KAMARIA HIGHTOWER, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD BEFORE WE
START?
>> NO, PLEASE TAKE AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
JUST OVER A MONTH AGO, WE STOOD
TOGETHER AND HAD A DISCUSSION
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.
AND HOW THE CITY, THE COUNTY,
PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY AND
PARTNERS WERE ALL STEPPING UP
TO HELP SAVE LIVES.
WE HAVE BEEN IN DAILY
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MAYOR ON
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
AT THE EVENT I SAID SHOOTINGS
HAD TO STOP.
NO ONE THERE WAS UNDER ANY
ILLUSION THAT A PRESS
CONFERENCE OR NEW INVESTMENTS
IN PROGRAMS OR SIGNIFICANT
ARRESTS BY POLICE WERE GOING TO
END IN THIS ONGOING EPIDEMIC
OVERNIGHT.
I THINK WE ALL HOPED OF THE
VIOLENT WEEKEND OF JULY AND WE
COULD BEGIN TO TURN A CORNER
AND THAT THERE WERE FEW WEEKS
WHERE THE VIOLENCE SEEMS TO BE
SUBSIDING FROM THEIR HISTORIC
LEVELS.
THE UNRELENTING PACE OF THE
VIOLENCE IN RECENT DAYS,
REMINDS US THAT THIS SHOULD BE
UNACCEPTABLE.
PEOPLE NEED TO PUT DOWN THEIR
GUNS.
EARLY THIS MORNING, A MAN WAS
SHOT AND KILLED IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE.
IN THIS CASE, AN ARMED ROBBERY
VICTIM OPENED FIRE, APPARENTLY
IN SELF-DEFENSE SHOOTING AND
KILLING THE ARMED SUSPECT.
THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD
MULTIPLE SHOOTING INSTANCES,
WITH 2 INDIVIDUALS LOSING THEIR
LIVES AS A RESULT.
SO FAR, YEAR TO DATE, THERE
HAVE BEEN OVER 100 ADDITIONAL
SHOOTINGS, COMPARED TO THE SAME
TIME LAST YEAR IN 2020.
AT ABOUT 150 MORE THAN 2019.
WE HAVE RECOVERED OVER 2000 GUN
CASINGS, LAST YEAR WE RECOVERED
OVER 2500 GUN CASINGS, WE
CONTINUE TO SEE MORE VICTIMS
SHOT EACH YEAR.
20 MORE INCIDENTS OF VICTIMS,
WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.
THIS COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER IN
THE FACE OF COVID-19 , AND IS
GOING TO TAKE AN EVEN GREATER
COMMUNITY EFFORT TO PUSH BACK
ON THE RELENTLESS THREAT OF
VIOLENCE.
THE COMMUNITY HAS COMMITMENT
THAT SBD WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
TO CREATE SPACE AND TIME FOR
NEIGHBORS AND LEADERS TO SAFELY
BE ABLE TO WORK TO PREVENT
ADDITIONAL VIOLENCE.
TO DO THAT, WE MUST ADDRESS WHO
IS DOING THE SHOOTING NOW.
WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH, THAT
SHOOTERS AND THEIR ASSOCIATES
QUICKLY BECOME VICTIMS.
STOP SHOOTING, SBD OFFICERS ARE
DOING THE DANGEROUS AND HARD
WORK OF DIRECTING DIRECTLY
INTERVENING AND PREVENTING
FUTURE INJURY AND LOSS OF LIFE.
IN JUST THE PAST MONTH,
OFFICERS HAVE ARRESTED 24
INDIVIDUALS OF GUN RELATED
OFFENSES.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, 14
INDIVIDUALS SUSPECTED TO BE
INVOLVED IN HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED.
OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES HAVE
TAKEN ABOUT 100 GUNS OFF THE
STREET THIS MONTH.
INCLUDING 700 GUNS OFF THE
STREET SO FAR THIS YEAR.
THIS IS ON PACE FOR THE FIFTH
STRAIGHT YEAR OF OVER 1000 GUNS
TAKEN OFF THE STREET.
WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED ON SCENE
OF VIOLENCE, THEY ARE NOT JUST
PURSUING SUSPECTS, THEY ARE
SAVING LIVES.
THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE APPLIED 26
TOURNIQUETS IN AUGUST ALONE, IN
AUGUST ALONE, WE HAVE A HAD
EIGHT ADDITIONAL TIMES.
29, EIGHT MORE IN AUGUST ALONE.
47 COMBAT, NINE MORE IN AUGUST
ALONE.
