>>> THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO HAVE
JOINED HERE, WE WILL HAVE
ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE AT
4:30 THIS AFTERNOON TO GO INTO
MORE DETAILS.
BUT, THE CHIEFS AND I WANTED TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
YESTERDAY'S EVENT, AND THE
IMPACT THAT THOSE EVENTS HAVE
HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT FIRST, I DO WANT TO REMEMBER
WHAT IT WAS THAT BROUGHT THIS
DIFFICULT TIME TO SEATTLE, AND
TO CITIES ACROSS AMERICA.
THAT WAS THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD.
I WANT TO AGAIN EXPRESS MY
PROFOUND CONDOLENCES TO MR.
FLIGHT'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS, IT
IS CLEAR THAT THEY NOT ONLY
CARRY THEIR OWN PAIN AND GRIEF,
BUT THE PAIN OF GENERATIONS OF
BLACK AMERICANS, DENIED
FUNDAMENTAL DIGNITY, RESPECT,
AND FAIRNESS THAT THEY DESERVE.
MR. FLOYD'S TRAGIC DEATH ECHOES
THROUGH TOO MANY DECADES OF
HOPES DASHED, PROMISES BROKEN,
AND LIVES TAKEN.
IT IS RIGHT THAT THE OFFICER
WHO KILLED HIM WAS CHARGED WITH
MURDER.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I BELIEVE THE
OTHER OFFICERS WHO HAD PINNED
HIM TO THE GROUND, ALSO MUST BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
SHOULD COMMENCE AN
INVESTIGATION INTO ALL OF THE
INCIDENTS THAT LED TO THIS
DEATH.
OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS, MANY
PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO
GRIEVE, TO PROTEST AND COMMIT
THEMSELVES TO THE CAUSE OF
JUSTICE.
COMING TOGETHER IS A RIGHT, A
RIGHT WE ALL HONOR AND CHERISH.
OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE
FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE AS
AMERICANS.
FOR MOST OF YESTERDAY, PEOPLE
CAME AND THEY WERE PEACEFUL.
AS THEY EXPRESSED THEIR GRIEF,
AS THEY BUILD COMMUNITY, AS
THEY EXPRESSED THEIR ANGER AND
DEMANDED GREATER JUSTICE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE
WHO CHOSE TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT
TO PROTEST.
PEACEFULLY.
TO SPEAK OUT, DEMAND JUSTICE
AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THOSE PROTESTS ARE PART OF WHO
WE ARE AS AMERICANS, A CHERISHED
RIGHT THAT MAKES US BETTER AS A
CITY AND BETTER AS A COUNTRY.
HOWEVER, LATE YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON, SOME EVENTS AND SOME
PEOPLE SWIFTLY TURNED VIOLENT
AND LED TO MULTIPLE FIRES BEING
INTENTIONALLY SET DOWN TOWN.
THIS WAS NOT JUST THE CASE IN
SEATTLE, BUT THE CASE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
THESE PARTICIPANTS THREW LIT
FIREWORKS INTO PEACEFUL CROWD,
DEMONSTRATORS THROUGH FROZEN
POTTER
WATER BOTTLES AT POLICE.
DOZENS OF WINDOWS WERE BROKEN,
AND LOOTED.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE AND ITS
DESTRUCION BOTH HERE IN
SEATTLE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
HAS BEEN INSTIGATED AND
PERPETUATED NOT BY THE PEOPLE
MOST IMPACTED BY GENERATIONS OF
DISCRIMINATION AND
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, BUT BY
YOUNG, WHITE MEN.
THESE WERE NOT THE ACTS OF
ALLIES. THESE WERE THE ACTS OF
PEOPLE WHO CAME WITH THEIR OWN
INTENTIONS TO DESTROY, TO
INJURE, AND TO CAUSE CHAOS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCED
THE HEIGHT OF PRIVILEGE IN OUR
CITY, AND ARE CO-OPTING
PEACEFUL OPERATIONS, AND ARE
MEANT TO BE CENTERED ON PEOPLE
OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY BLACK
AMERICANS.
IN SEATTLE WE SAW A VIDEO OF A
GROUP OF SUCH YOUNG MEN,
SITTING AN SPD VEHICLE ON FIRE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THESE
ACTIONS WERE DONE IN THE NAME
OF JUSTICE OR RACIAL EQUITY.
BUT RATHER, CHAOS, DESTRUCTION,
AND HATE.
ENGAGING THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE,
WHILE MAY BE AIMED AT POLICE,
AND BUSINESSES, JEOPARDIZED THE
LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF SO MANY
. AS I WALK THROUGH SEATTLE
THIS MORNING, I TALKED TO SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
DESPERATELY, FOUR HOURS, TRIED
TO SAVE THEIR BUSINESSES.
AGAINST DESTRUCTION, LOOTING,
AND FIRE.
AND THIS WAS AFTER TWO MONTHS
THAT THEY STRUGGLED TO KEEP
THEIR BUSINESSES IN PLACE. AND
THE DEVASTATING ECONOMIC OF THAT
PANDEMIC.
AGAIN, THESE WERE NOT THE ACTS
OF ALLIES.
THESE WERE THE ACTS OF PEOPLE,
BENT ON DESTRUCTION AND CHAOS.
LAST NIGHT, AS POCKETS OF
DEMONSTRATIONS QUICKLY
ESCALATED DOWNTOWN, WE SAW,
QUICKLY, THAT A NUMBER OF FIRES
STARTED TO DEVELOP.
I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS SOMEWHAT
STUNNING TO BE AT THE EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTER AND TO HAVE
SCREAMS OF SO MANY DOWNTOWN, TO
SEE PROTESTS GO FORWARD, TO
HEAR THE FIERY SPEECHES AND THE
CALLS FOR JUSTICE BY THE
SPEAKERS.
