Community Weighs In on School Safety and Police Presence

As the conversation around safety in Seattle schools continues, the Community Police Commission is actively engaging to ensure that community voices are centered in decisions that impact students, families, and educators. The CPC is engaged in understanding community perspectives on Seattle Public School’s proposal to return School Engagement Officers (SEOs – formerly referred to as SROs) to Garfield High School, as proposed in a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). On July 17, CPC staff and Co-Chair Arlecier West attended a community forum at Garfield to hear directly from students, families, educators, and neighbors about the draft MOU. Feedback reflected a range of concerns and perspectives, including fears of youth criminalization, especially for students from historically over-policed or marginalized communities; questions about officer training and accountability; and a call for more student involvement in the decision. Some community members supported police presence near the school but questioned whether officers inside would improve safety or increase fear. This conversation is ongoing. The CPC is committed to uplifting community feedback and making space for those most impacted—especially BIPOC youth. If you are connected to Garfield, we want to hear from you. Share Your Feedback with the CPC

Policy in Action

The CPC Policy Team has been working closely with the CPC’s Legislative Workgroup to identify and advance the Commission’s 2026 legislative priorities. This collaborative process builds on our commitment to shaping policies that reflect community needs and promote public safety rooted in accountability and equity.

The CPC’s 2026 Legislative Priorities include:

• Traffic Safety for All
  • Reduces police stops for minor non-moving violations to prevent escalation, address racial disparities, and avoid penalizing poverty.
•  Independent Prosecutions when police actions result in death
  • Creates an independent prosecutor to review and investigate cases of policing that result in death, disproportionately affecting people of color. (The death of John T. Williams, an Indigenous man, (along with other incidents) led to federal oversight of SPD through the Consent Decree.
•  Civilian-Staffed Crisis Response
  • Supports city-run crisis teams like CARE, limits collective bargaining over crisis response, and protects mental health privacy to improve service delivery.
•  Limiting Collective Bargaining Provisions on Accountability and Alternative Crisis Response
  • Supporting legislation that will provide key accountability and crisis response measures can’t be bargained away in police union contracts.
•  Limiting the Scope of Surveillance Data Collected and Retained
  • Limits the scope of surveillance data collected and retained by government entities, and restricts the disclosure of such data to out-of-state entities, especially when such data could be used to enforce laws that conflict with Washington State laws and protected information including regarding immigration information and First Amendment activities.

Through this work, the CPC aims to ensure that community priorities remain central as public safety policy continues to evolve across Washington state.

Community Spotlight

Fathers and Sons Together (FAST) is a community-rooted organization empowering BIPOC, Black, and Brown fathers, sons, and families through intergenerational mentorship, family engagement, leadership development, and education. Their mission is to uplift and reimagine the role of fathers and families in community life by disrupting cycles of disengagement and violence with hope, healing, and legacy building. Their EDSS Model—Empower, Develop, Sustain, Strengthen—guides every part of their work.

FAST believes real public safety begins with care, healing, and accountability. Through mentorship, rites of passage, restorative practices, and culturally affirming programs like Next Generation Level Up, they equip youth and families with tools to thrive, lead, and build stronger communities.

Community members can support FAST by attending events like the IMPACT Community Safety Summit and Walk for Change on Saturday, September 13 at Rainier Beach Community Center. Volunteers, partners, and donors are always welcome. Follow @fastfathersandsonstogether on Instagram and Facebook.

Learn More About FAST

Watch the Last CPC Meeting

Watch the June 2nd CPC Meeting

Connecting with Community

July was a powerful month for the Community Engagement Team! From vibrant festivals to heartfelt meetings and tabling events, we’ve been out connecting, listening, and building relationships across Seattle.

At every event, we showed up not just to share who we are, but to hear your stories, concerns, and hopes for a safer city. Your trust and openness help shape real change.

Because of you, we’ve been able to lift up community voices and make meaningful, systemic recommendations to improve police practices and policies. This is more than engagement. It is partnership. Thank you for being on this journey with us.

Here’s a look at our Community Engagement team in action across Seattle:

Mario, Mergitu, Taryn, Eci, and Masooma with CPC Co-Chair Arlecier West at the Garfield High School Community Forum
Garfield High School Community Forum | July 17, 2025

Mario and Mergitu connecting with community members at the One Love Festival
One Love Festival | July 20, 2025

CPC staff with a members of Seattle’s Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department at the 911 Call Center
911 Call Center | July 16, 2025

CPC staff Mario, Eci, and Mergitu with Commissioners Nsimbi and Mullens at the Mayor’s Safer Seattle Community Forum
Safer Seattle Community Forum | July 10, 2025

Join Our Next Meeting

Join our next CPC Monthly Meeting tomorrow, August 6, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Seattle City Hall, Room 370, or join virtually via Webex.

Learn More About Our Next CPC Meeting