AND HELP TO STABILIZE MANY
OTHER VICTIMS UNTIL AN
AMBULANCE COULD BE ON SCENE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE LISTED
DISTRIBUTION OF CELLS OF DRUGS
INCLUDED FENTANYL, WHICH HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECORD
NUMBER OF OVERDOSES, DEATHS
THIS YEAR AND IS DIRECTLY TIED
TO VIOLENCE.
DETECTIVES AND OFFICERS HAVE
SEIZED OVER HALF 1 MILLION
FENTANYL PILLS, 13 POUNDS OF
COCAINE, 88 POUNDS OF METH, AND
25 POUNDS OF HEROIN.
OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONALS
ACROSS THIS DEPARTMENT HAVE
ALSO CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SUMMER
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, POLICE
ACTIVITY AND IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE REGIONAL PEACEKEEPER
COLLABORATIVE.
WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS, WE HAVE SERVED
COUNTLESS WARRANTS, TAKING
NUMEROUS GUNS OFF THE STREET
AND DISTRIBUTED DANGEROUS
ILLICIT TRACKING NETWORKS
ACROSS THE REGION.
I KNOW THESE EFFORTS HAVE
DIRECTLY PREVENTED SHOOTINGS,
BUT STILL TOO MANY HAVE
HAPPENED AND CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO APPROACHING
THIS CRISIS IN AN EVIDENCE-
BASED MANNER THAT FOCUSES ON
COMMUNITY, ANALYTICS,
INVENTION, ENVIRONMENT, AND
ENFORCEMENT.
WE KNOW WHERE THE SHOOTINGS ARE
MOST LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE, AND
WE KNOW IT IS AN EXTREMELY
SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
WILLING TO PULL A GUN AND USE
IT.
WE KNOW THE TYPES OF LOCATIONS
THAT SUPPORT THE BEHAVIORS THAT
LEAD TO SHOOTINGS.
IF THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT AWARE
OF THE CRISIS I WOULD HAVE
HIGHLY VISIBLE OFFICERS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SUFFERING THE
SILENCE.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THERE WILL BE TIME TO TALK AND
CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WITH
RESOURCES, AND WHEN DISPUTES
BEGIN TO BUBBLE OVER, TO
INTERVENE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
ALEX PEDERSEN FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
HE WILL SPEAK IN A FEW MOMENTS,
I CANNOT THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR
HIS ADVOCACY TO DO ALL THAT WE
CAN TO GET MORE OFFICERS IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND ON THE STREET.
WITHOUT THOSE OFFICERS, MY
OPTIONS ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED.
HE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST PARTNER
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND I WANT TO
THANK HIM FOR THAT.
OFFICERS ON THE STREET TO SAVE
LIVES, WE KNOW THAT THE
WIDESPREAD ARRESTS DO NOT MAKE
A NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER.
WE AND THE REST OF THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENGAGING IN
VIOLENCE AND ILLEGALLY CARRYING
AND USING GUNS.
WE NEED TO STAND UP, TO
DENOUNCE THIS VIOLENCE, I AND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS WILL STAND
WITH YOU.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO TELL THEIR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT GUNS
ARE NOT THE ANSWER.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO CALL 911 WHEN
THEY HEAR GUNSHOTS.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO TALK TO
DETECTIVES WHEN THEY KNOW WHO
HAS A GUN OR WHO IS SHOOTING AT
EACH OTHER AND HELPING TO
IDENTIFY THOSE SUSPECTS.
WE NEED THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR
COMMUNITY, LIKE THOSE OF YOUR,
LIKE THOSE HERE WITH US TODAY,
TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING
ISSUES THAT GIVE RISE TO
VIOLENCE.
AND TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
HELPING PEOPLE SEE THAT THERE
ARE OTHER WAYS TO RESOLVE
CONFLICT.
AT THE LAST BRIEFING, WE
ANNOUNCED A LAUNCH OF OUR NEW
PUBLIC FACING SHOTS FIRED
DASHBOARD, ANOTHER STEP IN DATA
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
TODAY I AM COMMITTING TO
ROUTINE UPDATES ON GUN
VIOLENCE, WE SHOULD ONLY TALK
ABOUT THIS AFTER A TRAGIC
WEEKEND, EVERY DAY, HOURS OF
NEW COVERAGE IS SPENT ON COVID-
19 AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
BUT, WE NEED TO BE TALKING
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE JUST AS
MUCH.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO
SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER,
ALEX PEDERSEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF DIAZ, AND
THANK YOU TO OUR CITY'S HUMAN
SERVICES TEAM AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR INVITING ME TO
PARTICIPATE THIS MORNING ON
SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND SADLY GUT
WRENCHING PUBLIC SAFETY
SITUATION, ONE THAT CALLS FOR
LEADERSHIP, ACTION, AND
COLLABORATION.
TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS SPIKE IN
GUN VIOLENCE, I BELIEVE OUR
CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO PARTNER
WITH BOTH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND COMMUNITY NONPROFITS, FOR A
MULTIPRONGED RESPONSE, WITH
EFFECTIVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS.
AFTER 300 POLICE OFFICERS HAVE
LEFT CITY EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS
A RECORD-BREAKING AMOUNT OF
ATTRITION, I ALSO HOPE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS CRFTING OUR
CITIES MIDYEAR BUDGET RECOGNIZE
THE REALITY OF THE POLICE
SHORTAGE CRISIS.
AND WORK WITH CHIEF DIAZ, AND
THE COMMUNITY, TO RECRUIT AND
RETAIN OFFICERS, I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF OUR FRONT-LINE
WORKERS FOR ALL THE DIFFICULT
WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING FOR
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
I BELIEVE INCREASED RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION SHOULD INCLUDE A
FOCUS ON COMMUNITY POLICING
OFFICERS, WHO USED TO WORK WITH
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
NONPROFITS TO PREVENT CRIMES,
AND DETECTIVES WHO ARE TRAINED
TO SOLVE CRIMES, INCLUDING THIS
RECENT SURGE IN DEADLY
SHOOTINGS.
I'M SO WHILE I AM LEVERAGING
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON
EVERYONE AT CITY HALL TO WORK
TOGETHER, TO INVEST NOW IN
INCENTIVES TO ACCELERATE
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
HIGHLY TRAINED OFFICERS AND
DETECTIVES, I AM ALSO PLEASED
THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO
REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY BY
EXPANDING THE SOCIAL SERVICE
INVESTMENTS WITH OUR HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND
COMMUNITY NONPROFITS.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER NOW TO
REX BROWN OF OUR HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
GOOD MORNING, I AM REX BROWN,
DIRECTOR OF THE NEW SAFE
ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITIES
DIVISION AT THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
THE DIVISION WAS CREATED IN
RESPONSE TO THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROTESTS IN 2020, AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY EFFORTS THAT
URGED THE CITY TO FOCUS ON LIKE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES AND SHIFT SAFETY
INVESTMENTS INTO COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
STEAK AND THRIVING MANAGES
INVESTMENTS TO REDUCE GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE, TO SUPPORT
CRIME, SURVIVOR SERVICES, AND
INCREASE COMMUNITY SAFETY.
HSD INVESTS OVER $20 MILLION IN
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WORK TO INCREASE COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
WHICH INCLUDES THE JULY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE INVESTMENT
OF $10.4 MILLION THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY CAPACITY
BUILDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF 33
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WORKING TOWARD COMMUNITY LED
SOLUTIONS, TO END VIOLENCE, AND
TO INCREASE SAFETY.
THE COMMUNITY LED GROUPS THAT
RECEIVE FUNDS FROM HSD OFFER A
VARIETY OF SERVICES INCLUDING
COMMUNITY SAFETY HELP MODEL
WHICH OFFERS HOTSPOT AND
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE AND
WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN SOUTH
SEATTLE, WEST SEATTLE, AND
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
AS OF JUNE, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RESPONDED TO
39 CRITICAL INCIDENTS.
AND CONVENED 19 MEETINGS TO
DISCUSS IT OF STUMPS --
DISCUSSED SYSTEMS ORDINATION TO
INCLUDE A LIAISON.
OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION, ASSISTANCE
WITH REENTRY AT AFTER
INCARCERATION, AND PROGRAMS TO
PREVENT YOUTH FROM ENTERING THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
IN ADDITION, THE CITY IS
PARTNERING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
TO INVEST $2 MILLION IN THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS COLLECTIVE, PILOT
PROGRAM, TO ADDRESS THE STEEP
RISE IN GUN VIOLENCE REGIONALLY.
THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP BUILD
COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK OF GUN
VIOLENCE, AND THEIR FAMILIES,
BY ADDING RESTORATIVE SERVICES
SUCH AS FAMILY SUPPORT
SPECIALISTS, YOUTH AND FAMILY
SUPPORT SERVICES, COMPREHENSIVE
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.
WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT AND
FAMILY CENTERED ENGAGEMENT CAN
HELP DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF GUN
VIOLENCE AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE
ON A PATH TO HEALTH AND WELL-
BEING.
THE REGIONAL PEACEKEEPERS
COLLECTIVE IS EXPECTED TO SERVE
MORE THAN 200 YOUNG PEOPLE OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE
INVESTMENTS FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION THROUGH HSD AND
I NOW TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR
OFFICER.
>> THANK YOU, PANELISTS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN THIS
UP FOR THE Q & A PORTION.
AS A REMINDER, PLEASE ENTER
QUESTIONS, USING THE WEBEX CHAT,
I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS SO FAR.
FROM HANNAH SCOTT, AS YOU ARE
SENDING QUESTIONS THROUGH THE
CHAT FEATURE, PLEASE SELECT
FROM THE SEND TO DROP-DOWN MENU
, ALL PANELISTS, BEFORE
SENDING, AND PLEASE ALSO
INCLUDE YOUR NEWS ORGANIZATION
AND YOUR NAME, AND I WILL READ
THE QUESTIONS ALLOWED.
IF YOUR QUESTION IS FOR A
SPECIFIC PANELISTS, PLEASE ALSO
ENTER THAT INFORMATION.
I WILL BEGIN THE QUESTIONS, THE
FIRST QUESTION IS FROM HANNAH
SCOTT, FROM CAIRO RADIO AND THE
QUESTION IS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, MOST OF YOUR FELLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE OPPOSED TO
MORE STAFFING DOLLARS, GOING TO
SPD, HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY HELP
CHANGE THIS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT
THE LOSS OF OFFICERS, THE
ATTRITION NUMBERS, WE HAVE A
SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE, WE ARE
HEARING MORE AND MORE FROM
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT CONCERNS
WITH COMMUNITY SAFETY, SO I
THINK THAT THERE IS NEW
INFORMATION THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
CAN CONSIDER AS WE LOOK AT OUR
MIDYEAR BUDGET.
ALSO, IT IS NOT ADDING MONEY TO
THE BUDGET, IT IS REALLY JUST
KEEPING THE MONEY THAT WAS
ALREADY ALLOCATED, KEEPING THAT
IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO
THAT THEY CAN USE THAT FUNDING
FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
OF HIGHLY TRAINED OFFICERS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, THE
NEXT QUESTION IS ALSO FROM
HANNAH SCOTT, AND IT IS FOR
CHIEF DIAZ.
ARE YOUR INVESTIGATORS GETTING
ANY HELP FROM THOSE WHO LIVE IN
THE COMMUNITIES, WHERE THESE
SHOOTINGS ARE HAPPENING?
IF NOT, CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU
THINK THAT MAY BE, AND WHAT IS
BEING DONE TO IMPROVE TRUST?
CHIEF DIAZ, YOU ARE MUTED.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
GREAT QUESTION, WE ARE, IT IS
KIND OF A MIX.
WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF
INFORMATION FROM A LOT OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON SOLVING
SOME OF THESE CRIMES, THAT IS
THE REASON WHY WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT
ARRESTS IN MANY OF OUR
HOMICIDES, AND SOME ARRESTS IN
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ANYTHING
FROM ROBBERIES TO SOME OF THE
SHOOTINGS.
BUT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS
A LEVEL OF SILENCE THAT DOES
OCCUR, WITH SOME OF THE
SHOOTING VICTIMS, AND THAT IS
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
WORKING TO CONSTANTLY BUILD
TRUST, WE ARE WORKING WITH
YOUTH GROUPS, AND TRYING TO
FIND WAYS TO ENGAGE YOUTH, AND
INTERACT, AND FIND POSITIVE
WAYS TO IMPROVE TRUST, BUT
THERE IS A LEVEL OF HESITATION
FOR PEOPLE REPORTING OR
PROVIDING INFORMATION, AS FEAR
OF RETALIATION AS WELL.
SO, WE ARE WORKING TO DO THAT,
TO IMPROVE TRUST, EVERYDAY.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF DIAZ.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ERICA
BARNETT, SHE MENTIONS THAT MANY
OF THE $10.4 MILLION IN GRANTS,
THAT WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
THROUGH HSD WERE FROM ONE TIME
FUNDS, FOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS,
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
HER QUESTION IS HOW WOULD THESE
PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED PREVENT
THE SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED RECENTLY?
IN TERMS OF THE POPULATIONS
THEY ARE TARGETING?
