Last week, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Seattle Chief of Police Carmen Best announced that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and other City departments will deploy additional resources to improve public safety and address matters of community maintenance. Based on community feedback, and data analysis, the City will launch a pre-summer (through May) emphasis program in seven neighborhoods across Seattle, including Fremont.
The seven neighborhoods to get public safety emphasis in May are:
- Downtown, near the Third Avenue corridor around Pike & Pine
- SoDo
- South Park
- Georgetown
- Pioneer Square
- Ballard
- and Fremont
In addition to providing more focused policing, City departments will address maintenance needs, such as replacing streetlights, trimming trees, removing graffiti, and removing debris including illegally dumped items. Seattle departments of Public Utilities, City Light, Transportation, Neighborhoods, Parks & Recreation, and Economic Development will also emphasize their work here – along with the Human Services Department which aids people in need by connecting them with resources, including those in homeless encampments.
This emphasis work is in no way intended or expected to reduce regular SPD and City of Seattle operations, including police patrols and criminal investigations. “We have a responsibility to promote the vitality and safety of our neighborhoods and communities. We will continue to advance livability and public safety through data-driven, proactive strategies and listening to the community,” Mayor Durkan said. Police Chief Best explained, “Regular operations and criminal investigations will continue throughout the city. We hope that added police resources, partnered with enhanced services from other City departments, will make a positive impact for our businesses and residents.”
For more information about this program, read the Press Release (dated April 30th,) from the Office of the Mayor. Also, look for multi-disciplinary teams attempting to engage with our community, and neighborhood walks where they will identify priorities to address.