 our LEAD case project managers, Johnny, who's here. 399 00:21:47,357 --> 00:21:48,317 Will you stand, Johnny? 400 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,380 All right. 401 00:21:53,380 --> 00:21:56,653 So what I'm trying to set up here is Heather went from 402 00:21:56,653 --> 00:22:00,076 being a prosecutor of Johnny to now being a place where 403 00:22:00,076 --> 00:22:03,351 Johnny and Heather work hand in hand together on the 404 00:22:03,351 --> 00:22:06,700 work they do for LEAD and the city attorney's office. 405 00:22:13,097 --> 00:22:17,489 So from going from prosecution to partners in the work 406 00:22:17,489 --> 00:22:21,000 we do that is powerful and a clear testament 407 00:22:22,220 --> 00:22:25,486 for what is possible when we have the courage 408 00:22:25,486 --> 00:22:28,836 to seek out the right response so I just want to 409 00:22:28,837 --> 00:22:29,700 Thank you, Heather. 410 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:30,617 Thank you, Johnny. 411 00:22:30,617 --> 00:22:31,480 Thank you, Lisa. 412 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,660 So much love and congratulations to the LEAD program 413 00:22:34,660 --> 00:22:37,500 and its 15-year anniversary birthday. 414 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:38,519 A hand of applause. 415 00:22:44,817 --> 00:22:45,259 All right. 416 00:22:45,259 --> 00:22:47,817 So the next person you're going to hear after my voice 417 00:22:47,817 --> 00:22:50,660 is Assistant Chief Robert Brown. 418 00:22:50,660 --> 00:22:51,640 Will you please stand? 419 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:57,401 OK, so Assistant Chief Brown has been in partnership with the 420 00:22:57,401 --> 00:23:02,226 LEAD program through a very long time and he started in the West 421 00:23:02,226 --> 00:23:07,200 Precinct in 2014 and through his leadership he has contributed 422 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,221 greatly to the vibrancy of LEAD's work with 423 00:23:10,221 --> 00:23:11,480 law enforcement. 424 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,766 He is a tremendous partner with the LEAD program and 425 00:23:14,766 --> 00:23:17,900 the framework of public safety in collaboration 426 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:20,298 in this city as a whole. 427 00:23:20,298 --> 00:23:23,519 He began as a patrol officer in the North Precinct in 428 00:23:23,519 --> 00:23:28,084 1996. He moved to the Ave in 2000 and joined 429 00:23:28,084 --> 00:23:30,038 the bicycle unit. 430 00:23:30,038 --> 00:23:33,688 He in 2026 was promoted to assistant 431 00:23:33,688 --> 00:23:38,980 chief and I was very insistent on getting a fun fact about 432 00:23:38,980 --> 00:23:42,200 assistant chief Brown, and the fun fact 433 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:48,038 that I received was that he and his wife for many, many years 434 00:23:48,038 --> 00:23:51,460 handcrafted their kids' Halloween costumes. 435 00:23:51,460 --> 00:23:54,880 And this includes sewing and making different 436 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,519 masks and head pieces. 437 00:23:57,519 --> 00:23:59,960 So some of their costume highlights 438 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:03,538 have been a character called Valka from How 439 00:24:03,538 --> 00:24:04,480 to Train Your Dragon. 440 00:24:05,857 --> 00:24:10,057 And a space alien costume that they created by hand 441 00:24:10,057 --> 00:24:12,480 that had six long-eyed tentacles. 442 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,278 But as kids are grown now, they're 13 and 25. 443 00:24:16,278 --> 00:24:17,519 I don't know if 13 is grown. 444 00:24:17,519 --> 00:24:19,077 It's absolutely not grown. 445 00:24:19,077 --> 00:24:21,298 So I'm curious if you're going to make your 13-year-old 446 00:24:21,298 --> 00:24:22,759 another costume this year. 447 00:24:24,420 --> 00:24:26,317 Okay, it's not cool anymore. 448 00:24:26,317 --> 00:24:27,920 Everyone give it up for Chief Brown. 449 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,259 So I want to thank Lisa and I want to thank LEAD 450 00:24:41,259 --> 00:24:43,597 for asking me to speak here this evening. 451 00:24:43,597 --> 00:24:45,557 And I'm going to tell you something, 452 00:24:45,557 --> 00:24:47,298 and I mean this from the bottom of my heart. 453 00:24:47,298 --> 00:24:51,113 You heard a lot of how LEAD has really affected and helped 454 00:24:51,113 --> 00:24:53,057 people get to a better place. 