AND YET, BLOCKS AWAY, PEOPLE,
STARTING FIRES.
CAUSING DISTRACTION.
THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS,
PROJECTILES, PURPOSELY TRYING
TO INJURE AND HURT PEOPLE,
WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY
AND DEMAND JUSTICE.
I WILL LET BOTH CHIEFS SPEAK
AND MORE SPECIFIC DETAIL ABOUT
THE TIMELINE, BUT I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE A FEW THINGS.
FIRST, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
CURFEW.
THERE WERE NO ARRESTS MADE FOR
VIOLATION OF THE CURFEW. OUR
INTENT WITH THE CURFEW WAS TO
EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY
COMPLIANCE, TO FIND WAYS TO GET
PEOPLE WHO WERE PEACEFUL
DOWNTOWN OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR SO WE COULD ADDRESS
THOSE WHO WERE DETERMINED TO
HAVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY,
LOOTING, BURNING, AND THE LIKE.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO REMIND PEOPLE, THE CURFEW
WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 5:00
P.M.
TO 5:00 A.M., TODAY.
THIS DOES NOT PREVENT YOU FROM
COMMUTING TO WORK AS AN
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, ADDRESSING
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, OR THE
LIKE.
REMEMBER, WE ARE STILL IN A
STAY HOME ORDER ANYWAYS.
WE ARE UNDER A PANDEMIC OF
COVID.
WE NEED TO STAY HOME TO TAKE
CARE OF OURSELVES.
SO, FOR SEATTLE, THE CURFEW IS
IN PLACE, WE EXPECT, PLEASE,
PEOPLE, STAY HOME AND STAY
SAFE.
AT THE CITY, WE WILL BE
BROADCASTING INFORMATION ABOUT
THE CURFEW ALL DAY.
WE ARE DOING IT IN MULTIPLE
LANGUAGES.
WE ARE REACHING OUT TO
COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUPS.
WE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS PEOPLE
HAVE ABOUT THAT.
WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION, AND
OBSERVING THE CURFEW.
WE SAW LAST NIGHT THAT THOSE
PEOPLE WHO WERE PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS WHO CAME DOWNTOWN
DID LEAVE THE AREA AFTER THE
PROTEST.
WE HAVE RECEIVE A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT OFFICERS USE OF
FORCE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF
REPORTS ABOUT OFFICERS USING
FORCE OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS.
DURING THE DEMONSTRATIONS, ALL
USES OF FORCE WILL UNDERGO A
HIGH LEVEL OF SCRUTINY AND
REVIEW.
BY THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
FORCE REVIEW BOARD, BY THE
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND BY THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
ALL OF THESE ENTITIES WILL BE
REVIEWING.
IF ANY USE OF FORCE WAS OUTSIDE
OF COMPLIANCE, AN OFFICER WILL
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
RETAINING AND BUILDING
COMMUNITY TRUST IS SO CRITICAL,
AND SPD WORKING TOGETHER WITH
THE COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED
TIRELESSLY TOGETHER TO DO THIS
OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS.
úI WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IF
YOU ARE A PERSON WHO
EXPERIENCES WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS
AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF FORCE,
PLEASE DO REPORT IT.
IT WILL BE INVESTIGATED
APPROPRIATELY.
BUT, WE ALSO WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE THAT SOME OF THE VIDEOS
THAT THEY HAVE SEEN, WE ALL
KNOW FROM PREVIOUS
INVESTIGATIONS THAT WHAT THE
CONTEXT THAT HAPPENED BEFORE,
IS IMPORTANT.
I VISITED DOWNTOWN THIS
MORNING.
AND, IT WAS NOT A DOWNTOWN THAT
I RECOGNIZED.
[ SILENCE ]
THERE WAS MUCH DESTRUCTION AND
MUCH BROKEN GLASS.
BUT WHAT I DID RECOGNIZE WERE
THE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND
RESIDENTS WHO CAME BECAUSE THEY
LOVE SEATTLE.
AND, WHAT THEY SAW WAS NOT THE
BEST OF SEATTLE OR THE SEATTLE
THAT THEY KNOW AND LOVE.
THEY BROUGHT THEIR BROOMS, THEY
BROUGHT PLYWOOD, THEY BROUGHT
TOOLS, THEY BROUGHT THE BEST
THING I HAVE EVER SEEN TO GET
GRAFFITI OFF, AS ONE WOMAN SAID
WHEN WE WERE STANDING THERE,
SHE SAID, I ASKED WHAT BROUGHT
HER HERE AND SHE SAID WE ARE
NOT GOING TO LET THOSE PEOPLE
TAKE OUR CITY DOWN.
WE ARE COORDINATING WITH
HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY GROUPS,
WHO VOLUNTARILY JUST CAME TO
RESTORE THE SEATTLE THEY LOVE.
WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO
FACILITATE THAT AND COORDINATE
THAT, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT
DOWNTOWN IS NOT ONLY RESTORED,
BUT WE COME BACK STRONGER AND
MORE HEALTHY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT INTO THE
DOWNTOWN AREA, FOR LARGER SCALE
REPAIR JOBS.
AND, SOME HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY AT THAT
TIME, DURING THIS CLEANUP, WE
ARE GOING TO BE ASKING THE
VOLUNTEERS TO LEAVE IT AT SOME
TIME SO WE CAN BRING THE HEAVY
AGREEMENT IN AND STREET
SWEEPER'S AND ALIKE.
THERE WILL BE SOME CLOSE TO
STREET THAT WILL GIVE YOU
INFORMATION ABOUT, LATER.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP
CLEANING, WE WOULD SHOW PEOPLE
WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT.
