>>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING
US HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, AS PEOPLE
WERE COMING BACK TO SEATTLE AND
SEATTLE WAS ENJOYING ITS
NIGHTLIFE, SEATTLE SAW ONE THE
WORST LATE NIGHT, EARLY MORNING
VIOLENCE IN RECENT MEMORY.
OVER THE WEEKEND, WE HAD
SEVERAL SEPARATE AND UNRELATED
INCIDENTS THAT ERUPTED INTO
GUNFIRE THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE
AND INJURED NINE PEOPLE.
MOTHERS LOST THEIR CHILDREN.
FAMILIES LOST THEIR FATHERS AND
PEOPLE LOST THEIR FRIENDS.
OUR COMMUNITIES WERE SHAKEN IN
A SERIES OF AVOIDABLE GUN
VIOLENCE INCIDENTS.
THIS WEEKEND DELIVERED A SOBER
REMINDER THAT SEATTLE IS NOT
IMMUNE FROM GUN VIOLENCE.
THIS IS A NATIONAL CRISIS.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, FROM
CHICAGO TO MINNEAPOLIS, TO
WASHINGTON, D.C., THERE HAVE
BEEN OVER 900 SHOOTING
INCIDENTS.
900.
THESE TRAGIC EVENTS HAVE
HAPPENED AT NATIONAL BASEBALL
GAMES, DURING THE MINNEAPOLIS
BOXES CELEBRATION AND HERE IN
SEATTLE OUTSIDE OF NIGHTCLUBS
IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE VICTIMS, LIKE I SAID, I
HAVEBEEN FAMILY MEMBERS, LOVED
ONES, FRIENDS, CHILDREN,
PARENTS.
THIS LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE IN
SEATTLE AND OUR COUNTRY CANNOT
BECOME THE NEW NORMAL.
JUST THIS PAST WEEK, I
ANNOUNCED A NUMBER OF UPSTREAM
PREVENTION MEASURES THAT THE
CITIES WILL RELIANT FOR
ADDRESSING THE ROOTS OF GUN
VIOLENCE AND REIMAGINING PUBLIC
SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY
INCLUDING MORE THAN $10 MILLION
TO FUND 33 TRUSTED COMMUNITY
LED SAFETY PROGRAMS.
$30 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS
RECOMMENDED BY OUR COMMUNITY
TASK FORCE TO DISTRESS THE
DISPARITIES THAT ARE IMPACTING
AMENITIES OF COLOR.
THIS LEGISLATION IS SITTING AND
WAITING RELIEF FROM CITY
COUNCIL.
WE ANNOUNCED A PLAN FOR NEW
SPECIALIZED TRIAGE RESPONSE
TEAM AND THE EXPANSION OF THE
SPD VERY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY
OFFICER PROGRAM.
AND $2 MILLION TO INVEST IN
REGIONAL PEACEKEEPING
COLLECTIVES TO DELIVER THE
WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT AND
FAMILY CENTERED ENGAGEMENT THAT
WE KNOW CAN HELP DISRUPT THE
CYCLE OF GUN VIOLENCE.
TOGETHER, THESE INVESTMENTS
WILL HELP TO CREATE A
MULTIPRONGED STRATEGY IN OUR
REGION.
BUT IT HAS TO BE MULTIPRONGED.
WE HAVE TO TAKE GUNS OFF THE
STREET THROUGH SPD AND OTHER
FEDERAL PARTNERS AND OTHER
PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY-
LED SOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE TO CREATE SUPPORT
SYSTEMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AT
RISK OF GUN VIOLENCE AND
APPROPRIATELY HOLD ACCOUNTABLE
INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
EVEN AS WE LOOK TO RAMP UP
ALTERNATIVES TO SWORN OFFICERS
RESPONSE AND PREVENTION, THIS
PAST WEEKEND SERVES AS A
REMINDER THAT THERE ARE MANY
TIMES IN TYPES OF 911 CALLS
THAT REQUIRE A TRADITIONAL
SWORN POLICE OFFICER TO RESPOND.
WE SAW THIS WEEKEND STREET
RACING, NIGHTLIFE -RELATED
ALTERCATIONS, FIREARM INCIDENTS
AND OTHER LIFE-THREATENING
EMERGENCIES THAT REQUIRE THE
RESPONSE OF AN ARMED POLICE
OFFICER. SPD OFFICERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS QUICKLY RESPONDED TO
SECURE SEPARATE SCENES IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR CITY AND
PROVIDE AID OVER THIS WEEKEND.
