The East Precinct is home to one of Seattle’s most diverse and vibrant communities, including many LGBTQ+ residents and small businesses. I am committed to ensuring the precinct’s leadership reflects our shared values of respect, inclusion, and fairness. I want to first acknowledge the concerns expressed by community members regarding… [ Keep reading ]
For more than 30 years, the loved ones of Tanya Marie Frazier have wanted nothing more than answers. Tanya, who was 14 years old, vanished on July 18, 1994. She had just left a summer school class at Meany Middle School when she went missing. Her body was found by… [ Keep reading ]
Update 11/5/25 6:00PM Under state law (RCW 10.114.011 and WAC 139-12), the release of information relating to the 10/30 officer-involved shooting investigation is being managed by the King County Sheriff’s Office, which is serving as an Independent Investigative Team (IIT) for SPD. The King County Sheriff’s Office Independent Investigations Team… [ Keep reading ]
The Seattle Police Department wishes Seattle residents a Happy Halloween and offers these safety tips as little ghouls and goblins prepare to roam from home to home. The weather is going to be rainy and dark, perfect weather for a haunting, but terrible for the little monsters to be easily… [ Keep reading ]
SEATTLE – Mayor Bruce Harrell and Police Chief Shon Barnes today celebrated a major police recruitment milestone – the Seattle Police Department (SPD) is on track to hire its 150th officer in 2025 in the coming weeks. This means that SPD will hire more officers in 2025 than in 2024… [ Keep reading ]
Police Chief Shon Barnes declared an Aurora Avenue North motel to be a chronic nuisance property following a series of violent incidents, drug dealing, and human trafficking activity. Last week, the City sent the chronic nuisance declaration letter to Madilyn Investments, owner of the Oaktree Motel, located at 8900 Aurora… [ Keep reading ]
On July 9, 2025, Seattle started a new chapter for public safety when Chief Shon F. Barnes was sworn in as the city’s 38th police chief before a crowd of more than 200 police officers, elected officials, and community members. Held at Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum, the ceremony was… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Police will keep main dispatch channels open, but will enhance encryption on radio channels used for tactical communications and sharing sensitive and personal information. In Quarter 2 of 2026, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) will enhance encryption to radios used for tactical communications among our personnel. Encrypting radio communications… [ Keep reading ]
Eight people were arrested during dueling demonstrations in Downtown Seattle on Tuesday. Officers arrested eight individuals for assault. No injuries were reported. Two opposing groups gathered along 4th Avenue. Streets around the dueling demonstrations were shut down for several hours, but reopened just before 8 p.m.
Strengthening Public Safety Through Partnership and Action Seattle’s safety is a shared responsibility, and I am grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Mayor’s Office, and our City Councilmembers as we work to make our city safer for everyone. In response to recent incidents and ongoing concerns, the… [ Keep reading ]
