Message from the Chief - My letter to officers on the death of George Floyd.

Like you, I was shocked and horrified this week by video of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Officer. I serve with honor, in an honorable profession filled with men and women working hard every day to do the right thing. I believe in justice and standing for what is right. No one is above the law.

This week, I sent the following letter to all employees of the Seattle Police Department reminding them of their duty to our community and of how far we’ve come as a department.

To the Men and Women of the Seattle Police Department: 

I wanted to take a moment to address the tragic murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department officer.

In the video, we hear Mr. Floyd’s repeated calls for help.  We hear him say over and over again that he cannot breathe. 

The video is upsetting, disappointing, and infuriating. It does not show the policing we know. Policing is an honorable profession filled with honorable public servants. We are committed to protecting life and serving the community.  

Because of the Seattle Police Department’s high level of training, our commitment to de-escalation, and our track record of limiting the use of force, I have confidence that something like this would not occur in our city. 

Especially troubling about the video, was the officers who stood by while Mr. Floyd called for help. 

As a police officer, you have a sworn duty to uphold the law and do what is right. We prioritize the sanctity of life in every situation.  

If you see a co-worker doing something that is unsafe, out of policy, unacceptable, or illegal, you need to act. This goes beyond reporting. If someone’s life is unnecessarily in danger, it is your responsibility to intervene. 

We each have a right to go home at the end of the day, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that others enjoy that same right. We must hold ourselves accountable if we are to maintain the trust of the community who grants us the privilege to serve them.  

I know it can be challenging to see these incidents, even when they do not happen here. You all should be proud of how we provide police services here in Seattle.  

Thank you for all that you do, every day. Stay safe.  

Carmen Best 

Police Work Continues

Even midst a pandemic, SPD officers are still focused on doing day-to-day work and ongoing operations to disrupt the flow of harmful narcotics fueling crime and damaging our communities.

In once recent case on May 27th, West Precinct officers recovered a large amount of crack cocaine while checking on an unresponsive man in a tent near the 1000 block of Weller Street.

Officers were eventually able to rouse the man, and found 45 grams of crack cocaine, as well as five grams of heroin and three grams of methamphetamine and a stolen handgun inside the tent.

SPD’s Narcotics Unit also conducted an operation on a heroin trafficker working between Pierce County and Seattle earlier this month.

Detectives served several warrants in Tacoma and seized two handguns, thousands of dollars in cash, 147 grams of heroin, 35 grams of MDMA and 16 grams of mushrooms.

Criminals Exploiting COVID-19 To Commit Unemployment Fraud

City, State and Federal law enforcement are currently investigating a widespread fraud campaign in which victims’ identities are being used to file false unemployment claims. 

Victims, who have not filed unemployment claims, have received notification from their employer’s Human Resources department, or the Washington State Employment Securities Department, indicating an unemployment claim has been filed on their behalf.

SPD’s cyber-crime investigators have compiled a list of recommendations and actions for anyone who knows, or believes, they are a victim of unemployment fraud.

Update on Consent Decree

After Decade of Reform Efforts, City, DOJ Ask Court to End Consent Decree

After a decade of reform efforts in the Seattle Police Department, the City of Seattle and Department of Justice have asked a federal court to end the department’s consent decree.

You can read more about the legal motion, and the department’s sustainment plan, on the SPD Blotter.

Crime Prevention Tip

Help Put the Brakes on Auto Thieves

Auto thefts have trended downward over the last month after spiking during the early stages of Washington’s Stay-at-Home order, but they’re still higher than we’d like to see.

Our department’s crime analysts have found the most frequently stolen vehicles are:

Subaru Legacy (1995 to 1999), Honda Civic (pre-2001), Honda Accord (1994 to 1997), Honda CRV (pre-2002), and Toyota Camry (pre-2000).

Please take a moment to visit our auto theft prevention page to learn what you can do to make your vehicle a less-appealing target for thieves. And here’s what you can do if your vehicle does go missing.

City of Seattle Launches Seattle Together Initiative

The City of Seattle has launched the Seattle Together initiative, which is designed to celebrate ideas, share resources and events, and connect community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Seattle Together initiative asks community members to amplify stories of good work and resiliency by residents, elevate resources and share best practices, and build relationships as Seattle residents continue to follow the statewide “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order and public health physical distancing guidance.