WHEN PEOPLE CALLED 911, ACROSS
THE CITY THIS WEEKEND, THEY
EXPECTED A FAST RESPONSE.
BUT NEARLY EVERY OFFICER IN OUR
CITY AIDED IN THE RESPONSE TO
THE INCIDENTS THAT WE SAW WHILE
CONTINUING TO ADDRESS URGENT
911 CALLS.
I WILL HAVE THE CHIEF DISCUSS
IN GREATER DETAIL THE RESPONSE
AND STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT
THE SPD FACES.
AS A CITY, WE CANNOT CONTINUE
ON THIS CURRENT TRAJECTORY OF
LOSING POLICE OFFICERS LIKE WE
HAVE THIS YEAR INTO THE NEXT
YEARS.
OVER THE PAST 17 MONTHS, THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
LOST 250 POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH
IS THE EQUIVALENT OF OVER
300,000 SERVICE HOURS.
WE ARE ON PATH TO LOSING 300
OFFICERS.
WE ARE CREATING MEANINGFUL
ALTERNATIVES BUT AS I SAID LAST
YEAR, THE CITY HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO STILL CONTINUE
CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING AND
RESPOND TO 911 CALLS.
NOT UNEXPECTED, LOSING THESE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHEN CITY
LEADERS TALK ABOUT CUTTING A
DEPARTMENT BY 50%, YOU WILL
LOSE EMPLOYEES. FAMILIES NEED
SECURITY.
WORKERS, EVEN POLICE OFFICERS,
NEED WORKING CONDITIONS THAT
SUPPORT THEM.
WE CANNOT JUST CAUGHT. WE NEED
A PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THAT ADDRESSES BOTH PREVENTION
AND INTERVENTION AND AT THE
SAME TIME PROVIDES ADEQUATE
NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS.
IN RECENT MONTHS, CHIEF DIAZ
HAS BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN TO
ENSURE CONTINUED PUBLIC SAFETY
IN OUR CITY THAT RECOGNIZES THE
SPD CURRENT BUDGET INCLUDING
OUT OF ORDER LAYOFFS AS
PROPOSED BY COUNCIL . COUNCIL
ADMITS THIS CANNOT OCCUR . IN
AUGUST I WILL SEND DOWN AN
ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL
TO PROMOTE MORE ALTERNATIVES TO
911 CALLS AND ADDRESS THE
URGENT STAFFING CRISIS.
THAT INCLUDES OPTIONS TO
RECRUIT QUALIFIED POLICE
OFFICERS QUICKLY, TO ENSURE THE
SPD HAS ADEQUATE STAFFING
LEVELS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE, THAT THE AGREED-UPON
STAFFING LEVELS MEET THE 2021
BUDGET.
IT IS A FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN
COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS AND
POLICE OFFICERS.
WE NEED BOTH AND WE NEED A PLAN
TO STAND UP THOSE ALTERNATIVES
IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN DELIVER
ON WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED.
IN SHORT-TERM, CHIEF DIAZ IS
MAKING STAFF ADJUSTMENTS TO
MAKE SURE MORE OFFICERS ARE
ABLE TO RESPOND DURING THOSE
KEY HOURS.
WE WILL ALSO ENGAGE WITH
BUSINESSES IN NIGHTLIFE
DISTRICTS TO DISCUSS SAFETY
PLANNING AS WE SEE AN INCREASE
IN PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
AROUND OUR NIGHTLIFE
ESTABLISHES AND NOT JUST
LOCALLY BUT NATIONWIDE.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO
ACCELERATE HIRING AND THE
RETENTION OF GOOD OFFICERS.
I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.
THERE IS MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
THERE IS NO ONE SIZE SOLUTION
TO THIS CRISIS BUT THE
WIDESPREAD AVAILABILITY OF
FIREARMS IN OUR NATION IS
FEEDING THIS VIOLENCE.
THE INACTION OF OUR STATE AND
FEDERAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE
EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE AT
THIS TIME ONLY ADDS FUEL TO THE
FIRE.
UNTIL THIS IS TREATED LIKE THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT IT
IS, PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO
LOSE THEIR LIVES AND OUR
COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO
SUFFER.