DID THE CITY CONSIDER
INFORMATION ABOUT THE VICTIMS
AND PERPETRATORS OF RECENT
SHOOTINGS BEYOND DEMOGRAPHICS
LIKE RACE, WHEN DECIDING WHICH
PROGRAMS WOULD DO THE MOST GOOD?
I BELIEVE THAT QUESTION WOULD
BE FOR REX?
>> THANK YOU.
GREAT QUESTION.
MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT
RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY BUILDING ARE
ADDRESSING RISK FACTORS AT THE
SOCIETAL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL.
THESE PROGRAMS ADDRESS ROOT
CAUSE, NOT JUST SYMPTOMS FOR
COLLECTIVE IMPACT TO GUN
VIOLENCE.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS REALLY THE
INFORMATION FROM COMMUNITY LED
ORGANIZATIONS CLOSEST TO THE
ISSUE THEMSELVES.
WE ARE NOT JUST MAKING IT UP.
THE CITY IS REALLY LISTENING TO
THE COMMUNITY, AS TO HOW IT
WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT
IN SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BROWN.
NEXT, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM
OMARI SALSBERRY FROM CONVERGE,
AND THIS IS ALSO FOR CHIEF DIAZ.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE REGIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS HAVE ENOUGH
SUPPORT TO BE IMPACTFUL, AS
IMPACTFUL AS POSSIBLE, AND NOT
ONLY KEEPING THE PEACE, BUT
ALSO PROVIDING UPSTREAM AND
ECOSYSTEM WORK?
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW, AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, I THINK
RIGHT NOW, THE PROGRAM IS KIND
OF SETTING UP AND RAMPING UP,
PROVIDING TRADING TO THEIR
STAFF, AND I THINK THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO ASSESS WHETHER
THEY NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF TO
DO THAT WORK, AND FIND THE
RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THAT WORK.
IT IS NOT EASY LEVEL OF WORK,
BECAUSE THEY ARE DEALING WITH
KIDS IN TRAUMA, AND I THINK
THAT THERE NEEDS TO HAVE SOME TO
TIME TO WRAP UP AND CREATE THE
SUSTAINABILITY FACTOR IN MANY
OF THOSE PROGRAMS, BUT I JUST
DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO HAVE THE
EXACT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, TO
HELP THAT WORK CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
RONGJI, I BELIEVE FROM CAIRO?
CHIEF DIAZ, OVER THE WEEKEND,
SPD SPOKESPERSONS SAID HAVING
MORE OFFICERS WOULD BE ABLE TO
PATROL AND TAKE MORE PROACTIVE
STANCE WHEN IT COMES TO
SHOOTINGS, AND PREVENT THEM.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE
CASE, AND HOW MANY MORE
OFFICERS WOULD YOU NEED?
>> WE HAVE LISTED OUT THAT FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING, WE WERE
AROUND 1400 OFFICERS UP UNTIL
THE END OF 2019, BEGINNING OF
2020, WE HAVE DRASTICALLY
DROPPED DOWN THE AMOUNT OF
OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE OVER THE
LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND I
WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED THAT
ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF ABOUT 1400
OFFICERS TO REALLY BE ABLE TO
NOT ONLY STAFF PATROL AND TAKE
A PROACTIVE STANCE, AND ALSO BE
ABLE TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES, WE
ARE FINDING OURSELVES SPENDING
OUR OFFICERS, OUR PATROL
OFFICERS ARE SPENDING MORE THAN
ROUGHLY ABOUT 65% OF THEIR TIME
JUST RESPONDING TO 911 CALLS,
AND THAT REALLY LIMITS THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY CAN BE
ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY AND
TAKE A PROACTIVE, DEVELOPING
RELATIONSHIPS, AND SO WE REALLY
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
GOT THAT FULL STAFFING OF ABOUT
1400, TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE
PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING THE GUN
VIOLENCE, AND I BELIEVE THAT
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD, AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAD 150
MORE SHOOTINGS THAN WE HAD IN
2019.
AND SO, THAT IS A VERY BIG
NUMBER TO SEE IN THE AMOUNT OF
OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE LOST, AND
WE ARE STILL RECOVERING A LOT
OF GUNS.
AGAIN WE HAVE RECOVERED OVER
700 GUNS, WE ARE ON PACE FOR
OVER 1000 OFFICERS ARE GOING
OUT, TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST TO
ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT
NEEDING MORE OFFICERS IS GOING
TO BE IMPACTFUL.
MORE IMPACTFUL.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
THE NEXT QUESTION ALSO FOR YOU
FROM TRACY OF WEST SEATTLE BLOG.
THE QUESTION IS, SORRY.