I WOULD REMIND PEOPLE IT WAS
NOT JUST THE DOWNTOWN, BUT ONE
OF THE MOST CHERISHED AREAS OF
OUR CITY, CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, TOOK
THE BRUNT OF THESE ACTIVITIES,
FRIDAY EVENING AND EARLY
YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE BEEN DOWN IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AS A
CITY, TRYING TO HELP BUSINESSES
CLEANUP AND BOARD UP.
IT IS A PART OF TOWN THAT HAD
ALREADY BEEN SO DEVASTATED BY
SO MUCH OF THE HATE AND BIAS
GENERATED DURING THE COVID
OUTBREAK.
I WILL BE DOWN THERE LATER
TODAY TO WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND SEE FOR MYSELF
WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM AS
A CITY.
AGAIN, WE WILL BE CLOSING SOME
STREETS, COMING IN AND OUT OF
THE CITY TO ENABLE OURSELVES TO
CONTINUE THE CLEANUP OPERATIONS
AS WELL AS SECURING THE SAFETY
OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
I WANT TO CLOSE, I WANT TO GIVE
IT TO CHIEF BEST.
BUT, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WHO
TURNED OUT YESTERDAY,
PEACEFULLY.
NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE LAKE CITY,
SOUTH SEATTLE, AND OTHER PLACES
WHERE YOU SAW STUDENTS FROM
HIGH SCHOOLS, MEMBERS OF
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE
CITY, ALL COMING TOGETHER TO
SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE TO SAY
WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. FLOYD WAS
WRONG.
BUT, IT WAS NOT ISOLATED.
IT TOUCHED UPON GENERATIONS OF
BROKEN PROMISES AND LIVES
TAKEN.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE AS A SOCIETY,
THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAS
EXISTED IN OUR NATION, AND UPON
WHICH OUR NATION WAS BUILT IN
MANY WAYS.
AND WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE IT, IF
WE MUST END IT.
UNTIL WE DO SO WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO HEAL AS A CITY OR
NATION.
SO, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK
UP AND CONTINUE TO HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE, THANK YOU.
BUT, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAME
FOR DESTRUCTION, FOR ANGER, FOR
CHAOS, WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT
TO HAPPEN.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO STOP AND
ARREST SUCH PEOPLE.
AND WE WILL URGE THEM TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IF YOU WANT TO HONOR MR. FLOYD,
THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.
AND WITH THAT I WILL GIVE YOU
CHIEF BEST.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, WE
DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS GOING TO
BE AS EMOTIONAL AS IT IS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, FOR YOUR PASSION,
AND YOUR COMPASSION.
AND, YOUR WORDS FOR TODAY.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE HEARTFELT
AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ALL OF
US.
I AM ANGRY.
I AM ANGRY ABOUT THE MURDER OF
GEORGE FLOYD, I AM ANGRY ABOUT
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT
CONTINUES TO CREATE
DISPROPORTIONATE HARM FOR BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE.
I AM ANGRY THAT PEOPLE WOULD
COME INTO THE HEART OF OUR CITY
AND CREATE THE DESTRUCTION AND
DAMAGE THAT THEY DID.
AND, I AM ANGRY THAT THOSE WHO
CAME HERE CAME TO SEATTLE TO
PEACEFULLY EXPRESS THEIR
SORROW, THEIR ANGER, THEIR
FRUSTRATION, WERE DENIED THE
RIGHT TO DO SO BY GROUPS THAT
WERE FOCUSED ON DESTRUCTION.
BECAUSE OF THIS DESTRUCTION,
AND THEY ARE INTENSE,
DELIBERATE INTENT, TO HARM
OFFICERS INSTEAD OF PEACEFULLY
PROTESTING, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT MADE DOZENS OF
ARRESTS.
WE ARRESTED PEOPLE FOR ASSAULT,
FOR OBSTRUCTION, FOR BURGLARY,
AND FOR FAILURE TO DISPERSE
WHEN ASKED TO DO SO, LAWFULLY.
WE DID NOT MAKE AS THE MAYOR
MENTIONED, ANY ARRESTS FOR
CURFEW VIOLATION. THERE WERE SO
MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WERE
HAPPENING.
MULTIPLE VEHICLES WERE BURNED,
YESTERDAY.
CITY VEHICLES, PEOPLE'S
PERSONAL VEHICLES THAT WERE
IMPORTANT TO THEM, UP IN
FLAMES.
JUST LIKE THAT.
DOZENS OF BUSINESSES WERE
BROKEN INTO, AND LOOTED OVER
THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.
BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY WHO WERE
ALREADY STRUGGLING AND
SUFFERING UNDER THE PANDEMIC
ARE NOW FACED WITH THIS.
SO, THIS IS WHY YOU WILL SEE
THE EMOTION AND PEOPLE BRINGING
UP THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE,
BECAUSE WE WALKED AROUND THIS
MORNING, BOTH CHIEF SCOGGINS
AND I WITH THE MAYOR , AND
LISTENED TO THOSE BUSINESS
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
ANOTHER SETBACK FOR THEM.
IT WAS REALLY, TRULY
DISTRUSTFUL TO SEE.
TRULY DISTRUSTFUL.
WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS,
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, INSTEAD
OF BEING INTENT ON FOCUSED ON
HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES OF DISPARITY AND
RACE, AND RACISM, AND THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING
DAILY IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU
KNOW, I'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU WEARING A
MOURNING BADGE?
I WEAR THIS BADGE AS A LONG-
STANDING TRADITION, WE DO THIS
UNTIL THEY ARE BURIED, AND
THREE DAYS AFTER WE CAN TAKE
THE MOURNING BADGE OFF.
BECAUSE OF COVID WE HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY
RESPECT TO TWO OFFICERS IN THIS
STATE WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF
DUTY.