455 00:24:53,057 --> 00:24:56,076 I want to talk about my own personal growth from 456 00:24:56,076 --> 00:24:57,778 my involvement with LEAD. 457 00:24:57,778 --> 00:25:00,660 So you heard I joined the department in 1996. 458 00:25:00,660 --> 00:25:03,525 I wanted nothing more than to be a bicycle officer, and I 459 00:25:03,525 --> 00:25:06,759 was a very exuberant bicycle officer in the University 460 00:25:06,759 --> 00:25:10,720 District, the Ave of Seattle, and I prided myself on knowing 461 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,068 all the names and the faces of everybody who is 462 00:25:13,068 --> 00:25:14,680 regularly committing crimes. 463 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,163 And I would know exactly who was wanted, and I would go out 464 00:25:17,163 --> 00:25:18,380 there and I would find them. 465 00:25:18,380 --> 00:25:19,460 And I was very good at it. 466 00:25:19,460 --> 00:25:22,660 And that was my measure of success, was how many arrests. 467 00:25:22,660 --> 00:25:26,394 In fact, when I would come through the door of my house 468 00:25:26,394 --> 00:25:29,376 to see my kids, the first thing they would ask me is, 469 00:25:29,376 --> 00:25:31,200 how many arrests did you make today, Daddy? 470 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,240 And if it was like three or more, then it was like, woohoo! 471 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,826 But I realized something looking back at that is that I 472 00:25:37,826 --> 00:25:39,979 wasn't seeing the whole person. 473 00:25:39,980 --> 00:25:41,798 I was seeing a point in time. 474 00:25:41,798 --> 00:25:44,173 I was seeing the point in time where they'd 475 00:25:44,173 --> 00:25:46,606 broken the law or, I know, I was arresting them because 476 00:25:46,606 --> 00:25:47,660 they were wanted on a warrant. 477 00:25:47,660 --> 00:25:50,180 And I wasn't seeing the full story. 478 00:25:50,180 --> 00:25:52,884 So now let me fast forward to coming to, you 479 00:25:52,884 --> 00:25:55,690 mentioned in actually 2014, promoted to sergeant, 480 00:25:55,690 --> 00:25:56,837 moved to the West Precinct. 481 00:25:56,837 --> 00:25:59,707 I was still very skeptical, as many officers are when they 482 00:25:59,707 --> 00:26:01,200 first get involved with LEAD. 483 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,900 I was given the role of working with LEAD as a bicycle sergeant. 484 00:26:04,900 --> 00:26:08,538 And I can remember there was -- I actually can envision 485 00:26:08,538 --> 00:26:11,481 it in my mind where there was this guy -- I'm just going 486 00:26:11,481 --> 00:26:12,617 to refer to him as EK, okay? 487 00:26:12,617 --> 00:26:13,357 Those are initials. 488 00:26:14,380 --> 00:26:17,557 EK was contacted at 3rd and Pine. 489 00:26:17,557 --> 00:26:19,960 He was smoking his crack pipe in the entryway of one 490 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,159 of the businesses there. 491 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,357 And my officers had contacted him based on a complaint. 492 00:26:24,357 --> 00:26:27,210 And so back at that time, it was still a felony to be in 493 00:26:27,210 --> 00:26:28,798 possession of rock cocaine. 494 00:26:28,798 --> 00:26:31,076 And so they called me, and they said, well, 495 00:26:31,076 --> 00:26:32,380 what do we do, Sergeant? 496 00:26:32,380 --> 00:26:33,380 And I was like, what do you mean? 497 00:26:33,380 --> 00:26:34,500 Well, he's a LEAD client. 498 00:26:34,500 --> 00:26:35,617 I was like, it doesn't matter. 499 00:26:35,617 --> 00:26:36,259 Put him in jail. 500 00:26:37,357 --> 00:26:43,680 So I still hadn't seen the broader picture yet. 501 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,720 Where that first dawned on me was sitting in an 502 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,680 OWG, an organizational work group meeting. 503 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,107 That's where all of the different collaborators 504 00:26:52,107 --> 00:26:54,538 with LEAD come together and talk things through. 505 00:26:54,538 --> 00:26:57,326 Well, they brought up that EK had been successfully 506 00:26:57,326 --> 00:26:59,920 housed. I'm not going to, oh, forgive me, I'm not 507 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:01,759 going to retell this whole story. 508 00:27:01,759 --> 00:27:03,799 Many of you who have seen my trainings 509 00:27:03,799 --> 00:27:05,720 to officers, you've heard this whole story. 510 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,880 I'm not retelling that. 511 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,380 But he was no longer out there. 512 00:27:10,380 --> 00:27:12,557 I'd learned he'd been housed. 