I SCROLLED A LITTLE BIT.
HERE WE GO.
CAN YOU PLEASE BREAK OUT THE
SHOOTINGS TOTAL, TOTAL NUMBER,
INTO NUMBERS OF FATAL INJURY
AND NON-INJURY?
>> YEAH, SO WE HAVE HAD RIGHT
NOW, AS I MENTIONED, OVER 380
SHOOTINGS, OR SHOTS FIRED, WE
HAVE HAD OVER 100 INCIDENCES OF
VICTIMS, WE HAVE HAD 135 TOTAL
VICTIMS BUT ABOUT 104 TOTAL
INCIDENCES THAT HAD VICTIMS, SO
YOU HAVE AN INCIDENT THAT HAS
MULTIPLE VICTIMS, AND THEN WHAT
WE ALSO HAVE, THE REST OF THOSE,
SO ABOUT 280 OR 278 OR SO ARE
WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY INJURY
AT ALL, AS FAR AS SHOOTINGS.
AND SO, WHEN WE ACTUALLY LOOK
AT THE AMOUNT OF FATAL
INJURIES, THAT ARE RESULTING TO
GUN VIOLENCE, WE ARE LOOKING AT
CLOSE TO 78% OF THOSE INSTANCES
OF HOMICIDES, AND RESULTING IN
SOME LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE.
RIGHT NOW THIS YEAR, WE HAVE 35
HOMICIDES TO DATE, 2 OF THOSE
ARE WHAT WE CALL DELAYED
DEATHS, SO THEY OCCURRED, IT IS
OCCURRING THE YEAR BEFORE OR
ANOTHER YEAR, AND THEN THE
VICTIM DIED IN THIS YEAR.
SO, BUT WE ARE EXPERIENCING
ALREADY THE SAME NUMBER OF
HOMICIDES THAT WE WERE AT LAST
YEAR, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE
HAD 100 MORE ADDITIONAL
SHOOTINGS TO DATE.
THAN WE HAD LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
KEVIN SCHOFIELD, AND HE
COMMENTS THAT THESE INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED TODAY,
ARE NOT NEW INVESTMENTS, THEY
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, AND
DISCUSSIONS OVER THE FUNDING,
THE STAFFING PRICES, AND LONG-
TERM INVESTMENTS, BUT WHAT NEW
THINGS ARE YOU DOING THAT THE
PUBLIC SHOULD EXPECT, THAT WILL
CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF GUN
VIOLENCE OVER THE NEXT TWO
MONTHS?
THAT IS A QUESTION FOR ANYONE
TO TAKE.
>> I WILL TAKE PART OF THAT.
I THINK THAT WHILE MANY OF THE
THINGS THAT THE INVESTMENTS
THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED, HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE, THEY
HAVE NOT NECESSARILY BEEN
IMPLEMENT IT BEFORE.
SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO
URBAN FAMILY TRAINING AND
IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDING
TRAINING, GROUNDING AND ONGOING
SUPPORT FOR HOTSPOT AND CRITICAL
RESPONSE TEAMS, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE
INNOVATIVE.
MONTHLY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
TRAININGS THAT INCLUDE HOTSPOT
STAFF FROM ALL THREE HUBS, THAT
WE HAVE IN OPERATION, I THINK
WE SOMETIMES BECOME ACCUSTOMED
TO PERHAPS A RAPID CHANGE, AS
OPPOSED TO AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE,
AND RIGHT NOW, THE COMMUNITY IS
ASKING FOR PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY, NOT JUST
QUICKLY.
SO, SPEED IS YIELDING SOME OF
THOSE PROMISING OUTCOMES, AND
WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT, ONCE
OUR GROUPS CONVENE, AND
IMPLEMENT MORE OF THE AWARDS WE
HAVE FROM THE RECENT COMMUNITY
SAFETY CAPACITY BUILDING, RFP.
AS TO THE SPECIFICS OF THE TWO
MONTHS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
WE ARE ENGAGING FOR SHORT FORM
AFFECTIVE RESPONSES AS WELL AND
MORE ON THAT TO COME, SO JUST A
SNEAK PEEK FOR THAT.
I WILL PIVOT PERHAPS, TO CHIEF
DIAZ, IF HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD
ANYTHING TO THAT FROM A PUBLIC
SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
>> I THINK YOU COVERED IT,
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, OUR NEXT QUESTION IS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
AND THIS IS ALSO FROM OMARI
SOUTHBURY FROM CONVERGE, AND
THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT WHY DO
YOU THINK THAT COUNSEL HAS
BEEN, OR THE REST OF COUNSEL
RATHER HAS BEEN AS QUIET ON THE
ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THE
CITY?