I NOW WILL HAND IT OFF TO CHIEF
DIAZ WILL GO THROUGH THE UPDATE
ON THE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND.
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THIS.
LAST YEAR WE SAW SO MANY VOICES
IN THE STREET DEMANDING
COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES TO
POLICING, TO BRING ATTENTION TO
THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAS
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
PARTICULARLY THE BLACK
COMMITTEE, FOR GENERATIONS.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THIS
GUN VIOLENCE IS ALSO
DISPROPORTIONALLY IMPACTING
THOSE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE NEED TO STAND WITH
COMMUNITIES AND WITH MOTHERS
AND WITH FAMILIES AND FIND A
WAY TO STOP THIS SENSELESS
VIOLENCE.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO THE CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
LATE LAST WEEK, MAYOR DURKAN
AND I STOOD OUTSIDE OF
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER
WHERE THE VICTIMS WERE TAKEN
FOR LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT. WE
TALKED ABOUT THE CITY AND KING
COUNTY NEW COMMUNITY-BASED
EFFORTS TO HELP STOP THE RISING
VIOLENCE.
FRIDAY NIGHT, A MAN WAS SHOT
AND KILLED IN A ROOSEVELT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
YESTERDAY MORNING, AT LEAST
EIGHT PEOPLE WERE SHOT ACROSS
THE CITY.
THREE PEOPLE DIED AND AT LEAST
FIVE WERE WOUNDED.
OVERNIGHT, ANOTHER VICTIM WAS
SHOT AND KILLED.
THAT'S A TOTAL OF FIVE
HOMICIDES THIS WEEKEND.
AND AGAIN, THIS MORNING, SHOTS
RANG OUT AT AN ENCAMPMENT. AT
LAST UPDATE THE VICTIM WAS
RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE AT
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER.
THE VIOLENCE IS ALL OVER
SEATTLE.
IT GOES FROM ROOSEVELT TO
PIONEER SQUARE AND TO CAPITOL
HILL IN LAKE CITY.
THE BLOODSHED IS PROOF,
CRIMINALS WITH GUNS ARE NOT
SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM. THIS IS
A CITYWIDE CRISIS THAT IMPACTS
ALL OF US.
FAR TOO MANY FAMILIES ARE
GRIEVING THE DEATH OF LOVED
ONES TODAY AND THIS VIOLENCE
MUST STOP.
OUR CITY IS EXPERIENCING THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF SHOTS FIRED
IN RECENT HISTORY AND JUST A
FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD OVER TWO
DOZEN SHOTS FIRED IN ONE WEEK
ALONE.
WE'VE SEEN MORE THAN A 40%
INCREASE IN SHOTS FIRED THIS
YEAR COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME
LAST YEAR AND WE'VE SEEN MORE
THAN 100% INCREASE IN DRIVE-BY
SHOOTINGS YEAR OVER YEAR.
IN THIS YEAR ALONE WE HAVE
RECOVERED CLOSE TO 2000 SHELL
CASINGS.
EVEN WITH DIMINISH POLICE
RESOURCES OUR OFFICERS ARE
WORKING EVERY GUN VIOLENCE
INCIDENT BECAUSE EVERY SHOTS
FIRED BY CRIMINAL WITH A WEAPON
IS AN ATTACK AGAINST OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY AND WE DO HAVE
DIMINISHED RESOURCES.
I HAVE 115 FEWER OFFICERS
PATROLLING THEN I DID ONE YEAR
AGO.
I HAVE 38 FEWER DETECTIVES TO
FOLLOW UP ON REPORTED CRIME.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE ARE
ALMOST CLOSE TO LOSING OVER 300
OFFICERS IN JUST THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
THIS IS FORCING TOUGH CHOICES
AND I'M DOWN A REMARKABLE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON A REDUCED
BUDGET AND HAVING TO MAKE TOUGH
CHOICES WERE ESSENTIALLY MY
HANDS ARE TIED BETWEEN HAVING
ENOUGH OFFICERS RESPOND TO
MULTIPLE SCENES OF VIOLENCE
ACROSS THE CITY AND HAVING
OFFICERS STEP SPECIAL EVENTS
AND OTHER LOW PRIORITY EVENTS.
THERE SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE
THAT THE CLEAR CHOICE IS I MUST
HAVE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO
SHOTS FIRED THROUGHOUT THE CITY
AND PROVIDE MEDICAL AND
EMERGENCY AID LIKE TOURNIQUETS
AND WOUND PACKAGING AND ENTERING
WITNESSES AND GATHERING
EVIDENCE.
