Precinct Liaison Program
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Like the police, prosecutors over time have come to realize that some public safety and neighborhood livability problems can be better addressed through proactive community oriented problem-solving rather than by traditional "case-by-case" prosecution. In 1995, we started the Precinct Liaison Program, our community prosecution initiative, assigning an assistant city attorney as a liaison to each of the City's then four police precincts. Originally, such liaisons worked out of our downtown office and also carried a regular caseload of Division cases.
In 1999, as a result of a United States Department of Justice grant, we placed our first full-time liaison into the community in the West Precinct dedicated solely problem-solving work. In the aftermath of two subsequent federal grants, we grew the program--now solely supported by City funds--to four fulltime liaisons covering the now five police precincts.
Our community prosecution program, like many others, involves a long-term, proactive partnership among the prosecutor's office, law enforcement, public and private organizations, and the community to solve neighborhood problems, improve public safety, and enhance the quality of life of community members.
The specific goals of our Precinct Liaison Program are to:
- Reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in Seattle neighborhoods.
- Develop a more efficient and effective response to public safety problems.
- Improve communication among residents, city attorneys, police and other city departments involved in problem solving efforts.
Precinct Liaison Responsibilities include:
- Providing real-time proactive legal advice for officers in each precinct.
- Protecting SPD resources by working closely with other City agencies to address neighborhood problems before they become SPD criminal problems.
- Litigating appropriate code and criminal violations resulting from these efforts.
- Facilitating community and intergovernmental communication and cooperation.
Getting "outside the box" of traditional case-by-case prosecution and getting into problem solving in the community means that we can do more to make Seattle a safer and more livable city.
To contact the Precinct Liaison Attorney assigned to your neighborhood call or email:
In the West Precinct
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In the East Precinct
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In the South Precinct
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In the North Precinct
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In the Southwest Precinct
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In the Vice/Narcotics Unit
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Questions about the Precinct Liaison Program may be directed to:
Darby DuComb
Chief of Staff
Seattle City Attorney's Office
City Hall
600 4th Ave, Floor 5
P.O. Box 94769
Seattle, WA 98124-4667
(206) 684-8228
darby.ducomb@seattle.gov