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, HOW
CLOSELY ARE YOUR COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES WORKING WITH THE
REST OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, TO
ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
OMARI.
I THINK THAT ALL THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHENEVER THERE
IS A SURGE IN VIOLENCE, THEY
ALL CARE ABOUT THIS, AND I
THINK THAT THEY ARE YOU KNOW,
WE WILL BE TAKING ACTION ON
SEPTEMBER 13, FOR THE MIDYEAR
BUDGET, SO THAT WE CAN DECIDE
HOW TO BEST ALLOCATE DOLLARS
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, I HOPE TO
SEE MORE OF THE FUNDS GOING
TOWARD RECRUITING AND RETAINING
OFFICERS, I THINK THAT THERE IS
WORK GOING ON WITH PARTS OF
CITY GOVERNMENT, I THINK THAT
WE WANT TO ALSO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, SO THAT WE LET THE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS KNOW THAT WE
CARE ABOUT THEM, WE WANT THEM
TO STAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT, SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE ENOUGH
STAFFING.
AND SO, I THINK WE WILL SEE
MORE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT
MONTH, IN TERMS OF WHERE WE
WANT TO ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS,
AND IN THE MEANTIME, TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OF OUR FRONT-
LINE WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
STEVE, WITH CASEY PQ, AND IT IS
FOR CHIEF DIAZ, WE KNOW THAT
PIERCE COUNTY IS EMPLOYING
BOOKING RESTRICTIONS AT COUNTY
JAIL DUE TO COVID-19 MEANING
THAT ONLY THE MOST SEVERE CASES
ARE TYPICALLY BEING ENTERED
INTO JAIL.
IS THAT AN ISSUE YOU ARE SEEING
IN KING COUNTY?
>> WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ON WHO
WE BOOK INTO JAIL, AND THAT IS
CONTINUED SINCE PART OF THE
START OF THE PANDEMIC.
RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE
ARE GETTING A LOT MORE
VACCINATED, AND SO WE ARE
SEEING SOME OF THOSE WAYS THAT
WE CAN BOOK FOR CERTAIN
INSTANCES, BE RELIEVED, BUT
RIGHT NOW, WE STILL ARE ON SOME
OF THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
FOR BOOKING RESTRICTIONS.
>> CHIEF, THIS IS ALSO FOR YOU
FROM HANNAH SCOTT AT CAIRO
RADIO, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE
IMPACT COVID-19 IS HAVING ON
THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ACTIVE, IS THERE
ANY DATA ON THE IMPACT, THEM
NOT BEING ON THE JOB, IS HAVING
ON 911 RESPONSE TIMES?
>> NO, DURING LAST YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19
PROTOCOL, WHEN SOMEBODY WAS
POTENTIALLY EXPOSED, TO
SOMEBODY THAT HAD COVID-19, WE
HAD YOU KNOW, PROBABLY AT OUR
HEIGHT, WE HAD 80 OFFICERS AT
ANY ONE GIVEN TIME, THAT WORKED
OUT, JUST HONORING THE COVID-19
PROTOCOL, NOT EVEN COVID-19
CASES, BUT JUST HONORING THE
COVID-19 PROTOCOL.
RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF OFFICERS,
BUT WE ARE MUCH LESS THAN OUR
HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF OVER THE
YEAR.
SO, WE DO TAKE THOSE INTO
ACCOUNT, ON OUR RESPONSES, BUT
WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING EMPHASIS IN AREAS
THAT ARE FOCUSED OF THESE
HOTSPOTS, SO WHEN YOU'RE
LOOKING AT PIONEER SQUARE AND
THE CAPITOL HILL AND THE CID
AND RAINIER AND ALL OF THESE
AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
SHOOTINGS, WE ARE MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE
IN THOSE AREAS AND A VISIBLE
PRESENCE, WE HAVE HAD TO DO
TASK FORCE CALLOUTS, SO WE HAVE
HAD TO TAKE SOME OF OUR PATROL
RESOURCES, AT AROUND 10:00 PM
ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS,
MOVE THEM TO THOSE HOTSPOTS,
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
PLAYING A VISIBLE PRESENCE, AND
FOR WEEKS WE SAW THE NUMBER OF
SHOOTINGS AND SHOTS FIRED BE
DRASTICALLY REDUCED, THIS LAST
WEEKEND, WE SAW IT SPIKE FOR
FRIDAY NIGHT, BUT ONE OF THE
CASES THAT RESULTED IN SEVERAL
ARRESTS, WE HAD THAT OCCURRED
RIGHT OUT OF THE NIGHTCLUB,
WHERE SHOTS WERE FIRED,
OFFICERS WERE YOU KNOW, HEARD
THE INCIDENT, WERE ABLE TO SEE
THE VEHICLE, STOP THE VEHICLE,
AND MAKE SEVERAL ARRESTS OUT OF
THAT AND RECOVER SEVERAL GUNS,
SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO BE A VISIBLE
PRESIDENT -- A VISIBLE PRESENCE
EVEN WITH ALL OF THE
VACCINATION, WITH ALL OF THE
COVID-19 -- ISSUES THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, FROM
ERIKA BURNETT.