THEY HOPE TO HELP PEOPLE AT
GATHERINGS.
BUT I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH
OFFICERS TO HANDLE EVENTS WITH
THE VIOLENCE THAT IS OCCURRING.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, MORE THAN
FIVE DAYS A WEEK ON AVERAGE WE
HAVE TWO GO TO PRIORITY CALL
STATUS IS WHERE WE FOCUS
EXCLUSIVELY ON PRIORITY ONE
CALLS AND PRIORITY TWO IF THERE
IS TIME.
I NEED MORE OFFICERS.
AND THAT WILL TAKE TIME BUT IT
WILL DO ALL I CAN TO SUPPORT
THE MAYOR TO GET OUR HIRING
WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
WE ARE SEEKING GOOD RESPONSE
RATES TO OUR HIRING HIRING TEST
BUT WE HAVE OFFICERS AND WE
NEED TO SUPPORT THEM. THEY WILL
HAVE OUR SUPPORT FINANCIALLY
AND OTHERWISE TO DO THIS JOB
WELL AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY
WILL NOT BE LAID OFF BECAUSE OF
BUDGET CUTS.
UNTIL THOSE OFFICERS ARE
BROUGHT ON, WE WILL NEED TO
BRIDGE THE GAP BEYOND
TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVE PROPOSED
PROJECTS THAT SHOW
EFFECTIVENESS IN OTHER CITIES
TO HELP WHERE WE NEED PARTNERS.
I'VE SPOKEN EVEN THIS MORNING
WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND
THEY'VE ALL PLEDGED TO DO WHAT
THEY CAN BUT WE ALSO NEED OUR
COMMUNITY TO HELP US.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
GETTING THESE GUNS OUT OF THE
HANDS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO DO
HARM.
WE NEED LEGAL GUN OWNERS TO
KEEP THEIR GUNS LOCKED UP AND
SAFE SO THEY CANNOT BE STOLEN
AND USED FOR CRIMINAL ACTS.
WE NEED EVERYONE TO ENCOURAGE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO PUT DOWN
THEIR WEAPONS AND FIND OTHER
WAYS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND
RESOLVE ISSUES.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A GUN
VIOLENCE CRISIS.
AS POLICE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC
SERVANTS, WE CANNOT DO
EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE DEVASTATION IN THE
STREETS AND AT HOME AND IT'S
NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO ALONE
AND IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL NEED
TO DO TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
EITHER THE CHIEF OR I CAN TAKE
QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: IT'S NO
COINCIDENCE, MAYOR, THAT THE
POLICE REFORM BILLS WENT INTO
EFFECT OVER THE WEEKEND.
DO YOU THINK THE CHIEF IS
GIVING THE PERCEPTION TO THE
PUBLIC THAT POLICE WILL NOT
ANSWER OR PURSUE?
>> NO. I'VE MADE A CLEAR AND
THE CHIEF HAS MADE IT CLEAR
THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WILL RESPOND TO THE
BEST OF ITS ABILITY AND THE
REFORMS THE STATE LEGISLATURE
PASSED WERE ALREADY THINGS WE
WERE DOING IN SEATTLE. THERE
ARE STILL ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED
. WE NEED A MODEL POLICY THAT
WON'T BE FOR ONE YEAR FROM NOW.
IN BETWEEN THIS INTERVIEW, MAKE
NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THE SEATTLE
PLEASE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONDING
TO INCIDENTS AND DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO RESPOND
TO EVERY TYPE OF INCIDENT AND
WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
BUT THEY WILL ALSO USE THE
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES PUT IN
PLACE TO DE-ESCALATE
APPROPRIATELY AND TO DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING IS
NOT JUST WITH OFFICERS HERE BUT
IT IS A KEY PART OF WHO WE ARE
RECRUITING.
WE ARE NOT JUST FILLING UP THE
DEPARTMENT, WE ARE MAKING SURE
WE GET OFFICERS WHO WILL BE
COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF POLICING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: EVEN ON SUNDAY
MORNING, WITHIN THE FIRST
SHOOTING, WE RESPONDED TO A
FIGHT DISTURBANCE AND BROKE
EVERYTHING UP. OFFICERS DID
RESPOND TO THE SCENE.