513 00:27:12,557 --> 00:27:16,082 I'm going to tell the other part of the story that I don't 514 00:27:16,082 --> 00:27:17,920 tell a room full of officers. 515 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,597 That was some years later, a few years later. 516 00:27:21,597 --> 00:27:22,680 EK was back out. 517 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,518 He was back out on the street and he fell right 518 00:27:24,518 --> 00:27:25,660 back into the same pattern. 519 00:27:25,660 --> 00:27:26,759 He relapsed, okay? 520 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:31,180 And he was out there committing crimes to support his addiction. 521 00:27:31,180 --> 00:27:34,644 One of those crimes was he broke the glass 522 00:27:34,644 --> 00:27:38,798 door of a store, a shop, took some items hastily and 523 00:27:38,798 --> 00:27:42,317 quickly went away with that to go turn them into 524 00:27:42,317 --> 00:27:43,778 cash to buy his drugs. 525 00:27:45,337 --> 00:27:49,182 So he was caught red-handed for burglary, commercial 526 00:27:49,182 --> 00:27:50,979 burglary, felony crime. 527 00:27:50,980 --> 00:27:53,500 He would have likely looked at well over a year. 528 00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:56,440 He had, the one thing, I didn't paint the full picture here, 529 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:59,201 but E.K., he'd had 25 years under his belt on the streets 530 00:27:59,201 --> 00:28:02,259 committing crime after crime after crime, low-level crimes 531 00:28:02,259 --> 00:28:05,019 typically, but he had enough points against him that he 532 00:28:05,019 --> 00:28:07,661 would have been looking at real time for this felony. 533 00:28:09,519 --> 00:28:12,547 I had taken his story, I had presented it at the roll calls, 534 00:28:12,547 --> 00:28:15,700 at the various trainings about, you know, the success of it. 535 00:28:16,940 --> 00:28:19,222 So I was really saddened when I heard that he 536 00:28:19,222 --> 00:28:20,240 was back out there. 537 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:24,651 However, LEAD was able to re-engage him, and he 538 00:28:24,651 --> 00:28:26,798 was set up for housing. 539 00:28:26,798 --> 00:28:30,500 And I realized that he's already being convicted of this felony. 540 00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:33,471 I need to do something about this because we can get his 541 00:28:33,471 --> 00:28:35,057 life back on the right track. 542 00:28:35,057 --> 00:28:36,880 So I wrote a letter. 543 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,316 I wrote it to Dan Satterberg, at that time King County 544 00:28:40,316 --> 00:28:43,673 prosecutor, and requested clemency or whatever he 545 00:28:43,673 --> 00:28:45,077 could do in this case. 546 00:28:45,077 --> 00:28:45,900 It worked. 547 00:28:45,900 --> 00:28:49,036 He did not, even though he'd been convicted, he did not 548 00:28:49,036 --> 00:28:50,636 go to prison for that crime. 549 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,402 And I was very happy to see that, by the way, for the 550 00:28:53,402 --> 00:28:56,298 remainder of his time, he was successfully housed. 551 00:28:56,298 --> 00:28:58,640 I actually remember the hotel up on Aurora. 552 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:02,900 And never out there, never causing any problems for us 553 00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:07,220 and leading a good life. 554 00:29:07,220 --> 00:29:09,440 The point that I want to make, he did pass away a 555 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:10,616 couple years ago, 556 00:29:11,798 --> 00:29:15,700 but the thing that was profound to me about that 557 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:18,857 is that the way he ended his... 558 00:29:18,857 --> 00:29:21,596 I was sad about that, but the way he ended his life, 559 00:29:21,597 --> 00:29:23,880 it wasn't in a jail cell or a prison, okay? 560 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,420 It wasn't in a dark alley all alone. 561 00:29:27,420 --> 00:29:33,078 He ended his life with dignity, with human connection, in 562 00:29:33,078 --> 00:29:35,440 a warm, dry, safe place. 563 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,920 That was a remarkable improvement. 564 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:39,519 That's the value of LEAD. 565 00:29:41,057 --> 00:29:41,500 Thank you. 566 00:29:50,460 --> 00:29:52,448 Young Rob Brown would have never written that letter 567 00:29:52,448 --> 00:29:54,117 arguing that somebody shouldn't go to jail. 568 00:29:57,057 --> 00:29:59,403 I'd like to welcome, actually let me just tell 569 00:29:59,403 --> 00:30:02,057 a little quick story here as I make my introduction. 