POLICE UNION LEADERSHIP HAS
SUGGESTED THAT THE VACCINE
MANDATE WILL LEAD TO MASSIVE
ATTRITION, DO YOU OPPOSE THE
MANDATE FOR SPT, SPD OFFICERS
OR IN GENERAL, AND HOW WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE
RESOLVED?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I SUPPORT THE VACCINE MANDATE,
I THINK THAT WE NOW HAVE, AND
THERE IS SOME NEW THINGS THAT
HAVE HAPPENED, WE HAVE FDA
APPROVAL OF THE VACCINE, AND SO
THAT SHOULD GIVE FOLKS WHO ARE
HESITATING, THAT SHOULD GIVE
THEM MORE CONFIDENCE.
I HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED
FOR MONTHS, I HOPE THAT ALL OF
OUR OFFICERS GET FULLY
VACCINATED, I KNOW MANY ARE, I
KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE JOB
BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS PART OF
JOINING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY
TO SHOW THAT WE CARE, IS ALL
GETTING VACCINATED TO KEEP
EVERYBODY SAFE.
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST
VULNERABLE.
SO I AM HOPEFUL THAT BECAUSE OF
THE FDA APPROVAL, THAT WILL
HELP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL
QUESTION.
IT IS FROM CARA, FROM, TV.
IT IS FOR CHIEF DIAZ.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING SPD NEEDS
RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD ALLOW
NEIGHBORS TO FEEL SAFER AND
SHOW PUBLIC SAFETY AS BEING
MADE A PRIORITY?
>> I AM GOING TO ADD, I WILL
MAKE IT 2 THINGS.
THE FIRST THING IS, IS WE ARE
TAKING SURE THAT WE ARE A
VISIBLE PRESENCE, AND THAT WE
ARE PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ADDRESSING ALL OF THE ISSUES
THAT ARE GOING ON, REGARDING TO
GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE IN
VERY SPECIFI AREAS DURING THE
SPECIFIC TIMES THAT IT IS
OCCURRING.
AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
DO THAT.
AND THE SECOND PORTION IS THAT
WE REALLY NEED A LOT OF, I MEAN
INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO DO, AND
INTERVENTIONS, AND MANY OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING, WE
ARE NOT JUST SEEING AN INCREASE
IN GUN VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTH, WE
ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN GUN
VIOLENCE AMONG OUR HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS, IN ROAD RAGE IS,
SO WE NEED INVESTMENTS WITH
MENTAL HEALTH, WE NEED
INVESTMENTS IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT AREAS, THAT AREN'T
JUST NECESSARILY WHERE POLICE
CAN TAKE THAT VISIBLE PRESENCE,
BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THOSE
DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS, AND NOT
NECESSARILY THE YOUTH ARE GANG-
RELATED TYPE SHOOTINGS, I THINK
IT IS REALLY 2 THINGS, WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING AND WE HAVE THE
AMOUNT OF OFFICERS THAT IS
NEEDED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY
ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY, BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CONTINUING THOSE LONG-TERM
EFFORTS, TO PREVENT THOSE
FUTURE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
WITH THAT, WE WILL BE ATTENDING
TODAY'S MEDIA AVAILABILITY, IF
WE DID NOT ADDRESS YOUR
QUESTION, PLEASE DO FEEL FREE
TO SEND THAT OVER TO EITHER
MYSELF, KAMARIA HIGHTOWER, OR
AMY CLANCY AT SPD OR LILY,
KAMARIA HIGHTOWER AT HSD.
ALL OF OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE
INCLUDED IN TODAY'S MEDIA
ADVISORY.
FEEL FREE JUST TO REACH OUT TO
ME AND OF COURSE I WILL FILTER
IT DOWN THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US TODAY, AND WE WILL BE
TALKING TO YOU AGAIN SOON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU.