-- GOOD MORNING. THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT'S 9:35 A.M. AUGUST
11th, 2026 ON ROBERT KETTLE,
CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
-- GOOD HERE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
EXCUSED.
-- CHAIR KETTLE HERE.
-- THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS
PRESENT. SORRY. FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT. ONE NON MEMBER PRESENT.
ONE EXCUSED.
-- YES. THANK YOU. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA EXCUSED. I
DID HAVE.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO START. OKAY.
HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. FIRST
THINGS, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
EXCUSED. DID HAVE CONVERSATION
WITH HER ON SOME OF THE ISSUES
RELATED TO THE TOPICS ON THE
AGENDA, WHICH I'LL FOLLOW UP ON
AT DIFFERENT POINTS. THANK HER
FOR THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO
WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
WHO'S OBVIOUSLY HERE FOR THE
AGENDA ITEM, BUT ALSO
IMPORTANTLY FOR THIS FIRST
AGENDA ITEM. AND OBVIOUSLY
WELCOME TO STAY DURING THE
COURSE OF THE HARBORVIEW MEDICAL
DECLINE PRESENTATION AS WELL.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO A CHAIR
COMMENT THIS MORNING, BUT I DID
WANT TO BECAUSE THIS THURSDAY IS
GOING TO BE 20 YEARS SINCE THE
END OF THE WATCH FOR OFFICER
LIDO BARBER, WHO LOST HIS LIFE
20 YEARS AGO. THIS THURSDAY,
THERE WILL BE AN EVENT TO
COMMEMORATE IT AT THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY CENTER OF SEATTLE ON
MARTIN LUTHER KING WAY SOUTH AND
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO REMEMBER OFFICER BARBER SIX,
EIGHT, NINE, SEVEN.
THANK YOU. OFFICER BARBER'S
NAME IS ON THE WALL NEXT DOOR
ACROSS THE STREET AT THE
HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OKAY.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
AND SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE'LL NOW
OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE CLERK. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR TODAY?
-- CURRENTLY, WE HAVE THREE
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND
ONE REMOTE.
-- OKAY, EACH PERSON WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES AND WE'LL START
WITH THE IN PERSON, OF COURSE.
AND CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 60
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
TIME A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS
MICS WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO
NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. ON
THE LIST, THE FIRST IN-PERSON
SPEAKER IS HANNAH ZIFF, TO BE
FOLLOWED BY STEVE RUSCELLO.
-- THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
-- I'M FROM PIONEER SQUARE.
I'M INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE
THE CITY IS A LOCKABLE AND
BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT'S NOT EMPTY,
AND IT'S GREAT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES. I'VE BEEN DOING A
LOT OF ATTENTION SINCE THE END
OF JULY TO THE CITY COUNCIL, SO
I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME
POINT. SYSTEM. WHAT PROGRESS HAS
BEEN MADE ABOUT HIRING THE TEAM
TO INSTALL THE SECURITY CAMERAS?
I KNOW THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG
DEAL IN THE BUDGET MEETING, SO
HOPEFULLY THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST
A CONVERSATION AROUND THAT. WAS
THE MEETING BETWEEN KETTLE AND
AI LEADERS FRUITFUL FOR FINDING
MORE TOOLS TO TRACK SHOOTERS AND
THE LIKE. I KNOW I WROTE YOU A
COMMENT ABOUT MAYBE MEETING.
-- WITH ZUCKERBERG BECAUSE THEIR
SOFTWARE WAS PRECEDED. WHAT WE
SEE NOW IN AI, AND HE INVEST A
LOT INTO OUR CITY. WHAT IF SMALL
BUSINESSES WERE SURVEYED ABOUT
HOW TO SOLVE CRIME AND OTHER
ANTAGONISM AROUND AND TOWARDS
THEIR BUSINESSES? BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF STATISTICS AND
RESOURCES PUT INTO GATHERING
STATISTICS, AND I THINK IT COULD
BE REALLY EFFICIENT TO JUST ASK
SMALL BUSINESSES WHO'S DOING
CRIME, YOU KNOW, SEATTLE POLICE,
I'M TOLD, USED TO BE TOP PAID
IN THE STATE AT ONE POINT. I'M
NOT SURE IF THAT'S TRUE.
HOPEFULLY IT IS STILL TRUE. THE
CITY SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE IS
CONSISTENTLY LISTED AS ONE OF
THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- STEVE ROB TO BE FOLLOWED BY
ANDREA SUAREZ.
-- WE NEED A BETTER SEATTLE. I
DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT IT YET.
I WAS AROUND FOR THE BEGINNING
OF THE BITE. SOME OF YOU MAY NOT
REMEMBER THAT IT STARTED AT
GREEN LAKE AND ONE OF THE
CONSTANT PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH
THE BITE OF SEATTLE WAS THE
NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS THERE.
OF COURSE, THE BITE WANTED FEW
OR NONE, AND THE GREEN LAKE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL WAS PROBABLY
THE LEADING ADVOCATE TO SUPPORT
THE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE
NUMBERS THAT THE. THE CITY
ACTUALLY WANTED THEIR. AND I
THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE
NEED TO LOOK AT, NOT JUST THE
COMMUNICATIONS, BUT DO WE HAVE A
REAL PLAN THAT ACTUALLY HAS A
GOOD CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING? I DO
REMEMBER ONE MORNING COMING TO
THE BITE AND OUR ARTS AND CRAFTS
FAIR RAN AT THE SAME TIME, AND
DISCOVERING THAT ALL THE NIGHT
POLICE OFFICERS HAD BEEN
CANCELED FOR PRIVATE SECURITY.
TOOK ME A LITTLE WHILE, BUT I
FOUND OUT THEY ALSO CANCELED THE
ONE FOR THE ARTS AND CRAFTS
FAIR. NOW, SOME OF THE OFFICERS
WERE QUITE ACCOMMODATING, AND WE
DID GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. BUT
I KNOW THAT THE BITE HAS NEVER
REALLY WANTED TO PAY FOR THE
REAL COSTS. MY HOPE IS THAT WE
WILL ADD THOSE SQUADS AGAIN SO
THAT THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY BE A
REAL POLICE FORCE. WE'RE NOT
LOOKING FOR A GESTAPO. WE'RE NOT
LOOKING FOR REAL HEAVY HAND. BUT
WE ARE ASKING THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO COMMIT CRIMES ACTUALLY GO TO
JAIL. I'M SURPRISED THE JAIL
ISN'T EMPTY WITH THE CRIMES I
SEE AND NOTHING HAPPENING
-- THANK YOU.
-- GOOD MORNING. ANDREA FROM WE
HEART SEATTLE. WE FILLED YOUR
CHAMBERS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH
MEN AND WOMEN IN RECOVERY WHO
ARREST SAVED THEIR LIVES. AND WE
PRESENTED YOU DATA FROM THE
WASHINGTON POLICY CENTER THAT
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED
DIVERSION PROGRAM IS A SCAM.
IT'S NOW A NATIONAL NEWS STORY
YOU NOW HAVE IN YOUR INBOX THE
INFORMATION FROM WASHINGTON
POLICY CENTER THAT LISA DUGARD
AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN FACTUALLY
PRESENTING THE DATA FOR YEARS,
TAKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FROM US. LIVES HAVE BEEN
LOST TO THE TUNE OF 2000 SINCE
IMPLEMENTING LEAD. IT DOESN'T
WORK YET. YOU STILL VOTED TO
EXPAND INFIELD PRE-BOOKING
HANDOFFS. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
IT'S NOT WORKING. WE GAVE YOU
THE DATA AND THE MEDIA IS HERE
AND EVERYBODY HAS THE STUDY NOW.
AND YOU GUYS PASSED SOMETHING
THAT YOU WERE PRESENTED DATA
THAT CLEARLY SHOWED IT DOESN'T
WORK. WE CAN ALSO LOOK OUTSIDE
AND SEE WHERE NUMBER FOUR AND
OVERDOSE DEATHS. WE'RE NUMBER
ONE IN HOMELESSNESS GROWTH BY
418%. WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN
HOSPITAL RESPONSE. WE'RE NUMBER
ONE IN RETAIL THEFT. LISA
DAUGAARD GETS TO PUT PEOPLE IN A
HOTEL AND ALLOW THEM TO SMOKE
FENTANYL AND HAND THEM THE FOIL
AND THE GLASS PIPES TO CONTINUE
TO DO IT WHILE RIPPING ME AND
YOU ALL OFF. SO TAKE A LOOK AT
YOUR INBOX AND PLEASE REVERSE
EXPANDING THE LEAD STOP LEAD NOW
TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I WAS
IN BALLARD YESTERDAY. I SAW
LAWNMOWER MAN. HE SAYS HELLO. I
BOUGHT HIS TABS FOR HIM AGAIN.
WE'RE BOTH WONDERING WHERE THIS
OTHER $5 MILLION IN RV OUTREACH
GOES. WE ASK YOU TO BRING IN
OTHER OUTSIDE VOICES. NOT JEN,
NOT THE OLD GUARD. BRING IN SOME
NEW VOICES TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR
RV LEGISLATION. STORING RVS THAT
ARE DILAPIDATED WHILE SOMEBODY
GETS FREE HOUSING IS WRONG.
PUTTING DILAPIDATED RVS ANYWHERE
IN OUR CITY, EVEN IN AN
INDUSTRIAL AREA, IS WRONG.
THEY'RE BLOWING UP. THEY'RE
TRAFFICKING CHILDREN, DRUGS,
STRIPPING WIRES, RIPPING OFF OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND THEY'RE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. SO PLEASE
BRING IN WHITEHEART OR OTHER
OUTSIDE VOICES TO HELP YOU FINE
TUNE YOUR LEGISLATION. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU
-- AND NEXT WE HAVE CLIVE
HAYWARD.
-- CLIVE HAYWARD, THE EMERGENCY
SERVICES UNIT, IS A SEATTLE
CENTER UNIFORMED SECURITY FORCE.
ITS OFFICERS PATROL THE
WATERFRONT. THEY DO NOT WEAR
BODY CAMERAS. ON JUNE 4th, I
SENT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
A CLAIM ABOUT TWO YEARS.
OFFICERS WHO ASSAULTED ME ON THE
PROMENADE THE WEEK EARLIER, I
WROTE THAT THEIR RECKLESS
ENDANGERMENT NOT ONLY ENDANGER
ME, BUT THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES.
HAD IT BEEN DIRECTED AT SOMEONE
LESS COMMITTED TO DE-ESCALATION
THAN I WAS, I ASKED FOR THE UNIT
TO BE RETRAINED. NOTHING WAS
DONE. ON AUGUST 6th, THE SAME
TWO OFFICERS TRIED TO DETAIN A
PEDICAB DRIVER AND ESU SERGEANT
WAS INJURED AND HAS BEEN OFF
DUTY FOR MORE THAN NINE MONTHS
SEATTLE POLICE FOUND NO PROBABLE
CAUSE TO DETAIN THE DRIVER ON
DECEMBER 5th. SEATTLE CENTER'S
OWN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
WROTE, QUOTE, IT IS NOT WITHIN
THE ISSUES OFFICER'S AUTHORITY
TO DETAIN, WITH OR WITHOUT
FORCE, SHE WROTE. THEIR ACTIONS
WERE, QUOTE, CONSIDERED UNLAWFUL
ACTIONS, AND SHE WROTE THAT THEY
WOULD NOT BE DISCIPLINED
BECAUSE, QUOTE, THE ALLEGATION
THAT THEY THAT THEY WERE NOT
PREVIOUSLY TRAINED TO THIS
STANDARD. SINCE THAT CLAIM, I'VE
TAKEN THIS TO THE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE RISK
MANAGEMENT, TWO MAYOR'S OFFICES,
THIS COUNCIL, THE OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS, ONE BODY PRODUCED A
RESULT. THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUED A
SUPERVISORY ACTION AGAINST
SEATTLE POLICE FOR FAILING TO
COLLECT EVIDENCE. IT HAS NO
JURISDICTION OVER THE OFFICERS
WHO ASSAULTED ME. ONE OF THOSE
OFFICERS WAS PROMOTED WHEN AND
HOW WILL THE ASSAULT AGAINST ME
BE RESOLVED?
-- THANK YOU, MR. HAYWARD.
-- THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
HOLLY WILLIS, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
DAVID HAINES. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX.
-- GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HOLLY WILLIS
AND I'M THE POLICY MANAGER FOR
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS.
COMMENTING TODAY ON THE PROPOSED
SUITE OF LEGISLATION REGARDING
PEOPLE LIVING IN RVS. WE
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
INTENTION TO CREATE ADDITIONAL
SERVICES THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN
RVS NEED TO SURVIVE AND MOVE
INTO SHELTER AND HOUSING WHEN
IT'S AVAILABLE. WE SUPPORT THE
WORK TO DEVELOP SAFE, SAFE LOTS,
STORAGE AND ADDITIONAL SHELTER
AND HOUSING FOR ALL PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
INCLUDING PEOPLE LIVING IN RVS
AND OTHER VEHICLES. HOWEVER, WE
HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT
THE PERMITTING PROCESS. OVERALL,
THE ONE TIME NATURE OF IT AND
WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE TO
PEOPLE WHO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GET A PERMIT, LOSE THEIR
PERMIT OR BECOME HOMELESS AND
START LIVING IN AN RV AFTER THE
PERMITTING PROCESS IS CLOSED.
WE'RE CONCERNED THAT AS IT'S
CURRENTLY CONCEPTUALIZED, IT
WOULD BE PUNITIVE AND NOT
HELPFUL TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO
SHELTER AND HOUSING. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND ALL OF
YOU WITH DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDERS AS YOU CONTINUE TO
WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION. THANK
YOU
-- AND LAST UP, WE HAVE DAVID
HAYNES.
-- HI. THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES.
WHEN YOU EXEMPT MISDEMEANOR DRUG
CRIMES, YOU ESCALATE VIOLENCE
BETWEEN RIVAL DRUG GANGS.
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY IS
REPEATING THE SAME FAILURES OF
HER BOSS, PETE HOLMES, AND THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS LOOKED THE
OTHER WAY AND SIGNED OFF ON THE
SAME BAD POLICIES THAT ARE BAKED
INTO THE BUDGET, THAT LINE THE
POCKETS OF CORRUPT NONPROFITS
THAT PAY FELONS TO RUN
INTERFERENCE FOR FELONS, AND
THEN CLAIM THAT THEY'RE HAVING
SUCCESS DIALING DOWN HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE BEING INCARCERATED
BECAUSE THEY'RE LITERALLY
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR THEM.
YOU CAN TELL SEATTLE'S IN A LOT
OF TROUBLE BECAUSE OUR LEADERS
KEEP LYING TO THEMSELVES AND TO
US BY CLAIMING THAT VIOLENCE IS
PROLIFIC ALL THROUGHOUT THE
NATION, YET THE ENTIRE NATION IS
BASING THEIR POLICE REFORM ON
WHAT SEATTLE SABOTAGE DID IN
2012. AND SINCE THEN, WHERE THEY
PURPOSELY MISCONSTRUED WHAT
CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL EXEMPTED
DRUG CRIMES FROM JAIL, AND THEN
YOU ALLOWED ESCALATIONS OF
VIOLENCE. AND THEN ONE OF VIRTUE
SIGNAL HOW YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY
THE GUNS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AS
IF THEY'RE THE BIGGEST THREAT.
BUT YET YOU KEEP LYING TO US
ABOUT AN ADULT WHO MISGUIDED A
YOUTH. YET WHEN YOU DEAL WITH
THE YOUTH, YOU DON'T DEAL WITH
THE ADULTS. YOU JUST HIDE BEHIND
THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE HELPING
THEM STAY OUT OF JAIL, MAKING
SURE THEY DON'T GET PROPERLY
PUNISHED BECAUSE YOU NEVER
IMPROVE THE PUNISHMENT YET
COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS AND ALL
THOSE RACIST FRONTED, CORRUPT
NONPROFITS KEEP SQUANDERING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND YET
INNOCENT HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE
STILL SUFFERING BECAUSE YOU
DON'T PROVIDE THE CAPACITY FOR
AN INNOCENT HOMELESS. THAT'S
BEING RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED AND
SUBHUMAN IS TREATED. BUT YET
LISA DAUGAARD SHOWS UP AND TAKES
AWAY ALL THE AVAILABLE CAPACITY
OF HOUSING FOR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE
CRIMINALS WHO STOLEN FROM THEIR
FELLOW MAN WILLING THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS AND PARTICIPATE IN
THE DRUG UNDERWORLD THAT YOU
ALL.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. THE PERIOD
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT EXPIRED EARLY
AT THIS TIME. I WILL NOW PROCEED
TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
ENCOURAGED TO EITHER WRITTEN
COMMENTS ON THE SIGN UP CARDS
AVAILABLE ON THE PODIUM, OR
EMAIL AT THE COUNCIL. AT
SEATTLE.GOV. I JUST WANTED TO
NOTE TO HANNAH THANK YOU FOR
COMING. JUST FOR CLARITY ON THE
A PIECE I DID REACH OUT TO MISS
SMITH TO ON PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
SHE'S OUR NEW CTO, AND SO WE'RE
GETTING FOLLOW UP ON THAT. SO
THIS IS NOT WITH SOME OF THE
BIGGER COMPANIES OUT THERE, BUT
WITH OUR CTO, MISS SMITH, AND
FOR MR. COSTELLO. BY THE SEATTLE
POLICE COVERAGE STAFFING, THAT
WILL BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. AND FOR MISS JUAREZ,
ON THE QUESTION OF LEAD, THIS IS
THE REASON WHY WE PUT THE. WE'VE
CHANGED THE DYNAMICS THAT ARE
UNDER OUR COMMITTEE NOW, AND AS
NOTED IN THE LAST MEETING, THE
ISSUE RELATED TO PUBLIC DRUG USE
AND POSSESSION IS THE CONCERN
RELATED TO LEAD FROM OFFICERS,
BUT ALSO MEDICAL DECLINES, WHICH
IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. SO WE ARE
WORKING THAT TOPIC, AND WE HAVE
A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED ON
ARV'S, TOO, FROM OUR SALMON BAY
VILLAGE PROJECT. AND, MR.
HAYWARD, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND ALSO FOR OUR ONLINE
COMMENTERS OKAY. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
-- BUT IF SEATTLE SECURITY
RESPONSE QUICK, LOOK.
-- I'D LIKE TO ASK CHIEF SALES
TO JOIN US AT THE TABLE, ALONG
WITH CAPTAIN WARD AND MISS
HOLCOMB, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY. THESE ARE
REPRESENTATIVES, OBVIOUSLY.
CHIEF BARNES IS NO LONGER WITH
US. AND ASSISTANT CHIEF DAVIS
HAS A CONFLICT WHICH WE SPOKE
ABOUT ON THE FAMILY EMERGENCY
SIDE. SO SPOKE TO THAT. WE ALSO
ASKED FOR MR. PRITCHARD FROM
SEATTLE PD TO BE HERE AS WELL.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST THIS IS
MORE TACTICAL OPERATIONAL, BUT
THERE WILL BE A SECOND MEETING
ON JULY 22nd ON THIS TOPIC,
WHICH WILL BE FOLLOW UP ON
TACTICAL OPERATIONAL LEVEL, BUT
ALSO THE HIGHER LEVEL PIECE AS
IT RELATES TO SPD. BUT AND NOT
JUST SPD IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
BUT THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE. AND
THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR THAT, AS
NOTED TO ME BY MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. YOU KNOW,
ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd, 2020,
THERE WAS A EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS RESPONSE AND
PRESENTATION OF TIMELINE OF
EVENTS WITH CHIEF SCOGGINS AND
CHIEF BESSE, AND THIS RELATED TO
THE CHOP. SO THERE'S PRECEDENT
FOR THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO
SCHEDULE THAT FOR SEPTEMBER
22nd. I DID ASK OUR IN-HOUSE
COUNSEL RELATED TO THE
POSSIBILITY AT SOME POINT HAVING
CHIEF BARNES HERE, BUT ALSO WE
REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE ASSISTANT
CHIEF DAVIS AND SERGEANT
PRITCHARD ON THAT SEPTEMBER 22nd
MEETING. AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO
WITH THAT, POINTS, COLLEAGUES,
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A
PRESENTATION, BUT I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO THE CHIEF SALES.
OBVIOUSLY, WITH CAPTAIN WARD TO
ASSIST. AND I SHOULD NOTE, I
HAVE TWO STATEMENTS GOING OUT.
ONE OF THEM IS THE TIMELINE
STATEMENT. I WAS AT SEATTLE
CENTER. I DID MEET WITH CAPTAIN
WARD ON STATION AT THE COMMAND
POST THERE NEAR THE ARMORY ON
THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ARMORY ON
THE NIGHT OF JULY 22nd. AND SO
I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO
HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WAS ON SCENE
PRESENT, TO BE HERE TODAY AND
SPEAK TO THE ISSUES AND ASSIST
CHIEF AND ALSO DIRECTOR HOLCOMB
ON THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE
SEATTLE SECURITY RESPONSE.
AGAIN, THIS IS A QUICK LOOK AND
IT WILL BE FOLLOWED UP ON
SEPTEMBER 22nd. OVER TO YOU,
CHIEF.
-- GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
AND EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE
HERE, AS ALREADY SPOKEN. MY NAME
IS ANDRE SALES, INTERIM POLICE
CHIEF. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF
AND PUBLICLY EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO WORK FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR CARE 911
AND THE SECURITY GUARDS AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER I KNOW THAT THE
TRAGIC INCIDENT DURING THE
BATTLE OF SEATTLE REMAINS A
CONCERN TO US ALL, AND THERE ARE
STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROGRESS OF THE INVESTIGATION. I
SPOKE WITH OUR INVESTIGATORS
THIS MORNING, BEEN HAVING
MEETINGS WITH THEM EVERY
MORNING, AND THE INVESTIGATION
IS STILL ONGOING. I KNOW THAT
THERE ARE SOME SEARCH WARRANTS
THAT ARE BEING WRITTEN FOR
EVIDENTIARY VALUE. THERE'S SOME
INFORMATION THAT'S GOING FOR
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT IN
REGARDS TO WHAT WE CAN SEE ON
THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE WRITING
SEARCH WARRANTS FOR.
-- YOU CAN PULL THAT MICROPHONE
CLOSER TO YOU.
-- I KNOW MY VOICE CARRIES. I
DIDN'T WANT TO BE TOO LOUD, BUT
WE'RE WORKING ON SOME SEARCH
WARRANTS AS OF TODAY. I SPOKE TO
THE LIEUTENANT OVER A HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION. THERE'S SOME
SEARCH WARRANTS THAT THEY'RE
WRITING TODAY THAT THEY'VE
WRITTEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
DAYS. THERE'S GOING TO BE
FRUITFUL TO THIS INVESTIGATION.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY HEADLINES
ON THIS TOPIC, BUT AS A CITY, WE
HAVE NOT YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE
SAFETY PERSONNEL WHO WORKED ON
THAT DAY. WE ARE SEVERAL MEN AND
WOMEN THAT RAN TOWARDS GUNFIRE
ON THAT DAY. WHILE A LOSS OF
LIFE WE ENDURED AS TRAGIC, THE
IMMEDIATE ACTION OF THOSE
PERSONNEL SAVE EVEN MORE LIVES
AND PREVENTED EVEN GREATER
TRAGEDY. ON THAT DAY, WE HAD
GREAT COMMAND STAFF PRESENCE ON
SCENE AND WORKING. DURING THAT
TIME. I THINK CAPTAIN WARD HAS A
NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICER
PERSONNEL THAT WAS THERE. I
THINK WE WERE CLOSE TO ABOUT 200
PERSONNEL THAT WERE EITHER ON
SCENE OR RESPONDED TO THE
LOCATION AT THAT TIME I WILL
ALSO TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF
OUR SWAT TEAM DURING THAT DAY,
IF YOU RECALL, OR IF YOU HAD THE
INFORMATION, THE IMAX WAS SAID
TO WHERE SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY
HAVE RAN INTO THAT LOCATION.
DURING THAT TIME. OUR SWAT TEAM
RESPONDED, I SAY, WITH LESS THAN
AN HOUR AND A HALF, WHICH
SOMETIMES IN THESE SITUATIONS,
IT CAN TAKE SWAT TEAMS TO
ASSEMBLE ABOUT TWO HOURS. BUT
THEY RESPONDED IN A GREAT
FASHION OF TIME TO MAKE SURE WE
CAN PRESERVE LIFE. FOR THOSE
THAT DO NOT KNOW ABOUT TACTICAL
TEAMS SEARCHING A BUILDING OF
THAT MAGNITUDE TAKES A LOT OF
TIME. IT'S METHODICAL TO MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANY
NOOKS AND CRANNIES IN THOSE
BUILDINGS. THOSE OFFICERS DID AN
EXCEPTIONAL JOB IN MAKING SURE
THAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND
SEARCHED THAT BUILDING WITH
GREAT DILIGENCE AND MAKING SURE
THAT THEY WERE DEEMING IT SAFE
AT THAT TIME. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST
26th, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM
THE REGION GATHERED AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER FOR THE ANNUAL
BYTE OF SEATTLE EVENT AT AROUND
6 P.M. ON SUNDAY. GUNSHOTS WERE
HEARD IN THE AREA. OFFICERS THAT
WERE WORKING IN THAT AREA WERE
WITHIN 100FT OF THE LOCATION RAN
TOWARDS THAT SITUATION,
IDENTIFIED A 15 YEAR OLD
INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS INVOLVED IN
THE SITUATION, WAS ABLE TO TAKE
HIM INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT FURTHER
LOSS OF LIFE. AT THAT TIME, OUR
OFFICERS, WITHOUT HESITATION,
RESPONDED. AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, OUR COMMANDERS WERE ON
SCENE PROVIDING GUIDANCE FOR OUR
OFFICERS AT THAT TIME, MAKING
SURE THAT THE EVENTS THAT WE
TRAIN ON A DAILY BASIS, WE ARE
FOLLOWING THESE INCIDENTS,
HAPPEN WITHOUT US KNOWING IT.
