This weekend’s Ballard Food Festival – a 51-year-old Seattle tradition – expected to draw 75,000 over two and a half days this year, and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) is proud to be a part of the festivities. Besides food, fun, music, lemonade, and community activities, attendees of all ages… [ Keep reading ]
On July 7, Seattle Police Officer German Barreto and Detective Brian Pritchard visited a local school summer camp as part of “Community Helpers” week, meeting with children ages 1 to 6 to talk about police work and community safety. The officers joined campers in a classroom setting, where they discussed… [ 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 are investigating an assault involving a large firework that seriously injured a man late Monday night in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. At 11:55p.m., officers responded to a report of a possible shooting in a parking lot near 9th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. They found a 23-year-old man… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Police Harbor Unit officers assisted in fighting a major fire on Lake Union during rush hour Wednesday. Just after 4:20 p.m. 911 dispatchers received multiple calls reporting the fire in the 2100 block of Westlake Avenue North. SPD Harbor Unit team members learned about the destruction firsthand – they… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle police arrested a 38-year-old man who lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood after he admitted to possessing and distributing thousands of files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) using several devices. The SPD Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received dozens of CyberTips from the National Center for Missing… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle police arrested a 33-year-old suspect early Friday morning after he fired a shot at officers, ran away and jumped into the water near Pritchard Island Beach and the Atlantic City Boat Ramp in South Seattle. Officers were first called to the 8400 block of 55th Avenue South on June… [ Keep reading ]
A 59-year-old man was arrested for a series of threatening phone calls made to staff at a private school in the 100 block of North 79th Street Tuesday morning. On June 17 at about 9:37 a.m., staff members called 911 to report that a man they knew had made repeated aggressive… [ 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 ]
On a sun-drenched Saturday, June 14, tens of thousands of Seattleites peacefully gathered at Cal Anderson Park and marched through the city to the Seattle Center for a demonstration. The atmosphere was one of determination, punctuated by the rustle of handmade signs and the murmur of anticipation. As the crowd… [ Keep reading ]
