Police and Public Safety

The Seattle Police Department hired a cop with a record of reckless driving who went on to kill Jaahnavi Kandula while driving recklessly. However, instead of tightening hiring protocols, Seattle officials are looking to loosen them further.

Facing an uptick in gun violence, County officials are rolling out a 100-day campaign aimed at raising awareness, boosting gun violence prevention programs, and piloting new interventions.

Seattle's civilian safety department will quadruple in size by hiring 18 additional responders and 3 supervisors. For now, the CARE department is handling a tiny fraction of 911 calls, but that could change in time.

Since Ann Davison took over as Seattle City Attorney, the office has been much slower in prosecuting drunk drivers. While her office blames the state toxicology lab, it appears her office is not making DUI cases a priority.

A string of school shootings has officials scrambling for answers. Mayor Bruce Harrell and County Executive Dow Constantine are pledging a surge in resources including mental health supports. But will it be enough?

Mayor Bruce Harrell has dropped acoustic gunshot locator technology from his proposal to beef up surveillance of Seattle residents. The expansion of automated license plate readers, cameras, and real-time crime center software has continued to draw criticism from groups focused on privacy and racial equity.

Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is out as the allegations against him pile up. Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Sue Rahr would be his interim replacement. Diaz faces numerous investigations for an alleged pattern of gender and racial discrimination in his office and sexual harassment.

Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes dives into why lower speeds limits are good society and what the best speed limits are for cities....