THAT WAS A SHORT TIME LATER
WHEN THE FIRST SHOOTING HAPPENED
IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, 45 MINUTES
LATER.
THAT CREATES A SIGNIFICANT
RESPONSE.
AND WITHIN ANOTHER 45 MINUTES
THE SECOND SHOOTING WITH TWO
DAD AND THE OTHER VICTIMS.
THE CRIME SCENE WAS TWO BLOCKS
LONG.
AND ONE HOUR LATER, ANOTHER
SHOOTING HAPPENED.
AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ANOTHER
SHOOTING.
WE HAD TO TAKE, LITERALLY,
EVERY RESOURCE THROUGHOUT THE
CITY TO NOT ONLY MANAGE ALL THE
CRIME SCENES AND MAKE SURE WE
HAVE DETECTIVES RESPONDING AND
CSI AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON
OFFICERS ARE GOING OUT AND
DOING THEIR WORK. THEY ARE
TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY
CAN TO SAVE LIVES BUT IT IS A
CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OFFICERS
THAT ARE ABLE TO RESPOND.
úWE EXTENDED THIRD WATCH AND
BROUGHT FIRST WATCH IN EARLY.
EVERY OFFICER IS GOING OUT AND
DOING THE HARD WORK THEY NEED
TO DO.
>> Reporter: CHIEF DO YOU HAVE
THE RESPOND TIMES TO THOSE
CALLS?
>> WE CAN GET THAT.
I THINK THE FIRST WAS THAT ONE
DECK 30 A.M.
ON SUNDAY. WE WILL GET THAT FOR
YOU.
1:30 A.M.
>> Reporter: I KNOW THERE ARE
PLANS AND PORTLAND TO WORK WITH
FEDERAL AGENCIES. ARE THERE
PLANS FOR THAT IN SEATTLE?
>> WE ARE WORKING ON PROJECTS
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHERS
WITH THE FBI AND ATF.
WE DID A RECENT OPERATION THAT
RESULTED IN 19 SEARCH WARRANTS
AND 15 GUNS RECOVERED.
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO
CONTINUING TO BE PARTNERS AND
ADDRESSING THOSE THAT ARE
REALLY FOCUSED ON HARMING OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH THEM RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: CAN YOU TELL US
MORE ABOUT THE STREET RACING?
HAS THAT BEEN A PROBLEM?
>> ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE KING
COUNTY SHERIFFS RESPONDED TO
STREET RACING IN AURORA AROUND
HUNDRED 55th.
AS THEY BROKE IT UP, ONE OF THE
VEHICLES LEFT THE SCENE.
IT DROVE INTO THE SEATTLE AREA.
IT DID A U-TURN AND THEN WAS
SPEEDING BACK UP AND STRUCK A
SEMITRUCK, CAUSING A COLLISION.
WE WERE HANDLING A SHOOTING
SCENE IN THE ROOSEVELT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAD TO HAVE
THE TRAFFIC COLLISION
INVESTIGATION UNIT RESPOND TO
HANDLE THAT TRAFFIC DEATH AS
WELL.
THAT'S ALL WITHIN A 30 MINUTE
PERIOD.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THE NORTH
END WAS USING THEIR RESOURCES,
ALL OF THEM, WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO
RESPOND TO BASIC 911 CALLS ARE
OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
>> Reporter: MAYOR, YOU
MENTIONED YOU WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN PUTTING
LEGISLATURE FORWARD AND AUGUST
FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO FREE
UP OTHER OFFICERS.
DO YOU PLAN TO FUND OTHER
PROGRAMS?
>> WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD AND WE
TALKED ABOUT SOME OF IT ON
FRIDAY.
WE ARE CREATING A NEW TRIAGE
ENTITY.
WE ARE LOOKING TO ALSO PAY
THINGS LIKE, BECAUSE MORE
OFFICERS LEFT, THE AMOUNT OF
SEVERANCE PAY IS HIGHER THAN
EXPECTED.
WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE
PROGRAMS IN THIS SPACE THAT
ACTUALLY CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO
COMMUNITY EMERGENCIES.
IN THE RFP THAT WE PUT OUT FOR
$10 MILLION, WE GOT SOME GREAT
PROPOSALS BACK AND WE WILL BE
FUNDING SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES.
BUT NONE OF THEM REPLACED OR
RESPONSE -- NONE OF THEM
REPLACED THE RESPONSE TO 911.
