In East Precinct community meeting, residents flag traffic and mental health as the citys top safety concerns, SPD blames staffing shortages

In a recent community meeting, residents of Seattle's East Precinct highlighted traffic safety and mental health as critical concerns, reflecting the findings of the 2024 Seattle Public Safety Survey. Attendees voiced their frustrations about the SPD's handling of behavioral health crises, with officers suggesting they call 911 and wait for staffing levels to improve. David Sullivan, a crisis intervention officer, emphasized the department's increased training in behavioral health response and the establishment of a new Crisis Care Center in Kirkland. Captain Jung Trinh urged residents to report incidents like homelessness to 911 to facilitate appropriate resource allocation. Mayor Bruce Harrell and Chief Shon Barnes are focused on enhancing SPD's ranks and morale, as the number of fully trained officers fell to 930, the lowest since 1991.

The SPD is targeting the hiring of 150 new officers to address staffing shortages and improve community safety. Recent community feedback indicates a growing concern over dangerous driving behavior, which some attendees linked to decreased traffic enforcement. SPD's Brandon Jones noted a rise in applicants, suggesting that improved pay is attracting more recruits from diverse backgrounds.