SO, THAT IS WHY WE WHERE IT.
IT IS TO PAY HONOR TO THEM.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHO IS
AT A PROTEST OR WHO IS ENGAGED
IN WHAT OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED,
OUR NAME PADS ARE RIGHT THERE.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR THEM.
WE KNOW WHO EVERYONE IS.
IF YOU SAY CARMEN BEST, THEY
KNOW WHO THAT IS.
THAT IS WHY WE WEAR THE
MOURNING BADGE BADGE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ON, WE
WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR ALREADY
SPOKE ABOUT USE OF FORCE, I
WOULD JUST REITERATE, ANYTIME
WE USE FORCE, IT IS
INVESTIGATED.
IT IS LOOKED AT, REVIEWED, WE
HAVE THE MOST ACCOUNTABILITY OF
ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, AND I
MEAN THAT SINCERELY.
THERE IS NO PLACE ELSE THAT I
KNOW OF THAT HAS A COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION, AN OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL, OFFICE OF
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, A
FORCE REVIEW BOARD AND ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING THAT OCCURS FOR
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS A LOT.
NOBODY IS GOING TO USE FORCE
AND IT GO UNCHECKED AND
UNNOTICED.
SO, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE
THAT.
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE
MAKE SURE WE ARE TRANSPARENT
AND WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND I WOULD JUST END BY SAYING
AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN,
AND THE SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF,
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY MEANS
A LOT TO ME.
THE ISSUES AROUND THE DEATH OF
GEORGE FLOYD MEAN A LOT TO ME,
PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE
CITY AND WORK WITH OUR OTHER
PARTNERS INCLUDIN OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
OF OUR MAYOR TO DO SO THROUGHOUT
MY TENURE, ANYWAY, HERE.
AND CERTAINLY INTO THE FUTURE.
WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE AND TURN
IT OVER TO CHIEF SCOGGINS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS HAROLD SCOGGINS,
FIRE CHIEF OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN
THANK OUR MAYOR FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
IT HAS BEEN STUDY, IT HAS BEEN
CONSTANT.
IT PUSHES US TO WHERE WE NEED
TO GO.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU CHIEF
BEST FOR HER PARTNERSHIP.
IT MEANS A LOT FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY AGENCIES TO BE ON THE
SAME PAGE AND ALSO TO ALL OF
OUR PEERS, WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH US AROUND THE
CLOCK AND EVEN DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REALLY,
REALLY AMAZING TEAM.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO START WITH,
YOU KNOW, GEORGE FLOYD.
YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN PUT A LOT
OF NAMES TO IT.
BUT, MYSELF AS AN AFRICAN-
AMERICAN MAN, A FATHER OF FOUR,
A FATHER OF TWO GRANDSONS,
EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF THESE
SITUATIONS, IT HITS ME DEEPLY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I PRAY
FOR IS I PRAY FOR JUSTICE, AS
THE MAYOR MENTIONED AND AS
CHIEF BEST MENTIONED.
I PREFER THAT FOR MY FAMILY,
AND ALL OF THOSE OUT THERE .
SO, I WANT THE PROTESTERS TO
KNOW, THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY DID
PROTEST, YOUR MESSAGE WAS NOT
LOST.
IT WAS REAL, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD,
TO ALL THOSE WHO DID
DESTRUCTION AND CAUSED FIRES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU
TOO.
WE DID A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT.
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
SOME GOALS.
ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO GET
STAFFED UP WITH ALL OUR
RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN TAKE CARE OF THE CITY AND
NOT JUST DURING THE PROTEST,
BUT ALL THOSE OTHER CALLS THAT
COME IN.
AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE CERTAIN
THRESHOLDS WE CALL FOR HELP,
OUR NEIGHBORING AGENCIES.
WE HAD 10 FIRE ENGINES THAT
SHOULD SHOWED UP FROM
NEIGHBORING FIRE DEPARTMENTS
THAT WERE STANDING READY.
THOSE RIGS WERE STARTING TO
HEAD OUR WAY AND OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH COSTCO AND
LETTING US USE THEIR PROPERTY,
AND THE CHIEF FOR HELPING
MOBILIZE THAT RESPONSE THAT WE
DID NOT NEED, BUT WE WERE GOING
TO BE PREPARED.
WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT?
YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE
OF THE DAY YESTERDAY WE HAD
OVER 250 RESPONSES, BUT WE HAD
OVER 530 911 CALLS.
THAT IS ABOUT A 40% INCREASE IN
TO THE 911 CENTER.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PAY
ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE WHAT
WE KNOW IS THOSE REGULAR HEART
ATTACKS, THEY ARE NOT REGULAR
BUT THOSE HEART ATTACKS AND
STROKES AND FIRES, THEY
CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, WE HAD A
FIRE LAST NIGHT ON CAPITOL HILL
THAT REQUIRED A REALLY LARGE
RESPONSE.
AND WE TOOK CARE OF THAT.
WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE LAST NIGHT
IN WEST SEATTLE.
THAT REQUIRED A FULL RESPONSE.
WE TOOK CARE OF THAT.
AND THEN WE DID NOT REMOVE THE
RESOURCES TO PAY ATTENTION TO
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
IT WAS IMPORTANT, WE HAD A LOT
OF PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE THIS
WORK.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY
BECAUSE I, LIKE THE MAYOR AND
THE CHIEF, WALKING AROUND THOSE
BLOCKS THIS MORNING SEEING THE
COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER, IT
REALLY MEANT A LOT.
YOU KNOW?
IT HELPS THE SOUL HE'LL A
LITTLE BIT TO TALK TO PEOPLE
AND UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE
THERE.
