EAST AFRICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL

Captain Jamie Koutsky and Mohamed Roble at a recent East African Advisory Meeting.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL

The East African Advisory Council to the Seattle Police Department was created in 1997, and is one of ten councils that work collaboratively with the police. 
The council structure brings the diverse population of the East African communities together to meet with the Police Department on a regular basis for the purpose of increasing communication between the East African communities and the Department.  The diversity of viewpoints represented within the group helps the Department gain a thorough understanding of the issues the East African communities are faced with.

OUR AREAS OF FOCUS

• Increase East African community members’ participation in the Advisory Council and maintain an active Council that promotes building ongoing reciprocal communication between the East African communities and the Seattle Police Department.

• Establish a forum to address and manage concerns regarding changes the Seattle Department may be seeking to implement.

• Promote and encourage cultural competency training for officers while expanding the communities understanding of the practices and policies of the Police Department.

• Engage, strengthen, and mentor One Voice youth and strengthen communication efforts between East African parents and the Seattle Police Department.

• Develop strategies for making police services responsive to the needs of the members of the East African communities.

• Encourage police recruitment in the East African communities.

• Outreach to new arriving immigrants and refugees from East Africa.