Seattle Forward

The Hard Work of Innovative Policing

Two weeks ago I spoke on a panel at a White House forum on innovations in policing about Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. The LEAD program allows the police and prosecutors to redirect nonviolent, low level adult offenders away from the criminal justice system and to social service providers.

I’m a big fan of necessary innovations like LEAD as we seek on many fronts to address the failure of mass incarceration in this country. You may have heard this statistic: the United States accounts for 5% of the world’s population, but we hold 25% of the world’s prisoners. Our country incarcerates far too many people (including juveniles) and perpetuates a criminal justice system that punishes people of color at a much higher rate than their white counterparts. We’ve even shamefully nurtured a for-profit prison industry that now applies political pressure to achieve higher levels of detention and incarceration.

It’s just wrong to put individuals addicted to alcohol and drugs or suffering through a mental health crisis in prison if their crimes are low-level, non-violent, petty offenses. Unfortunately, as a society, we do it far too often.

LEAD is one response to this tragic reality.

New Police Command Staff

Chief O’Toole has taken a significant step toward rebuilding the public’s trust and confidence in our Police Department in the hiring of four new assistant police chiefs and a new chief technology officer.

It’s a bold step. A very correct step.

In December 2013, Councilmember Harrell and I introduced legislation lifting a 35-year ban on the hiring of police commanders from outside the police department.

We introduced that ordinance because we wanted the Chief of Police to be able to recruit the best possible candidates for these very important positions – from inside or outside the department. Lifting the ban on external candidates was a necessary legislative step toward the reform we want . . . reform that results in effective policing, fair and professional policing, constitutional policing.

Chief O’Toole has wisely balanced knowledgeable inside candidates with proven leaders from other departments and the private sector.

My colleagues and I are convinced that with strong leadership at the top, our police officers will meet our expectations. They will serve with distinction. They will protect our neighborhoods, our people and property.

There is much yet to do, but with Chief O’Toole’s leadership, with the leadership of these new commanders, I believe we will continue to make great progress toward the policing we all want for Seattle.

January City Inside/Out: Council Edition

Earlier this month I joined Councilmembers Bagshaw and O'Brien and host Brian Callanan on the Seattle Channel to talk about Bertha, encampments and public safety issues. You can watch the video below.

The False Promise of the Death Penalty

Two high-profile death penalty trials are underway in King County Superior Court: the 2009 assassination of Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton and the 2007 Christmas Eve mass murders of three generations of the Anderson family in Carnation. Both crimes were horrific, senseless acts of hatred and violence that caused incredibly searing pain, suffering and loss for the victims’ families, friends, neighbors and the broader community.

But, the death penalty delivers nothing more than a false promise.

I was a Seattle police officer in the 1970s. I spent many nights in my patrol car doing exactly what Officer Brenton and his partner, Britt Sweeney, were doing when they were shot. As a Councilmember, I went to Harborview the night Officer Brenton died. I spoke briefly with Officer Sweeney. The targeted murder of Officer Brenton strikes a deep chord of grief within me. As a father of three and grandfather of two, the slaying of the Andersons does the same.

I want swift and certain justice delivered to their killers, but the death penalty won’t provide that swiftness or certainty.

Some people believe they are safer because of the death penalty; they’re not. 

Looking Outside for Assistant Police Chiefs

Earlier this week, Chief O’Toole announced that she is opening up the five assistant chief positions in the police department to a competitive application process. Within the department, members at the rank of lieutenant and above can apply. In an effort to attract more talent and enhance the competitive pool, she is also advertising the positions across the country.

Last January the City Council lifted a longstanding restriction on recruiting outside candidates via legislation sponsored by Councilmember Harrell and myself. As I wrote a year ago, achieving truly sustainable reform in the police department requires strong leadership.  The Department and the City cannot afford to exclude highly qualified candidates from consideration; the stakes are too high.

The Chief’s decision sends a signal to her officers that they deserve to be led by the best and the brightest. And if they want to rise to leadership themselves, they must perform at a high level. This call and challenge should energize and inspire our officers.

Looking Upstream

The following article was sent out in my City View Newsletter, which you can sign up to receive here.

President Obama announced a new initiative today—Invest in US—to raise awareness about the value of early learning. The president made the announcement at a White House Summit on Early Learning that Mayor Murray, King County Executive Dow Constantine and I are attending. 

The Summit includes a variety of national experts discussing the critical importance of child development in the first five years of life. What I’ve heard so far has reinforced my belief that we can overcome poverty and close the opportunity gap for our children of color. I make this point in a piece published earlier today by The Stranger. We know what to do. We must continue to build the political will to do it.

Reflections on Ferguson and Seattle

The following article was posted today on Crosscut.

It has been just over a week since the grand jury made its decision in the Ferguson case, my hope is that we can soon get beyond the conflicting evidence presented to the jurors and focus on the undeniable and powerful subtext that permeates this story. Understanding this subtext holds the key to the change I believe we all want to see. We must also identify specific actions that will contribute to this change or risk losing an opportunity to move forward.

Among African Americans, tension and conflict with the police is deeply rooted in decades of mistrust and weariness over police misconduct, corruption and persistent crime in many neighborhoods. It is a relationship that is profoundly troubled and, as we have seen, all too often leads to tragic consequences.

Tragic for black men and boys who are arrested and imprisoned or killed by police at a disproportionate rate. Tragic for black families who often live in neighborhoods with high rates of crime and who urgently desire effective police services. Tragic for entire cities that must carry the moral and monetary costs of this reality.

How did we get here? And, looking forward, what can we do to change it?

Night Out Against Crime

Tomorrow night is the annual Night Out Against Crime, where block parties around the city bring neighbors together and strengthen community efforts to prevent crime. The police department reports that more than 1,400 neighborhood groups organized for Night Out last year.

You can register or see where there are events in your neighborhood here. 

City Inside/Out: Police, City Light and Marijuana

This month's Council edition of the Seattle Channel's City Inside/Out is now online. Councilmembers Godden, Licata and I talked about the police department, City Light, and marijuana with host Brian Callanan. Take a look below:

Two Vigils

Last night at 7 p.m. there were two simultaneous prayer vigils for victims of gun violence, one a quick response to yesterday’s tragedy at Seattle Pacific University and one in the Central District for the two young men—Dwone Anderson-Young and Ahmed Said—murdered on June 1 at 29^th Avenue South and South King Street. The Mayor and I went to SPU’s campus to support our police officers and firefighters and the students and staff of the university and then traveled to the vigil in the Central District.

As an elected official I have been to several of these vigils over the years to show the City’s support for the victims and their communities. Never have I had to face a choice about which vigil to go to.

Two vigils for victims of gun violence is two too many.