TRUST ME, THERE WAS SOME ELBOW
GREASE GOING INTO REMOVING SOME
OF THE GRAFFITI AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
THAT IS A COMMITMENT TO THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
WE HEAR THE MESSAGE, WE KNOW
THE MESSAGE, WE ARE GRIEVING
TOGETHER.
SO, I WILL CLOSE WITH THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEFS. I WANT TO
SAY THAT I COULD NOT ASK FOR
MORE STEADY LEADERSHIP FROM MY
TWO CHIEFS.
THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT, BUT ALSO
THROUGHOUT THE COVID EVENT,
THEY HAVE JUST BEEN AMAZING,
DAY-TO-DAY WORKING TO PROTECT
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE
PUBLIC HEALTH OF SEATTLE.
AND ALSO, TO THE BROAD CITY --
WE HAD CREWS FROM THE STATE
PARKS DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND THE LIKE, WORKING
TROUGH THE NIGHT TO GET BURNED
OUT CARS OUT OF THERE TO CLEAN
UP DEBRIS AND GLASS, TO START
RESTORING THE DOWNTOWN.
AND TODAY, SEEING SO MANY
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WERE SO
SHAKEN BY EVENTS THAT THEIR
LAST CHANCE, THEY THOUGHT, OF
BEING ABLE TO RECOVER FROM
THESE TWO MONTHS OF ECONOMIC
THE STATION, SEEMING TO GO AWAY
FROM THEM.
BUT THEN, FROM NOWHERE,
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND BEYOND
THE CITY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
COMING, AND JUST HELPING CLEAN,
GLASS, GRAFFITI, HELPING
BUSINESSES CLEAN UP INSIDE
THEIR BUSINESSES.
THAT IS THE SEATTLE WE LOVE.
THAT IS THE REGION THAT WE
LOVE.
WHEN WE CAN COME TOGETHER, EVEN
IN TIMES OF PAIN AND GRIEF TO
REALLY SHOW THE COMMITMENT TO
LOVE AND TO PEACE AND TO
JUSTICE IS SO MUCH MORE ENDURING
THAN CHAOS AND HATE AND
DIVISION.
AND SO, WITH THAT, IF THERE'S
ANY QUESTIONS THE CHIEFS OR I
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU CHIEF BEST AND CHIEF
SCOGGINS.
WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS TODAY.
WE WILL GET THROUGH AS MANY AS
WE CAN PICK I WILL READ IT AND
OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM
DEBORAH HORNE FROM KIRO 7
FOLLOWED BY KING 5. DEBORAH
HORNE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: MAYOR, THANK YOU
TO THE CHIEFS, BOTH CHIEFS, I
WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, WE
WERE DOWN THERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT, AND WE OF COURSE HAVE
HEARD ABOUT ACCESS FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS
, WHY WEREN'T THE POLICE ABLE
TO HAVE BETTER CONTROL OF THE
SITUATION?
THERE SEEMED TO BE TIMES WHEN
THERE WERE POLICE OFFICERS ON
ONE SIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AND NO
ONE ON ANOTHER SIDE.
WE WERE WATCHING PEOPLE LOOT
WITHOUT ANYBODY THERE, AT ALL,
TO STOP THEM.
SO, DID YOU NOT ANTICIPATE WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN, GIVEN WHAT YOU
SAW ON FRIDAY NIGHT? AND, WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO
WERE LOOTING, WHO ARE RECORDED
AND SEEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY A
LOT OF PEOPLE, WHO WERE LOOTING
THESE VARIOUS BUSINESSES?
>> I WILL LET EITHER OF THE
CHIEFS DO THAT BUT I WANT TO
SAY, GIVE YOU A PARTIAL
RESPONSE, IT IS A GREAT
QUESTION.
SO, I RECEIVED THAT QUESTION A
LOT FROM THE BUSINESSES I HAVE
CALLED TODAY AND LAST NIGHT,
AND FROM RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN
TODAY.
WE HAD MORE SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS DOWNTOWN THEN WE HAVE
HAD IN ANY OTHER DEMONSTRATION,
AT LEAST SINCE I HAVE BEEN
MAYOR, AND BEFORE THEM.
WE PROBABLY HAD HUNDREDS OF
POLICE OFFICERS EITHER ON CALL,
OR IN SEATTLE TO HELP.
WE HAVE HAD CROWDS OF TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE
WOMEN'S MARCH, WITH TORCHLIGHT
PARADE, WITH THE GAY PARADE.
WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A PROBLEM
LIKE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD
MARCH AND PROTEST PEACEFULLY.
THE WOMEN'S MARCH HAD , BY
ESTIMATES, OVER 100,000 PEOPLE.
WE DID NOT SEE ANY DESTRUCTION.
LAST NIGHT, STARTING ABOUT
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, STARTING
AT ABOUT 2:00, WE HAD THOUSAND
OF PEOPLE, POUR INTO SEATTLE
WHO WANTED ONE THING, AND ONE
THING ALONE.
TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION. TO CAUSE
A FIGHT WITH POLICE.
TO STILL BUSINESSES' LONGINGS.
IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE,
THE POLICE MUST TRY TO MAINTAIN
THEIR CONTROL AND LINES.
AND, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE, THAT IS
ONE REASON WHY THE CURFEW WAS
SO IMPORTANT.
WE NEEDED TO GET THE PEACEFUL
PEOPLE OUT OF SEATTLE SO THE
POLICE COULD GET CONTROL OF
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE TAKING
ADVANTAGE. THEY KNEW, USING
THOSE PEOPLE AS A COOK, THAT
THEY COULD HAVE THEIR CHAOS,
THEIR DESTRUCTION AND VIOLENCE.
AND, THEY DID IT WITH EVERY TOOL
POSSIBLE.
WITH CLUBS AND POLES, WITH FIRE
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS, WITH FROZEN
WATER BOTTLES AND ROCKS.