570 00:30:02,057 --> 00:30:04,394 Natalie Walton Anderson, I remember going to those 571 00:30:04,394 --> 00:30:07,396 trainings that I talked about in the various precincts 572 00:30:07,396 --> 00:30:10,636 and whatnot, and I can remember listening to you 573 00:30:10,636 --> 00:30:13,596 talking to the officers and giving a very compelling 574 00:30:13,596 --> 00:30:15,880 argument for why they should embrace the LEAD. 575 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,979 She would hold up her hand and she'd say, "Okay, officers, 576 00:30:18,979 --> 00:30:22,210 think about your five most troublesome problematic repeat 577 00:30:22,210 --> 00:30:25,117 offenders that you're dealing with on a daily basis." 578 00:30:25,117 --> 00:30:27,557 She may have used the word like they're a pain in your what. 579 00:30:27,557 --> 00:30:30,836 And so she would hold up her hand, think of those five, 580 00:30:30,837 --> 00:30:33,376 imagine that two of them magically are gone. 581 00:30:33,380 --> 00:30:36,019 Kind of like the example I gave with EK, right? 582 00:30:36,019 --> 00:30:38,005 Two are gone, the other three, they're still doing everything 583 00:30:38,005 --> 00:30:40,077 they've always been doing and they keep doing that. 584 00:30:40,077 --> 00:30:43,038 But two are gone, isn't that a valuable program? 585 00:30:43,038 --> 00:30:44,460 And that is a compelling argument. 586 00:30:44,460 --> 00:30:46,640 I stole it immediately and used it 587 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:48,857 in all of my roll call trainings after that. 588 00:30:48,857 --> 00:30:51,200 All of my best ideas come from other people. 589 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,817 So Natalie Walton Anderson. 590 00:30:59,380 --> 00:31:04,857 Good afternoon, everyone. 591 00:31:07,038 --> 00:31:10,236 So my name is Natalie Walton Anderson, and I now serve 592 00:31:10,236 --> 00:31:13,357 as the Director of Community Service and Response. 593 00:31:13,357 --> 00:31:15,987 but first and foremost, I am here on behalf of the 594 00:31:15,987 --> 00:31:18,900 King County Executive, Girmay Zahilay, and 595 00:31:18,900 --> 00:31:20,500 his administration. 596 00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:23,336 And one thing that I want to share with all of the 597 00:31:23,336 --> 00:31:24,940 panel participants today 598 00:31:26,278 --> 00:31:29,136 is I'm going to sit down with him and share with him 599 00:31:29,140 --> 00:31:32,920 how impactful all of your stories were here today. 600 00:31:34,140 --> 00:31:36,720 So first and foremost, I'm here on behalf of the executive, 601 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,788 but coincidentally, and for those that don't know the 602 00:31:39,788 --> 00:31:43,096 inside joke, LEAD for life, I am also here as someone 603 00:31:43,096 --> 00:31:47,086 who has had the privilege of being part of the LEAD story 604 00:31:47,086 --> 00:31:49,259 for 13 of its 15-year history. 605 00:31:49,259 --> 00:31:52,604 So first, my duties, because I know you'll 606 00:31:52,604 --> 00:31:54,420 report back to my boss. 607 00:31:54,420 --> 00:31:57,471 One of the executives' core priorities is breaking 608 00:31:57,471 --> 00:32:00,597 the cycle of homelessness, substance use disorder, 609 00:32:00,597 --> 00:32:03,231 untreated behavioral health needs, and repeated 610 00:32:03,231 --> 00:32:05,731 involvement in the criminal legal system. 611 00:32:05,731 --> 00:32:08,470 Challenges that affect the health, the 612 00:32:08,470 --> 00:32:12,347 safety, and stability of our communities across King 613 00:32:12,347 --> 00:32:16,038 County. The executive has been very clear that we 614 00:32:16,038 --> 00:32:19,413 cannot continue the cycles of crisis that send our 615 00:32:19,413 --> 00:32:23,506 most vulnerable neighbors repeatedly through emergency 616 00:32:23,506 --> 00:32:26,939 rooms, jails, shelters, and the criminal legal system. 617 00:32:30,597 --> 00:32:33,920 Breaking those cycles requires partnership, 618 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:36,660 coordination across systems, and a willingness to measure 619 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,240 whether the things that we are investing in 620 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,179 are actually helping people achieve stability. 