Neighborhood Policing. Mayor Nickels’ neighborhood policing plan, unveiled in 2007, provides a faster, stronger and smarter approach to protecting our neighborhoods. Under this plan, we added 16 patrol positions in 2007 and will add 154 patrol positions overall by 2012 – a 25 percent increase. But it’s not just about adding more officers; it’s about putting police officers where they’re needed, when they’re needed. Patrol beats and sector boundaries have been revised to allow for more balanced, flexible and effective deployment of patrol officers to enhance their sense of responsibility for the neighborhoods they serve. The result is faster and stronger responses, and smarter use of our resources. Creating a safer Seattle. Seattle continues to be one of the safest cities of its size in the nation. Seattle’s crime rate hit a 40 year low in 2007 with major crimes down by 14 percent compared to 2006. The crime rate per 1,000 people for 2007 was 64, the lowest it has been since 1968 when it was 62 crimes per 1,000. Reducing gun violence. We hosted the first-ever “gun summit” in the state, drawing more than 160 participants from throughout the state, representing police, prosecutors, schools, the faith community, as well as local and state government. At the end of the daylong summit, a statewide coalition was formed to reduce gun violence in our state. Reducing criminal activity in neighborhoods. Seattle Police deployed a mobile police precinct and increased patrols in the downtown core, focusing on the Pike/Pine corridor, Third Avenue , and other areas of concern. Police also worked with the Parks Department and the Downtown Seattle Association to better respond to incidents on downtown streets and in parks. In addition to supporting South Park’s public safety initiatives, we reduced criminal activities with emphasis patrols in the Greenwood-Aurora, Cowen Park, Rainier Beach and the South Delridge/White Center neighborhoods. Increasing accountability for police & residents. Video cameras and mobile data computers were installed in 275 patrol cars, enabling Seattle Police to record patrol stops and provide more accountability and safety for officers and the public. Solving crimes. Seattle Police detectives solved many serious crimes, including several cold case homicides from 1978 and 1981. Police arrested one of the U.S. Marshal’s 15 Most Wanted for child rape and pornography; organized an operation resulting in multiple arrests; recovered 100 stolen vehicles; and seized more than $943,000 of illegal drugs, and 26 weapons. Work with federal law enforcement resulted in the arrest of one of the most prolific cyber criminals in the nation. Detectives also identified 33 victims of human trafficking and referred them to appropriate agencies. Improving fire facilities. Thanks to the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response levy program, Seattle now has a new Fire Station 10, Emergency Operations Center and Fire Alarm Center. Other levy projects completed in 2007 include the Joint Training Facility, where firefighters receive training with up-to-date fire fighting equipment, and the state-of-the-art fireboat Leschi, now in service at Fire Station 5 on Elliott Bay. Improving fire response. All fire engines are now staffed with four firefighters to improve safety when responding to emergencies. Increasing emergency preparedness. The Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP) program, launched in 2006 to help Seattle residents and neighborhoods become better prepared for a major emergency, was presented to 13 neighborhood districts. More than 8,500 residents received emergency preparedness information through more than 250 public education programs. Vital information on preparedness was translated into 14 languages and distributed to non- and limited-English speaking populations. Improving response to power outages. In 2007, City Light crews trimmed trees along more than 175 miles of power lines – seven times the number of miles trimmed in 2006; more lineworker positions were added to improve response times; 80 mutual aid agreements with other utilities were signed; and the utility improved its ability to better communicate with its customers. Taking winter by storm. The City stepped up its efforts to keep people safe, protect property and keep Seattle moving during the winter storm season. The City led a regional effort to encourage people to get prepared for severe winter storms via an intense public education campaign. Radio and newspaper ads urged people to be prepared for power outages, flooding, snow and ice. The City worked with ethnic media and community groups to make sure these messages were reaching people who do not understand English. The “Adopt-a-Drain” program was created to help maintain the more than 80,000 storm drains around Seattle.