THEY PELTED THE POLICE, NONSTOP.
AND, IF THERE WAS A RESPONSE BY
BOAT POLICE, AS WE SAID, IF
FORCE WAS USED AND WAS
INAPPROPRIATE, IT WILL BE
REVIEWED BY THE ROBUST SYSTEM
WE HAVE.
WHEN THE ACTION HAPPENS, POLICE
DO HAVE TO RESPOND.
THEY HAVE TO TRY TO PROTECT THE
SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC FIRST, AND
THEN THE PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK THEY DID IT TO THEIR
BEST ABILITIES, WE WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WITH THE
NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP US IN
PROPERTY PROTECTION, ONLY.
THEY WILL NOT BE ARMED.
IT IS NOT JUST SEATTLE, IF YOU
TURNED ON YOUR TELEVISION LAST
NIGHT, YOU SAW THIS PLAY OUT IN
EVERY MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA.
YESTERDAY I SAW THE LIST, WE
WILL TALK THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT
OUR ADDITIONAL PREPARATIONS.
BUT, WE PREPARED, WE WILL BE
MORE PREPARED TODAY.
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO
THAT?
>> YES.
I AM JUST GOING TO ADD, I AM
JUST GOING TO REITERATE WITH
THE MAYOR SAID.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE DEALING WITH
A CROWD, AS THE MAYOR NOTED, WE
DEALT WITH CROWDS OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE BEFORE, BUT THIS
CROWD, THIS WAS DIFFERENT.
AS YOU KNOW, THE EMOTION BEHIND
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD,
ABSOLUTELY CREATED A HIGHER
LEVEL OF EMOTION. SO, PEOPLE
WERE TARGETING THE OFFICERS IN
WAYS.
I HAVE BEEN HERE 28 YEARS, I
HAVE NOT SEEN THAT IN MY ENTIRE
CAREER.
I HAVE BEEN TO HUNDREDS OF
THESE DEMONSTRATIONS.
AND, YOU ARE OUT THERE,
DEBORAH, I KNOW YOU KNOW THE
AMOUNT OF VITRIOL AND ANGST AND
ANGER DIRECTED TOWARDS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAS
UNPRECEDENTED.
AND, THE NUMBERS WERE
UNPRECEDENTED.
SO, WE DID AS MUCH PLANNING AS
WE COULD, THE OFFICERS WERE
WORKING. WE WENT TO EARLY
MORNING ROLL CALL AND IT 2:00
IN THE MORNING WE WERE STILL
OUT THERE, TAKING ROCKS AND
BOTTLES, CHASING AROUND PEOPLE,
TRYING TO PREVENT THE LOOTING
THAT CONTINUED TO OCCUR
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO, WE HAVE REGROUPED, WE HAVE
REVISITED.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER
STRATEGIES.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR
BECAUSE WE NEED THAT CURFEW TO
AT LEAST BE ABLE TO HAVE THE
FOLKS WHO WANTED TO PEACEFULLY
BE THERE, THEY NEEDED TO MOVE
AROUND SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THE
ONES WHO WERE INTENT ON NOTHING
MORE THAN DESTROYING PROPERTY,
AND FIGHTING WITH CUPS.
SO, THAT IS WHAT WAS DIFFERENT
ABOUT THIS.
AND, MADE IT A LOT HARDER.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND
A NEW STRATEGY, AND I AM GOING
TO BELIEVE, AND I CONTINUE TO
BELIEVE THAT SEATTLE IS BETTER
THAN THAT AND THAT WE CAN HAVE
OTHER PEOPLE WHO COME INTO
THEIR CITY AND HOME, AND
DESTROY THE DOWNTOWN CORE
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF AND MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CHRIS
DANIELS, KING FIVE, FOLLOWED BY
""THE SEATTLE TIMES."" CHRIS,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: MY QUESTION IS FOR
CHIEF BEST, THE MAYOR JUST SAID
THAT A LARGE PART OF THE
SILENCE WAS NOT FROM ACTS OF
ALLIES BUT YOUNG, WHITE MEN.
JUST HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE
ARRESTED, YOU SAID DOZENS WERE
ARRESTED, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE
FROM OUT OF STATE WERE NOT FROM
OUR AREA, AND ALSO, WHY DID
THIS TAKE THE TURN IT DID?
WHAT WAS THE STRATEGY?
IT SEEMS LIKE THE STRATEGY,
HERE, THAT GOT OUT OF CONTROL,
WAS DIFFERENT THAN PROTESTS WE
HAVE SEEN IN PAST YEARS.
WHY WERE PEOPLE STILL LOOTING
AFTER THE CURFEW WAS IN PLACE?
>> WELL, THAT IS A LOT OF
QUESTIONS IN ONE QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT -- ALL
THE DEMO GRAPHICS LISTED OUT
FOR YOU.
I WILL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU,
CHRIS.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF FOLLOW-
UP INVESTIGATION ABOUT THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
. I DON'T HAVE THAT AT THIS
MOMENT.
THIS IS ONGOING AS WE SPEAK.
OUR STRATEGY WAS REALLY TO TRY
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THEIR
RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND TO
DEMONSTRATE AND TO PROTEST IN
THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY
PROTECTED FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE IS
WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I
KNOW YOU WERE OUT THERE AS
WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME INTO
TOWN WITH NOTHING BUT
DESTRUCTION AND MAYHEM ON THEIR
MIND.
THAT IS WHAT MADE IT DIFFERENT,
AND WE HAD TO REALLY FOCUS ON
PROTECTING OUR OWN PERSONNEL,
AND PROTECTING OTHER PEOPLE WHO
WERE THERE, TO DEMONSTRATE
THEIR RIGHTS, AND, TRYING TO
ADDRESS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
DOING PROPERTY DESTRUCTION AND
ASSAULTING OFFICERS.