OUR OFFICERS PROVIDED THE
TRAINING AND WENT TO THE
TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE THEM
EVERY DAY. CAPTAIN WARD WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING
TEAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE
PRESERVING LIVES ALREADY FROM
THE ONES THAT WE HAD ALREADY
LOST. OUR OFFICERS DID NOT
HESITATE WITH REGARD FOR THEIR
OWN SAFETY OF THEIR OWN LIVES.
THEY CONTAINED THE MAIN SHOOTER
WITHIN 20 TO 30s OF THE FIRST
SHOT BEING FIRED, ALL WITH
ADDITIONAL GUNFIRE BEING FIRED.
SPD PERSONNEL IMMEDIATELY BEGAN
LIFE SAVING EFFORTS ON MULTIPLE
GUNSHOT WOUND VICTIMS.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHOOTER
WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THEY
ALSO BEGAN A QUICK AND
METHODICAL SEARCH OF THE
GROUNDS, LOCATING EVEN MORE
GUNSHOT VICTIMS, INCLUDING A TWO
YEAR OLD TODDLER. ALL EFFORTS,
INCLUDING CPR, WOUND CARE,
TOURNIQUET USE AND EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS CONTINUE
UNTIL OUR FIRE MEDICS ARRIVED ON
SCENE. THANKS TO THOSE EXTENSIVE
TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR
SUCH EMERGENCIES, OUR
SUPERVISORS AND COMMANDERS WERE
WELL PREPARED AND CONFIDENT IN
THEIR ROLES, INCIDENT COMMANDER
PROTOCOLS WERE FOLLOWED
THROUGHOUT THE EVENT, RESULTING
IN SEAMLESS SCENE CONTROL. THIS
WAS AN OUTSTANDING TEAM EFFORT
BY ALL, INCLUDING WHICH LASTED
FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I WON'T BE
ABLE TO NAME EVERYONE WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THIS RESPONSE.
HOWEVER, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
YOUR SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION,
YOUR PROFESSIONALISM DURING THIS
TRAGIC EVENT WERE COMMENDABLE.
ONCE AGAIN, OUR OFFICERS
RESPONDED TO A CHAOTIC SCENE, A
SCENE THAT WAS EVER FLOWING. AT
THAT TIME, THEY DID AN
EXCEPTIONAL JOB. WE ARE SETTING
UP DEBRIEFINGS. AS YOU
MENTIONED, ASSISTANT CHIEF DAVIS
CAN BE HERE. HE HAS SOME
PERSONAL THINGS THAT HE NEEDED
TO TAKE CARE OF. WHEN WE MEET
AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL HAVE
ASSISTANCE. ASSISTANT CHIEF
DAVIS HERE AND ALSO DETECTIVE
PRITCHARD, SO WE CAN FURTHER
TALK ABOUT THAT. I'M SURE. AND
I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR DEBRIEF
AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE
COMPLETED AT THAT TIME, AND
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE A MORE
HIGH LEVEL ACCOUNT OF WHAT
OCCURRED ON THAT DAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, CHIEF. CAPTAIN
WARD, ANYTHING TO ADD?
-- I REALLY DON'T I THINK.
-- YOU BRING UP THE MIC TO YOU.
PLEASE. ALL THE WAY.
-- I THINK THE CHIEF COVERED IT.
THANK YOU.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT, BY THE WAY. AND
FOR EVERYONE HERE, I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY. OBVIOUSLY, SUNDAY
NIGHT, THE 26th, THE EVENT,
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY QUESTIONS
REGARDING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND THEN WE'VE HAD PRESS
CONFERENCES ON THE MONDAY AND
TUESDAY, BUT WE'VE NOT REALLY
HAD ANY UPDATES SINCE THAT
POINT. AND SO THIS COMMITTEE,
THIS IS PART OF OUR JOB. THIS IS
WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO IS
PROVIDE THE PUBLIC THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR, IN THIS
CASE, INTERIM CHIEF SALES AND ON
THE ADD ONS WITH CAPTAIN WARD TO
GET A BASELINE AND FOR US TO DO
OUR DUTY IN TERMS OF FOLLOW UP.
AND TO THAT POINT, I NORMALLY GO
TO MY VICE CHIEF, BUT TODAY I'M
GOING TO START IS MY FIRST
QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ASK IS,
AND AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, I WAS
THERE AS OF ABOUT 715, 720 ON
THE SUE BIRD COURT ANGLE AND
THEN MADE MY WAY UNDER ESCORT TO
THE TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE. OF
THE ARMORY, AND I WAS THERE
UNTIL ABOUT TEN, 15, TEN, 1005
1015 AT WHICH TIME I LEFT THE
SCENE. AND ONE OF THE POINTS
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, BY THE
WAY, ONE OF THE POINTS I WANTED
TO MAKE WHEN I ARRIVED, I
THOUGHT IT WAS A DONE SET SCENE
THAT WAS GOING TO BE SOME TYPE
OF UPDATE, AND THEN A PRESS
CONFERENCE, AND I THINK THE
PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT THAT
SWAT OPERATION WAS ONGOING AND
THAT THAT CHANGED THE DYNAMIC
CONSIDERABLY FOR ME IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW, BEING THERE. AND I
NOTED THAT TO MY COLLEAGUES,
WHICH WILL BE IN THE TIMELINE
THAT I RELEASE TODAY. SO I
WANTED TO NOTE THAT ABOUT THE
THE SWAT OPERATION AT THE THE
IMAX THEATER AND THE BROADER
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER. BUT MY
QUESTION, FIRST QUESTION IS
BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF IT KIND OF
GOES IN TERMS OF THE COMMAND AND
CONTROL AND SO FORTH. BUT WHAT
IS THE ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OR ASMS? AND
DOES SPD USE THE SYSTEM? BECAUSE
I'VE BEEN GETTING CONFLICTING
INFORMATION ON THAT. OR DOES IT
INSTEAD USE TACTICAL PROTOCOLS,
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM OR ICS
PRINCIPLES? CAN YOU SPEAK TO
WHETHER THE ASMS OR, YOU KNOW,
SOME OTHER TYPE OF PROTOCOLS ARE
USED IN TERMS OF GOING TO THE
CHECKLIST, IN TERMS OF THE
RESPONSE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING
AFTER THAT INITIAL NUMBER OF
OFFICERS THAT WERE ON SCENE,
WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING WAS ABOUT
30, THEIR INITIAL RESPONSE. BUT
BRINGING IN PEOPLE, CAPTAIN WARD
AND OTHERS AND THEN GOING
THROUGH THAT, THAT PIECE, CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THAT PROCESS?
-- YES. OUR TACTICAL OPERATION
UNITS DOES USE ASMS. WE ALSO USE
NTOA. THE NATIONAL TACTICAL
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. WHEN
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CHECKLIST,
WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THERE
DURING THIS CHAOTIC SCENE, IT'S
A FLUID SCENE, BUT WE'RE ALSO
STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE
CITY. SO WHEN WE'RE PULLING
RESOURCES FROM THE EAST
PRECINCT, WEST PRECINCT, NORTH
PRECINCTS, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ENTIRE
CITY NEEDS TO BE CARED FOR AS
WELL. I KNOW WE DID HAVE A
SITUATION. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN
THE NORTH PRECINCT DEVELOPING AS
WELL. BUT WE DO HAVE CHECKLISTS.
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE CHECKLIST IS FOR THE PERFECT
SITUATION. AND THESE SITUATIONS.
WE HAD THE GROUNDS THAT WE HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF. AND THEN WE
ALSO HAD THE IMAX THAT WE HAD TO
TAKE CARE OF. SO SOME OF OUR
RESOURCES ARE GOING TO BE
PULLED, AND SOME OF THOSE
CHECKLISTS SAY WE NEED X AMOUNT
OF OFFICERS, AND SOMETIMES WE
HAVE TO PULL THOSE OFFICERS TO
GO TO DIFFERENT AREAS. SO WE
WERE FOLLOWING OUR OUR TRAINING
THAT WE PROVIDE FROM SPD. AND
THEN SOME OF THE OUTSIDE
TRAINING THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.
-- OKAY, QUICK FOLLOW UP TO
THAT. AND I KNOW THE THE MAYOR
JUST ANNOUNCED A OIG OFFICER,
INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW OF THE
HIGHER LEVEL COMMS BETWEEN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE AND THE
DEPARTMENT. BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THESE TACTICAL PROTOCOLS WITH
ASMS AND THE LIKE? SPEAK TO
COMMUNICATIONS OR NOTIFICATIONS
AT THE MORE OPERATIONAL TACTICAL
LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WITH OEM FIRE
CARE, IN THIS CASE, SDOT,
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BEING
FLOWING INTO DENNY WAY AND OTHER
AREAS TO THE WEST AS WELL. AND
THE STREETS WERE OBVIOUSLY
IMPACTED. SO I RAISED SDOT AS
WELL, AND. IS THERE ANY
REQUIREMENT IN THAT KIND OF
OPERATIONAL WAY FROM THE
DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF
COMMUNICATION, SEPARATE FROM
ELECTEDS AND THE LIKE? DOES THE
DOES THE ASMS OR THE OTHER
PROTOCOLS SPEAK TO THAT MORE
TACTICAL OPERATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS? AND WERE THEY
DONE?
-- I HAVEN'T DONE A FULL
DEBRIEF ON THAT. SO I CAN'T SAY
WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT WAS
DONE. BUT THERE ARE GUIDELINES
FOR COMMUNICATION. I THINK THE
MAIN POINT IS WITH THE
COMMUNICATION IS COMMUNICATING
AMONGST THE OFFICERS AND OUR
TACTICAL OPERATORS, LETTING THEM
KNOW, HEY, WE'RE CLEARING THIS
LOCATION OF THE BUILDING AND
WE'RE MOVING ON TO THESE
LOCATIONS. WE HAVE TO KEEP IN
MIND THAT THESE ARE STRESSFUL
SITUATIONS. THE RADIO
COMMUNICATION AND THE
COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE IS
GOING TO BE FLUID INFORMATION.
IT CAN CHANGE AT A MOMENT. SO WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR OUR
COMMUNICATION AND THE
INFORMATION THAT WE'RE PASSING
ON IS ACCURATE INFORMATION. SO
WITH THAT TIME, IT'S STRESSFUL
AND WE'RE GETTING MULTIPLE
PEOPLE TALKING ON THE RADIO FROM
THE GROUNDS FOR THE SHOOTING
OCCURRED. THEN OUR TACTICAL
OPERATION UNIT THAT ARE WORKING
WITHIN THAT BUILDING. SO WITH
THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING THEM
OUT CLOSE TO 100% ACCURATE
INFORMATION. SO ONCE WE DO
DEBRIEF, I'LL BE ABLE TO
RESPOND TO THAT WITH A LITTLE
BIT MORE CLARITY.
-- OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND
YOU KNOW, THE, THE OEM OBVIOUSLY
FIRE WAS THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
I THINK ARE IMPORTANT AS PART OF
THAT, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT
SWAP. WE ALREADY SPOKE TO THAT.
AND MY LAST QUESTION BEFORE I
TURN OVER TO VICE CHAIR IS CAN
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE MUTUAL AID
AGENCIES AND ALSO STAFFING
GENERALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE
EVENT? OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD THE
BASE STAFFING AND THEN WE GOT
AUGMENTED, YOU KNOW, THE CRG WAS
THERE AT SOME POINT. OBVIOUSLY
THE, YOU KNOW, THE SWAT IN TERMS
OF THE IMAX, WHEN I WAS THERE, I
SAW KING COUNTY SHERIFF ARRIVE.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAD THEIR DRONE
PROGRAM. I SAW AT LEAST FOUR
ATF, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS SHOW UP
AT THE SCENE AT THE COMMAND POST
ALONG WITH OTHERS. CAN YOU SPEAK
TO THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WERE
SUPPORTING US AND, AND THAT
PROCESS AND, AND THEIR IMPACT?
-- I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS IS IT WAS A GREAT
RESPONSE BY OUR MUTUAL AID
PARTNERS. WHEN YOU HEAR A SCENE
OR A CALL LIKE THAT GO OUT ON
RADIOS, I THINK THEY ANSWERED
THE CALL WITHOUT BEING
REQUESTED, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT
TO SEE. IT WAS A GREAT WORKING
PARTNER RELATIONSHIP. I THINK
THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE
DEVELOPED AS A SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WITH KING COUNTY AND
OUR OTHER MUTUAL AID RESPONDERS
WAS GREAT. I THINK THE OFFICERS
DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT. I WAS
NOT ON THE SCENE. SO I THINK
THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I
BELIEVE CAPTAIN WARD CAN ANSWER
IN REGARDS TO THAT. AND THEN
ALSO YOUR SECOND PART OF THAT,
SOME OF THE STAFFING NUMBERS
THAT WE HAD ON SCENE. SO I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO CAPTAIN WARD SO
HE CAN ANSWER THOSE. ANY
QUESTIONS.
-- YEAH. JUST BRIEFLY, THERE
WERE THERE WAS A SMALL RESPONSE
FROM THE FBI AND ATF. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THEY SELF
DEPLOYED TO THE SCENE. THEY
CHECKED IN AT THE COMMAND POST
WHERE YOU AND I WERE STANDING.
THEY WE SENT THEM TO THE
HOMICIDE UNIT TO BE OF
ASSISTANCE WITH THE ON SCENE
INVESTIGATION. KING COUNTY
RESPONDED, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THEY DEPLOYED A DRONE TO ASSIST
WITH THE ON SCENE PROCESSING OF
THE SHOOTING SCENE. AND THAT WAS
THE THAT WAS THEIR ROLE OR
RESPONSIBILITY. AND THEN I ALSO
UNDERSTAND THE WASHINGTON STATE
PATROL RESPONDED AND ASSISTED
WITH THE IMAX SCENE WHERE WE
WERE SEARCHING FOR THE SUSPECT.
SO TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT'S THE
EXTENT OF THE MUTUAL AID
RESPONSE THAT WE HAD
-- THANK YOU. OKAY. VICE CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU. INTERIM CHIEF SALES FOR
BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE
OVERVIEW. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I
WANT TO THANK THE BRAVE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO THANK THE
THE COURAGEOUS RESPONSE AND
EXPERTLY EXECUTED ACTIONS FROM
THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE
CARE DEPARTMENT ON THE. FROM THE
CALL TAKER PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
FROM A FRONTLINE RANK AND FILE
FIRST RESPONDER PERSPECTIVE,
THIS WAS A WELL EXECUTED AND
WELL RESPONDED TO SCENARIO. FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I WANT TO
APPLAUD AND COMMEND THE COURAGE
AND SWIFT ACTIONS OF OUR OF OUR
CARE. POLICE OFFICERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS WHO RESPONDED. NO
DOUBT THEY SAVED LIVES. NO DOUBT
THEY PREVENTED FURTHER TRAGEDY
AND FURTHER LOSS AND FURTHER
INJURY. AND I CAN'T I CAN'T
EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE THE IMPACT,
THE TREMENDOUS BENEFIT AND
IMPACT THAT THAT HAD ON OUR
COMMUNITY. SO. I ALSO APPRECIATE
THE. IN ADDITION TO THE
COURAGEOUS AND SWIFT RESPONSE
FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, I
ALSO APPRECIATE THE
COLLABORATION FROM MY
COUNCILMEMBER COLLEAGUES WHO I
WAS IN TOUCH WITH ON A ONE ON
ONE BASIS THAT NIGHT, INCLUDING
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR,
WHO I SPOKE WITH VIA PHONE RIGHT
AROUND THE INCIDENT. YEAH, JUST
ARRIVED, AS YOU NOTED, I WAS
GETTING READY TO DROP EVERYTHING
AND HEAD OUT FOR WEST SEATTLE TO
GO TO THE CENTER MYSELF WHEN I
WHEN I FIRST SPOKE WITH THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR AND I AM, AFTER
ALL, THE COUNCIL CHAIR, CITY
WIDE CHAIR THAT OVERSEES THE
SEATTLE CENTER. AS PART OF MY
PORTFOLIO AND THE VICE CHAIR OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. SO
I WAS IN GOING TO DROP
EVERYTHING HEAD OUT THERE MYSELF
WHEN THE CHAIR ADVISED THAT
CURRENTLY AN ACTIVE SHOOTER
SITUATION, POTENTIALLY UNKNOWN
IF THERE WERE ADDITIONAL
ASSAILANTS ON THE LOOSE THAT
MIGHT BE HIDING OUT. AND HE
ADVISED THAT PROBABLY NOT A GOOD
IDEA. IF YOU COME OUT HERE NOW.
OKAY. IN ANY EVENT, THE PUBLIC
HAS A LOT OF CONCERNS RIGHT NOW
AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS OVER A
NUMBER OF ISSUES PERTAINING TO
THE THE EVENT, NOT THE FRONT
LINE RANK AND FILE RESPONSE, BUT
AT THE AT THE TOP LEADERSHIP
LEVEL, CONCERNS OVER, FOR
EXAMPLE, LACK OF INTEGRATED
SECURITY CAMERAS IN REAL TIME
MONITORING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
SEATTLE CENTER. WE SAW
SUBSEQUENTLY A LETTER FROM ALL
THE MAJOR EVENT PROVIDERS THAT
WERE SENT TO THE MAYOR AND THIS
COUNCIL URGING, BEGGING FOR
SECURITY CAMERAS AT BIG EVENTS
LIKE THIS. AND THEY'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE ARE HEARING
CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC AROUND
THE DELAYED UPDATES TO THE
PUBLIC, AND I THINK WE'LL DIVE
DEEP INTO SOME OF THAT TODAY.
AND ON THE FOLLOW UP MEETING ON
THE 22nd NEXT MONTH, WE'RE
HEARING CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC
AROUND INCONSISTENCY IN
REPORTING AND INFORMATION,
PARTICULARLY IN THOSE FIRST FEW
CRITICAL HOURS AFTER THE EVENT
UNFOLDED. BUT, CHIEF, I HAVE A
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, AND I'M
JUST GOING TO I'M JUST GOING TO
BE POINT BLANK HERE AND ASK YOU
ONE THAT IS ON THE IS ON THE
MINDS OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, AND THEY ABSOLUTELY
DESERVE TO KNOW, IS THERE A
KILLER ON THE LOOSE, YES OR NO?
-- SPEAKING WITH MY DETECTIVES
THIS MORNING, WE'RE COMBING
THROUGH SOME WARRANTS AND
LOOKING AT SOME THINGS. WE STILL
HAVE TO COMB THROUGH SOME VIDEO
SURVEILLANCE THAT WAS THERE I
CAN'T SAY YES OR NO. THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY. AND I THINK WE'RE
GETTING TO THE END OF THAT. ONCE
WE GET THE EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED
FROM OUR DETECTIVES LOOKING AT
THE VIDEO, LOOKING AT SOME
SOCIAL MEDIA THINGS, I THINK
WE'LL HAVE A BETTER RESPONSE
AND A BETTER IDEA IF THERE'S
ACTUAL KILLER LOOSE ON THE LOOSE
RIGHT NOW.
-- AS PART OF THE ORDINARY
COURSE OF INVESTIGATION. DIDN'T
YOU TALK TO DIDN'T
INVESTIGATORS SPEAK WITH
INTERVIEW, TALK TO DOZENS OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE AROUND THERE,
INCLUDING THE VICTIMS THAT COULD
HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF
WHETHER OR NOT OF HOW MANY
SHOOTERS THERE WERE.
-- IN TRAUMATIC EVENTS.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE A
WITNESS, SOME THINGS MAY BE NOT
AS TRUE AS YOU THINK THEY MAY BE
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A TRAUMATIC
EVENT. SO ONCE AGAIN, LIKE I
SPOKE AT THE FIRST PRESS
CONFERENCE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
A PERSON IN A GREEN, PURPLE,
YELLOW SHIRT IS THE PERSON THAT
WE'RE GOING TO ARREST AND WE
MAKE AN ARREST. AND THAT IS NOT
THE PERSON THAT WAS THERE,
BECAUSE THERE'S THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THAT WERE RUNNING FROM
THAT SCENE AT THAT TIME.
-- I THINK THE PUBLIC DOES
DESERVE TO KNOW WHETHER A KILLER
IS ON THE LOOSE OR NOT, OR A
POTENTIAL OR SUSPECTED KILLER.
FRAME IT, COUCH IT IN WHATEVER
SORT OF QUALIFYING TERMINOLOGY
YOU WANT. BUT THAT IS BASELINE
INFORMATION THAT THE PUBLIC
DESERVES TO KNOW IF THERE WAS
ANOTHER SHOOTER, A POTENTIAL
SHOOTER, WHATEVER. CHOOSE YOUR
PREFERRED FRAMING. CAN YOU
PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THIS
PERSON OR PERSONS?
-- CAN'T CAN'T GIVE A
DESCRIPTION, BUT I WILL SAY
THERE IS A POTENTIAL SHOOTER OUT
THERE. THERE'S POTENTIAL PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. ONCE
AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MISS
CHARACTER SOMEONE. AND THEN NEXT
THING YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER
THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT WHEN
WE'RE SAYING THIS IS THE PERSON
AND THAT IS NOT THE PERSON, WE
WANT TO BE ACCURATE TOO MUCH,
TOO MANY TIMES. I KNOW PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE THIS RESPONSE, BUT
TOO MUCH IN POLICING IN THIS
WORLD, THERE HAVE BEEN
INJUSTICES OF PEOPLE BEING
ARRESTED, LITTLE TO NO
INFORMATION. WE WANT 100%
ACCURACY WHEN WE MAKE AN ARREST.
IF WE HAVE TO MAKE AN ARREST.
-- SO I, AS A BLACK MAN, I
UNDERSTAND THAT ALL TOO WELL. AT
THE SAME TIME, IT'S IMPERATIVE
THAT WE BALANCE THE NEED TO
AVOID PERPETUATING HISTORICAL
INJUSTICES AND. RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION IN POLICING WITH
THE NEED TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE,
TIMELY RELEVANT INFORMATION TO
THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN MAKE
DECISIONS ACCORDINGLY. SO
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE THE RACE OF
THIS PERSON, ARE YOU ABLE TO
PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT
THEY WERE WEARING?
-- AT NO TIME DID I BRING UP
ANYBODY RACE IN REGARDS TO THIS.
AS A BLACK MAN MYSELF, I
UNDERSTAND IT AS WELL. I DID NOT
SAY A RACE. THERE WAS A
POTENTIAL IDENTIFICATION OF A
PERSON WEARING A BLUE SHIRT
THAT, AS FAR AS I'LL GO WITH
THAT.
-- A BLUE SHIRT. ABOUT THREE
WEEKS AFTER THE THE THE
INCIDENT. THAT IS BETTER THAN
NOTHING. BUT AGAIN, FRAME IT
HOWEVER YOU WANT OR YOU NEED
PERSON OF INTEREST. THAT'S NOT
TOO CONDEMNING. LEGITIMATE
INVESTIGATORS WANT TO TALK WITH
SOMEONE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE
INFORMATION. IT MAY OR MAY NOT
RISE TO THE LEVEL OF ARRESTS.
BUT IF THERE IS A PERSON OF
INTEREST, A POTENTIAL KILLER,
AGAIN, CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED
FRAMING. THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO
KNOW THAT. MY HOPE AND MY
EXPECTATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT,
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE WORKING HARD BEHIND THE
SCENES TO TO POTENTIALLY HOLD.
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE EXTENT THEY
ARE INVOLVED IN THIS AND BRING
PEOPLE TO JUSTICE. THAT SAID,
THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL,
WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A
POTENTIAL KILLER OUT THERE ON
THE LOOSE. SO MY EXPECTATION FOR
THE DEPARTMENT IS THAT YOU BE AS
TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE ON THAT,
ON THAT FACT.
-- I'M TRYING TO BE AS
TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT
LOSING THE INTEGRITY OF THE
INVESTIGATION. AS MUCH AS I WANT
TO GIVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT
WE HAVE, AT THE SAME TIME THAT
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN
INFORMATION IS PUT OUT THERE AND
IT EITHER GOING TO HELP US, THAT
SUSPECT PERSON OF INTEREST MAY
GET THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE
LET'S FACE IT, THEY DO WATCH
THE NEWS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE
AHEAD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT
GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LEAVE THIS AREA. AND THEN NOW
WE'RE GOING SEARCHING
THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY FOR THIS
INDIVIDUAL. I BELIEVE ONCE THE
SEARCH WARRANTS ARE SIGNED, WE
COLLECT THE INFORMATION, WE
IDENTIFY THE PERSON OF INTEREST
OR THE POTENTIAL SUSPECTS, THE
COMMUNITY HERE IN SEATTLE WILL
GET THAT INFORMATION.
-- WILL WHEN WILL SPD RELEASE AN
AFTER ACTION? A FORMAL AFTER
ACTION REPORT OF SOME SORT?