WENT UP PERSON OR BUSINESS
CALLS 911, WE HAVE TO HAVE A
RESPONSE READY.
WE HOPE TO BUILD UP THE
RESPONSES THAT ARE NOT POLICE
OFFICERS TO THOSE TYPES OF
CALLS WHERE YOU DO NOT NEED A
POLICE OFFICER.
BUT THERE ARE CALLS THAT YOU DO
NEED A POLICE OFFICER TO
RESPOND.
>> Reporter: YOU TALKED ABOUT
MONEY GOING TO PROGRAMS TO
PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MONEY TAKES
TIME TO PRODUCE REAL RESULTS.
WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE SHORT
TERM THAT IS FEASIBLE AND DOES
TAKE GUNS OFF THE STREET?
>> IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
THAT GETS THE BEST APPROACH,
BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM.
THESE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS
DO TAKE TIME. YOU HAVE TO BUILD
UP THE CAPACITY AND YOU HAVE TO
BUILD UP THOSE PROGRAMS TO GET
TO THE PREVENTION PART OF THIS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE CREDIBLE
MESSENGERS THAT WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO REALLY DETER THE
VIOLENCE IN THE BEGINNING.
AND THEN YOU NEED THE SERVICES
FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT IS
STRICKEN AND IT WORKS HAND IN
GLOVE WITH BUILDING OPPORTUNITY
FROM THE MOMENT A CHILD IS BORN
ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE,
IT'S WHY WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE
NOT JUST THE POLICE RESPONSE.
BUT ALSO HEALTHONE.
IF WE GET A CALL, INSTEAD OF A
POLICE OFFICER GO, HEALTHONE
COULD GO.
THEN THE POLICE OFFICER IS
FREED UP TO RESPOND TO AN
EMERGENCY EVENT.
THE SAME WITH THE TRIAGE UNIT
OR THE CSO. THEY CAN RESPOND TO
OTHER EVENTS AND THAT GIVES THE
ARMED POLICE OFFICERS MORE
FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND WHERE
THEY ARE NEEDED.
FOUR THOSE SOUND MORE REACTIVE.
IN THE SHORT TERM, WHAT CAN BE
DONE TO STOP THE CALLS FROM
COMING IN?
>> THE NUMBER ONE THING IS
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY HAS TO BE THE FIRST
VOICE THAT SAYS WE WON'T TAKE
THAT AND WE NEED TO WORK TO
STOP THE VIOLENCE.
SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO GET MORE
GUNS OFF THE STREET AND WE ARE
TAKING A RECORD NUMBER OF GUNS
OFF THE STREET IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CRIMES,
MANY OF THESE SHOOTINGS ARE
HAPPENING WITH STOLEN GUNS.
THE CHIEF CAN GIVE YOU THE
EXACT NUMBERS.
>> Reporter: YOU MENTIONED
COMMUNITY BEING A BIG PART OF
THIS, MAYOR.
COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED BY THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS ELECTED IN
OFFICE.
HOW CLOSE IS THE CITY COUNCIL
WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE OR
WITH CHIEF DIAZ AROUND
MESSAGING ON THIS ISSUE HERE
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE?
WE'VE BEEN TRACKING THEM FOR A
WHILE AND THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY
SILENT, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THAT'S THE PUBLIC FACING. YOU
GUYS ARE ALIGNING AROUND
CONSISTENT MESSAGING AROUND
ACTIVATING COMMUNITY AND GETTING
ALL THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE TO
CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
WE CAN GET THERE.
BUT I CANNOT WAIT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST MESSAGING.
ITS ACTION.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MEET WITH
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS
TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ON
ALL OF THESE EFFORTS.
THAT GOES FROM THE EQUITABLE
COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE TASK
FORCE THAT INVESTS IN
GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND HEALTH
CARE, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, THE THINGS THAT SHOW
AND BUILD RESILIENT AND SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS
ISSUE.
THIS LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED EVERYBODY IN THE FIGHT.
AND I NEED CITY COUNCIL
STANDING UP AND SAYING THE
COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS
LEVEL OF VIOLENCE AND WE WILL
WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT
ONLY BUILD UP THE RESILIENCE
NEEDED, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE
WHEN PEOPLE CALL 911, IF AND
WHEN YOU NEED A POLICE OFFICER
THAT ONE CAN RESPOND.
THANK YOU.