621 00:32:43,180 --> 00:32:46,670 And all of you that took time to share your stories 622 00:32:46,670 --> 00:32:50,672 proved that investing in systems like LEAD that achieve 623 00:32:50,672 --> 00:32:54,415 stability is some of the most important investments 624 00:32:54,415 --> 00:32:58,419 that we can all make, and sometimes they take a long time. 625 00:33:00,259 --> 00:33:02,615 LEAD is one of the many important examples of 626 00:33:02,615 --> 00:33:04,019 that kind of partnership. 627 00:33:04,019 --> 00:33:06,605 And for 15 years, as you all have heard during lots of the 628 00:33:06,605 --> 00:33:09,163 speakers today, LEAD has brought together community 629 00:33:09,163 --> 00:33:11,240 law enforcement, civil rights advocates, 630 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:13,342 government to create an alternative to the 631 00:33:13,342 --> 00:33:15,577 revolving door of the criminal legal system. 632 00:33:15,577 --> 00:33:18,439 And for a full decade, over a full decade, King County has 633 00:33:18,439 --> 00:33:21,439 provided that foundational investment and partnership to 634 00:33:21,439 --> 00:33:24,785 sustain and grow this work in Seattle, Burien and other 635 00:33:24,785 --> 00:33:26,357 parts of King County. 636 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:33,278 LEAD continues to receive significant county support 637 00:33:33,278 --> 00:33:35,617 through MIDD behavioral health sales tax. 638 00:33:35,617 --> 00:33:37,480 I think we're going to rename that to BRIDGE. 639 00:33:39,038 --> 00:33:40,557 The results really matter. 640 00:33:40,557 --> 00:33:44,365 And in 2025, LEAD served more than 1,100 641 00:33:44,365 --> 00:33:46,557 people in King County. 642 00:33:47,940 --> 00:33:49,240 Yeah, we should clap for that. 643 00:33:52,519 --> 00:33:56,298 And we know there are so many more that we need to serve. 644 00:33:58,019 --> 00:34:00,942 And LEAD does that using a case management model tailored 645 00:34:00,942 --> 00:34:02,500 to each participant's needs. 646 00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:06,640 And when I joined this program in 2013, it wasn't a case 647 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:10,951 management program that I had actually seen in any of our 648 00:34:10,951 --> 00:34:15,338 other court diversion programs or prison alternatives. 649 00:34:16,340 --> 00:34:17,878 So I am going to share a little bit. 650 00:34:17,878 --> 00:34:20,597 I know we are at time or over time, but I had the privilege 651 00:34:20,597 --> 00:34:22,503 of serving as one of the early LEAD 652 00:34:22,503 --> 00:34:24,418 prosecutorial liaisons. 653 00:34:24,418 --> 00:34:25,840 And I think that shout out to Heather 654 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:27,759 is well deserved, but I also want to shout out 655 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,860 my King County colleagues. 656 00:34:29,860 --> 00:34:31,059 I am your colleague again. 657 00:34:32,679 --> 00:34:34,896 Because I'm really proud to know that while 658 00:34:34,896 --> 00:34:37,300 I did see another OG in the room, Ian Goodhew, 659 00:34:38,699 --> 00:34:40,518 he did stop by. 660 00:34:40,518 --> 00:34:43,559 Mary Barbosa was my first mentor. 661 00:34:43,559 --> 00:34:45,860 And when she told me, Natalie, I'm 662 00:34:45,860 --> 00:34:47,418 recruiting you back from Family Support because 663 00:34:47,418 --> 00:34:49,398 you can do better work here, 664 00:34:49,398 --> 00:34:51,199 and you're going to work in this program. 665 00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:52,559 I'm like, "It's a diversion program. 666 00:34:52,559 --> 00:34:54,239 What am I actually going to be doing?" 667 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,260 And she's like, "Oh, trust me. 668 00:34:56,260 --> 00:34:58,300 There's a lot of work." 669 00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:01,119 And what started out as one prosecutorial liaison 670 00:35:01,119 --> 00:35:04,338 grew to three in the county, at the city as well, 671 00:35:04,340 --> 00:35:07,280 and I'm really proud of that. 672 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:09,909 What I'm more proud of, though, is I was able to use my 673 00:35:09,909 --> 00:35:12,820 prosecutorial discretion under Norm Maleng 674 00:35:12,820 --> 00:35:16,920 and Dan Satterberg to do something different. 675 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:19,338 And when I was applying to law school, 676 00:35:19,340 --> 00:35:22,320 a lot of people said, Natalie, you're a black female, 677 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:23,978 you should become a defense attorney. 