-- I WOULD SAY IN THE COMING
WEEKS. ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO
MEET WITH ALL THE COMMANDERS
THAT WAS ON SCENE, GET OUR
EXECUTIVE STAFF TOGETHER AND DO
A DEBRIEF. WE HAVE ONE OF OUR
ASSISTANT CHIEFS THAT'S OUT FOR
SOME PERSONAL THINGS. NOT GOING
TO GO IN HIS PERSONAL BUSINESS,
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE PUSHING FOR IN THE NEXT WEEK
OR SO.
-- THANK YOU. AND THAT TIMELINE
I SPOKE YESTERDAY WITH YOUR ONE
OF YOUR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE
FIRST RESPONDER PERSPECTIVE,
FIRE CHIEF SCOGGINS. AND HE
INDICATED THAT THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, AFTER ACTION REPORT
ON THIS INCIDENT WILL BE
RELEASED IN A FEW WEEKS AS WELL
AND AGREE TO SHARE A COPY OF
THAT WITH ME IN MY OFFICE, WHICH
I APPRECIATE. I'LL ASK THE SAME
FROM YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.
THAT SAID, NEXT QUESTION FOR I
THINK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
DIRECTOR HOLCOMB, THIS IS
PROBABLY BEST TOWARDS YOU. SO WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF CITY
DEPARTMENTS INDIVIDUALLY
RELEASING THEIR OWN AFTER ACTION
REPORTS WITH RESPECT TO THE THE
ITEMS AND, YOU KNOW, MATTERS AND
SCOPE WITHIN THEIR IN THEIR KIND
OF REMIT. IS THERE A IS THERE A
PLANNED COORDINATED
INTER-DEPARTMENT COMPREHENSIVE
REPORT THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
IS COORDINATING TO BE RELEASED
THAT THAT CUTS ACROSS FIRE
POLICE CARE, EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA. IN TERMS
OF A FORMAL AFTER ACTION REPORT,
IS THERE SOMETHING BEING PLANNED
AND WHAT'S THE TIMING ON THAT?
-- THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR SAKA
YES, IS THE SHORT ANSWER.
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS REQUESTED
THAT THE OFFICE OF THE
INDEPENDENT. EXCUSE ME. OFFICE
OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CONDUCT
A THIRD PARTY OBJECTIVE REVIEW
OF SPECIFICALLY THE LACK OF
PUBLIC INFORMATION BEING PUSHED
OUT THAT EVENING. I THINK WE'VE
SEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE STORIES
LAST WEEK AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF
THE EVENTS OF THAT EVENING, THAT
THERE WAS CONFUSION AND
FRUSTRATION ABOUT NOT GETTING
ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
WAS HAPPENING AT THE CENTER. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE BELIEVES THAT
RATHER THAN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT RATHER THAN
SPD TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT OR OEM
OR ANY OF THE OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES THAT
ASKING THE OIG TO CONDUCT AN
INDEPENDENT REVIEW IS THE
APPROPRIATE WAY TO ADDRESS
WHATEVER SHORTFALLS THERE WERE
AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, IF
APPROPRIATE, ABOUT WHAT WE CAN
DO TO ENSURE THAT SIMILAR
FAILURES OF INFORMATION BEING
PUSHED OUT DO NOT OCCUR GOING
FORWARD. INSPECTOR GENERAL JUDGE
LISA JUDGE HAS INDICATED THAT
SHE WILL, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD,
BRING IN EXPERTS ON MASS
SHOOTING EVENTS AND OTHER
SIMILAR TYPES OF EVENTS WHERE
THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO GET
OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO ASSIST WITH
PRODUCING THAT REPORT. AND I
BELIEVE SHE'S LOOKING AT A FALL
RELEASE DATE FOR THE FINAL
REPORT THAT WILL COME HERE TO
THIS COMMITTEE AND BE PRESENTED
TO THE COMMITTEE AND ALSO
PUBLISHED ON THE OIG WEBSITE FOR
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.
-- THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR
INDULGING ME. ANOTHER QUESTION
HERE, CHIEF. DO YOU BELIEVE
THERE WAS ADEQUATE POLICE
STAFFING AT THIS EVENT?
-- WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, I ALWAYS
THINK ABOUT WHAT WHAT IS
ADEQUATE AND HOW MANY OFFICERS
SHOULD YOU HAVE? I THINK IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US WHEN WE DO
OUR DEBRIEF. WHAT IS A BASELINE
NUMBER? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE
AND HOW DO WE GET TO THAT? SO I
CAN'T SAY WHAT AN ADEQUATE
NUMBER IS BECAUSE IT FLOWS.
IT'S EVER FLOWING. BUT WE NEED
TO LOOK AT WAYS TO UP STAFF. IF
WE CAN LOOK AT EVERY EVENT AS
THEIR OWN SEPARATE EVENT AND SEE
WHAT THE PAST RAMIFICATIONS OF
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME
THROUGH THE GATES, DOORS, OR
WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE, AND WHAT
CAN WE ACTUALLY GIVE ADEQUATELY
GIVE AS A DEPARTMENT?
-- THANK YOU. I HEAR YOUR
RESPONSE IS MORE KIND OF FORWARD
LOOKING AND GENERIC APPLIED TO
OTHER POTENTIAL EVENTS IN THE
FUTURE. I'M TAKING UP A LOT OF
TIME, BUT I'LL JUST CLOSE BY
SAYING, I WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE IF YOUR AFTER ACTION
REPORT ADDRESSES WHETHER AS IT
RELATES TO THIS SPECIFIC EVENT
AND THIS SPECIFIC CRISIS
INCIDENT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU
BELIEVE IN HINDSIGHT, HINDSIGHT
IS ALWAYS 2020, WHETHER YOU
BELIEVE THAT THERE SPD BELIEVES
THERE WAS ADEQUATE STAFFING OR
NOT. SO IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE, LIKE YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMERAS. I HAVE
A STATEMENT GOING OUT CALLING
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK FORWARD
MOVING FORWARD TO INCLUDE
CAMERAS, BUT ALSO IN OTHER AREAS
TOO, IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
BUILDING ON WHAT WE'VE DONE IN
COMMUNITY ALREADY. PLUS,
OBVIOUSLY COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
WORK IS ON TOP OF THAT FOR, YOU
KNOW, BRINGING ALL THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES AS IT RELATES
TO THIS ISSUE FORWARD. SO THAT
STATEMENT IS PROBABLY GOING OUT
RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS REGARDING I UNDERSTAND
THE INVESTIGATIONS PIECE, BUT
AGAIN, AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED
TO PRESS FORWARD. AND OBVIOUSLY,
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF INFORMATION OUT THERE
AND DEFINITELY BE GETTING THE
ARS. LIKE I SAID, SEPTEMBER 22nd
ON THE STAFFING QUESTION. I'M
INTERESTED IN THAT TOO. ON
SCENE, OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW WEST
PRECINCT OFFICERS THAT ARE THERE
THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IN MY
DISTRICT AND OBVIOUSLY IN MY
ROLE AS CHAIR. BUT THEN THERE'S
ALSO THE CRG, THERE'S A SWAT,
YOU KNOW, IS IT A QUICK REACTION
FORCE TO THE ON SCENE, ALL THOSE
KINDS OF QUESTIONS. SO WE LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT. AND ONE LAST
QUESTION TOO IS TIED TO YOUR
COMMENTS. VICE CHAIRS. YOU KNOW,
IS THERE SOME TYPE OF SITUATION
ROOM? YOU KNOW, DID THE MAYOR
BRING DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOGETHER
TO, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH AND,
YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY, DO THEY
HAVE THEIR OWN CHECKLIST SIMILAR
TO THE TO THE SIMS? AND I'M NOT
SURE ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK
THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO
UNDERSTAND IS WHO WAS TALKING TO
THE MAYOR? WHERE WAS SHE? WERE
THEY CO-LOCATED? WERE THEY
SEPARATE? WAS THERE AGAIN A, A
PROTOCOLS THAT WERE WORKED
THROUGH IN TERMS OF HIGHLIGHTING
DIFFERENT PIECES? BECAUSE I
THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND I
THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION ROOM
KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE
EQUIVALENT FOR THE CITY. AND I
THINK THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT
WE CAN SPEAK TO ON SEPTEMBER
22nd. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
-- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST
OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR.
-- BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR
SERVING AS THE INTERIM CHIEF. SO
I JUST WANT TO ASK SOME BASIC
QUESTIONS FROM THE INFORMATION,
AND I WILL I'LL GET TO ALLISON
AND YOU IN A MOMENT, BECAUSE WE
SPOKE YESTERDAY. AND I WANT TO
BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST AND
CLEAR ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE JULY
26th, THAT SUNDAY WHEN THERE WAS
THE SHOOTING, CHIEF BARNES WAS
NOT THERE, AS WE KNOW. HE WAS IN
TEXAS. CHIEF DEPUTY UNDERWOOD
WAS NOT THERE. HE WAS ON
VACATION. INTERIM CHIEF ANDRE
SAYLES, THAT'S YOU. YOU WERE
NOT THERE. YOU WERE ON VACATION.
AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTAND. AND IF I'M IF I'M
WRONG, PLEASE CORRECT ME. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ASSISTANT
CHIEF TYRONE DAVIS WAS PRESENT.
HE'S NOT HERE TODAY, AND MY
UNDERSTANDING, I JUST LEARNED IS
THAT CAPTAIN WARD, YOU WERE
ACTUALLY ON SITE ON JULY 26th,
CORRECT?
-- YES, MA'AM. I RESPONDED FROM
HOME.
-- AND OF COURSE YOU'RE HERE
TODAY.
-- YES.
-- MA'AM. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND
THAT DETECTIVE BRIAN PRITCHARD
WAS ALSO ON SITE. CORRECT.
-- AS PART OF OUR PUBLIC
RELATIONS UNIT. HE WAS CALLED
OUT AS WELL.
-- OKAY. AND HE IS NOT HERE
TODAY?
-- NO, MA'AM.
-- AND WE REQUESTED HIM TO BE
HERE TODAY. CORRECT. ALLISON.
MISS HOLCOMB.
-- YOU INDICATED TO ME THAT YOU
WANTED HIM HERE. I BELIEVE THAT
CHAIR KETTLE HAD THE SIMILAR
CONVERSATION WITH INTERIM CHIEF
SAYLES EARLIER YESTERDAY
MORNING. AND CHIEF SAYLES
EXPLAINED TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE THAT DETECTIVE PRITCHARD
WAS NOT HERE.
-- OKAY. SO LET ME JUST GO BACK
BECAUSE. AND I'LL I'LL I'LL
LOOP BACK TO WHY. AND I'M GLAD
YOU'RE HERE. ALLISON OR MISS
HOLCOMB. WE HAD STARTED
CONVERSATIONS LAST THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ASKING TO TALK ABOUT THE FIVE
HOUR DELAY. THAT'S THE ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM. SO I JUST WANT TO
IF I CAN JUST GET THROUGH THIS
LITANY AND THEN PLEASE, IF I'M
INCORRECT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
JUST SO THE PUBLIC IS WATCHING
AS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, WE
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE
INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND
HONESTY. SO I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ONLY
PERSON WHO WAS ON SITE AND HERE
TODAY IS CAPTAIN WARD. YES,
MA'AM. SO THANK YOU. SO WHAT I
UNDERSTAND IS FROM HEARING FROM
YOU, INTERIM CHIEF, IS THAT YOU
HAD A GREAT COMMAND STAFF
PRESENT, THAT YOU HAD 200
PERSONNEL ON SCENE AND
RESPONDING, THAT YOU HAD THE
SWAT TEAM AND THAT IN YOUR
WORDS, IT WAS CHAOTIC AND
TRAUMATIC. CORRECT. SO MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
SHOOTING OCCURRED BETWEEN 610
AND 618.
-- IN BETWEEN LIKE SIX AND 605.
CORRECT?
-- CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. AND GIVE
OR TAKE HALF AN HOUR HERE OR
THERE, FIVE HOURS PASSED AND WE
HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE. CORRECT?
-- YES.
-- AND YOU WERE NOT AT THAT
PRESS CONFERENCE.
-- I WAS.
-- NOT OKAY. BUT YOU WERE IN
CONTACT WITH CHIEF BARNES.
-- YES, AYE.
-- WAS ALL RIGHT. SO YOU WENT
THROUGH AND AS THE CHAIR YOU
WENT THROUGH, AND I'VE SEEN A
COPY OF IT WITH THE ACTIVE
SHOOTER INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
CHECKLIST, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
EVERY PROTOCOL AND I LEARNED
THIS ACTUALLY FROM CHIEF BEST AS
WELL. AND I ALSO UNDERSTOOD IT
FROM CHIEF BARNES. LIKE THIS IS
THE PROTOCOL. THIS IS WHAT WE
DO. WE'RE ALL TRAINED IN IT.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE A
CHIEF OR A DEPUTY CHIEF NOT BE
PRESENT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
ALWAYS BE THERE. AND THAT'S WHY
YOU HAVE A PROTOCOL THAT
EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE AND
THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN
THERE'S AN ACTIVE SHOOTER. IS
THAT CORRECT? YES. ALL RIGHT. SO
HERE WE GO WITH THE ELEPHANT IN
THE ROOM. WE HAVE A SHOOTING. WE
HAVE A FIVE HOUR DELAY. THREE
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES. WE HAVE
AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS MASS
HYSTERIA. WE HAVE PEOPLE
SHELTERING IN PLACE. WE HAVE
VENDORS HIDING, PEOPLE
SHELTERING AT THE ARMORY, THE
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER. WE HAVE
ONE SUSPECT APPREHENDED. WE HAVE
ONE AT LARGE. WE LEARN THREE
DAYS LATER THAT THERE'S MORE
THAN ONE SUSPECT. WE HAVE A
POLICE CHIEF THAT WAS ASKED TO
RESIGN. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY
LAST WEEK WE WERE ASKING, AND I
WAS WORKING WITH AND TALKING TO
CHAIR KETTLE AND SOME OTHER
FOLKS, WHAT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY
HEARING WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND I
WAS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH
MISS HOLCOMB, AND I GAVE HER A
CALL YESTERDAY AT ONE AND SAID,
THESE ARE THE THESE ARE THE
FACTS AS I KNOW THEM. AND THEN
YESTERDAY AT ABOUT 615, WE ALL
GOT A TEXT SAYING, WE'RE GOING
TO OPEN, I BELIEVE YOU CALLED IT
AN INDEPENDENT. WHAT WAS THE
TERM THAT YOU USED? I USED
INVESTIGATION, BUT YOU USED THE
TERM INDEPENDENT REVIEW,
CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. SO WHY
ARE WE DOING WHY ARE WE DOING
THAT NOW? WHY ARE WE NOTIFIED
YESTERDAY AT 620 AFTER
EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED AND
NOT ALLOWING MR. PRITCHARD TO BE
HERE TODAY, THAT NOW WE'RE GOING
TO DO AN INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION, AND THEN I'LL
COME BACK TO THE TIMING ON THAT.
-- SO THE DECISION TO DO AN
INDEPENDENT AFTER ACTION REVIEW
OF HOW HOW INFORMATION WAS
TRANSMITTED TO THE PUBLIC
-- IS A DECISION THAT WAS MADE
OVER A WEEK AGO, AND I HAVE BEEN
INCONSISTENT AND REPEATED
CONVERSATION WITH PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE CHAIR BOB KETTLE ABOUT
THAT DECISION. THE FACT THAT WE
ANNOUNCED IT YESTERDAY WAS DUE
TO THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH INSPECTOR
GENERAL LISA JUDGE TO WORK OUT
THE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED
TO BE ABLE TO SAY, TO SEE
WHETHER OR NOT SHE ALREADY HAD
PARTICULAR EXPERTS IN MIND THAT
SHE WANTED TO CONDUCT THE
REVIEW. AND SO WE DID. WE ROLLED
OUT THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THAT DECISION YESTERDAY. BUT
CHAIR KETTLE HAS BEEN AWARE OF,
AND IN CONVERSATION WITH ME
ABOUT THIS INTENDED PLAN FOR A
WEEK.
-- OKAY. SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION
YESTERDAY. AND IF I'M INCORRECT
AND I CAN CALL YOU ALISON,
THAT'S FINE.
-- THANK YOU.
-- BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I
JUST DON'T I DON'T WANT TO DO
A GOTCHA MOMENT. I'M NOT TRYING
TO HUMILIATE ANYBODY. I JUST
WANT TO UNDERSTAND. SO IN OUR
CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, YOU
STATED THAT THE MAYOR DOES
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A
COMMUNICATION PROBLEM.
-- YES. I THINK SHE'S PUBLICLY
STATED THAT. AND THAT'S INCLUDED
IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS
PUBLISHED ON HER BLOG YESTERDAY.
-- AND THE COMMUNICATION PROBLEM
WAS BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND SPD
-- WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE
COMMUNICATION PROBLEM WAS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE WANT THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL TO CONDUCT
THIS. AFTER ACTION REVIEW. WE
WILL BE PRODUCING ALL TEXTS. WE
WILL BE ASKING. WE HAVE ASKED
ALL CITY DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE
STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN
INTERVIEWS TO MAKE SURE THAT AN
INDEPENDENT PARTY CAN PIECE
TOGETHER A TIMELINE FROM THE
MULTIPLE CHANNELS OF
COMMUNICATION THAT WERE
HAPPENING THAT EVENING, AND FIND
OUT WHERE IF THERE WERE, IN
FACT, DROPPED CALLS, DROPPED
COMMUNICATIONS, FAILURE TO
FOLLOW PROTOCOLS. WHERE EXACTLY
DID THIS BREAKDOWN HAPPEN? AND
WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? THAT'S
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AUDIT. I
DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF THE
THREE OF US AT THE TABLE HAS A
FULL PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED
SUNDAY. I KNOW I DON'T BECAUSE I
WAS TRYING MY HARDEST TO PUSH
INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE. I
THOUGHT I NEEDED TO BE PUSHING
INFORMATION OUT TO, BUT I'M ONE
PERSON. AND AS CHIEF SALES HAS
ALREADY INDICATED, THERE WERE
DOZENS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE
TRYING TO COORDINATE
COMMUNICATION, ENSURE THAT
PUBLIC SAFETY CAME FIRST.
-- SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THE
SPD AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR AND
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE WAS?
-- I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY. IT
WAS SOMETIME AFTER 945 WHEN THAT
PRESS CONFERENCE CONDUCTED.
-- SO THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AT
610, 615. THE FIRST PRESS
CONFERENCE IS AT NINE,
APPROXIMATELY 945.
-- I THINK THAT THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT I DEFER TO. CAPTAIN WARD WAS
ON THE.
-- GROUND A LITTLE LATER THAN
THAT, MA'AM.
-- IT WAS LATER THAN THAT.
-- IT WAS. YES, IT WAS LATER.
-- CAN I HEAR FROM CAPTAIN WARD,
SIR? WHAT TIME DO YOU THINK IT
WAS APPROXIMATELY?
-- I DON'T HAVE.
-- IF YOU DON'T HAVE, IT'S
OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO. WE'RE
NOT IN A COURT. YOU'RE NOT
UNDER SWORN TESTIMONY. I JUST
I'M TRYING TO GET AN IDEA.
-- MY BEST ESTIMATION WAS CLOSER
TO 11:00.
-- OKAY SO. WAS THE PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT WAS DONE AROUND
11 ISH OR. THAT'S APPROXIMATE.
I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU TO
THAT. OBVIOUSLY. WAS IT DELAYED
WAITING FOR DIGNITARIES?
-- I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
-- WERE YOU IN COMMUNICATION
WITH BRIAN PRITCHARD, YOUR PIO.
DETECTIVE PRITCHARD?
-- I WASN'T I DIDN'T HAVE
DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH HIM.
AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.
AS THE INCIDENT COMMANDER. I WAS
ENGROSSED IN THE OPERATIONS OF
WHAT WAS OCCURRING. THIS
INCIDENT NEVER ALLOWED US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PLATEAU. WE
CONSTANTLY HAD ONE CHALLENGE
AFTER THE OTHER. AND I WILL SAY
THAT THE ACTIVE SEARCH AT THE
IMAX THEATER TOOK PLACE VERY
CLOSE UP TO THE POINT WHERE THAT
PRESS CONFERENCE OCCURRED. SO
THERE. ONCE WE RECEIVED WORD
THAT SWAT HAD CLEARED THE IMAX,
I COMMUNICATED THAT TO CHIEF
DAVIS, WHO WAS ON SCENE, AND
I'D LIKE TO CIRCLE BACK IF I
COULD. WE ALSO HAD THE ACTING
CHIEF OF PATROL, GEORGE DAVISON,
ON SCENE AS WELL. SO WE HAD
CHIEF DAVIS, WHO WAS THE ACTING
CHIEF OF POLICE, AND THEN WE HAD
THE CHIEF OF PATROL, GEORGE
DAVISON, ON SCENE. AND THEN I
WAS THERE AS THE INCIDENT
COMMANDER. SO WE COMMUNICATED
THAT INFORMATION THAT THE IMAX
HAD BEEN CLEARED TO CHIEF DAVIS.
AND AT THAT POINT, I'M NOT SURE
WHAT OTHER COMMUNICATION TOOK
PLACE OR OTHER CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY THAT TIMELINE. I HOPE
THAT THAT'S HELPFUL.
-- NO, IT IS HELPFUL BECAUSE
YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON HERE
THAT WAS THERE ON JULY 26th, ON
THE GROUND AND IN FRONT OF US.
WE ASKED THAT MR. PRITCHARD BE
HERE. HE'S NOT HERE. I
UNDERSTAND THAT, CHIEF TYRONE
DAVIS WAS PRESENT ON SITE. HE'S
NOT HERE. I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WANTS TO DO
AN OIG INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
OR INDEPENDENT REVIEW. WE
LEARNED THAT YESTERDAY. QUITE
FRANKLY, I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC
DESERVES TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,
AND WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL MID
SEPTEMBER. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING? THIS MAY COME OUT.
-- WE AGREE 100% THAT THE PUBLIC
DESERVE TO DESERVES TO KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED. AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAVE THOROUGH
INVESTIGATION OF WHAT HAPPENED.
SO THE TIME THAT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE IS WHAT INSPECTOR GENERAL
LISA JUDGE BELIEVES WE NEED IN
ORDER TO CONDUCT THAT THOROUGH
REVIEW OF ALL ACTIONS FROM THAT
EVENING.
-- SO I'M GOING TO SUBMIT TO
YOU, ALLISON, AND WE BOTH KNOW
HOW THIS WORKS. I DON'T THINK WE
NEED AN INVESTIGATION. I THINK
YOU COULD TELL US RIGHT NOW WHY
THERE WAS A FIVE HOUR DELAY, AND
I THINK THE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE
SAID IT ON JULY 26th. AND EVERY
OTHER PRESS CONFERENCE
AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE WE'RE
HEARING CONFLICTING STORIES THAT
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS UPHELD,
WAS TOLD TO STAND DOWN UNTIL
DIGNITARIES ARRIVED, THAT SOME
OF THE PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE DIDN'T KNOW THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MASS
HYSTERIA. WE NEED A WE NEED A
PRESS CONFERENCE NOW TO CALM
PEOPLE DOWN THAT THEY CAN
SHELTER IN PLACE OR THAT THEY'RE
SAFE OR THEY'RE NOT SAFE. IF
THERE'S A SHOOTER OUT THERE.
AND THEN LATER ON, YOU DO THE
FANCY POLITICAL PRESS CONFERENCE
AND WAIT FOR DIGNITARIES TO
ARRIVE. THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR
AND CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA
JAYAPAL, SENT OUT A PRESS
RELEASE SAYING, WE DIDN'T DELAY
THE PRESS CONFERENCE. SO I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW FROM YOU, WHY IS
THERE A FIVE HOUR DELAY? AND WHY
CAN'T THIS MAYOR AND THIS
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND PARTICULARLY
NOT HAVING MR. PRITCHARD HERE?
WE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS LAST
WEEK. WHY CAN'T WE KNOW THAT
NOW?
-- COUNCIL, RESPECTFULLY, YOU'RE
ASKING WHY THERE WAS A FIVE HOUR
DELAY IN A PRESS CONFERENCE.
WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW IS WHY
DIDN'T THE PUBLIC RECEIVE MORE
INFORMATION SOONER? PRESS A
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD
ON SITE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF
A SWAT INSPECTION. SWAT SEARCH
OF IMAX IS ONLY ONE WAY THAT THE
PUBLIC COULD HAVE RECEIVED
INFORMATION. THERE WERE LOTS OF
OTHER WAYS THAT THE PUBLIC COULD
HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION. WE
WANT TO KNOW ALL OF THEM BECAUSE
WHAT WE CARE ABOUT IS MAKING
SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN
AGAIN, AND THAT THE PUBLIC GETS
ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT IS
RELEASABLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING
THE INVESTIGATION IN A TIMELY
FASHION. THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT
QUESTION ABOUT WHY DIDN'T A
PRESS CONFERENCE HAPPEN ON SITE
AT A CERTAIN TIME? WHAT WERE THE
REASONS FOR THAT? WHICH,
FRANKLY, BECAUSE YOU AND I BOTH
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS A
POLITICAL QUESTION. WE'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
-- WELL, I DISAGREE, I DON'T
THINK IT'S A POLITICAL
QUESTION. I THINK IT'S A
FACTUAL QUESTION. I THINK THAT
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW THE MAYOR
WHAT WE HEARD ON TV IS HOW THE
MAYOR FOUND OUT HER ANSWER. AND
THEN THAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH PUTS US IN A POSITION,
PARTICULARLY ON THIS COMMITTEE.
AND THOSE OF US WHO AND YOU WERE
AROUND WHEN YOU WERE. I THINK
YOU WERE STILL AT THE ACLU, AND
WE WENT THROUGH CHOP AND DEFUND
IN THE EAST PRECINCT. AND, YOU
KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THAT WHOLE
INVESTIGATION OF HANDING IN OUR
PHONES, SAYING WHAT WE KNEW,
WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW. I'VE
WORKED WITH THREE MAYORS, AND I
WILL SAY THIS UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT
THIS MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS NOT
COMMUNICATING WITH SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. I FOUND THAT HER
RESPONSE TO HOW SHE LEARNED
INADEQUATE. I THINK THAT YOU
CAME TO THE CONCLUSION TO DO AN
OIG, BECAUSE WE START ASKING
QUESTIONS AND GETTING DOCUMENTS
THAT, IN FACT, THERE WAS
CONFLICTING INFORMATION, THAT
THERE WAS A 27 MINUTE PHONE CALL
BETWEEN QUOTE, UNQUOTE,
DIGNITARIES IN WHICH MR. KETTLE
WAS ON THE CALL AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WAS ON THE CALL, AS
WELL AS THE MAYOR AND THE
GOVERNOR AND THE CONGRESSWOMAN.
AND, OF COURSE, WE'VE ALL HEARD
DETAILS ABOUT THAT CALL. AND
QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE DIDN'T
KNOW WHERE THE MAYOR WAS. SHE
DIDN'T TURN HER CAMERA ON. WE
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY. I'M NOT
TRYING TO CREATE SOME CLOAK AND
DAGGER, BUT IF I WERE THE MAYOR,
I WOULD HAVE AND I WOULD HAVE.
BACK ON JULY 26th AND THEREAFTER
BEEN TRANSPARENT AND HONEST
ABOUT THIS IS WHEN I LEARNED OF
IT. THIS IS WHEN I GOT THE PAGE
THAT THERE WAS A SHOOTING. THIS
IS WHAT I DID. THIS IS HOW I
RESPONDED. INSTEAD OF CHIEF
BARNES WAS IN TEXAS. THAT'S WHAT
WE GOT. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT YOU KNOW ME. I'M NOT
GOING TO HIDE THE BALL. I'M NOT
TO DO GOTCHA. I JUST WANT TO
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. AND WHEN YOU
SAY A FIVE HOUR DELAY I COULD
SEE IF THERE WAS A FIVE HOUR
DELAY. AND YOU KNOW, WELL,
ACTUALLY MANY INCIDENCES IF
THERE'S A FIVE HOUR DELAY AND
THERE IS AN A PRESS CONFERENCE,
THIS WAS A FIVE HOUR DELAY IN
WHICH THREE PEOPLE LOST THEIR
LIVES AND THERE WAS A SHOOTER, A
SUSPECT OUT THERE. AND THEN WE
LEARNED THREE DAYS LATER,
OFFHANDEDLY, THAT, OH, THERE'S
MORE THAN ONE SHOOTER. SO I
GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE
COMMUNICATION WHICH YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SOME
SOME ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION. I
AM GOING TO RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SHOULD HAVE MR.
PRITCHARD HERE TO ANSWER TO US.
AND I THINK YOU COULD ANSWER
TODAY WHY THERE WAS A FIVE HOUR
DELAY. I THINK YOU JUST DON'T
WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH US.
QUITE FRANKLY, I COULD BE WRONG.
AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM
BEING WRONG. I DO NOT HAVE A
PROBLEM BEING WRONG. I DO NOT
HAVE A PROBLEM APOLOGIZING. I DO
NOT HAVE A PROBLEM ASKING FOR
HELP. I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM
ADMITTING YOU KNOW WHEN I'M
WRONG AND IF I'M WRONG, THEN
I'M WRONG. BUT THAT'S WHAT I
OWE TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON
THIS AND TO CONCLUDE, BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND CHIEF SALES NEEDS TO
LEAVE, HOPEFULLY LIKE WITHIN
FIVE MINUTES AS OPPOSED TO FIVE
MINUTES AGO. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, TO THE
POINT ABOUT INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
YES, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE
INDEPENDENT BECAUSE BOTH PARTIES
CANNOT BE INVOLVED. IT'S BEEN
EVOLVING. I'VE HAD A PRESS
STATEMENT RELATED TO IT FOR A
NUMBER OF DAYS, BUT IT'S OUT
NOW. OIG AND I SUPPORT GENERAL
JUDGE DOING HER WORK. THAT SAID,
THAT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT
DECEMBER 22nd MEETING HERE IN
COMMITTEE. SPD CAN HAVE ITS AR
AS AS VICE CHAIR NOTED, FIRE CAN
HAVE ITS AR. WE CAN HAVE OTHER
ELEMENTS COME IN IN TERMS OF OEM
SDOT AS IT LIKE, AND AYE. AND I
DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND
OF GO ALONG THE LINES OF
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IN TERMS OF
WHAT WAS THE MAYOR AND AND HER
TEAM DOING BROADLY IN TERMS OF
WHERE SHE WAS? DID SHE BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER? WHAT WAS THE
DECISION PROCESS IN TERMS OF
WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO DO? I
THINK IT WAS GREAT THAT DEPUTY
MAYOR WAS ON SCENE AT SEATTLE
CENTER. THAT MAKES A LOT OF
SENSE TO ME. BUT WHAT'S NOT
KNOWN IS, YOU KNOW, DID OTHER
PEOPLE COME HERE TO CITY HALL?
YOU KNOW, DID THEY, YOU KNOW,
REVIEW? DID THEY CHECK AND SEE,
HEY, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE BECAUSE THAT'S SO
IMPORTANT. AND IT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR THE, THE 26 MINUTE MEETING
STARTED AT 857. I WAS THERE
OBVIOUSLY, ALONG WITH C P
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
AND THIS FOLLOWED. THIS WAS IN
THE BASEMENT OF THE THE ARMORY,
BECAUSE POLICE HAD SPD HAD THEIR
REVIEW, WHICH TOOK A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF TIME. AND THEN WE
BASICALLY CLEARED THEM OUT. AND
THE SENIOR STATE OF SPD. AND
THEN PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, DEPUTY
MAYOR, CAME IN AND THEN WE WERE
JOINED ON TEAMS WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN JAYAPAL GOVERNOR
FERGUSON EXECUTIVES. OBVIOUSLY,
MAYOR WILSON, I ALREADY
MENTIONED COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MYSELF. AND AGAIN, THE SENIORS
FROM SPD, YOU KNOW, TO WALK
THROUGH THESE PIECES AND, YOU
KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT PROCESS
AND WHAT THE MAYOR WAS DOING,
WHAT THE MAYOR WAS DOING FROM
THAT MEETING, I MEAN, THIS IS
JUST LIKE A, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
I'VE USED THE WORD SIT ROOM
SITUATION ROOM, BUT THIS IS KIND
OF STANDARD. AND I THINK THAT
COULD BE PRESENTED AT SEPTEMBER
22nd AS WELL. OR IF YOU WANT TO
EARLIER. BUT I THINK THAT'S A,
A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO THIS.
AND IT KIND OF GOES TO THE
QUESTION MORE GENERALLY IN TERMS
OF THE COMP, THE COMP IS A
LITTLE BIT OF A I DON'T WANT TO
SAY SIDESHOW, BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT. BUT IT'S ALSO
DEFLECTING ATTENTION TO THE
OPERATIONAL PIECE. AND THIS IS
WHY I WANT TO START TODAY WITH
THE TACTICAL SIDE. BUT IN
SEPTEMBER 22nd, I WANT TO BRING
IT UP A BIT BECAUSE
EVERYTHING'S INTERRELATED AND
OBVIOUSLY I'M IN A UNIQUE
POSITION SINCE I GOT THE CALL
FROM DEPUTY MAYOR, I WAS ON
STATION SEEING THESE PIECES. AND
BY THE WAY, I DID GET THE
INVITATION TO JOIN THE PRESS
CONFERENCE. I WAS I HAD JUST
LEFT AND I GOT A CALL FROM
DEPUTY MAYOR AT 1015. AND I, TO
BE FRANK, I DECLINED TO GO TO
THE PRESS CONFERENCE. PEOPLE CAN
DECIDE WHETHER THAT WAS A SMART
DECISION OR NOT, BUT THAT WAS MY
DECISION. JUST TO CLOSE THIS
SECTION. CHIEF SALES, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. CAPTAIN
WARD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE YOU ARE ON
STATION. AND ON SEPTEMBER 22nd,
ASSISTANT CHIEF DAVIS, MR.
SERGEANT PRITCHARD DEFINITELY
NEED TO BE HERE. AND DIRECTOR
HOLCOMB, ALSO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. BUT JUST TO CLOSE, I
DO WANT TO SAY MORE BROADLY
THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT
RESPONDED. AGAIN, I KNOW OFFICER
VACCA, WHO'S PART OF THE BEAT
THERE AT SEATTLE CENTER. HE WAS
LIKE THE ONE OF THE FIRST
IMMEDIATE PEOPLE TO RESPOND. HIM
AND HIS COLLEAGUES, INCREDIBLE.
THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE EMTS, THE
WORK THAT THEY DID TO GET THESE
PEOPLE ENROUTE TO HARBORVIEW AND
SO FORTH. AND THERE'S THAT ONE
PERSON WHO WENT TO UW. AND SO
FORTH. INCREDIBLE. AND ALSO, BY
THE WAY, SEATTLE CENTER, MY
ESCORT AGAIN, I DID NOT KNOW IT
WAS AN ACT OF WITH THE IMAX SWAT
OPERATION WAS THE SEATTLE CENTER
SECURITY OFFICER. AND I SHOULD
NOTE, A FORMER MARINE. SO THAT
WAS GOOD TOO. AS A NAVY GUY, I
LOVE MY MARINE BROTHERS AND SO
THE SEATTLE CENTER TEAM TO. IN
THEIR ROLE. AND I JUST WANTED TO
THANK ALL OF THEM AND THOSE THAT
PARTICIPATED IN THE TEAMS
MEETING, I SHOULD SAY THANK YOU
TO COUNCILWOMAN JAYAPAL GOVERNOR
FERGUSON AND, AND EXECUTIVE
STAFF WHO WERE ALSO THERE ON
MONDAY AT THE PRE AND POST
MEETINGS FOR THE PRESS
CONFERENCE. AND I THINK THEIR
INVOLVEMENT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
AS WELL. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR BEING THERE. AND WITH THAT,
WE WILL SEE YOU NO LATER THAN
SEPTEMBER 22nd. AND YES.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ O
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I DIDN'T
SEE YOUR HAND. THAT'S KIND OF A
CONCLUDING POINT, BECAUSE CHIEF
SAYLES DOES NEED TO GO.
-- BUT IF THAT NEEDS TO BE THE
CONCLUDING POINT, I'M HAPPY TO.
BUT ALSO, CHIEF, IF YOU NEED TO
TAKE OFF, AYE. CAPTAIN WAS THE
ONE ON SCENE THAT DAY AND PUBLIC
SAFETY DIRECTOR HOLCOMB IS ALSO
HERE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, SO
DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO
STAY FOR MY QUESTIONS.
-- WE GOT SOME PROMOTIONS THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE
INTO, SO. OH, YOU BOTH GOT.
-- TO GO. SO I'LL JUST BE BRIEF.
-- YEAH. I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND.
-- YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU
KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK
YOU, CHIEF SAYLES. THANK YOU
CAPTAIN. THANK YOU TO EVERY
SINGLE PERSON WHO WORKS FOR OUR
CITY AND WHO DOESN'T WORK FOR
OUR CITY. THAT RAN TOWARDS
DANGER. IT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED
OR UNDERSTATED. HOW PUTTING YOUR
OWN LIFE BEHIND THE LIVES OF THE
OTHERS AROUND YOU IN OUR CITY IS
SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER WANT TO
ASK OF OUR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES,
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY
DID FOR US ON THAT SUNDAY. AND I
AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF
THE WORK THAT YOUR OFFICERS AT
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE
CARE DEPARTMENT, EVERYONE DID.
BUT IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL TO
RUN TOWARDS GUNFIRE IN A BIG
CROWD SO THANK YOU. AND I GUESS
I'M NOT GOING TO ASK IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I'M NOT GOING
TO ASK YOU TO WALK ME THROUGH
THE TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENED
THERE BETWEEN 6:00 AND 9 P.M.
WHEN THAT MEETING OCCURRED. BUT
I'LL SHARE WITH YOU THAT I WAS
I BECAME AWARE OF IT PROBABLY
630. BY 709, I WAS ON A PHONE
CALL WITH COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
AND I HAD FULL INFORMATION THAT
THIS WAS NOT A PERSON ATTEMPTING
TO SHOOT PEOPLE
INDISCRIMINATELY, THAT THIS WAS
A GROUP ON GROUP INTERACTION.
AND THAT REALLY CHANGED MY
ENTIRE DEMEANOR, REALLY,
FRANKLY, BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY
BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEBODY
WHO IS A DANGER TO THE ENTIRE
PUBLIC AS COMPARED TO SOMEBODY
WHO IS A DANGER TO PEOPLE WHOM
THEY KNOW AND SO AT THAT. SO FOR
ME, I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION
HERE IS WHAT IS AND I KNOW I'VE
HAD MY COLLEAGUES SHARE, BUT
WHAT IS THE STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURE FOR INFORMING THE
PUBLIC WITH JUST EVEN THAT
SMALLEST AND NUANCE OF
INFORMATION?
-- I THINK THAT THAT'S THE
INFORMATION THAT WE'RE WORKING
ON, MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING
THAT OUT. I KNOW I'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH OUR PIO OFFICE OVER
THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF IN
REGARDS TO COMING UP WITH A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, LOOKING AT
AN OLD PLAN THAT WE HAD AND
REVAMPING THAT, LOOKING AT,
OKAY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
MINUTES BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GOING
TO HOLD ME TO, OH, YOU SAID 20
MINUTES. BUT LOOKING AT THAT AND
SAY, WHAT IS ACCURATE
INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW THAT WE CAN GET OUT TO THE
PUBLIC UTILIZING ALERT SEATTLE,
UTILIZING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS THAT WE HAVE. SO WE'RE
WE'RE REVAMPING THAT. LOOKING
AT THAT, I THINK IN OUR DEBRIEF
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER
AND CONTINUE TO PUT TOGETHER A
PLAN, LOOKING AT SOME THINGS
THAT WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED. ON
THIS INCIDENT.
-- THANK YOU.
-- IF I MAY, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
-- I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE KINDS OF
QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. WE'RE
EXPECTING INSPECTOR JUDGE TO ASK
WHAT WERE THE PROTOCOLS IN
PLACE?
-- BECAUSE I RECALL THAT THE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE IN
THE PAST REGARDING INFORMING THE
PUBLIC DIDN'T FAIL IN JANUARY,
WHEN THE TWO STUDENTS WERE SHOT
AT RAINIER BEACH AND THE MAYOR
WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. I
KNOW THAT I BELIEVE AND CORRECT
ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT THE
PUBLIC WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE
BASE, THE FOUR CORNERS OF WHAT
WAS GOING ON. WITHIN 45 MINUTES.
IS THAT YOUR RECOLLECTION?
-- I DON'T HAVE A RECOLLECTION
OF THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO
A GREAT QUESTION FOR THE AFTER
ACTION REVIEW TO DIG INTO WHAT
HAS WORKED, WHERE WHERE DID
THINGS DIFFER THIS TIME AROUND
AND WHY?
-- AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THE
CALL THAT I GOT AT A EARLY THE
5:00 HOUR FROM THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOT ON THIS
DAY, BUT THE DAY WHERE THERE WAS
AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN
MY DISTRICT, AND I RECALL THE
PERSON THAT CALLED ME, YOU KNOW,
GAVE A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
MAYBE THE CROSS STREETS
GENERALLY. AND I TOLD HIM,
THAT'S ADAMS ELEMENTARY,
BECAUSE THAT THAT OFFICER
INVOLVED SHOOTING OCCURRED IN
THE VERY INTERSECTION THAT I WAS
A CROSSING GUARD AS AN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT. AND I
WAS I GOT THERE AS FAST AS I
COULD. AND WHEN I ARRIVED, THE
PRESS CONFERENCE WAS DONE
BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GET OUT ALL
OF THE INFORMATION. AS SOON AS I
DID NOT ASK, HEY, CAN YOU HOLD.
CAN YOU WAIT FOR ME TO GET
THERE? THIS IS BIGGER THAN ME.
THIS IS AT THAT MOMENT, THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING WAS FOR THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT A VERY
DANGEROUS MAN HAD BEEN FOLLOWING
AN 18 YEAR OLD WOMAN, INTENDING
TO DO IMMENSE HARM TO HER, WAS
NOT ABOUT ME. THAT DAY. AND SO
PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, YOU'VE
MADE THE COMMENTS A COUPLE TIMES
THAT THE OIG WILL BE REVIEWING
THIS INFORMATION TO SEE WHERE
THOSE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.
I YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, AN OIG
INVESTIGATION IMPLIES WRONGDOING
ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE, MAYBE
EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY. AND SO
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THEY ALSO
BE REVIEWING THE CHAIN OF
COMMAND ALL THE WAY TO THE MAYOR
HERSELF?
-- WE'VE ASKED THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE TO REVIEW ALL
ACTIONS BY ALL OFFICES, ALL
DEPARTMENTS, AND ASK ALL
DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE STAFF.
YES, THAT OFFICE INCLUDES THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ALL
OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO
COOPERATE FULLY IN THE AFTER
ACTION REVIEW SO THE PUBLIC CAN
HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF WHERE
COMMUNICATIONS MAY HAVE BROKEN
DOWN AND WHY.
-- AND I ASK THAT BECAUSE WHAT I
SAW WITH THE FLOW OF INFORMATION
ON SUNDAY AT THE IDA SEATTLE WAS
CONSISTENT WITH SOME CHALLENGES
THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE REGARDING
COMMUNICATION COOPERATION,
PRODUCTIVITY AND WORKING
TOGETHER. AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS, WITH FLOW
OF INFORMATION. AND SO I'M
HAVING TROUBLE SEEING WHAT IS
THAT MISMATCH HERE TODAY, RIGHT?
I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME
COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION
CHALLENGES THAT I'VE HAD WITH
THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE REGARDING
THE STOPPING AND THEN DOING A
SWEEP IN BALLARD IN EARLY
JANUARY FROM THE DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR DEPARTURES IN DECEMBER,
JANUARY, FEBRUARY, INCLUDING
DAWN LINDELL, WHO IS IN CHARGE
OF OUR UTILITY, THAT WE ARE NOW
HAVING A 9.5 INCREASE IN THE
RATES. THERE HAD BEEN AN ENTIRE
PLAN TO WALK THROUGH WHY THOSE
RATES NEED TO OCCUR. THAT PLAN
DIDN'T GET TO OCCUR BECAUSE WE
CHANGED OUT LEADERSHIP WITH SO
LITTLE TIME, I NEVER GOT TO EVEN
HAVE A DEBRIEF WITH DON ABOUT
THE WORK THAT WE NEEDED TO
CONTINUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH
MHA. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH I
MEAN, IT WITH SCHOOL LUNCHES,
WITH THE SHELTER BILL. SO THESE
ARE ALL THIS IS A THIS IS A SET
OF EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD
WITH THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
AND THIS IS NOT A SET OF
EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST IN
THESE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. AND SO
THAT'S WHY I ASK, HOW WILL THE
OIG BE REVIEWING THE INFORMATION
WITHIN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND ALL
THE WAY TO THE MAYOR HERSELF?
-- I APPRECIATE THAT, AND AND IT
IS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
MAYOR'S SINCERE HOPE THAT BY
REQUESTING AN INDEPENDENT AFTER
ACTION REVIEW BY THE OIG, YOU
WILL BE MORE REASSURED WITH THE
CONCLUSIONS THAT ARE DRAWN THAN
IF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ALONE WAS
TRYING TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE POSING.
-- THAT WE COULD ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS TODAY.
-- I'M SORRY.
-- I MEAN, IT DOESN'T TAKE AN
OIG INVESTIGATION TO BE ABLE TO
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TODAY.
-- THE QUESTIONS YOU JUST ASKED
ABOUT.
-- WHO MADE THE DECISION TO HOLD
PAUSE, DELAY OR NOT HOLD A PRESS
CONFERENCE BETWEEN 6 P.M. AND
730 OR BETWEEN 7 AND 8, OR
BETWEEN 8 AND 9, OR BY THE TIME
THAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WAS
LEAVING ONLY AFTER THAT, THERE
WAS A DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND I
REALLY I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID
IT, BUT LIKE A PRESS CONFERENCE
IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO INFORM
THE PUBLIC. ALERT SEATTLE IS NOT
THE ONLY WAY TO INFORM THE
PUBLIC, BUT WHAT WAS MOST
IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO
KNOW. AT 7:09 P.M. WAS. THIS WAS
NOT A PERSON WHO WAS KILLING
PEOPLE INDISCRIMINATELY. THIS
WAS A KNOWN SET OF PARAMETERS,
LIKE THERE WAS A KNOWN SET OF
ACTORS IN HERE. THERE ARE SO
MANY MORE THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT
KNOW. AND CHIEF SALES, I CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH ABOUT HOW
THOUGHTFUL YOU ARE ABOUT BOTH
FOLLOWING UP ON THESE MURDERS
AND NOT MAKING INDISCRIMINATE
ACCUSATIONS WITHOUT THE
INFORMATION TO BACK YOU UP. THAT
IS THE STANDARD OF
PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE DESIRE
AND THAT WE APPRECIATE IN THIS
CITY SO IMMENSE, IMMENSE. THANK
YOU TO YOU FOR THAT. BUT THAT'S
WHAT I'M GETTING BACK TO, IS WE
DON'T NEED TO HAVE AN OIG
INVESTIGATION. WE CAN ANSWER
THOSE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
-- AND SO I'LL SAY THIS AND
ANSWER BOTH TO YOU AND TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. NO, WE
CAN'T BECAUSE IN FACT, I DON'T
KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT
QUESTION. AND AS I INDICATED IN
MY ANSWERS TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, THERE WERE DOZENS OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE TEXTING AND
CALLING EACH OTHER WITH LOTS OF
INFORMATION. THAT EVENING, YOU
PROBABLY KNEW WHAT YOU KNEW
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE
GROUND SOONER THAN I DID,
BECAUSE YOU HAD CHAIR KETTLE
CALLING YOU WITH THAT
INFORMATION. CHAIR KETTLE
WASN'T CALLING ME WITH THAT
INFORMATION.
-- I CALLED HIM RIGHT. FOR THE
RECORD, I CALLED HIM.
-- EXACTLY. SO THAT'S MY POINT
IS JUST THAT I FEEL THE
FRUSTRATION AND I FEEL THAT IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT WE'RE
NOT ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THESE
QUESTIONS. AND I'M JUST TRYING
TO REITERATE A VERSION OF WHAT
YOU HEARD CHIEF SALES SAY
EARLIER. THERE WERE DOZENS OF
PEOPLE THAT WERE MOBILIZING THAT
WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOU
HAD THE OPERATIONAL WORK
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, AND YOU
HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
WEREN'T ON THE GROUND THAT WERE
TRYING TO GET INFORMATION TO AND
FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS SO THAT
WE COULD GET AN ACCURATE PICTURE
OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE CAN'T ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE
RIGHT NOW. WE WOULD IF WE DID
SO, IT WOULD BE A KNEE JERK
REACTION. WE WOULD BE RUSHING TO
JUDGMENT ABOUT WHAT REALLY
HAPPENED, WHAT THE FACTS WERE
WHEN THERE WERE MULTIPLE OFFICES
AND DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE
CONTRIBUTING INFORMATION THAT
EVENING. AND BECAUSE THIS HAS
BECOME SUCH A CHARGED TOPIC AND
IS PULLED FOCUS AWAY FROM THE
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE OF THE
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND THE
VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO
CONTINUE TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS.
WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE PRESS
CONFERENCE HAPPENED, SO WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE IT TO OIG. THEY
CAN DO THAT INVESTIGATION. THEY
CAN DO THAT AFTER ACTION REVIEW.
THEY CAN GIVE US A REPORT. WE'RE
GOING TO COOPERATE FULLY. WE'RE
GOING TO PROVIDE ALL THE RECORDS
THAT WE HAVE FROM ALL THE
PHONES, ALL THE EMAILS. WE'RE
GOING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE
INTERVIEWS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN
GET AN ANSWER THAT WILL SATISFY
YOU, BECAUSE IT WILL BE AN
OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY THAT IS
ACTUALLY CHARGED WITH DOING THAT
KIND OF AFTER ACTION REVIEW. SO,
NO, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DOES NOT
HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION
TODAY, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
GETTING IT BECAUSE WE WANT THE
ANSWER, JUST LIKE YOU DO,
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT TO
HAPPEN AGAIN.
-- OKAY. AND BUT YOU SEE THIS
DIFFERENT SET OF INTERACTIONS
AND EXPERIENCES THAT I AND SOME
OTHERS HAVE HAD WITH THE
EXECUTIVE AS COMPARED WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND
SO YOU CAN'T ANSWER TODAY. I'LL
JUST ASK DIRECTLY. DID THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE OR DESIGNEE OF
THE MAYOR ASK TO PAUSE, DELAY,
NOT HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT
ALL AT ANY TIME? THAT EVENING?