SO, IT WAS A UNIQUE SITUATION
LAST NIGHT.
AGAIN, I SAY UNPRECEDENTED.
BUT, I THINK UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, ONCE
THE CURFEW IS IN PLACE, ONCE
PEOPLE STARTED MOVING OUT, WE
COULD FLUSH OUT AND GET TO THE
FOLKS WHO ARE CAUSING THE
PROBLEMS.
WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT MUCH
BETTER, WE ASKED FOR THE
NATIONAL GUARD TO COME IN, THEY
ARE HERE, NOW.
THEY WILL HELP US WITH OUR
ASSESSMENT, AND HELP US WITH
THE DEPLOYMENTS IN DOWNTOWN.
SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE ANYTHING
ELSE, NOT EVERYTHING WAS
PERFECT.
AGAIN, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
I LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU
KNOW, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE
BUILDINGS BURNED TO THE GROUND.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR INJURIES.
THE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAD
RIGHT NOW WHO WENT TO THE
PROTESTS.
OVERALL IT CAME OUT BETTER THAN
A LOT OF PLACES, AND WE ARE
GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT EVEN
BETTER THAN THAT.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHIEF BEST.
A QUICK REMINDER, WE ARE SHORT
ON TIME AND HAVE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS SO KEEP YOUR
QUESTIONS TO ONE PER REPORTER.
NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM
DANIEL BEEKMAN, SEATTLE TIMES,
FLLOWED BY KEVIN SCHOFIELD.
>> Reporter: I HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT, WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF
REPORTS FROM PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND, YESTERDAY, THAT SOME OF
THE DETERIORATION OR ATTENTION
MAY HAVE FLARED UP IN THE
AFTERNOON AND THERE WAS A POINT
WHEN THE PROTESTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS AND SPEECHES OF
WESTLAKE PARK WERE JUST
STARTING.
AND THERE WERE POLICE LINES ON
SOME STREETS, PERHAPS, BLOCKING
OTHER GROUPS OF PROTESTERS FROM
COMING IN THERE.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT WHAT
ROLE THAT MAY HAVE PLAYED OR IF
THAT OCCURRED.
WAS THAT WHERE THE FLASHPOINT
HAPPENED?
BECAUSE WE ALSO HEARD PEOPLE
SAYING THAT THERE WERE, YOU
KNOW, POLICE ACTIONS AT THAT
POINT AS THE CROWD TRIED TO
COME IN WITHOUT ANY VIOLENCE ON
THE CROWD'S BEHALF.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THAT
FLASHPOINT, OR WAS THAT A
DIFFERENT FLASHPOINT?
>> I AM GOING TO LET THE CHIEF
ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY, BUT I
WILL SAY I HAVE HEARD OR SEEN
SOME OF THE CRITICISMS THAT
SOMEHOW WAS THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT INSTIGATED THE
VIOLENCE AND THE CHAOS.
AND IT IS JUST FALSE.
THERE WAS VIDEO STREAMS OF ALL
OF THESE ACTIONS.
AND FOR ME, AS I SAID IN MY
REMARKS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WAS SO REMARKABLE IS TO WATCH
THE WESTLAKE PLAZA, WHERE THERE
WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
GATHERED.
AND THEY HAD BEEN GATHERING
THERE FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE
SOME OF THE SPEAKERS WERE
DELAYED.
THEY WERE GATHERED, THEY WERE
PEACEFUL, IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY
WERE PROTESTING AND HAD REASON
TO QUESTION THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT, THEY DID SO PEACEFULLY.
JUST BLOCKS AWAY, WERE THE
PEOPLE WHO CAME WITH NOTHING
BUT A FIGHT ON THEIR MIND. AND,
THE VIDEO IS VERY CLEAR, AND I
URGE YOU TO WATCH IT.
POLICE AE STANDING THERE,
TAKING ROCKS AND BOTTLES AND
INCENDIARY DEVICES.
ONE POLICE OFFICER, YOU KNOW,
HAD ONE LAND DIRECTLY ON HIM.
AND, THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP
THE CROWD FROM GOING TO WEAR
THE PEACEFUL PEOPLE WERE, WHO
HAD A RIGHT TO PROTEST
PEACEFULLY.
I THINK THE PEOPLE IN WESTLAKE
MALL DID NOT EVEN REALIZE HOW
QUICKLY THE SITUATION HAD
DEGRADED, JUST BLOCKS AWAY.
AND WE WILL BE GIVING YOU A
TIMELINE, SHOWING THE NUMBER OF
THE TIME WHEN VARIOUS
ACTIVITIES WERE REPORTED INTO
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMAND CENTER.
THAT SHOW, VERY CLEARLY, HOW
QUICKLY THE SITUATION
DETERIORATED FROM THOSE PEOPLE
WHO CAME WITH ONE AMBITION ALONE
. AND THAT WAS TO INSTIGATE
FIGHTS WITH THE POLICE AND
CAUSE DESTRUCTION.
YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?
>> NO, YOU GOT IT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU MATT FOR THE
QUESTION.
THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM
KEVIN SCHOFIELD FOLLOWED BY Q
13NEWS.
KEVIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, THIS
QUESTION IS FOR MAYOR DURKAN
AND CHIEF BEST.
MAYOR, AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
YESTERDAY YOU WERE ASKED ABOUT
SOME POLICE OFFICERS, HAVING
THER BADGE NUMBERS. YOU MADE A
COMMENT ON THAT. I SEE THAT
REFERS TO THE MOURNING BADGE
THAT CHIEF BEST MENTIONED A FEW
MINUTES AGO.