678 00:35:23,980 --> 00:35:26,659 And no shade to the defense attorneys in this room, 679 00:35:26,659 --> 00:35:28,659 but when I talked to my two previous bosses, 680 00:35:28,659 --> 00:35:31,780 they said, you can do more inside the system 681 00:35:31,780 --> 00:35:33,699 than you can do outside of it. 682 00:35:34,739 --> 00:35:36,695 And while I've come to learn that that may be true 683 00:35:36,695 --> 00:35:38,969 and may not be true, I am really proud to be 684 00:35:38,969 --> 00:35:40,579 a part of those changes. 685 00:35:40,579 --> 00:35:44,690 And I really do appreciate those case managers that 686 00:35:44,690 --> 00:35:48,226 still, every couple of months, send me a text 687 00:35:48,226 --> 00:35:50,518 message that makes me smile. 688 00:35:50,518 --> 00:35:53,018 Especially, they seem to come on the hardest days. 689 00:35:53,018 --> 00:35:55,599 That say, do you remember so-and-so? 690 00:35:55,599 --> 00:35:57,699 That person is now married. 691 00:35:57,699 --> 00:35:59,760 They've reunited with their children. 692 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:01,139 They just got a certain degree. 693 00:36:01,139 --> 00:36:03,500 they are helping others. 694 00:36:03,500 --> 00:36:09,539 And it really means something to me, even 13 years later. 695 00:36:18,460 --> 00:36:21,583 So obviously I'm an early supporter of 696 00:36:21,583 --> 00:36:24,175 the LEAD principles, but I'm also LEAD's 697 00:36:24,175 --> 00:36:24,960 toughest critic. 698 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:27,960 And those of you in the room know that. 699 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:32,146 I am determined to make sure that any system, any program, 700 00:36:32,146 --> 00:36:35,547 anything that we touch is better because our clients deserve 701 00:36:35,547 --> 00:36:37,960 that, our community deserves that, and I'm 702 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:40,873 proud to work for the executive that wants to make 703 00:36:40,873 --> 00:36:44,420 sure it is very clear that we have measured results for the 704 00:36:44,420 --> 00:36:45,820 programs that we are investing in. 705 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:50,405 So, I also think it's important to remember 706 00:36:50,405 --> 00:36:52,119 the core values of LEAD. 707 00:36:52,119 --> 00:36:54,487 That LEAD was here to address the racial disparities 708 00:36:54,487 --> 00:36:56,639 that were happening in terms of drug possession 709 00:36:56,639 --> 00:36:59,300 and drug delivery arrest, and we cannot forget that. 710 00:37:06,079 --> 00:37:09,067 But we have to be transparent about where the program is 711 00:37:09,067 --> 00:37:11,980 going, what's working, and more importantly, be 712 00:37:11,980 --> 00:37:14,820 loud about what isn't so we can shore up those gaps. 713 00:37:14,820 --> 00:37:17,822 And we must respect the autonomy of our clients that 714 00:37:17,822 --> 00:37:19,358 we serve and their wishes. 715 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:23,498 And we must respect the autonomy and expertise of 716 00:37:23,498 --> 00:37:25,719 every partner in the room. 717 00:37:25,719 --> 00:37:27,905 And I have to tell you that the thing that impresses me 718 00:37:27,905 --> 00:37:30,498 most, and you all reminded me of it today, and thank 719 00:37:30,498 --> 00:37:33,373 you, is not our electeds and their political 720 00:37:33,373 --> 00:37:36,177 support, although they're very important, 721 00:37:36,177 --> 00:37:37,559 especially to budget. 722 00:37:37,559 --> 00:37:42,579 It's not the project management team, it is the clients. 723 00:37:44,380 --> 00:37:47,083 And it's also the case managers who have done 724 00:37:47,083 --> 00:37:50,427 the most amazing things, as Brandy said so well, 725 00:37:50,427 --> 00:37:52,518 can't even write about it. 726 00:37:59,579 --> 00:38:01,780 The people doing this work every day, meeting 727 00:38:01,780 --> 00:38:04,483 people where they are, building those relationships 728 00:38:04,483 --> 00:38:07,380 and offering dignity that other systems have taken away 729 00:38:07,380 --> 00:38:09,710 and helping people find a different path that 730 00:38:09,710 --> 00:38:12,039 is the heart of LEAD and that's where we should 731 00:38:12,039 --> 00:38:14,594 focus all of our resources in terms of that case 732 00:38:14,594 --> 00:38:17,280 management client support services and housing 733 00:38:20,039 --> 00:38:24,072 so that is also consistent where Executive Zahilay 734 00:38:24,072 --> 00:38:27,239 and the county want to go This administration is 735 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:30,358 recommitted to the principles of LEAD and the principles that 736 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:34,070 go to breaking the cycle and to strengthening the performance 737 00:38:34,070 --> 00:38:36,420 and accountability of the work that we fund. 738 00:38:36,420 --> 00:38:39,652 And that means continuing to develop meaningful metrics and 739 00:38:39,652 --> 00:38:42,885 outcomes to understand what is working, where there are 740 00:38:42,885 --> 00:38:44,699 gaps, and how we can improve. 