-- NO, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT
QUESTION HONESTLY. OKAY. YEAH.
-- AND THE QUESTION REALLY COMES
BACK TO IT'S NOT ABOUT A PRESS
CONFERENCE, RIGHT? IT'S ABOUT
HOW DO WE SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC
TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO TO SLEEP
KNOWING THAT THEY'RE SAFE THAT
NIGHT. AND SO DID THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AT ANY TIME. SLOW DOWN,
DELAY OR PAUSE THE RELEASE OF
INFORMATION AND THE MAYOR OR THE
DESIGNEE?
-- NO, I THINK TWO PIECES OF
INFORMATION THAT HAVEN'T BEEN
RAISED TODAY ARE THE FACT THAT
SPD WAS THE FIRST TO PUT UP
SOMETHING ON THEIR X ACCOUNT, OR
SPD BLOTTER. I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHERE, BUT THEY HAD INFORMATION
ABOUT THE SHOOTING GO OUT
IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE THE MAYOR
PUT OUT A STATEMENT LATER IN THE
EVENING BEFORE THE PRESS
CONFERENCE. THERE WERE A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT CHANNELS THROUGH
WHICH COMMUNICATION COULD HAVE
GONE OUT AND PERHAPS SHOULD HAVE
GONE OUT, AND I CAN'T ANSWER
TODAY WHY THAT WASN'T HAPPENING,
WHAT THOSE CHANNELS COULD HAVE
BEEN. AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT
WE WANT THIS REVIEW TO DO. WE
WANT THE CITY DESERVES TO HAVE
EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC INFORMATION
GETTING OUT. AND WE WANT TO WE
WANT TO HAVE THE OIG CONDUCT
THIS AFTER ACTION REVIEW IN
SUPPORT OF THAT GOAL.
-- YEAH.
-- THANK YOU. CAN I ASK ONE MORE
QUESTION AND THEN I'LL BE DONE.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
I KNOW I'M A GUEST TODAY. IT'S
JUST THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT
THIS IS A CHARGED ENVIRONMENT AT
THE MOMENT. AND THIS IS I'M
GOING TO TALK NOW ABOUT THE
POLICE CHIEF BEING ASKED TO
RESIGN, BECAUSE IT WAS SIMILAR
IN THE WAY THAT DAWN LINDELL WAS
ASKED WAS WAS FIRED, WAS ASKED
TO RESIGN, BUT THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN DIONNE AND AND ASKING
THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO RESIGN IS
DIONNE RUNS A UTILITY. SHE MAKES
SURE THAT OUR LIGHTS ARE ON AND
THAT OUR RATES AREN'T GOING UP
TOO HIGH. BUT THAT SAME SET OF
EXPERIENCES THAT WE THAT I HAD
WITH DAWN LINDELL BEING LET GO
FROM THE CITY, OCCURRED WITH
CHIEF BARNES LAST WEEK WITH THE
MOST INFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN
ABLE TO BE PROVIDED IS THAT THE
MAYOR HAS A DIFFERENT WINDOW
INTO THE OPERATIONS OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAN THE
COUNCIL DOES. YET I HAVEN'T BEEN
TOLD WHAT SHE SEES THROUGH THAT
WINDOW. WHY THIS IS CHARGED IS
THERE'S THREE PEOPLE DEAD. WHY
THIS IS CHARGED IS THAT PEOPLE
SEATTLEITES WENT TO SLEEP THAT
NIGHT THINKING THAT THERE WAS
SOMEBODY INDISCRIMINATELY
KILLING PEOPLE AT THE SPACE
NEEDLE THIS IS CHARGED BECAUSE
THE MAYOR ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF
TO RESIGN WITH VERY LITTLE
INFORMATION. AND SO THE BEST
THAT I CAN DO IS SURMISE THAT
BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME
COMMUNICATION DIFFERENCE OR
DIFFICULTY, THAT THE CHIEF WAS
ASKED TO RESIGN. THAT'S WHY
THIS IS CHARGED. AND THIS ALL
COULD BE AVOIDED IF THERE WAS
CLEAR, TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION
FROM THE START. AND JUST LIKE
BACK TO YOU, CHIEF, I CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR NOT TAKING
YOUR ATTENTION OFF OF FINDING
THESE MURDERERS, BECAUSE WE
SHOULD BE SPENDING ALL OF THE
TIME THAT WE'VE SPENT THIS
MORNING JUST FOCUSED ON THAT.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, JUST TO CLOSE, BECAUSE
YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE NOW, I
KNOW THE CEREMONY HAS ALREADY
STARTED, BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN,
WE'LL THIS IS NOT GOING TO
STOP. THE 22nd SEPTEMBER
MEETING. THE OIG HAS NO IMPACT
ON THAT. AND WE WILL BE HITTING
THE OPERATIONAL PIECES LIKE I
CARE ABOUT THE CRG. FOR THOSE
WHO WANT TO KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I
CARE ABOUT. BUT I ALSO CARE
ABOUT THE COMMS PIECE AND
WHAT'S CLEAR FROM THIS IS IT
DOESN'T HELP GOING TO THE POINT
ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS, WHEN THE
MAYOR SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE I
HAVE A BETTER WINDOW. WHAT'S
CLEAR HERE IS THAT SHE DOES NOT
HAVE A BETTER WINDOW. SHE DOES
NOT HAVE A BETTER WINDOW THAN I
DO. SHE DOES NOT HAVE A BETTER
WINDOW THAN PROBABLY THE
MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL. AND SO
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON 22nd
SEPTEMBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CLERK. CAN WE MOVE TO THE SECOND
ITEM OF BUSINESS WITH THE CLERK?
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
TWO IN THE RECORD.
-- KING COUNTY JAIL, MEDICAL
DEFERRAL DATA AND IMPACTS ON
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER AND
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
-- THANK YOU.
AND AS THEY COME UP TO THE
TABLE, I JUST WANT TO NOTE THIS
IS THIS IS A PART OF THE PROCESS
THAT WE HAVE. THIS IS PART OF
THE PROCESS THAT WE HAD. WE
STARTED WITH THE. OH, SPEAKING
OF OIG AND THEIR REPORT ON
PUBLIC DRUG USE AND POSSESSION
EARLIER THIS YEAR IN COMMITTEE
AS PART OF THE PROCESS WITH THE
CARE AND ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
WITH OUR PUBLIC DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION, WE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS
THAT WE HAVE TWO ISSUES. ONE IS
CONFIDENCE IN THE LEAD PROGRAM,
BUT ALSO MEDICAL DECLINES. AND I
WANT TO EXPRESS A VERY DEEP
THANK YOU TO HARBORVIEW FOR
ATTENDING, AND WE'LL START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS. CAN WE START WITH
YOU, SIR, AND THEN MOVE ACROSS
THE TABLE TO MISS SMITH?
-- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
-- HI. MY NAME IS IAN GOODHEW.
I'M THE CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
OFFICER AND VP FOR GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS FOR UW MEDICINE. WHICH
PART OF UW MEDICINE IS TO
OPERATE? HARBORVIEW MEDICAL
CENTER. SO I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR
OF REPRESENTING THE FRONTLINE
WORKERS AT HARBORVIEW. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME.
-- THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
-- I, LIEUTENANT NATE SHOPE. I
WORK DIRECTLY WITH CHIEF ROB
BROWN
-- GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. I AM
ROB BROWN, THE CHIEF OF PATROL
OPERATIONS, SEATTLE POLICE.
-- GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
SARAH SMITH, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER.
-- THANK YOU. OKAY, OVER TO YOU.
I, I KNOW WE HAVE A BRIEFING
FROM SPD, BUT I WE'RE STARTING
WITH YOU OR STARTING WITH, OKAY,
STARTING WITH MISS SMITH. OKAY.
GO AHEAD, MISS SMITH. TAKE IT
AWAY.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. BRANT,
DO YOU MIND JUST GOING ON TO THE
NEXT SLIDE FOR ME.
-- AND WE'LL HOLD QUESTIONS
UNTIL THE END. I APPRECIATE IT,
BUT WE WON'T HAVE AS MANY
QUESTIONS AS WE DID WITH AGENDA
ITEM ONE.
-- I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU TO IT.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE,
I AM VERY THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE THIS SPACE TO TALK ABOUT AN
ISSUE THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO SEATTLE AND
OUR HEALTH SYSTEM IS FACING
BEFORE I GET INTO THIS, THOUGH,
I DO WANT TO FRAME US IN WHY WE
ARE HERE AND WHAT OUR MISSION
IS. IT IS THE MISSION OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
SERVE THE CITY OF SEATTLE WITH
PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION
TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE, TO
PREVENT CRIME AND ENFORCE OUR
LAWS. HOWEVER, WE CAN'T DO IT
ALONE. TODAY. WE ARE HERE WITH
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, BUT
THERE ARE ALSO SO MANY OTHER
INDIVIDUALS THAT WE NEED IN
ORDER TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. IT
INCLUDES THE COUNCIL, THE
EXECUTIVE, THE COUNTY, OUR
COMMUNITY. AND SO I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE WE
CAN'T DO THIS ALONE, I ALSO
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS
WORK IS GOING TO CHANGE THE
NEEDS OF THE CITY HAVE BEEN
CHANGING THE NEEDS OF WHAT WE
ARE SEEING ON THE STREETS HAVE
BEEN CHANGING, AND WE AS A
SYSTEM HAVE TO CHANGE WITH IT.
SO TODAY'S OBJECTIVE, TODAY'S
OBJECTIVE IS TO SHOW YOU ALL AND
INFORM YOU ALL ON AN ISSUE THAT
WE ARE FACED WITH, AND DISCUSS
SOME NEXT STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE
AS A SYSTEM WITH ALL OF THE
PARTNERS INVOLVED. NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHAT ARE WE HERE FOR? WE'RE
HERE TO TALK ABOUT JAIL
DEFERRALS OR JAIL DECLINES. SO
TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT, BECAUSE I
THINK BACKGROUND IS IMPORTANT,
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO
KNOW THAT THE KING COUNTY JAIL
HAS JURISDICTION OVER OUR FELONY
ARRESTS. SO THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS SET ALONE. THAT IS HOW
IT IS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT IN 2011, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WENT INTO AN INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT FOR MISDEMEANOR JAIL
BOOKINGS. AND SO WHAT THAT
ESSENTIALLY IS SAYING IS THAT
THE KING COUNTY JAIL IS WHERE WE
ARE TAKING OUR MISDEMEANORS FROM
THE SEATTLE AREA. WE HAVE A
CONTRACT FOR THAT. THAT CONTRACT
RIGHT NOW IS APPROXIMATELY $25
MILLION ANNUALLY. AND CURRENTLY
IT'S FOR 135 MISDEMEANOR BEDS
ON A DAILY AVERAGE. THAT CAN
CHANGE. IT'S AN AVERAGE. I WILL
ALSO NOTE THAT AT THIS POINT IN
TIME WE ARE ONLY USING AN
AVERAGE OF 77 BEDS PER DAY.
THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY SINCE
2012 THAT'S HAPPENED. WE HAVE
TO ACKNOWLEDGE COVID AND SOME OF
THE CAPACITY CHANGES THAT
HAPPENED, BOTH IN THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT SIDE, BUT ALSO IN
THE JAIL. WE CHANGED SOME OF THE
RESTRICTIONS AROUND
MISDEMEANORS, AND THAT ONLY WAS
CHANGED IN 2023 AFTER AMENDMENT.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE STILL
NOT GOTTEN ANYWHERE CLOSE TO 135
MISDEMEANOR BEDS. AND WE'VE
BEEN RUNNING INTO AN INCREASING
ISSUE WITH SOME OF OUR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRYING TO
BOOK INTO JAIL, BEING DEFERRED
OR DECLINED DUE TO AN EMERGENCY
MEDICAL NEED. NOW, THAT IS NOT
TO SAY THAT WE DON'T THINK
THAT'S IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WE ARE
KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE, BUT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS
WE ARE DOING THESE DEFERRALS, WE
HAVE TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES
GOING INTO THAT, SO I JUST WANT
TO BRING THAT AHEAD AND SAY THAT
WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT. NEXT
SLIDE. SO NOW I'M GOING TO HAND
IT OVER TO CHIEF BROWN TO
DISCUSS WHAT IS ACTUALLY
HAPPENING IN THE DEFERRAL
PROCESS. AND HE'S GOING TO USE
AN ACTUAL EXAMPLE TO WALK
THROUGH.
-- OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO START
BY TALKING ABOUT THE BASIC
PROCESS. BUT BEFORE THAT I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT AND EMPHASIZE AS
THE CHIEF PATROL OPERATIONS, I
ATTEND MANY ROLL CALLS. THIS IS
THE NUMBER ONE TOP FRUSTRATION
OF OFFICERS IN PATROL IN
PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES. THIS
TOPS THE LIST. IT COMES UP EVERY
TIME. SO WITH THAT, TALKING
ABOUT THE BASIC PROCESS,
TYPICALLY WHEN AN ARREST IS
MADE, PROBABLE CAUSE IS
ESTABLISHED BY OFFICERS
SOMEWHERE ON THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE
THE DECISION TO BRING THAT
PERSON TO THE KING COUNTY JAIL.
THAT'S USUALLY ABOUT 30 MINUTES
CAN BE UP TO TWO HOURS IF THEY
TAKE THEM TO A PRECINCT FOR
ADDITIONAL PROCESSING, EVIDENCE
PROCESSING, BUT THEY'RE
ULTIMATELY GOING TO FILL OUT AN
AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE FOR
A CRIME AND BRING THEM TO THE
DOORS OF THE KING COUNTY JAIL.
THEY ENTER. AND PART OF THE
PROCESS OF THE INTAKE IS THAT
THERE ARE SCREENING QUESTIONS
THAT THE. AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THIS TO IT'S NOT
ACTUALLY KING COUNTY JAIL STAFF.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH. HAS A
NURSE THAT'S ON THERE ALWAYS
HAVE THAT STAFFED. AND THERE'S
ALWAYS A MEDICAL SCREENING.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
AMONGST A VARIETY. I HAVE A FORM
THAT HAS A VARIETY OF
CHECKBOXES, BUT I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT TWO OF THEM THAT ARE
SPECIFICALLY ON THEIR MEDICAL
SCREENING CHECKLIST. THERE IS A
QUESTION THAT THE NURSE POSES TO
THE ARRESTEE OF REGARDING SEXUAL
ASSAULT. RAPE. WITHIN THE LAST
FIVE DAYS. THE OTHER ONE, AND
WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO
EXAMPLES OF THIS LATER IN MY
PRESENTATION. BUT INGESTED DRUGS
WITHIN SIX HOURS. SO THESE
QUESTIONS ARE ASKED
AUTOMATICALLY, NOT WAITING FOR
THE ARRESTEE TO BRING THESE
ISSUES UP. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS
MEDICAL SCREENING IS CONDUCTED.
AND THEN WE HEAR WHETHER OR NOT
THE JAIL IS GOING TO ACCEPT THIS
PERSON IN OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO
BE MEDICALLY DECLINED, LIKE
WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING INTO.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THERE TO
BE A MEDICAL DECLINE. ONCE THAT
HAPPENS, THE JAIL DOES NOT TAKE
CUSTODY OF THE ARRESTEE. THEY
ARE HANDED BACK OVER TO THE
OFFICER AS A RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE OFFICER TO TRANSPORT THAT
PERSON, THAT ARRESTEE, TO
FURTHER MEDICAL CARE UP TO A
HOSPITAL. TYPICALLY, HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER IS WHERE THEY'RE
DIRECTED. A DECISION HAS TO BE
MADE AT THAT POINT, AND I'M
GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF ABOUT
THIS. BUT IF IT'S A FELONY
ARREST, TYPICALLY THEY'RE GOING
TO GUARD IT. NOT ALWAYS. THERE
MAY BE GREATER DEMANDS FOR
OFFICERS ON THE STREETS. SO THEY
MAY
-- DECIDE THAT FOR A PROPERTY
CRIME, WHETHER IT'S NOT, YOU
KNOW, A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE, THEY
MAY DECIDE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
STEP AWAY FROM THAT. AND BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES,
IT'S USUALLY SIX OR MORE HOURS
THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO SIT ON
SOMEBODY TO GET THEM MEDICALLY
CLEARED, TO BRING THEM BACK TO
JAIL. SO THEY MAKE THAT DECISION
IF IT'S A MISDEMEANOR, AND I'M
SPEAKING IN GENERALITY HERE,
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO GUARD THAT PERSON
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S SIX OR MORE
HOURS. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE DRAIN
ON OUR STAFFING RESOURCES TO
HAVE TO STAFF AN OFFICER THERE
AND TELL THEY'RE MEDICALLY
CLEARED. AND I SAY SIX OR MORE
HOURS. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR AN
EXAMPLE AS I GIVE LATER. IT CAN
BE 12 HOURS. IT CAN BE UP TO 24
HOURS. SO WITH THAT, I'VE
TALKED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
YEAH.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- ALL RIGHT. CONCERNS THIS
DEFERRAL PROCESS WAS INTENDED TO
KEEP THE INDIVIDUAL SAFE. LEADS
TO SEVERAL UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CITY. SO I
KIND OF ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED
THIS. BUT YOU HAVE A PUBLIC
HEALTH NURSE WITH A HIGH LEVEL
OF MEDICAL TRAINING, AND YOU
HAVE AN INFIRMARY AT THE KING
COUNTY JAIL. AND YET THIS NURSE
IS SAYING, NO, WE CAN'T ACCEPT
THIS PERSON. WE'VE IDENTIFIED A
MEDICAL ISSUE. THEY MAY NOT EVEN
TELL THE OFFICER WHAT THAT
MEDICAL ISSUE IS, BECAUSE
THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE IT DOWN
ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT'S PUT
IN AN ENVELOPE FOR THE OFFICER
TO TRANSPORT THIS PERSON TO THE
JAIL. SO NOW IT'S THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF AN OFFICER
WHOSE LEVEL OF MEDICAL TRAINING
TYPICALLY IS GOING TO BE CPR AND
STOPPING MAJOR BLOOD LOSS TO
PERFORM THIS TRANSPORT IN THE
PATROL CAR TO A MEDICAL
FACILITY. SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF
THINGS THAT CONCERNS HERE. THE
LEVEL OF CARE THEY'RE BEING
HANDED BACK DOWN TO A LOWER
LEVEL OF CARE AFTER THEY'VE BEEN
IDENTIFIED WITH A MEDICAL ISSUE.
THE WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT
THE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN
MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL AS THE
JAIL, THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
LIABILITY, BUT WHAT THEY'RE
DOING IS THEY'RE HANDING THE
LIABILITY OVER TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE
POINT I WANTED TO MAKE THERE.
LET ME MOVE ON TO THIS PROCESS
PLACES INSURMOUNTABLE STRAIN ON
OUR STAFFING CAPACITY BECAUSE OF
THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES.
I'VE ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT
AGAIN, BUT THERE'S MULTIPLE
HOURS THAT ARE TIED UP, MULTIPLE
OFFICERS THAT ARE TIED UP IN
HOSPITAL GUARDS. FINALLY, IT
STRAINS THE CITY'S EMERGENCY
CARE CAPACITY AS THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW BEING ADDED
TO THEIR WAITING ROOMS. SO THE
PLACE I ALREADY MENTIONED, HOW
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER IS THE
PLACE WHERE THEY'RE DIRECTED TO
GO. THIS IS THE PREFERRED PLACE.
THIS IS WHAT KING COUNTY JAIL
APPEARS TO HAVE AGREED. AND
THAT'S OUR EXPECTATION, IS THAT
HARBORVIEW, UNLESS THERE'S SOME
COMPELLING REASON TO GO
ELSEWHERE, HARBORVIEW, THE
REGIONAL TRAUMA CENTER, THEY'RE
TRIAGING WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING
ON BOARD. AND SO QUITE OFTEN,
SOMEBODY WHO IS AN ARRESTEE THAT
HAS A RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL
MEDICAL ISSUE, THEY'RE GOING TO
BE WAITING FOR A VERY, VERY,
VERY LONG TIME INSIDE OF
HARBORVIEW IN THEIR IN THEIR
EMERGENCY ROOM. I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE, BUT IT'S
A VERY, VERY BUSY PLACE. AND SO
OFTEN YOU'LL SEE AN OFFICER
SITTING BESIDE SOMEBODY WHO'S ON
A GURNEY WAITING FOR LITERALLY
HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS BEFORE
THEY'RE EVEN GETTING, YOU KNOW,
EXAMINED OTHER THAN PRECURSORY
INTERVIEW WITH WHAT THEIR ISSUES
ARE. OKAY. MOVING ON. I'M GOING
TO COVER THE CATEGORIES HERE
BRIEFLY AND THEN TURN IT BACK
OVER TO SARA. SO WE HAVE THESE
CATEGORIES THAT HAVE BEEN
TRACKED FOR REASONS FOR MEDICAL
DEFERRALS AT THE KING COUNTY
JAIL, ALTERED MENTAL STATE. I'LL
COMMENT BRIEFLY ON THIS. NOT
EVERYBODY THAT WE BRING TO THE
KING COUNTY JAIL GETS ALONG WELL
WITH OTHERS. AND SOMETIMES
THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT AMPED UP
OR AGITATED. THAT CAN BE
PERCEIVED BY JAIL NURSE AS AN
ALTERED MENTAL STATE. I
COULDN'T GIVE YOU A COUNT ON HOW
MANY TIMES IT HAPPENS, BUT I
KNOW OF A NUMBER. A NUMBER OF
EXAMPLES. SEXUAL ASSAULT. I'VE
ALREADY MENTIONED THIS. IT'S
WITH IF AND IT'S A QUESTION THAT
IS ASKED. AND IF THEY ANSWER
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED IN THE PAST FIVE DAYS,
THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPECIFY
ANYTHING FURTHER. THEN THAT'S
MEDICAL DEFERRAL. NARCOTICS.
THEY ARE ASKED IF THEY'VE
CONSUMED IT, IF THEY'VE
CONSUMED IT WITHIN THE PAST SIX
HOURS. THAT'S A MEDICAL
DEFERRAL. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
ASKED. ALL OTHER MEDICAL IS A
CATEGORY. AND WITH THAT, I THINK
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
-- AND I WILL JUST NOTE THAT THE
ALL OTHER MEDICAL IS WHERE WE
ARE LUMPING REALLY ANYTHING
WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AN
EXPLANATION FOR IT IN THE
NARRATIVE. AND SO THIS DATA
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, WE FINALLY
HAVE. AND SO I REMEMBER LAST
YEAR YOU ASKING FOR US TO DO
THIS. AND SO WE HAVE BUILT A
SYSTEM. OUR DATA TEAM IS
ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH ALL OF
OUR BOOKING REPORTS TO PULL THIS
INFORMATION. SO THERE ARE GOING
TO BE TIMES WHERE THINGS ARE NOT
REPORTED OR THEY DID NOT GIVE US
ENOUGH INFO. SO I ACTUALLY FEEL
AFTER TALKING TO OFFICERS THIS
IS PROBABLY UNDERREPORTING, BUT
THIS IS WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO
FIND REPORTS WHERE CLEARLY
STATED THAT THERE WAS A DECLINE
OR DEFERRAL FOR A REASON, AND SO
FAR, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY AS
OF JULY 27th, WE'VE HAD 862
DEFERRALS THIS YEAR. AND WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 6
TO 10 HOURS, THAT WE HAVE TO
STAY WITH AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT IS
A HUGE CAPACITY PROBLEM FOR US.
ON TOP OF THAT, I WILL TAKE
THIS. THIS IS NOT JUST
MISDEMEANORS. THIS IS ALSO
FELONY LEVEL CRIME. IT CAN BE
BOTH. AND WE'RE GOING TO
ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT HOW WE'VE
SEEN BOTH OF THAT WITHIN REALLY
A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. NOW
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. THE
ELEPHANT IS IT'S NOT THAT THESE
PEOPLE DON'T NEED EMERGENT
MEDICAL CARE. WE ACTUALLY WANT
TO MAKE SURE AS A JOINT SYSTEM
THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO
KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE, PERIOD. NO
MATTER WHAT. WE HAVE TO KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE. THAT'S TRUE BOTH IN
OUR JAIL AND CUSTODY, ON OUR
STREETS AND IN OUR HOSPITALS.
AND SO WE AS A SYSTEM, HAVE TO
DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE DOING. NEXT SLIDE.
PLEASE. SO NOW TO GO INTO THOSE
TWO DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT WE
JUST LOOKED AT, WHICH MAKE UP
FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER OF OUR
REFERRALS SO FAR THIS YEAR, I'M
GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE
DETAILS ON WHY THERE ARE
AUTOMATIC DEFERRALS. THE FIRST
ONE. SO FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
ALLEGE THAT THEY'VE INGESTED
NARCOTICS, THEY MUST BE OBSERVED
BY MEDICAL STAFF FOR SIX HOURS.