I JUST SORT OF WANT TO CLARIFY
EXACTLY WHAT YOUR MESSAGE IS
AROUND THIS, AND WHETHER YOU
ARE SAYING, I THINK I HEARD YOU
SAY THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR
POLICE OFFICERS IN SITUATIONS
SUCH AS THE ONE YESTERDAY, TO
BE COVERING THEIR BADGE NUMBERS
WHEN, YOU KNOW, IN FACT ONE
COULD ARGUE THAT IN A CRISIS
SITUATION LIKE THAT, IT IS A
TIME WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
PEOPLE BE, NOT HAVE AN IMPUTED
TRYING IMPEDED PROCESS OF
TRYING TO IDENTIFY A POLICE
OFFICER.
IS THIS A POLICY YOU WOULD
REVISIT AND CHANGE IN THE
FUTURE?
>> KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR ASKING
THAT AND LETTING ME CLARIFY IT.
THE CHIEF MAY ADD.
IF ANYONE CARES TO GOOGLE
MOURNING, AS IN GREECE, OR
HONOR BADGE, THIS HAS BEEN A
TRADITION IN LAW-ENFORCEMENT
FOR GENERATIONS AND DECADES.
THE PURPOSE OF IT IS, IS WHEN
A FELLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER'S LIFE IS KILLED, THEY
WEAR ACROSS THEIR BADGE, A
BLOCK MEMO THAT IS TAKEN OFF
AFTER THEY BURIED THAT OFFICER.
BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN LIVES
LOST, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO HAVE THAT BURIAL SERVICE.
THEY CONTINUE TO WEAR THAT ON
THEIR BADGE.
THERE IS NO VIDEO WHERE PEOPLE
ARE SAYING HEY, THEY ARE
COVERING UP THEIR BADGE, HOW DO
THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE?
THEY ARE NAME IS ON THEIR
JACKET.
EVERY POLICE OFFICIAL IN
SEATTLE IS REQUIRED TO DISPLAY
THEIR NAME.
THOSE NAMES AND PICTURES OF
THEIR FACE ARE READILY
IDENTIFIED WITH WHO THEY ARE,
IN FACT, MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS
WE HAVE RECEIVED HAVE
IDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS BY
THEIR NAME.
AND SO, I WAS IN NO WAY TRYING
TO IMPLY THAT IT IS OKAY FOR
OFFICERS TO HIDE THEIR
IDENTITY.
WHAT I WAS SAYING IS, THIS WAS
NOT AN ATTEMPT TO UP HIDE WHO
THEY WERE.
THOSE BADGES HAVE BEEN
DISPLAYED FOR WEEKS, BUT EVERY
ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS IN EVERY
PICTURE I SAW HAD THEIR NAME
DISPLAYED ON THEIR UNIFORM.
IF THEY DON'T THAT IS AN ISSUE
THAT SHOULD BE SUBJECT BUT
NOBODY WAS TRYING TO HIDE WHO
THEY WERE.
>> THIS NEXT QUESTION WILL BE
THE LAST QUESTION.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT
OUTSTANDING AND WE WILL REPLY
TO YOU WITH A FOLLOW-UP.
Q 13NEWS WILL BE OUR LAST
QUESTION.
SIMONE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU FOR
CHIEF BEST .
THERE SEEMED TO BE A LACK OF
PROTECTION FOR SO MANY PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE WHO LIVED THERE AND
WORK THERE.
WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY REDUCTIONS
ON WHAT HAPPENED?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, WE
ARE ACTUALLY, STARTING LESS
THAN, ARE HAVING THESE
REFLECTIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE
CHIEF AND ADJOINING CHIEFS ON
WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY
TODAY, TOMORROW, GOING FORWARD.
I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING
THAT WAS DIFFERENT WAS PEOPLE
WERE NOT COMING TO PROTEST, BUT
TO TRY IT.
THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE FOR POLICE
PRESENCE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE WHO WERE THERE, LAWFULLY,
COULD ENJOY THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IT OBVIOUSLY GENERATED VERY
QUICKLY, AND WE HAD TO USE
TOOLS LIKE THE CURFEW THAT WE
HAD HOPED NOT TO USE.
SO, WE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF
REFLECTION AFTER ACTION.
I WANT TO TALK ALSO TO AN
ARRANGED OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS,
THE PROTESTERS, THE RESIDENTS,
SO THEY KNOW GOING FORWARD THAT
THEY CAN FEEL THAT THEY WILL BE
SAFE, AND PROPERLY BEING HELD
SAFE.
AGAIN, THE FIRST LINE WAS TO
PROTECT PEOPLE.
WHICH, WHILE THERE WERE
INJURIES, WERE VERY THANKFUL
THAT THERE WERE NOT MANY
INJURIES.
THERE WAS MUCH MORE
PROPERTY DESTRUCTION THAN WE
WOULD HAVE LIKED.
WE HAD 500 PEOPLE ROVING
IMPACTS THROUGH SEATTLE,
BREAKING WINDOWS, GOING IN AND
STEALING PROPERTY AND RUNNING
AWAY.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET
THAT UNDER CONTROL.
úWE ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT
TACTICS TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING
TO ENFORCE THE CURFEW,
STRICTLY, AND I WANT TO SAY TO
THOSE INDIVIDUALS, DO NOT COME
BACK TO SEATTLE, DOWNTOWN,
CAPITOL HILL, CHINA'S
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE WILL ARREST YOU AND FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WE HAVE LOTS AND
LOTS OF VIDEO AND PHOTOS AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO PROCESS THE
SCENES, AND PEOPLE WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT, WE WILL REFLECT, I THINK
IT IS A VERY FAIR QUESTION, IT
IS ONE EVERYONE IN SEATTLE IS
ASKING AND IT STARTED WITH ME
AND THE TWO CHIEFS AT EACH ONE
OF MY SIDES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.