741 00:38:44,699 --> 00:38:46,869 The goal should be to demonstrate the coordinated 742 00:38:46,869 --> 00:38:48,679 responses like LEAD are helping break the 743 00:38:48,679 --> 00:38:50,918 cycles of substance use, behavioral health 744 00:38:50,918 --> 00:38:53,400 needs, homelessness, and repeated involvement 745 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:55,380 in the criminal legal system. 746 00:38:55,380 --> 00:38:59,018 And LEAD cannot and should not do that work alone. 747 00:38:59,018 --> 00:39:01,547 Its strength is also in how it connects to 748 00:39:01,547 --> 00:39:04,518 other community-based organizations, health 749 00:39:04,518 --> 00:39:07,719 providers, housing providers, behavioral health services, 750 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:09,380 law enforcement, prosecutors. 751 00:39:09,380 --> 00:39:11,259 You get tired from all the partnerships. 752 00:39:11,260 --> 00:39:14,239 But the most effective way that we can connect those 753 00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:17,081 pieces and how LEAD can connect those pieces, the 754 00:39:17,081 --> 00:39:20,199 stronger King County's collective response will be. 755 00:39:21,679 --> 00:39:25,228 So 15 years is an extraordinary milestone, but the real 756 00:39:25,228 --> 00:39:27,079 measure is the next 15 years. 757 00:39:28,719 --> 00:39:31,918 will not simply be how long LEAD continues, 758 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,958 it will be whether we remain focused on the people 759 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:38,119 at the center of the work and whether we are honest 760 00:39:38,119 --> 00:39:41,639 about what is working and what needs to improve. 761 00:39:41,639 --> 00:39:44,579 Whether we can continue to respect every partner's role 762 00:39:44,579 --> 00:39:47,958 and whether we can demonstrate the meaningful outcomes. 763 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:51,460 So today, on behalf of Executive Zahilay and King County 764 00:39:51,460 --> 00:39:53,099 and all of the departments in King County 765 00:39:53,099 --> 00:39:55,853 that support this work and personally as someone 766 00:39:55,853 --> 00:39:58,539 who feels privileged and fortunate to be part of 767 00:39:58,539 --> 00:40:01,434 this work I want to say thank you thank you to our 768 00:40:01,434 --> 00:40:04,179 frontline case managers thank you to our law 769 00:40:04,179 --> 00:40:07,157 enforcement partners community leaders prosecutors city 770 00:40:07,157 --> 00:40:09,480 of Seattle King County colleagues our elected 771 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:12,793 officials and most importantly thank you to the people who have 772 00:40:12,793 --> 00:40:16,416 trusted this program enough to let us walk alongside 773 00:40:16,416 --> 00:40:20,630 you. Here's to 15 years of impact and the vital 774 00:40:20,630 --> 00:40:24,795 work ahead as King County continues to invest in proven 775 00:40:24,795 --> 00:40:28,025 community-based approaches to breaking the cycle. 776 00:40:28,025 --> 00:40:32,114 And now I would like to welcome Simone 777 00:40:32,114 --> 00:40:35,978 and Malika as our next speakers. 778 00:40:49,739 --> 00:40:52,998 Hi, my name is Malika Lamont, and I want to thank everybody 779 00:40:52,998 --> 00:40:54,759 for being here today. 780 00:40:54,759 --> 00:40:57,643 The LEAD model has been incredibly compelling to me 781 00:40:57,643 --> 00:40:59,320 long before I ever came to PDA. 782 00:41:00,539 --> 00:41:03,760 Mentors that have been and continue to be influential 783 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:07,199 in my life, Kris Nyrop, one of the original designers of 784 00:41:07,199 --> 00:41:11,000 the model, and Eileen Corcoran, a person with lived experience 785 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,998 and the daughter of a law enforcement officer. 786 00:41:13,998 --> 00:41:18,047 Eileen developed the LEAD model of care as a part of 787 00:41:18,047 --> 00:41:21,396 her MSW, a model of care that recognizes and values 788 00:41:21,396 --> 00:41:24,099 the expertise of people with lived experience of 789 00:41:24,099 --> 00:41:27,192 substance use, homelessness, incarceration, and the 790 00:41:27,192 --> 00:41:30,554 violence that often comes with these experiences. 