THAT'S A MEDICAL STANDARD THAT
IS KIND OF SET FORWARD BY THE
MEDICAL STAFF. IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE WEIGHING IN
ON, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS. HOWEVER, I WILL
SAY THAT AS FENTANYL HAS
CHANGED, THINGS ARE CHANGING
WITH IT AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO CHANGE OUR SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS
THIS NEED FOR RECENT SEXUAL
ASSAULT. THAT IS ACTUALLY
SOMETHING THAT STIPULATED IN OUR
STATE LAW. IT IS STATE LAW THAT
EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
WHO ALLEGES SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
OFFERED A SANE EVALUATION. THIS
IS A FORENSIC EVALUATION WHERE
WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS WHO ARE HURTING OTHERS ARE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND THEY HAVE
TO BE OFFERED THAT THE
CURRENTLY, THE KING COUNTY JAIL
DOES NOT HAVE MEDICAL STAFF THAT
CAN DO EVALUATIONS, WHICH IS WHY
THEY ARE SENT TO HARBORVIEW OR
OTHER EDS. I WILL SAY THAT IT IS
A CERTIFICATION PROCESS. IT
COULD BE A NURSE THAT HAS THAT
CERTIFICATION, AND WE CAN ASK
MORE OF OUR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS. BUT THOSE ARE THE
TWO BIGGEST CATEGORIES THAT WE
HEAR ABOUT, BOTH FROM OUR PATROL
OFFICERS AND CAN SEE IN THE DATA
IT MAKES UP OVER A QUARTER. IF
WE COULD ADDRESS EVEN JUST ONE
OF THESE ISSUES FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE'RE TALKING OVER 100
DIFFERENT TIMES OF DEFERRAL THAT
WE COULD SAVE THAT MANY HOURS
FROM OUR OFFICERS.
-- ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO
TAKE THIS PART OF THE
PRESENTATION AND FORGIVE ME.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME WITH THIS BECAUSE WE
HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT EXAMPLES
THAT ALL OCCURRED IN ONE WEEKEND
AND ONE PRECINCT. AND I THINK
THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF POINTS
THAT CAN BE ILLUSTRATED FROM
THESE EXAMPLES. SO THIS IS IN
THE EAST PRECINCT. IT IS A
WEEKEND OF FRIDAY, APRIL 3rd
THROUGH BASICALLY MONDAY
MORNING, APRIL 6th. I SAY THE
MORNING BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE
WEE HOURS OF, OF NIGHT. SO
ESSENTIALLY A WEEKEND. THIS WAS
BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY THIS
PRECINCT BECAUSE OF THEIR
FRUSTRATION WITH THESE DECLINES.
SO THE STAFFING I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE FOR THIS EAST PRECINCT
ON THIS WEEKEND, I LOOKED AT IT
AND ONLY ON TWO SHIFTS WERE THEY
EVEN ABLE TO GET UP TO SAFE
MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS. A
NUMBER OF TIMES THERE WERE ONE,
TWO, THREE, AND EVEN IN ONE
EXAMPLE, FOUR OFFICERS BELOW
THEIR SAFE MINIMUM STAFFING. SO
HAVING TO DEDICATE OFFICERS TO
HOSPITAL GUARDS IS A STRAIN SO
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE
FIRST ARREST. THE FIRST ITEM ON
HERE, FOUR THREE. THIS IS ABOUT
6 P.M. ON FRIDAY. THERE WAS A
CALL IN THE EAST PRECINCT OF A
MAN THAT IS SCREAMING AND
KICKING AND BREAKING DOWN A
BASEMENT DOOR TO AN OCCUPIED
RESIDENCE. THE RESIDENT INSIDE
IS A 7079 YEAR OLD MAN WHO IS
ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED. HE WAS
EXTREMELY THANKFUL WHEN THE
POLICE ARRIVED AND TOOK THE
PERSON WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO
BREAK IN INTO CUSTODY. BY THE
WAY, THAT PERSON THAT WAS TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY, THAT WAS OUR
SEVENTH ARREST OF THAT
INDIVIDUAL THIS YEAR ALONE. HE
WAS TAKEN DOWN TO THE KING
COUNTY JAIL FOR BOOKING. HE
ALLEGED A SEXUAL ASSAULT. HE WAS
THEN DEFERRED TO HMC, AS IS THE
PROTOCOL. HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE
ANY FURTHER DETAILS OF THE
ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT TO THE
OFFICERS THAT ARE ATTEMPTING.
BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TAKE THESE
ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY AND WE
ALWAYS DOCUMENT WHATEVER IS
REPORTED TO US. HE REFUSED TO
PARTICIPATE IN GIVING ANY
DETAILS TO THE OFFICERS AND
WOULD NOT SPEAK TO THE HOSPITAL
STAFF, AND ULTIMATELY, WE SPENT
8.5 HOURS UNTIL HE WAS FINALLY
RELEASED TO BE BOOKED INTO KING
COUNTY JAIL, WHICH HE WAS. LET
ME TURN TO THE NEXT EXAMPLE THAT
OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, THE
FOURTH, AT ABOUT 5:30 P.M., A
PERSON WAS PASSED OUT ON THE
GROUND AT A LOCAL COLLEGE IN THE
EAST PRECINCT. HE HAPPENED TO BE
HOLDING A GUN IN HIS HAND, WHICH
WAS VISIBLE. OFFICERS RESPONDED
AS WELL AS FIRE PERSONNEL.
ULTIMATELY, THE OFFICERS
DETERMINED THAT THE GUN WAS
STOLEN AND TOOK. THIS PERSON
TOOK THE SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY
FOR THE FIREARMS VIOLATION. THE.
HE WAS TRANSPORTED DOWN TO THE
KING COUNTY JAIL. HE ALLEGED
SEXUAL ASSAULT. HE WAS REFUSED.
AT THE. AT THE JAIL, HE WAS
TRANSPORTED TO HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER. HE REFUSED TO
PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION TO THE
OFFICERS ABOUT THE ALLEGED
ASSAULT AND HE ULTIMATELY TOOK
14.5 HOURS. YOU PROBABLY
WONDERING WHY 14.5 HOURS,
ALTHOUGH IT REQUIRES A SANE
NURSE, A SANE NURSE IS NOT
ALWAYS ON DUTY. SO IT'S WHEN ONE
IS AVAILABLE. AND AGAIN, THEY'RE
CONSTANTLY TRIAGING, BUT THAT'LL
BE MORE KIND OF FOR YOU TO
COVER. LET ME GO TO EXAMPLE
NUMBER THREE. SO THIS IS ON
SUNDAY AT ABOUT 11 P.M. THIS WAS
WHERE OFFICERS RECOGNIZED
SOMEBODY THAT THEY KNEW WAS
WANTED ON A SIZABLE WARRANT,
$50,000. THIS WAS THE PREVIOUS
ARREST WHERE THEY WERE FAMILIAR
WITH HIM FROM. HE HAD A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FENTANYL
AND WAS BELIEVED TO BE DEALING.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THE THE FELONY
WARRANT FOR THE DRUGS DEALING.
HE HAD A FIXED BLADE KNIFE ON
HIM AT THIS NEW ARREST THAT
OCCURRED ON THAT SUNDAY EVENING,
AS WELL AS FENTANYL, MORE
FENTANYL ON HIS PERSON. HE WAS
TAKEN DOWN TO THE KING COUNTY
JAIL. HE CLAIMED THAT HE HAD
SWALLOWED DRUGS. SO THIS WAS AN
INTERESTING I'M GOING TO GO
INTERESTING ONE. I'M GOING TO
GO THROUGH THIS. HE WAS TAKEN UP
TO VIRGINIA MASON AND GUARDED
THERE. LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT
ALWAYS HARBORVIEW MEDICAL
CENTER. AND THEN ONCE HE WAS
CLEARED, HE WAS TAKEN BACK TO
KING COUNTY JAIL. THIS TIME ON
THE SCREENING, HE CLAIMED THAT
HE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. HE
DID NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ALLEGED ASSAULT TO THE
OFFICERS. AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR
I'M GOING TO READ THIS
VERBATIM. THIS IS WHAT THE
ARRESTING OFFICER WROTE IN THE
REPORT. IT GIVES THE NAME OF
THIS ARRESTEE THEN STATED THAT
HE HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON THE SAME
EXACT WARRANT FIVE SEPARATE
TIMES AND HAS BEEN RELEASED
THREE OF THE TIMES BY OFFICERS
FOR DOING THINGS LIKE THIS
MEANING WHAT HE CLAIMS OCCURRED,
RIGHT? THAT WAS A 9.5 HOUR
HOSPITAL GUARD TO FINALLY GET
HIM BOOKED. OKAY. EXAMPLE NUMBER
FOUR. SO THIS IS ONE WHERE THE
OFFICERS ARRESTED SOMEBODY THAT
THEY KNEW HAD AN ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT, FELONY LEVEL
WARRANT. HE HAD. ADDITIONALLY
FENTANYL AND METH ON HIS PERSON
WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED. AND HE WAS
BROUGHT DOWN TO THE JAIL,
CLAIMED THAT HE HAD BEEN
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. HE REFUSED
TO PARTICIPATE, REFUSED TO
PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, REFUSED TO
PARTICIPATE WITH THE SAME NURSE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU YOU PROBABLY
KNOW, BUT SANE NURSE IS A SEXUAL
ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER. THERE'S
ONLY SOME NURSES THAT ARE
TRAINED TO THAT LEVEL. SO THAT
ONE TOOK 16 HOURS TO GET HIM
BOOKED. 16 HOURS OF OFFICERS
GUARDING HIM. LAST ONE. BUT I
THINK THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT TOO.
IT'S THE SHORTEST ONE. ONLY 2.5
HOURS. BUT THIS IS INTERESTING.
LISTEN TO THESE DETAILS. SO
OFFICERS RECOGNIZE THIS PERSON
AS HAVING A WARRANT FOR HIS
ARREST. VUCSA BY THE WAY,
THAT'S VIOLATION UNIFORM
FIREARMS ACT, A GUN CRIME. HE
ALSO WAS FOR TAKING MOTOR
VEHICLE AND AUTO THEFT. OKAY.
THAT WARRANT WAS $100,000 BAIL.
HE WAS TRANSPORTED DOWN TO THE
KING COUNTY JAIL. AND I'M GOING
TO BE A LITTLE SPECIFIC HERE. HE
WAS ASKED BY THE JAIL NURSE
SEVERAL TIMES IF HE HAD
SWALLOWED DRUGS. HE ADMITTED TO
SMOKING FENTANYL BUT SPECIFIED
NOT SWALLOWING IT. FINALLY,
AFTER BEING ASKED MULTIPLE
REPEATED TIMES, HE SAID IN A.
AND IT WAS CHARACTERIZED AS IN A
CONFUSED MANNER. HE SAID, I
GUESS I SWALLOWED DRUGS, HE WAS
THEN TRANSPORTED TO HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER. ONCE CLEARED,
OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO BOOK HIM.
KING COUNTY JAIL SAID THAT,
WELL, THIS 2.5 HOURS WASN'T LONG
ENOUGH THAT YOU DIDN'T PROPERLY.
YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW
THE PROCESS, I'M GUESSING. AND
AGAIN, I MAY BE SPECULATING
HERE, I'M GUESSING THAT HE
PROBABLY TOLD THE HOSPITAL STAFF
THE SAME THING, THAT I DIDN'T
SWALLOW DRUGS, AND THEY MAY HAVE
BELIEVED HIM, GIVEN HIS VITALS
DIDN'T INDICATE THAT HE DID.
BUT I'M SPECULATING. SO A
SERGEANT RESPONDED. THERE AND
ULTIMATELY TALKING TO THE JAIL
STAFF, THEY HAD A DIFFERENT
NURSE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ORIGINALLY
THEY WERE REFUSING TO TAKE HIM
THAT A DIFFERENT NURSE PERFORMED
THE SCREENING AND THEY AGREED TO
TAKE HIM. SO IN TOTAL, ON THAT
PARTICULAR WEEKEND, EAST
PRECINCT OFFICERS ALONE SPENT 51
HOURS TOTAL ON HOSPITAL GUARD.
THAT'S IT.
-- YEAH. AND SO AGAIN, I WANT TO
REPEAT IT. IS THIS IS AN ISSUE
AROUND CAPACITY, AROUND
LIABILITY. WHEN YOU ARE TAKING
SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY SICK AND
HAVING THEM BE WITH OFFICERS,
THAT IS A CONCERN FOR US. AND SO
IT IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT
RIGHT THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE
BEING GIVEN EXTRA MEDICAL
ATTENTION, BUT I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS CAPACITY
AND THIS RESOURCE ISSUE. THIS IS
A SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE ISSUE.
WHEN WE HAVE A STAFFING PROBLEM,
51 HOURS AT THE HOSPITAL IS NOT
WHAT THE EAST PRECINCT NEEDS
WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY SHORT
STAFFED. AND WE ARE TRYING TO
RESPOND TO 911 CALLS, WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT THIS. AND IT'S NOT
JUST ONE PARTNER. I WANT TO SAY
THAT THIS IS A JOINT ISSUE THAT
WE ALL HAVE TO DO TOGETHER AND
FIX TOGETHER. IT'S NOT ONE
PERSON. IT'S ALL OF US. NEXT
SLIDE. SO GOING INTO NEXT STEPS,
I'VE ALREADY KIND OF HIT IT A
LITTLE BIT I WANT TO MENTION
THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE
THAT HAS BEEN GROWING AND
GROWING, AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS
IT NOW. I KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE
LAST YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE LAST
YEAR. WE FINALLY HAVE THE DATA.
I WANT TO MOVE US FORWARD. WE
HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. AS YOU
HEARD FROM CHIEF BROWN, THIS IS
ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES THAT OUR
PATROL OFFICERS ARE ADDRESSING,
AND IT LEADS TO A CULTURE
PROBLEM. IT LEADS TO IF I CANNOT
HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
CRIME, THEN WHY KEEP TRYING? NOT
SAYING THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
DOING, BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO
FEEL THAT WAY WHEN YOU JUST
WASTED 51 HOURS AT HARBORVIEW OR
AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL. SO WE HAVE
TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THIS
REAL MEDICAL NEED AND SEE WHAT
OUR SOLUTIONS ARE. SO WE HAVE TO
WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO
ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL
STAFFING. I'M SURE WE NEED MORE
MEDICAL STAFFING. WE NEED TO
HAVE A MEDICAL PLAN BETWEEN THE
PROFESSIONALS TO TALK ABOUT
COORDINATION, AND WE HAVE TO
CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AT THIS DATA
AND IMPROVE TOGETHER. GOING BACK
TO MY ORIGINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
TIMES HAVE CHANGED. WE ARE A
DENSER CITY. WE ARE SHORT
STAFFED, OVER 400 OFFICERS
STILL, COMPARED TO WHEN 2019 WAS
AROUND. WE HAVE GOT TO CHANGE IN
ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
SEATTLE, AND IT TAKES ALL OF US.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. TAKE A MOMENT. I
JUST NEED TO TAKE A MOMENT YOUR
BRIEFING IS THE REASON WHY WE
UPDATED THE PUBLIC DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION BILL TO GET EVEN MORE
DATA TO CHARACTERIZE THIS. AND
IN TERMS OF OUR STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK PLAN, PILLAR TWO,
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, THIS TOPIC IS LIKE THE
POSTER CHILD OF A DYSFUNCTIONAL
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE HARBORVIEW
BEING HERE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HEAR
DIRECTLY THE IMPACT ON OUR
PREMIER HOSPITAL SYSTEM, NOT
JUST IN THE CITY, BUT THE ENTIRE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST, BECAUSE THIS
CANNOT BE HELPFUL TO YOUR
CARRYING OUT OF YOUR OWN
MISSION. MR. GOODHUE, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. OVER
TO YOU FOR ANY REMARKS THAT
YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE.
-- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. SO AGAIN, MY
NAME IS IAN GOODHUE AND I
REPRESENT UW MEDICINE
HARBORVIEW, AND I'M HERE IN THAT
CAPACITY. OUR CEO, SUMMER
WALLEY, WHO APPEARED IN FRONT OF
YOU LAST MONTH ON A DIFFERENT
MATTER. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN
HERE, BUT SHE HAD A CONFLICT.
SHE AND I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS
TOO. AND I DO HAVE I HAVE SOME
BACKGROUND THAT I THINK IS
HELPFUL ON THIS ISSUE. I WAS
ALSO AT THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR 15
YEARS BEFORE GOING TO UW
MEDICINE, AND SIX OF WHICH I
SERVED AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF.
AND SO OVERSAW RELATIONS WITH
WITH THE JAIL, OUR OUR OFFICERS
AND THE FOLKS THAT WORK AT THE
JAIL WORK HARD EVERY DAY. AND I
KNOW THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO DO
THEIR JOB THE BEST THEY CAN. SO
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE
BIT OF CONTEXT. SO HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER IS OWNED BY KING
COUNTY, BUT IT'S BEEN OPERATED
BY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S HEALTH SYSTEM, UW
MEDICINE, SINCE THE EARLY 1970s.
WE HAVE OVER 6000 STATE
EMPLOYEES. WE ADMIT OVER 17,000
PATIENTS A YEAR INTO 540
LICENSED BEDS. THAT MAKES US THE
SECOND LARGEST HOSPITAL IN THE
STATE, NEXT TO UW MEDICAL
CENTER. OUR OTHER HOSPITAL THAT
WE OPERATE, AND WE PROVIDE OVER
254,000 OUTPATIENT CLINIC VISITS
A YEAR, AS THE CHIEF SAID,
HARBORVIEW IS THE STATE'S LEVEL
ONE TRAUMA CENTER. WE'RE ALSO
THE LARGEST ACUTE PSYCHIATRY
CARE HOSPITAL IN THE STATE, AND
WE'RE ALSO THE LARGEST PUBLIC
SAFETY NET HOSPITAL IN THE
STATE, SERVING UNDER AND
UNINSURED PATIENTS. SO AS YOU
CAN IMAGINE, THE HARBORVIEW
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS A VERY
BUSY PLACE. WE SEE OVER 63,000
PATIENT VISITS A YEAR IN THAT
HARBORVIEW, EDDIE. SO I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ROLE OF
HARBORVIEW IS ON THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE THAT WE'RE HERE TO
DISCUSS TODAY. SO WHEN A PERSON
IS BROUGHT TO THE KING COUNTY
ADULT DETENTION CENTER, OR KCJ,
AS WE SOMETIMES REFER TO IT FOR
BOOKING, WHO ARE THEN DECLINED
FOR BEING BOOKED DUE TO THEIR
MEDICAL CONDITION, THEY ARE
USUALLY NOT ALWAYS, AS WAS
NOTED, BROUGHT TO HARBORVIEW. I
THINK THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR
THAT, SOME GOOD REASONS FOR
THAT. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN HARBORVIEW AND KING
COUNTY? SO, AS I SAID, KING
COUNTY OWNS HARBORVIEW AND WE'VE
BEEN IN AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR
DECADES TO OPERATE IT. BUT WE
OPERATE UNDER A HOSPITAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE
COUNTY. PART OF THAT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT ACTUALLY EXPLICITLY
STATES THAT UW HARBORVIEW TEAM
IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HEALTH
CARE TO INMATES AT THE KING
COUNTY JAIL. NOW, THOSE ARE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ALREADY
BEEN BOOKED, RIGHT? NOT THE
SITUATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
HERE. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T
REALLY CHANGE. HARBORVIEW
RESPONSIBILITIES. WHEN A PERSON
IS PRESENTED TO THE ED FOR
POSSIBLE MEDICAL CARE, WHETHER
IT'S BY A SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICER OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY, OR JUST BROUGHT TO THE
ED BY FIRST RESPONDERS OR EVEN
FAMILY MEMBERS. SO WHAT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY, OUR
RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT WHEN AN
INDIVIDUAL IS BROUGHT TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, LIKE ALL
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, WE
OPERATE UNDER THE WHAT'S CALLED
THE FEDERAL LAW, THE EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TREATMENT AND LABOR ACT.
THAT REQUIRES HOSPITALS WITH
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE
A MEDICAL SCREENING EXAM AND ANY
STABILIZING TREATMENT TO ANYONE
WITH AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL
CONDITION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ABILITY TO PAY OR INSURANCE
STATUS. NOW, THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT OUR STAFF AT HARBORVIEW
TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, RIGHT ABOVE
JUST THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT. BUT
EVERY PATIENT IS GOING TO BE
SEEN. AND OF COURSE, THEY TRY TO
DO IT IN AS TIMELY MANNER AS
POSSIBLE. NOW THAT THAT
SCREENING COMPONENT IS
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT,
YOU KNOW, GETTING THAT DONE,
GETTING INITIAL SCREENING AND
THEN ANY FOLLOW UP TREATMENT OR
AS WAS OBSERVED EARLIER, ANY
OBSERVATION PERIOD THAT'S
REQUIRED TAKES TIME. AND I THINK
THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE ISSUE
THAT THE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WAS POINTING OUT
EARLIER. SO WE SEE ABOUT AN
AVERAGE OF 170 TO 180 PATIENTS A
DAY IN THE ED AND OUR TEAM HAS
TO OBVIOUSLY PRIORITIZE THOSE
PATIENTS, AND THEY DO IT
BASICALLY ON ONE FACTOR, AND
THAT IS THE ACUITY OF THE
PATIENT. AND AS THE CHIEF NOTED,
RIGHT. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SEEING
ANYTHING FROM PEOPLE BEING
BROUGHT INTO THE ED BECAUSE THEY
THINK THEY MIGHT BE SICK. THEY
MIGHT BRING THEMSELVES IN. IT
MIGHT BE ONE ONE OF THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT'S BROUGHT IN ON
A JAIL DECLINE TO PEOPLE BEING,
BEING ER, MEDEVACED TO US WITH A
LEVEL ONE TRAUMA INJURY. SO THIS
MEANS THAT LOWER ACUITY PATIENTS
USUALLY DROP TO THE BOTTOM OF
THE QUEUE UNTIL STAFF HAVE TIME
TO SEE THEM. THAT MEANS HOURS
CAN PASS WHILE SICKER PATIENTS
ARE GIVEN THE PRIORITY. AND
THAT'S JUST THE PROTOCOL THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IN ANY ED.
BUT CERTAINLY IN THE HARBORVIEW
EDDIE. AS I AS I'VE UNDERSTOOD
IT OVER THE YEARS, RIGHT IN THE
JAIL PROCESS HAS ALREADY BEEN
DESCRIBED. WHEN AN OFFICER
PRESENTS AN ARRESTEE FOR BOOKING
AT THE KING COUNTY JAIL, A KING
COUNTY JAIL OFFICER AND
REPRESENTATIVE OF KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH PROVIDES
JAIL, HEALTH SERVICES, CONDUCTS
THIS INITIAL SCREENING AND THE
CHIEF SHOWED YOU WHAT THAT
SCREENING FORM LOOKS LIKE. IT'S
A IT'S A ONE FORM, ONE PAGE
FORM WITH SEVERAL QUESTIONS. IT
ALSO ASKS FOR OBSERVATIONS,
QUESTIONS ABOUT PARTICULAR
MEDICAL CONDITION, PHYSICAL
MEDICAL CONDITIONS. AND THEN
THERE'S ALSO A SECTION ON THE
INDIVIDUAL'S MENTAL HEALTH. IS
THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF POTENTIAL
SUICIDE OR SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
OR OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CONCERNS. SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
ONCE THAT THAT SCREENING, THOSE
SCREENING QUESTIONS ARE ASKED,
IF THERE'S A POSITIVE ANSWER,
THEN THERE'S SOME TYPE OF
ASSESSMENT DONE BY JAIL HEALTH
SERVICES AND A DETERMINATION
MADE BY JAIL HEALTH SERVICES
ABOUT WHETHER THAT INDIVIDUAL
CAN THEN BE ACCEPTED AT BOOKING.
AND AS THE CHIEF NOTED, THERE IS
AN INFIRMARY AT THE JAIL. I
ACTUALLY HAVE VISITED IT. IT WAS
MANY YEARS AGO AND IT PROVIDES
BASIC MEDICAL SERVICES. IT IS
CERTAINLY NOT A FULL FLEDGED,
HEALTH CARE CLINIC, OR CERTAINLY
NOT ON THE PAR OF AN EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT, LET ALONE HARBORVIEW
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. BUT IT
DOES PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES. SO
ONCE THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE
AGAIN, AS WE HEARD, IF THE
DECISION IS FOR THE JAIL TO
DECLINE THE BOOKING OF THE
INDIVIDUAL, THEN IT IS UP TO THE
OFFICERS, WHETHER IT BE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER
AGENCY, TO TAKE THAT INDIVIDUAL
TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. AND, YOU
KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE STATS ON
HOW MANY TIMES INDIVIDUALS ARE
TAKEN TO OTHER HOSPITALS, BUT I
BELIEVE THE DEFAULT IS
HARBORVIEW. I THINK THAT'S FOR
A NUMBER OF REASONS. OBVIOUSLY,
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, KING COUNTY
OWNS HARBORVIEW. SO I THINK
IT'S IT MAKES SENSE THAT
THERE'S A REFERRAL THERE. BUT I
ALSO THINK AND THE OFFICERS CAN
CERTAINLY CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S
ACTUALLY A VERY STRONG
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THE
FRONTLINE STAFF AT HARBORVIEW. I
MEAN, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY
INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER A LOT.
AND SO THEY KNOW EACH OTHER.
