Take CPC's survey on police accountability
As we engage in advocacy on the next SPOG contract, we’d like to gain a baseline understanding of what community members know and believe about police accountability. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete our survey to the best of your ability. Reach out to OCPC@seattle.gov if you need assistance or have questions.
Welcome to the CPC team, Linnea!
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In staff news, we are happy to welcome our newest employee to the team today as our Policy Director, Linnea Lassiter! Linnea is an accomplished policy analyst with extensive experience in shaping and implementing impactful public policies at all levels of government primarily in the areas of criminal justice and social justice, as well as public benefits, tax, employment, and racial justice.
She gained much of her education credentials, policy experience, and commitment to racial justice and community engagement from having lived and worked in both Seattle and Washington, D.C. Linnea is excited to have recently returned to her hometown of Seattle, after over a decade in D.C. Welcome to the team, Linnea!
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Mayor Harrell announces next steps on proposed Crime Prevention Technology pilot
At its March 20, 2024 Bi-Monthly Meeting, CPC Commissioners voted on this statement outlining proposed policy guidelines for city decision-makers to consider when reviewing SPD’s Technology Assisted Crime Prevention Pilot.
On May 31, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the next plans for the pilot, which is to deploy closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in three targeted neighborhoods and also introduce new real-time crime center (RTCC) technologies. As part of this pilot, the originally proposed acoustic gunshot locator system (AGLS) will not advance.
Councilmembers send inquiry to SPD leadership regarding Emergency Vehicle Operations Policy
On May 22, Seattle City Councilmembers and Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle and Vice Chair Rob Saka sent this letter to SPD Chief of Police to inquire about its Emergency Vehicle Operations Policy, particularly around training and risk management.
Pointing to SPD vehicle collisions in 2018 and 2023, including the tragic death of Jaahnavi Kandula, the Councilmembers seek clarification from SPD on what’s included in the policy and why officers didn’t follow procedure in these cases. Additional questions probe training resources, certification, what SPD is doing in response, vehicle speed limits, driving environment/conditions, siren/signal usage, dispatch, and more.
CPC sent our own letter with recommendations to SPD on April 30 and is closely tracking this issue and will include future updates here in this newsletter as information evolves.
Accountability partner collaboration on complainant impact statements
The Office of Police Accountability (OPA) and CPC collaborated to develop a complainant impact statement process as an avenue for procedural justice in OPA investigations. Complainant impact statements are optional written statements given by those who have filed an OPA complaint. The statements provide the Chief of Police with a firsthand account of the named employee’s impact on the complainant to help the Chief weigh issues of credibility in the complaint process.
Complainants who can partake in this process are non-SPD employees, and are either the impacted person, or have a direct relationship with the impacted person who was the original complainant. To learn more, watch OPA’s presentation at CPC’s June 5 meeting and view their slides on the topic.
Interim SPD Chief Sue Rahr attends CPC meeting
On June 5, we also welcomed Interim Chief Rahr for a greeting and introduction to the work that we do. Chief Rahr visited and took questions for about 25 minutes, where she touched on coming up to speed, listening to community, and working together with accountability partners to address goals, ensure constitutional policing, and foster safe communities. She stated that her top operational priority is to hire more police officers and reduce response times.
Commissioners asked the Chief about systemic culture issues, sexism, and racial discrimination that exist within the department and her plan to address them. To hear the answer, watch Chief Rahr’s full comments.
Presentation from the Somali Independent Business Alliance
 CPC’s Community Engagement team has been closely engaged and working with the Somali Independent Business Alliance (SIBA), who joined our June 5 meeting to share their priorities for public safety and community well-being.
SIBA is dedicated to fostering community empowerment and cultural preservation among Somali and African American communities in Seattle. By providing resources, support, and advocacy, SIBA aims to improve the quality of life and promote social and economic opportunities for its members. They gave an impactful presentation sharing their goals and asking for the CPC’s partnership to help local business owners thrive and stay safe. View their slides and watch their presentation.
Check out these three recent events that CPC community engagement staff attended. We hope to see you out in community soon!
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Leschi Community Council Meeting
CPC Community Engagement Director Felicia Cross attended the Leschi Community Council Meeting on a beautiful Seattle evening recently for engaging, conversational, informative, and inclusive interactions with the community. Check out the photo and follow us on LinkedIn for more.
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RBAC Annual Fundraising Luncheon
CPC Community Engagement staff attended the Rainier Beach Action Coalition (RBAC) Annual Fundraising Luncheon to hear inspiring stories, eat delicious food, and learn about ongoing initiatives. A great group representing many different communities—all coming together to support RBAC. Find more photos and follow us on Facebook for more.
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Korean Fried Chicken with SPD
In May, we enjoyed having delicious Kkokio Korean Fried Chicken at an open house hosted by SPD. View these pictures and follow us on X for more.
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