791 00:41:30,554 --> 00:41:33,309 She also became a LEAD case manager 792 00:41:33,309 --> 00:41:34,353 at one point. 793 00:41:34,353 --> 00:41:36,896 Although not one of my mentors, a great 794 00:41:36,896 --> 00:41:39,534 person from the Seattle community and one of 795 00:41:39,534 --> 00:41:42,179 the original community organizers that helped 796 00:41:42,179 --> 00:41:44,498 to bring community voice into the creation of 797 00:41:44,498 --> 00:41:47,532 LEAD, of the LEAD model, KL Shannon, rest her soul. 798 00:41:47,532 --> 00:41:51,898 Originally I was skeptical of this model, this whole endeavor, 799 00:41:53,119 --> 00:41:55,306 and I offered to recon Kris when I found out 800 00:41:55,306 --> 00:41:57,679 who he was going to have to sit at the table with, 801 00:41:57,679 --> 00:42:00,858 because I was like, I was a syringe exchange coordinator. 802 00:42:00,858 --> 00:42:02,059 I'll be transparent. 803 00:42:02,059 --> 00:42:05,579 Anyway, and I was like, I don't know about that, sir. 804 00:42:05,579 --> 00:42:09,963 And I moved to being a person that was seeking to get this 805 00:42:09,963 --> 00:42:12,059 model in my own community. 806 00:42:12,059 --> 00:42:17,494 And eventually I came to PDA and initiated the first LEAD 807 00:42:17,494 --> 00:42:22,119 initiative outside of Seattle in King County in Burien 808 00:42:22,119 --> 00:42:25,199 to leading a team of people that has supported 809 00:42:25,199 --> 00:42:28,025 communities around the state of Washington to 810 00:42:28,025 --> 00:42:29,329 replicate the model. 811 00:42:29,329 --> 00:42:31,407 It is possible to achieve public 812 00:42:31,407 --> 00:42:34,358 safety through trying something different, 813 00:42:35,378 --> 00:42:38,873 collaborating together, valuing people with lived 814 00:42:38,873 --> 00:42:42,235 experience, and working with the people facing tough 815 00:42:42,235 --> 00:42:45,400 circumstances to provide support and care in a way that 816 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:47,460 creates more safety for all of us. 817 00:42:47,460 --> 00:42:50,478 In the greater King County work, we will continue 818 00:42:50,478 --> 00:42:53,657 to lean into our partnerships and grow together with smaller 819 00:42:53,657 --> 00:42:57,449 communities as we work with them to achieve public safety through 820 00:42:57,449 --> 00:43:00,838 care. We look forward to further partnering with King 821 00:43:00,838 --> 00:43:04,617 County to explore ways to bring the LEAD model support to people 822 00:43:04,617 --> 00:43:08,367 that use King County Transit, the drivers, and law enforcement 823 00:43:08,367 --> 00:43:11,458 by working to build a right-sized response and bring 824 00:43:11,458 --> 00:43:13,458 a meaningful change. 825 00:43:14,599 --> 00:43:16,139 And now I'd like to pass it to Simone. 826 00:43:21,277 --> 00:43:23,418 Thank you so much, Malika. 827 00:43:23,418 --> 00:43:24,277 Hi, everyone. 828 00:43:24,277 --> 00:43:25,699 My name is Simone Walcott. 829 00:43:25,699 --> 00:43:28,219 I'm the Seattle LEAD Program Director. 830 00:43:28,219 --> 00:43:30,438 And those of you who know me know that I 831 00:43:30,438 --> 00:43:31,797 love public speaking. 832 00:43:31,797 --> 00:43:33,259 It's my favorite thing to do. 833 00:43:34,518 --> 00:43:37,699 But, you know, unfortunately, seeing that time is what it is, 834 00:43:37,699 --> 00:43:40,775 we unfortunately do not have time for me to deliver 835 00:43:40,775 --> 00:43:42,018 what I had prepared. 836 00:43:42,018 --> 00:43:45,338 So I'm so sorry you're missing out on that. 837 00:43:45,338 --> 00:43:47,297 But we have incredible food. 838 00:43:47,297 --> 00:43:50,929 We also have a really amazing project that Sam and Ashley 839 00:43:50,929 --> 00:43:53,978 stayed up until like midnight working on last night. 840 00:43:53,978 --> 00:43:56,559 So really encourage you all to check that out. 841 00:43:56,559 --> 00:43:58,418 And just a huge shout out to all of you being here. 842 00:43:58,418 --> 00:44:00,875 Like this work is so important and we can only do the things 843 00:44:00,875 --> 00:44:03,202 that we do because we all work collectively from 844 00:44:03,202 --> 00:44:04,619 our respective disciplines. 845 00:44:04,619 --> 00:44:07,639 So thank you all so much for coming out here on a Monday 846 00:44:07,639 --> 00:44:08,978 afternoon to spend time with us. 847 00:44:08,978 --> 00:44:11,539 And yeah, get food, enjoy, talk. 848 00:44:11,539 --> 00:44:12,139 Thank you so much. 849 00:44:19,458 --> 00:44:20,599 Thank you.