THEY TRUST EACH OTHER. NOT TO
SAY THERE PROBABLY AREN'T SOME
DIFFERENCES FROM TIME TO TIME,
BUT THEY THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK
TOGETHER WITHIN THE SYSTEM. SO I
THINK BY AND LARGE, THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE BROUGHT TO
HARBORVIEW. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE WHEN
WE WERE REACHED OUT TO BY THE
CITY AND BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. AS MISS SMITH SAID
LAST YEAR, AND TOOK A LOOK AT
WHAT WE THOUGHT THE IMPACT WAS
ON OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. WE
KNOW THAT THAT CASEY JAIL HEALTH
HAS A PROTOCOL IN PLACE TO TRY
TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
GETTING THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL
CARE, BUT WE FOUND IN OUR DATA
THAT WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR AND
THEN AGAIN, THIS YEAR, WE'VE
BEEN TRACKING THAT THAT THE
NUMBERS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT
WE'RE JUST PRESENTED TO YOU. WE
BELIEVE WE TRACKED JUST A TWO
WEEK PERIOD LAST YEAR, AND WE
HAD ABOUT IN THAT TWO WEEK
PERIOD, 65 JAIL DECLINES BROUGHT
TO THE EDDIE OF THAT DATA, ABOUT
55% OF THOSE DECLINES. THE
REASON GIVEN FOR THEM WERE THE
TWO REASONS THAT THE CHIEF CITED
TO DRUG INGESTION OR REPORT OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT. AND THERE WAS
ACTUALLY A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL WAS
REPORTING BOTH OF THOSE THOSE
EVENTS AS THE REASON FOR THE
DECLINE. AND SO AS A RESULT, WE
THEN TOOK A LOOK AGAIN AT JUST
TRACKING THE NUMBERS. I WILL
TELL YOU, OUR EDDIE STAFF DID IT
BY PAPER. THEY DON'T LET LACK
OF TECHNOLOGY GET IN THE WAY.
BUT FROM JANUARY TILL JUNE OF
ABOUT THIS YEAR, SO A LITTLE
SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME THAN WHAT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESENTED.
WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 600
DECLINES THAT WE TRACKED. AND
AGAIN, I WOULDN'T SAY THE THE
VAST MAJORITY, BUT NEAR THE NEAR
MAJORITY WERE FOR THOSE TWO
REASONS. THERE ARE ALSO
OBVIOUSLY DOZENS OF MENTAL
HEALTH RELATED, I THINK,
DECLINES. AS I SAID, HARBORVIEW
HAS A VERY LARGE INPATIENT
PSYCHIATRY UNIT. WE ALSO
OBVIOUSLY HOST THE INVOLUNTARY
TREATMENT COURT FOR THE REGION.
SO SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
SOME SENSE THERE OR SOME
CONNECTION THERE. AND THEN OTHER
MATTERS LIKE HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE, WOUND CARE, THINGS
THAT THAT THAT WERE LISTED ON
THE DOCUMENTS THAT SPD PRODUCED.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE PUT IT IN
CONTEXT, RIGHT, WE THE EDDIE IS
EXTREMELY BUSY. LIKE I SAID, WE
SEE ABOUT 63,000 PATIENT
ENCOUNTERS A YEAR. SO THAT MEANS
WE'RE SEEING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
THREE TO 4 TO 5 DECLINES A DAY.
BUT AS, AS WAS CITED TO BY THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE
PROTOCOLS THAT WE FOLLOW. SO FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THERE IS AN INDICIA
OR EVIDENCE OF DRUG INGESTION,
OUR EDDIE STAFF IS MOST LIKELY
GOING TO CONDUCT A SIX HOUR
OBSERVATION PERIOD. SO THAT
MEANS WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL
GOING INTO AN ED BED OR SPACE.
AND WE'RE OBSERVING THAT
INDIVIDUAL FOR SIX HOURS.
THERE'S NOT IN TALKING TO MY
CHIEF CHARGE NURSE AT HARBORVIEW
ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HE YOU KNOW,
HE CLARIFIED FOR ME, LOOK, AND
THERE'S NOT A MAGIC, YOU KNOW,
MAGICAL INTERVENTION WITH A
REPORT OF DRUG INGESTION BECAUSE
YOU'D HAVE TO DO A FULL BLOOD
PANEL. YOU'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE NARCOTIC ACTUALLY WAS.
THAT CAN TAKE EVEN LONGER, BUT
YOU CAN DO AN OBSERVATION PERIOD
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ACTUAL
PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF IT.
AND AFTER ABOUT SIX HOURS, THEY
CAN USE THEIR EXPERT HEALTHCARE
OPINION AND MAKE A JUDGMENT. SO
AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE A PERIOD OF
TIME THAT AN OFFICER WOULD
EITHER HAVE TO WAIT OR AN
OFFICER WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A
DECISION TO LEAVE DURING THAT
PERIOD. WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE
EXAMINATIONS, THIS IS A THIS IS
A COMPLEX PROCESS THAT WE
FOLLOW. AND AS MISS SMITH NOTED,
THERE ARE THERE ARE NOW RECENT
STATE LAWS THAT HAVE PASSED
ABOUT MAKING A SANE AVAILABLE.
WE'RE FORTUNATE AT HARBORVIEW
IN THAT WE ACTUALLY CREATED THE
STATE'S SANE TRAINING PROGRAM.
IT WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED AT
HARBORVIEW. SOME OF THE FIRST
SCENES IN THE STATE WERE
DEPLOYED AT HARBORVIEW. WE HAVE
SEEN RESOURCES, BUT AS THE CHIEF
NOTED, THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE
SOMEONE MAY COME INTO THE ED AND
OUR TRAINED SAINTS WHO ARE ON
DUTY ARE ACTUALLY ALREADY
DEPLOYED INTERVIEWING PATIENTS.
SO THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO WAIT.
I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT A
SANE EXAM, HAVING BEEN A SPECIAL
ASSAULT PROSECUTOR FOR SEVERAL
YEARS, A SANE EXAM CAN TAKE
ANYWHERE FROM BETWEEN 3 TO 4 TO
EVEN FIVE HOURS. THAT'S HOW
INTENSIVE IT IS IN TERMS OF THE
COLLECTION OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE.
THERE'S ALSO A TON OF SOCIAL
WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT
BEFOREHAND. AND THEN AFTER CARE
FOR THAT FOR THAT PATIENT. IF A
FULL SANE EXAM IS DONE. NOW, WE
DO HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS COME AND
SPEAK WITH OUR PATIENTS WHO ARE
REPORTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT. AT
FIRST, SOMETIMES I WOULD SAY
IT'S THE EXCEPTION, NOT THE
RULE. SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO A
SANE EXAM NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE
THERE MAY BE A RECANTATION OR AN
INDICATION THAT IT WASN'T
WITHIN THE LAST FIVE DAYS. AND
IF IT'S NOT IN THAT TIME
PERIOD, THEN THE PROTOCOL IS NOT
TO CONDUCT THE EXAM BECAUSE
IT'S UNLIKELY THERE WILL BE
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. BUT WE DO
HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS, NOT JUST
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DECLINED,
WHO DO INITIALLY REPORT A SEXUAL
ASSAULT, WHO ALSO CHOOSE NOT TO
GO FORWARD WITH THE SANE EXAM.
SO AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT CAN LEAD TO LENGTHY
PERIODS OF TIME LAPSING FROM
WHEN A PERSON PRESENTS AT THE
EDDIE FRONT DOOR AND TO WHEN
THEY'RE ACTUALLY RELEASED. I
WILL THE IN THE DATA THAT WE
COLLECTED, VERY FEW OF THE, THE
CASES THAT WE BELIEVE WERE JAIL
DECLINES WERE ACTUALLY ADMITTED
TO THE HOSPITAL. THAT'S THAT'S
ACTUALLY TRUE FOR A SIGNIFICANT
NUMBER OF ED VISITS. NOT EVERY
PERSON WHO COMES TO THE ED IS
LATER ADMITTED INTO THE
HOSPITAL. IT'S ACTUALLY, AGAIN,
THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. SO IN
CONCLUSION, I WOULD JUST STATE
THAT. YES, CERTAINLY VOLUME, YOU
KNOW, COMING TO THE ED IN THESE
INSTANCES DOES IMPACT OUR STAFF.
IT IMPACTS IT IN THE NUMBERS
THAT I GAVE, WE SEE THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS. OUR
STAFF IS VERY GOOD AT TRIAGING
AND MOVING THROUGH THOSE
PATIENTS. BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS
AN IMPACT HERE. WE'VE HAD SOME
CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH THE
CITY. WE'VE ALSO HAD IT WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNTY,
AND I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, JAIL
PUBLIC HEALTH IS INTERESTED IN
TRYING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION,
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE CLINICAL
DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE. I THINK
THAT'S WHERE OUR CLINICAL
EXPERTS IN THE ED CAN BE OF
HELP. AND HAVING THOSE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THE
APPROPRIATE CLINICAL PROTOCOL IS
OR IS NOT. I THINK THESE
PROTOCOLS WERE PUT IN PLACE WITH
A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT THEY
WERE PUT IN PLACE A LONG TIME
AGO, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, AND I
THINK IT MAY BE TIME TO LOOK AT
THEM AGAIN AND SEE IF WE CAN
MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS. SO I
BELIEVE THE YOU KNOW, I DON'T I
DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THEIR
BEHALF, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I DO
BELIEVE THE COUNTY IS. EXPERTS
IN PUBLIC HEALTH ARE WILLING TO
HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. THEY'VE
THEY'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO
OUR FOLKS AT HARBORVIEW AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL IN MY
PRESENTATION, HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
-- THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH. THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT, REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND I'M RIGHT NOW
REGRETTING THAT MISS HOLCOMB'S
NOT HERE BECAUSE PILLAR SIX OF
THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN IS
US WORKING TOGETHER AS A CITY
TEAM TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND
THE STATE, IN THIS CASE, THE
COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY, PUBLIC
HEALTH, SOME INVESTMENT IN
PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE JAIL, JAIL,
HEALTH I MEAN, THE DOLLARS AND
CENTS EXECUTIVES ARE
HIGHLIGHTING. MAYOR WILSON
SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IS A
NO BRAINER. IF YOU JUST LOOK AT
THE NUMBERS FROM A BUDGET AND WE
HAVE MAJOR BUDGET ISSUES AT THE
COUNTY HERE, AND ALSO THE STATE,
AND IT BECOMES A NO BRAINER. AND
SO WE WILL PRESS THIS, PRESS
FORWARD ON THIS. AND THIS IS
WHERE. MR.. YOUR YOU'RE VERY
IMPORTANT. AND HARBORVIEW IS
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT VOICE IN
THIS. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COMING FORWARD ON THIS. AND I
COULD DO AN EDITORIAL COMMENT
FOR YOUR SPD COLLEAGUES. THEY'RE
LIKE, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE
AUTHORIZED THE SCORE AGREEMENT,
THAT NEVER HAPPENED. BUT THAT'S
A SIDE NOTE. ALL RIGHT,
COLLEAGUES IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, I'D LIKE TO BE BRIEF. BUT
VICE CHAIR, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS.
-- SO THANK YOU. CUSTOMARY
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE. GOT
TO BE BRIEF. SO APPARENTLY
THERE'S A GOVERNING LAW
PRESUMABLY AT THE STATE LEVEL
MIGHT BE AT THE COUNTY THAT
SPECIFIES THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE
PEOPLE MUST RECEIVE MEDICAL
SERVICES OF SOME SORT. MR.
GOODHUE, THIS IS WHAT YOU KIND
OF STARTED OFF. YOUR
PRESENTATION IS TALKING ABOUT.
DOES THIS GOVERNING LAW. THAT
REQUIRES MEDICAL SERVICES. DOES
IT PURPORT TO SPECIFY OR
CONTEMPLATE WHETHER THE MEDICAL
SERVICES MUST BE ADMINISTERED OR
RECEIVED ON SITE AT JAIL VERSUS
AT A NON JAIL HOSPITAL?
-- YEAH. NO, IT'S A GREAT
QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER. SO THE
LAW THAT I CITED TO IS CALLED
THE EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, LABOR TREATMENT AND
LABOR ACT, THAT THAT ACTUALLY
ONLY APPLIES TO ACUTE CARE
HOSPITALS. SO HOSPITALS LIKE
HARBORVIEW OR VIRGINIA MASON OR
PROVIDENCE. AND WHAT THAT SAYS
IS WHEN A PATIENT PRESENTS AT
THE FRONT DOOR OF THE EDDIE OF
AN ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL, IT'S
ACTUALLY CONDITIONED ON THE FACT
THAT YOU RECEIVE FEDERAL
MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE
CARE YOU PROVIDE. THOSE
HOSPITALS HAVE TO CONDUCT IN THE
EDDIE AN INITIAL HEALTH
SCREENING AND THEN PROVIDE ANY
EMERGENT FOLLOW UP CARE THAT
THAT DOES, SO THAT LAW WOULD NOT
APPLY TO JAIL HEALTH SERVICES.
THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT THAT UP
IS THAT EXPLAINS THAT ONCE AN
OFFICER PRESENTS THAT PATIENT TO
HARBORVIEW, UNLESS THE PATIENT
WANTS TO LEAVE AGAINST MEDICAL
ADVICE, WE HAVE TO THEN GO
THROUGH THAT SCREENING AND THEN
PROVIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
DRUG INGESTION EXAMPLE, A SIX
HOUR OBSERVATION PERIOD. SO
THAT'S THOSE ARE REQUIREMENTS.
-- NOT THE. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK
YOU. NEXT QUESTION IS. SO AT A
BARE MINIMUM, I AGREE WITH THE
ASSESSMENT THAT MR. GOODHUE THAT
YOU MENTIONED AT THE END, LIKE
THIS SET OF CRITERIA AND
PROTOCOLS NEED TO BE REVISITED
AND REVISED IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AND
CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO SO STARTING
POINT ONE ALSO IS A STARTING
POINT. WHY CAN'T WE JUST PUSH
KING COUNTY JAIL FOR EXPANDED TO
PROVIDE AN EXPANDED SCOPE OF
MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE
ON SITE THAT PRESUMABLY
WOULDN'T REQUIRE UNIFORM, YOU
KNOW, SOMEONE TO GUARD THEM OR
WHATEVER FROM SPD ON SITE, JUST
EXPAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT THEY
CAN PROVIDE ON SITE VERSUS OFF
SITE REQUIRED REQUIREMENT AT
HARBORVIEW. WHY CAN'T WE JUST
PUSH OR NEGOTIATE FOR FOR THAT?
BECAUSE THIS SOUNDS LIKE A
SYSTEM ISSUE. THAT'S NOT JUST
FRUSTRATING, YOU KNOW, US HERE
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
IT'S ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION
SYSTEM. WHY CAN'T WE JUST PUSH
FOR BETTER, MORE EXPANDED
MEDICAL CARE AND COVERAGE TO
HANDLE THIS? SO IT DOESN'T NEED
TO GO TO HARBORVIEW?
-- I THINK YOU CAN. SO I THINK
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. I THINK
WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT I ALSO WANT
TO NOTE THAT I THINK WE ALL HAVE
STAFFING CAPACITY ISSUES AND
RESOURCE. SO FINANCIAL
RESTRAINTS. AND SO I THINK THAT
IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER WHEN
YOU COME TOGETHER WITH THE
EXECUTIVE TO TALK TO THE COUNTY
ABOUT.
-- WE ALL HAVE CAPACITY
CONSTRAINTS AND. YES. AND THEN
BUT WHEN ONE MAIN SYSTEM, THEIR
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS, IT RESULTS
IN COUNTLESS HOURS, HUNDREDS OF
HOURS OF OFFICER AND HUNDREDS OF
POTENTIALLY MILLIONS, TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SLOWER
RESPONSE TIMES IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ALONE. NOT TO MENTION
THESE OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHO
ARE NO DOUBT CONFRONTED WITH
SIMILAR CHALLENGES. AND SO,
YEAH, THE URGENCY IS FELT UPON
ALL OF US. AND THE THE PINCH
POINT IS CLEAR FOR, FOR, FOR
SOME IN PARTICULAR. BUT THE
UNDERLYING CHALLENGES AS IT
RELATES TO OFFICER CAPACITY ARE
NOT UNIQUE TO THE OR SPECIFIC TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE TALKED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL
REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS HERE. BUT
ASIDE FROM THAT, LIKE HOW HOW DO
OTHER MAJOR JURISDICTIONS DEAL
WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES? LIKE,
LET'S SAY IN SAN FRANCISCO OR
OTHER KIND OF MAJOR, MAJOR
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
-- I'M NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER AS
FAR AS SAN FRANCISCO, BUT I DID
WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR
PREVIOUS QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. THIS IS NOT A THE SAME AS
IT ALWAYS WAS, MEANING THAT OVER
THE COURSE OF MY CAREER AS AN
OFFICER ON THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, TYPICALLY WHEN I
WOULD BRING AN ARRESTEE TO THE
KING COUNTY JAIL AND THEY WOULD
BRING UP THEIR MEDICAL CONCERNS,
I WOULD TELL THEM, NO WORRIES.
KING COUNTY JAIL IS EQUIPPED
WITH A FULL SERVICE MEDICAL
FACILITY. THEY WILL ATTEND TO
ALL OF THOSE ISSUES. IT HAD
NEVER BEEN A COMMONPLACE
PRACTICE TO HAVE TO TRANSPORT
SOMEBODY UP TO A HOSPITAL UNLESS
THERE WAS TRULY, WELL, LET ME
SAY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING THAT WAS BEYOND THEIR
CAPACITY TO HANDLE SOMETHING
THAT WAS TRULY REQUIRING THE
MEDICAL INTERVENTION OF, SAY,
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER. SO
THESE JAIL DECLINES. THIS IS A
RECENT PAST FEW YEARS PAST FIVE,
SIX YEARS PHENOMENON. SO IN THE
PAST, IT'S WORKED WHERE THEY
TOOK CARE OF ALL THE MEDICAL
NEEDS. I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO
THE SAN FRANCISCO QUESTION,
THOUGH.
-- WELL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
ALL AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
MORE BROADLY TO TO EXPLORE
WORKING MODELS AND BEST
PRACTICES ACROSS OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HERE WITHIN THIS REGION. AND
IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. YOU KNOW, FROM A
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE. FINALLY,
I'LL NOTE, CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR
INDULGING ME THAT I APPRECIATE
SOME OF THE INITIAL DATA AND
EVIDENCE GATHERED HERE TODAY. I
WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL AND
THE EXECUTIVE PARTNER SIDE TO
SPECIFICALLY QUANTIFY HOW, WITH
MORE PRECISION, ACCURACY AND
DETAIL, HOW JAIL DEFERRALS ARE
AFFECTING OVERALL RESPONSE
TIMES, PATROL AVAILABILITY,
OVERTIME COSTS BEYOND THE
WEEKEND EXAMPLE PROVIDED AND
YEAH, BUT IT'S CLEAR WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AS A REGION AND AS A
BROADER SYSTEM, NOT JUST THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO DO BETTER. SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
THAT IS ALL, MR. CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR I WILL
ADMIT, I WOULD BE GREAT TO MOVE
ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE, JUST TO
HAVE IT INTRODUCED INTO THE
SYSTEM. AND I THINK THIS WILL BE
AN AREA OF FOLLOW UP. I LOVE TO
WORK WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
FOR THE MEMBERS AT THE TABLE TO
WORK WITH DIRECTOR HOLCOMB AND
THE AND THE MAYOR, AND TO THEN,
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARBORVIEW.
BUT. BUT ALSO, OBVIOUSLY, KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND KING COUNTY
COUNCIL. WE CAN DO OUR PART
THERE. AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE
SYSTEM BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO
THEM, DIFFERENT MEMBERS ABOUT
THIS. AND I WILL FOLLOW UP THIS
WITH A CALL TO THEM ON THAT. BUT
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE. AND AND THIS IS A STEP
WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE
NEXT STEP, BECAUSE WE ARE IN A
PERIOD OF STRONG FISCAL
CHALLENGES. AND IT'S JUST, TO
BE BLUNT, RIDICULOUS THAT FOR A
COST OF A SANE CERTIFIED NURSE
AND SOME OTHER MEDICAL THROUGH
PUBLIC HEALTH, THE SAVINGS NOT
JUST SPD, BUT TO TO HARBORVIEW,
TO VIRGINIA MASON AND THE OTHER,
THE IMPACTED HOSPITALS. SO THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. I APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM
NUMBER THREE ON OUR BUSINESS.
CLERK WILL PLEASE READ THE
AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS GOING TO BE
AN INTRODUCTION ONLY. SO I'M NOT
EVEN GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION I
JUST ASKED MR. STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS JOINED
US TO AND HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH
CENTRAL STAFF, MR. CHOW, MISS
LABRECQUE TO GIVE THE. A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF THIS AS PART OF THE
INTRODUCTION INTO IT, I WILL SAY
TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, USE
YOUR TIME. FROM
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- YOUR QUESTIONS EARLIER, SO
THANK YOU.
-- FOR RESIDENTS ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND DRAFT LEGISLATION
-- COUNCILMEMBERS. EVELYN CHOW.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- AND HI, I'M JENNIFER
LABRECQUE, CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WOULD
LIKE TO DO A. BEFORE. SO THEY'RE
GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE
BRIEF. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THEM TO DO THE BRIEF?
-- YEAH. AND I'VE CUT 90% OF MY
COMMENTS SO I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
I WILL BE MORE BRIEF THAN
BEFORE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AND COLLEAGUES, FOR
HEARING THIS LEGISLATION. TODAY.
I'M GOING TO JUST REALLY SET
THE STAGE FOR CENTRAL STAFF TO
BE ABLE TO WALK US THROUGH THIS
BY SAYING, TODAY, THERE ARE NO
DEDICATED CITY TEAMS FOCUSED ON
HELPING PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEIR
VEHICLES. WE CURRENTLY HAVE ZERO
SAFE LOTS OPEN. WE HAVE ZERO
SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO
TRANSITION INTO SHELTER OR
HOUSING AND STORE THEIR VEHICLE.
WE'RE OVERLOADING THE SMALL
AMOUNT OF CONTRACTED OUTREACH
AND AND ASSISTANCE THAT WE DO
HAVE, OFTEN LEAVING FEW
CASEWORKERS. WE DO HAVE TO
PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HUNDREDS OF
CLIENTS AT A TIME. WE KNOW THAT
OUR CITY'S APPROACH TO ARV'S IS
NOT WORKING. WE ARE FAILING TO
PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE IN NEED WHO ARE LIVING IN
MOTOR HOMES. MEANWHILE, WE ARE
FAILING TO ADDRESS A SMALL
MINORITY OF RV'S THAT ARE NOT
ENGAGED, THAT ARE NOT CONTINUING
TO MOVE EVERY 72 HOURS, THAT ARE
NOT BEING DECENT NEIGHBORS. AT
THE END OF THE DAY. AND OVER THE
PAST YEAR, I'VE WORKED CLOSELY
WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO WORK
DIRECTLY WITH VEHICLE RESIDENCY
TO CREATE THIS POLICY FOR THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO WORK IN
OTHER SPACES OF ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS. WE'VE HAD VERY
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, AND I
WILL BE SETTING THAT TABLE A
TABLE IN SEPTEMBER TO ENSURE
THAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES WITH
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT
THIS LEGISLATION DOES TWO THINGS
BETTER ADDRESS VEHICLE RESIDENCY
AND DO NO HARM, AND DO THE BEST
TO IMPROVE OUR HOMELESSNESS
RESPONSE. OVERALL, WE HAVE
SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR YOUTH
WHO ARE HOMELESS, FOR FAMILIES
THAT ARE HOMELESS, FOR FOLKS
THAT ARE LIVING ON THE STREET,
HOMELESS. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE
SERVICES DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN THEIR VEHICLES, WHETHER
IT IS A 15 PASSENGER VAN, A
SEDAN, OR AN RV. THE REGULATIONS
TODAY ARE ONLY ON RVS AND FIFTH
WHEELS, AND THE SERVICES ARE FOR
ANYONE LIVING IN ANY TYPE OF
VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO CIVIL
SILVER SOLUTIONS. NOT NO ONE
ACTION CAN TACKLE THIS ALONE.
AND THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT
ENSURING PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THEIR VEHICLES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
AND THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR, AND
THAT THEY HAVE A CLEAR ROAD TO
HOUSING. THANK YOU. CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, MR. CHOW. MR.
LABRECQUE.
-- GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
SO THANK YOU. SO STAFF HAS
WORKED WITH CHAIR. EXCUSE ME
WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO
HELP DEVELOP HIS PROPOSAL. AND
OF COURSE, WE'RE AVAILABLE TO
SUPPORT YOU ALL. AND ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AS THIS
MOVES FORWARD. THE LEGISLATION
IN DRAFT FORM IS ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A
VERY SHORT PRESENTATION TO TRY
TO GO THROUGH IT AT A HIGH
LEVEL. THERE ARE SIX PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT ARE PART OF
THIS PACKAGE. I'LL GO OVER THOSE
IN IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. THE
FIRST ITEM IS A RESOLUTION THAT
IS INTENDED TO TALK ABOUT HOW
THESE LEGISLATIVE ELEMENTS GO
TOGETHER. IT REALLY TALKS ABOUT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS PATHWAY OF
OUT OF VEHICLE RESIDENCY AS THE
INTENTION BEHIND ALL THIS
PACKAGE. IT INCLUDES THE RV
PERMIT PROGRAM. EXCUSE ME, THE
REST VEHICLE RESIDENT PERMIT
PROGRAM, AS WELL AS
APPROPRIATIONS TO SUPPORT
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN A BUNCH OF CODE
REVISIONS AND, AND OTHER SORT OF
MORE MINISTERIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO
MAKE SOME OF THOSE THINGS
POSSIBLE. THE VEHICLE RESIDENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS SORT OF
THE MAIN PIECE OF THIS PACKAGE.
IT FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON MOTOR
HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS.
CURRENTLY, THOSE TYPES OF
VEHICLES ARE GOVERNED IN THE
EXISTING CODE AS LARGE VEHICLES
OVER 80IN WIDE. SO THIS IS A
SPECIFIC SORT OF FOCUS ON THESE
PARTICULAR TYPES OF, OF, OF
VEHICLES. IT ESTABLISHES GENERAL
PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON ALL OF
THESE VEHICLES EFFECTIVE APRIL
30th OF 2027, AND RESTRICTS
PARKING FOR THOSE VEHICLES TO
TWO HOURS MAXIMUM IN ALL AREAS
OF THE CITY AND PROHIBITS
PARKING THOSE VEHICLES BETWEEN
MIDNIGHT AND 6 A.M. IT THEN
CREATES A SEPARATE VEHICLE
RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR MOTOR HOMES
AND TRAVEL TRAILERS THAT ALLOWS
BASICALLY THE USE OF GENERAL
PARKING RESTRICTIONS. THE 72
HOUR RESTRICTION ON PARKING AND
ALLOWS PARKING OVERNIGHT IN
INDUSTRIAL ZONES WITH SPECIFIC
GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREAS THAT
ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE PERMIT.
TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM, THE
LEGISLATION CALLS FOR SDOT TO
DEVELOP A DIRECTOR'S RULE IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
ESTABLISH THE STANDARDS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR
THIS PROGRAM. THE LEGISLATION
DOES INCLUDE THE CRITERIA THAT
THE DIRECTOR'S RULE HAS TO
ADDRESS. THIS INCLUDES PERMIT
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. SO THE
FOCUS IS ON HSD WORK TO
ESTABLISH A ONE TIME CENSUS OF
INDIVIDUALS AND VEHICLES THAT
WOULD BE ELIGIBLE. THIS IS
INTENDED TO BE A ONE TIME ONLY
ASSESSMENT OF WHO CAN APPLY FOR
A PROPOSAL, AND THE PROGRAM
WOULD NOT BE OPEN TO LATE
COMERS. THE PROGRAM WOULD HAVE A
LIMIT OF ONE PERMIT PER PERSON,
AND THAT PERSON MUST BE THE
REGISTERED OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.
HSD. AND THEIR AFFILIATED
SERVICE PROVIDERS COULD HELP
SUPPORT APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF
OF THESE IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS
THE LEGISLATION INCLUDES PERMIT
CONDITION CRITERIA, SO THAT
INCLUDES ESTABLISHING THE
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WHERE THESE
VEHICLES CAN BE PARKED
OVERNIGHT, AND THAT IS INTENDED
TO HELP ASSIST SERVICE PROVIDERS
STAY IN CONTACT WITH THESE
INDIVIDUALS. THESE GEOGRAPHIC
SERVICE AREAS WOULD BE WITHIN
THE INDUSTRIAL ZONES THE PERMIT
COULD BE REVOKED, WOULD BE
REVOKED IF THE PERMIT HOLDER
TURNS DOWN OFFERS OF SHELTER SIX
TIMES AND IT REQUIRES HSD TO
MAINTAIN THE CERTIFICATION LIST
AND DOCUMENT THOSE CONTACTS. THE
PERMIT ALSO HAS A NUMBER OF
OTHER CONDITIONS ABOUT THE
MAINTENANCE AND CONDITION OF
VEHICLES, AND HOW THEY INTERACT
IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE
ENFORCEMENT CRITERIA IS ALSO TO
BE ESTABLISHED IN THE
DIRECTOR'S RULE. IT RELIES ON
SPD'S PARKING ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION TO ENFORCE HSD WOULD
ESTABLISH A NUMBER OF THE
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO
DOCUMENT THE VIOLATIONS, AND
THOSE VIOLATIONS COULD BE THE
PERMIT IS ULTIMATELY AN S DOT
PERMIT FOR BEING IN THE RIGHT OF
WAY. SO THE APPEALS PROCESS
WOULD GO THROUGH THE SDOT
DIRECTOR LEGISLATION WOULD TAKE
EFFECT ON APRIL 30th, 2027, AND
THEN IT ALLOWS FOR 90 DAYS OF
WARNINGS BEFORE FULL ENFORCEMENT
OF PARKING RESTRICTIONS WOULD
BEGIN IN JULY 31st. I'LL TURN IT
TO JEN FOR THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF
THE PACKAGE.
-- THANK YOU. SO THE THIRD PIECE
OF LEGISLATION WOULD BE A LAND
USE BILL. THIS WOULD UPDATE THE
DEFINITION OF RECREATIONAL
VEHICLES WITHIN TITLE 23, THE
LAND USE SECTION OF THE CODE TO
NOTE THAT RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
MAKE A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE MAY
CONTAIN ITS OWN MOTOR OR MAY BE
TOWED BEHIND A MOTORIZED
VEHICLE, AND THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
TO ALIGN WITH THE DEFINITIONS
THAT ARE USED IN THE VEHICLE
ASSISTANT PERMIT LEGISLATION
THAT CAL JUST DISCUSSED. IT
WOULD UPDATE THE DEFINITION OF
OUTDOOR STORAGE TO INCLUDE
STORAGE OF UNOCCUPIED
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, AND IT
WOULD ADJUST THE DEFINITION OF
FLEXIBLE USE PARKING TO EXCLUDE
STORAGE OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
NEXT SLIDE. THE FOURTH PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IS RELATED TO THE
SIGNATURE AUTHORITY OF THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
ORDINANCE 127423, WHICH WAS
PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR,
ALLOWED THE DIRECTOR OF FAS TO
EXECUTE LEASES FOR UP TO
65,000FT WITHOUT NEEDING
COUNCIL APPROVAL. IF THE SITE
WERE TO BE USED FOR TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES SAFE
LOTS, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
FURTHER EXPAND THE FAS
DIRECTOR'S AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE
LEASES FOR WHEN THE LOT, OR WHEN
THE SITE WAS TO BE USED FOR
OUTDOOR STORAGE FOR VEHICLES OF
ANY TYPE, OR FOR OVERNIGHT
RESPITE AREAS FOR DRIVERS,
INCLUDING TRUCK DRIVERS. IT
WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE FAS
DIRECTOR'S AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE
LEASES FOR SITES BEING USED AS
TRANSITIONAL ENCAMPMENTS.
OUTDOOR STORAGE VEHICLES AND
OVERNIGHT RESPITE AREAS. FROM
65,000FT UP TO 100,000FT . THE
FIFTH PIECE OF LEGISLATION WOULD
UPDATE THE DEFINITION OF A JUNK
VEHICLE UNDER THE CURRENT SMC,
TO BE CONSIDERED A JUNK VEHICLE,
A VEHICLE MUST MEET AT LEAST ONE
OF THE THREE OF THE FOLLOWING
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE LISTED
BELOW. I'M NOT GOING TO GO
THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE, BUT I
DID JUST WANT TO ESTABLISH A
BASELINE OF. THIS IS WHAT THE
EXISTING CODE SAYS, AND THAT YOU
HAVE TO MEET AT LEAST THREE OF
THESE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
VEHICLE TO BE CONSIDERED A JUNK
VEHICLE. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD
UPDATE THE TRAFFIC CODE'S
DEFINITION OF JUNK VEHICLE BY
CLARIFYING WHAT IS MEANT BY A
VEHICLE THAT IS EXTENSIVELY
DAMAGED, CLARIFYING WHAT IS
MEANT BY A VEHICLE THAT IS
APPARENTLY INOPERABLE.
CLARIFYING THAT PART OF NOT
HAVING A CURRENT VEHICLE LICENSE
OR REGISTRATION MEANS THAT THERE
ARE NOT CURRENT VEHICLE LICENSE
TAGS, AND ADDING TWO NEW
CRITERIA THAT CAN CAUSE A
VEHICLE TO BE CONSIDERED A JUNK
VEHICLE EITHER THAT THE VEHICLE
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS NOT
EASILY READABLE OR VISIBLE, AND
THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO LICENSE
PLATE. I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT
UNDER THE VEHICLE, RESIDENT
PERMIT PROGRAM THAT CAL JUST
DISCUSSED, THE FIRST PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. IF A VEHICLE WOULD
MEET THESE CRITERIA AND BE
CONSIDERED A JUNK VEHICLE BUT
HAS AN ASSISTANCE PERMIT, IT
WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO
IMPOUNDMENT AS OTHER JUNK
VEHICLES ARE. AND THE FINAL
PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS AN
APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THERE IS
CURRENTLY, IN 2026, $5 MILLION
AVAILABLE RELATED TO RV OR WORK
RELATED TO RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
AND OTHER VEHICLES. NONE OF THAT
HAS BEEN CONTRACTED OR
COMMITTED. 3.5 MILLION OF THAT
IS ONGOING, AND 1.5 MILLION IS
ONE TIME FUNDING THAT WAS
CARRIED FORWARD FROM 2025 INTO
2026. THAT FUNDING CURRENTLY ALL
LIVES IN THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT WITHIN THERE,
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, PART OF
THEIR BUDGET UNDER THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL WOULD CREATE
EIGHT NEW POSITIONS RELATED TO
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VEHICLE
RESIDENT PERMIT PROGRAM. THAT
INCLUDES ONE PERMIT TECHNICIAN
IN SDOT AND THEN SEVEN OUTREACH
STAFF POSITIONS CALLED
COUNSELORS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. IT WOULD ALSO
TRANSFER $216,000 IN
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO
SDOT TO PAY FOR IT AND STAFFING
COSTS RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE VEHICLE. RESIDENT
PERMITTING PROGRAM, AND THEN IT
WOULD BOTH MODIFY AND CREATE A
NEW PROVISO ON REMAINING FUNDS
IN HSD. IT WOULD MODIFY AN
EXISTING PROVISO IN HSD.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A PROVISO IN
HSD ON $2 MILLION WORTH OF
FUNDING RELATED TO WORK FOR OR
PROGRAM ACTIVITY. PROGRAMMATIC
ACTIVITY RELATED TO RVS. THIS
BILL WOULD MODIFY THAT PROVISO
TO ALLOW THE FUNDING TO BE SPENT
ON OUTREACH, AND ALSO TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT MONEY COULD BE SPENT
ON ANY TYPE OF OUTREACH OR
PROGRAM TO SERVE ANY TYPE OF
VEHICLE RESIDENT, NOT JUST
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE RESIDENTS.
AND IT ALSO IMPOSES A NEW
PROVISO OF $2 MILLION, WHICH
RESTRICTS FUNDS FOR SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN
OUTREACH TO PERSONS LIVING IN
VEHICLES, INCLUDING FOR CAPACITY
BUILDING AND INCREASED STAFFING
TO REDUCE CASE MANAGEMENT RATIOS
AND TO HELP VEHICLE RESIDENTS
MEET CODE REQUIREMENTS RELATED
TO THEIR VEHICLE. ALL RIGHT. AND
THEN WE'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT
NEXT STEPS. SO TODAY IS AUGUST
11th. WE ARE HERE. WE'RE
DISCUSSING THE SIX PIECES OF
LEGISLATION WHICH AGAIN HAVE NOT
YET BEEN INTRODUCED. THEY ARE ON
THE AGENDA AS INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS. ONLY. THE CURRENT PLAN IS
TO INTRODUCE ALL SIX PIECES OF
LEGISLATION, OR TO HAVE THEM ON
THE AUGUST 18th INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, AND THEN TO
HAVE A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE AT THE SEPTEMBER 22nd
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. THAT
WILL ALSO BE A PUBLIC HEARING AS
REQUIRED FOR SEPA PURPOSES. AND
I WILL STOP THERE.
-- AND COUNCILMEMBER, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE KEPT THIS AT A VERY HIGH
LEVEL. AND, OF COURSE, A NUMBER
OF CENTRAL STAFF HAVE WORKED ON
THIS, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK
WITH YOU OR YOUR OFFICES IF YOU
HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
-- I'M SURE THERE WERE THIS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHOW. MISS
LABRECQUE, IT'S IT'S REALLY
INTERESTING, REALLY
COMPREHENSIVE. AND I WILL SAY
TWO THINGS. ONE IS FROM THE
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE IS
PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY KNOWS ONCE
YOU HAVE FIVE RVS TOGETHER,
ONE'S GOING TO START DEALING
DRUGS. ONCE YOU HAVE A DRUG
MARKET, YOU HAVE STOLEN GOODS
MARKET. THERE'S A CLEAR PUBLIC
SAFETY NEXUS. THE OTHER THING I
WANT TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK. AND I
JUST THINK FORMER COUNCILMEMBER
SALLY BAGSHAW WOULD BE EXTREMELY
PROUD OF COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- RIGHT NOW AND SO WITH THAT,
REALLY BRIEFLY AGAIN, WE'RE
OVER TIME AND THANK YOU. BUT.
-- ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT NOW?
-- VICE CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND I WANT TO START OFF BY
THANKING COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR OFFERING THIS BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I MENTIONED IT
YESTERDAY. I'LL MENTION IT
AGAIN TODAY HERE IN ANOTHER
FORUM. APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP FOR, FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I THINK AT A HIGH
LEVEL, I'M STILL UNPACKING IT,
BUT BUT IT'S VERY THOUGHTFUL,
VERY COMPREHENSIVE. BUT BUT I
APPRECIATE THE WORK AND
LEADERSHIP THAT WENT INTO THIS.
AND, AND SO A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS HERE FOR CENTRAL
STAFF. THANK YOU, MR. CHOW. MR.
BRECK, FIRST QUESTION IS AROUND
GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY AND
CONCENTRATION RISK POTENTIAL. SO
BECAUSE THE PROPOSED PERMIT
STRUCTURE APPEARS TO LIMIT
OVERNIGHT PARKING TO INDUSTRIAL
ZONES, HAS CENTRAL STAFF ANALYZE
HOW INDUSTRIAL ZONED LAND,
EXISTING RV CONCENTRATIONS AND
POTENTIAL PERMIT LOCATIONS ARE
DISTRIBUTED ACROSS COUNCIL
DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. TWO
PART QUESTION. THE SECOND PART
IS COULD IMPLEMENTATION
UNINTENTIONALLY CONCENTRATE
PERMITTED RVS IN A RELATIVELY
SMALL NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES? AND
WHAT SPECIFIC MECHANISMS COULD
COUNCIL USE TO PREVENT
DISPROPORTIONATE GEOGRAPHIC
IMPACTS, WHILE IDEALLY STILL
PRESERVING THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE
FRAMEWORK OF THE OF THE PACKAGE?
-- WELL, COUNCILMEMBER, WE HAVE
NOT DONE THAT ANALYSIS, BUT I
WOULD SAY THAT A COUPLE THINGS
THAT TOUCH ON THAT. THE EXISTING
VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS ON OVERSIZE
VEHICLES IS CURRENTLY IN
INDUSTRIAL LAND. SO THAT IS THE
CURRENT REQUIREMENT FOR THESE
VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF THE
ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU CURRENTLY
SEE OUT ON THE STREETS. THAT IS
WHERE OVERSIZE VEHICLES WITH
HIGHER THAN 8080IN OF WIDTH ARE
ONLY ALLOWED TO PARK OVERNIGHT.
THE INDUSTRIAL LANDS ARE FOCUSED
IN A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS, SO WE
HAVE THE BALLARD INTERBAY
DISTRICT, WE HAVE THE DUWAMISH
WE HAVE. SO THERE IS A
GEOGRAPHIC ELEMENT TO THIS, BUT
WE HAVE NOT DONE THE ANALYSIS
BEYOND TO IDENTIFY WHO IS THERE
OR OR WHETHER THAT INFORMATION
IS AVAILABLE.
-- YEAH. THANK YOU. I WOULD
APPRECIATE THE ANALYSIS AND
FOLLOW UP AND CLARITY ON THAT
QUESTION. AND ALL OF THESE THAT
I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE
RECORD HERE. TO THE EXTENT
THERE'S NOT CLARITY.
-- THING REAL QUICKLY, WE DON'T
KNOW THAT THERE IS DATA TO KNOW
WHERE THESE VEHICLES ARE. THAT
IS, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE
THE DATA TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE
ANALYSIS.
-- THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND
YOU'RE NOT SURE. SO WOULD
APPRECIATE CONFIRMATION AND
FOLLOW UP AND AND REVERTING
BACK. THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION
PERTAINS TO COVERAGE OF NON
RIGHT OF WAY CITY PROPERTY. SO
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES YESTERDAY
EXPRESSED CURIOSITY AROUND, YOU
KNOW THE POTENTIAL COVERAGE OF,
OF, OF PRIVATE PROPERTY VERSUS
CITY PROPERTY. I'M CURIOUS MORE
ABOUT COVERAGE OF NON RIGHT OF
WAY CITY PROPERTY. SO THE NEW
TWO HOUR AND OVERNIGHT
RESTRICTIONS APPEAR WRITTEN
AROUND VEHICLES PARKED ON
STREETS AND ALLEYS. HOW WOULD
THE PROPOSED PACKAGE APPLY TO
RVS LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO
OTHER PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY,
INCLUDING CITY PARKS, PROPERTY,
GREENBELTS, UTILITY FACILITIES,
CITY PARKING OR EQUIPMENT
STORAGE, PROPERTY AND SIMILAR
MUNICIPAL ASSETS? ARE THERE ANY
ARE THERE MATERIAL COVERAGE GAPS
WHERE AN OPERABLE, OCCUPIED RV
COULD REMAIN EVEN THOUGH THE
SAME VEHICLE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
THE NEW RESTRICTIONS AND THE
RIGHT OF WAY?
-- WELL, THE RIGHT OF WAY IS A
BROAD CATEGORY OF PROPERTY
THAT'S LAID OFF AS RIGHT OF
WAY. SO IF THE THE, THE ONE
CONDITION THAT I THINK IS AN
INTERESTING ONE IS OUR PARKS
BOULEVARDS, WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT
OF WAY, BUT THEY ARE MANAGED BY
PARKS, BUT THEY ARE RIGHT OF
WAY. SO IT IS GOVERNED BY S
DOT'S JURISDICTION. I THINK THE
QUESTION IS FOR OTHER CITY OWNED
PROPERTIES THAN IT WOULD BE THE
PROPERTY OWNERS. RIGHT. AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THOSE
FACILITIES. SO IF IT IS A
UTILITY SUBSTATION, THE ACTUAL
PARKING LOT OF, SAY, UTILITY
SUBSTATION, THAT'S A SECURITY
AND A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ISSUE
OF THAT PROPERTY AND NOT PART OF
THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE RIGHT OF
WAY EXTENDS TO THE PROPERTY LINE
OF ADJACENT PARCELS, WHETHER
THOSE ARE PRIVATELY HELD OR
PUBLICLY HELD.
-- AND SO WHAT ABOUT GREEN BELTS
AND PARKS
-- WELL, GREEN BELT, IT DEPENDS
ON WHERE THAT GREEN BELT IS.
THERE ARE AN UNINCORPORATED
RIGHT OF WAY. AND HONESTLY, I
DON'T KNOW THAT I THINK THAT IS
A SITUATION WHERE IF THE GREEN
BELT IS IMPROVED ENOUGH THAT YOU
CAN GET ONE OF THESE VEHICLES
INTO THESE AREAS, THEN I THINK
IT WOULD BE I THINK IT WOULD BE
ENFORCED THE SAME WAY AS PART OF
THE RIGHT OF WAY. AND IF IT'S A
PARKS FACILITY, THEN IT WOULD BE
PARKS JURISDICTION OVER
-- HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR
PROPERTY.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE
SOME CONFIRMATIONS. AND YOU
KNOW, THAT'S DEFINITELY A BIT
OF CLARITY. YOU KNOW, I MIGHT BE
WILLING TO OFFER ON, ON THAT
POINT IN PARTICULAR. AND THOSE
SPECIFIC SCENARIOS. CAN YOU TALK
MORE ABOUT SENSITIVE LOCATIONS
AND PRIORITY INTERVENTIONS THE
PROPOSED FRAMEWORK HERE DOES THE
LEGISLATIVE DOES THE LEGISLATION
PROVIDE ANY DIFFERENTIATED
TREATMENT OR PRIORITY RESPONSE
FOR RVS LOCATED NEAR
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE PUBLIC
USES, SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND
PRESCHOOLS, PARKS AND PLAY
FIELDS, WATERWAYS AND STORM
DRAINS, EMERGENCY ACCESS ROUTES,
BICYCLE FACILITIES OR OTHER
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
-- THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDES A
PERMITTING TOOL AND IT DOES NOT
SPECIFY ANYTHING ABOUT HOW
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY HSD.
THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
-- GOT IT. THANK YOU. CURIOUS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT PREDATORY RV
RENTALS AND HOW THIS LEGISLATION
DEALS WITH PREDATORY RV RENTALS,
PARTICULARLY RV RANCHING? YOU
KNOW, HAVING HAD MANY HAVING MY
OFFICE, HAVING HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS WITH OUR
EXECUTIVE EXPERTS AT ACROSS TWO
ADMINISTRATIONS, SPD UNIFIED
CARE TEAM, HSD OUTREACH WORKERS,
YOU KNOW, LEARNED OF A PRACTICE
BASICALLY CALLED RV RANCHING,
WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE RENT CERTAIN
RVS IN DILAPIDATED, IN
SERVICEABLE CONDITION IN THAT
WOULDN'T MEET THE SNIFF TEST
FOR IF IT WAS A, A NON FIXED
WHEEL PROPERTY RENTING IN TERMS
OF HABITABILITY STANDARDS AND
AND RENT THESE OUT TO, YOU KNOW,
OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.
SO JUST CURIOUS, DOES THE
CURRENT PROPOSED PACKAGE ADDRESS
SITUATIONS WHERE A SINGLE PERSON
OR ENTITY OWNS CONTROLS, RENTS,
OR REPEATEDLY PLACES MULTIPLE
RVS INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY,
PARTICULARLY VEHICLES THAT ARE
EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED OR OTHERWISE
BEING USED TO HOUSE VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS? IF NOT, WHAT EXISTING
AUTHORITIES APPLY TODAY.
-- THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT
DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT, BUT IT
HAS TWO PIECES THAT ARE RELATED.
ONE IS THAT THE PERMIT IS ONLY
ELIGIBLE FOR A INDIVIDUALS ONLY
ELIGIBLE FOR ONE PERMIT, AND
MUST BE THE REGISTERED OWNER OF
THE VEHICLE. SO THAT IS ONE
ELEMENT FOR WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO
APPLY FOR THESE PERMITS. OTHER
THAN THAT, THESE ARE VEHICLES
THAT WOULD BE IN THE RIGHT OF
WAY AND BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME
RULES AND REQUIREMENTS AS
UNPERMITTED. THEY WOULD BE
SUBJECT TO POTENTIAL TOWING
WITHOUT NOTICE.
-- THANK YOU. ONE MORE QUESTION,
CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR INDULGING
ME. I DO NEED TO GET THIS IN THE
RECORD. SO FINAL QUESTION
PERTAINS TO VEHICLE DEFINITIONS
AND POTENTIAL UNINTENDED
EXEMPTIONS THAT MAY BE READ IN
STRONGLY INFERRED. HOW COMPLETE
IS THE PROPOSED DEFINITION OF
VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THE TO THE
NEW FRAMEWORK? SPECIFICALLY,
WHAT CAN. WOULD CONVERTED
BUSSES, CONVERTED BOX TRUCKS,
CONVERTED TRUCK CAMPERS, FIFTH
WHEELS. MODIFIED VANS, DETACHED
TRAILERS OR OTHER OVERSIZE LIVED
IN VEHICLES NECESSARILY FALL
WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF
MOTORHOME OR TRAVEL TRAILER AND
COULD SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR
VEHICLES THEREFORE RECEIVE
DIFFERENT TREATMENT BASED
PRIMARILY ON VEHICLE
CONFIGURATION.
-- THIS LEGISLATION APPLIES TO
MOTOR VEHICLE MOTOR HOMES THAT
ARE 80IN WIDE OR MORE, SO IF IT
DOES NOT REACH THAT, IF IT IS
SMALLER THAN THAT, THEN IT WOULD
NOT BE COVERED BY THIS
REGULATION. IT COVERS TRAVEL
TRAILERS, SO YOUR DETACHED
TRAILER EXAMPLE, IF IT IS CUSTOM
BUILT FOR HABITATION FOR
DWELLING, THEN IT WOULD BE
COVERED, BUT OTHER CONVERSIONS
WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. SO
SOMETHING LIKE A TRUCK BACK TOP
WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THIS
LEGISLATION.
-- THANK YOU. CURIOUS TO TO
FURTHER EXPLORE THAT. SO WE
DON'T, AS PART OF THIS
FRAMEWORK THAT WE BE
ESTABLISHING, CREATE A A NEW
MARKET FOR CONVERTED VEHICLES
THAT TO SPECIFICALLY CIRCUMVENT
THE STANDARDS HERE. BUT I
APPRECIATE THE INITIAL CLARITY
WOULD WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE A
FURTHER CLARITY ON, ON, ON THESE
QUESTIONS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. THIS
TOPIC AREA IS ONE THAT DISTRICTS
AS YOU MOVE NORTH SOUTH, SIX,
SEVEN, ONE ARE GREATLY IMPACTED,
BUT IT ALSO GOES TO OTHER
DISTRICTS AS WELL. BUT YES,
CLEARLY, AND IT'S WELL KNOWN
THAT WE HAVE RIVERA DUE
DILIGENCE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
RVS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE
INTRODUCED TO SAKA DUE
DILIGENCE. AND SO WE'LL BE
WORKING THESE ISSUES AS WE MOVE
FORWARD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. IF
THERE'S ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE
WE ADJOURN. I DON'T THINK SO.
WE ARE ADJ