Sarey was unarmed and reportedly going through some type of crisis. He was allegedly throwing garbage, banging on store windows and kicking cars in an Auburn shopping area.

Nelson reported he failed to comply with his arrest, leading to a physical altercation where the officer was seen on surveillance footage punching Sarey numerous times in the head and upper body.

Past coverage: Auburn police officer on trial for murder, opening statements begin

Nelson then drew his gun and shot Sarey in the torso. After Sarey fell onto the pavement, Nelson attempted to fire his gun again, before it jammed. Video then shows Nelson clearing the round, racking another bullet and firing a second shot into Sarey’s head.

Nelson was then put on trial for murder. Jurors listened to five weeks of testimony. They heard from a number of witnesses, including experts on everything from police training to video interpretation.

On Monday, Nelson and his attorney rested their case without calling Nelson to the stand to testify in his own defense.

Thursday morning closing arguments got underway. It was one last opportunity to convince jurors and to show or remove reasonable doubt.

“The issue here is whether Officer Nelson had the right to defend himself when Mr. Sarey grabbed for his firearm and ripped his knife off his uniform,” Nelson’s attorney Emma Scanlan told the jury.

Local crime: Washington sex offender caught allegedly traveling to sexually assault teen

The prosecution claimed Sarey was not a threat, that he was unarmed, non-aggressive and never had control of the officer’s firearm or his knife. Prosecutor Angelo Calfo said Nelson made a choice.

“Time distance and cover. He could have kept distance. He could have created distance. He could have used his training. And that scene we saw where the defendant is sitting next to Mr. Sarey who is bleeding to death, would not have happened,” Calfo said.

Judge Nicole Gaines Phelps dismissed two jurors. Twelve were initially seated to hear the case, along with two alternates. The alternates were excused, but their service is not complete until a verdict is reached.

Jury deliberations begin first thing Friday morning.

You can read more of James Lynch’s stories here. Follow James on X, or email him here.

Follow @James_KIRORadio

There are many ways to celebrate the summer solstice

Friday in Gig Harbor is the fourth annual Gig Harbor Make Music celebration. This summer solstice celebration will have concerts all over the place, on the streets, sidewalks and parks. The event is free and kicks off with a parade at noon. Get more details on Make Music Day’s website.

The Fremont Fair is back on Saturday and Sunday. This summer kick-off party will have a craft market, lots of local food, live music and of course the Fremont Solstice Parade. The parade starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and according to the event website, the parade will have over 60 community-based ensembles. More information and the parade route is available on Fremont Fair’s website.

Celebration awaits: Sunshine, warm temps for Seattle’s summer solstice

This weekend is one of only two times a year the Pacific Bonsai Museum stays open past 4 p.m. The Summer Bonsai Solistace celebration will feature group Taichi & Qigong demonstrations, food trucks, a sound bath and breathing demos and of course Bonsai. The event goes from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free, but a donation to the museum is encouraged.

Best women golfers are in Washington this weekend

The best women’s golfers in the world are here in Washington this weekend. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is underway and if you want to see some of the best in the world compete on the links, head to the Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish. The opening rounds have already happened but you can get details and tickets on KPMG Women’s PGA Championship’s website.

At Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood, it is Fairy Fest. Explore the gardens while taking part in fairy-themed family activities, art projects, live music and dancing, storytelling and lots more. Fairy Fest runs all Saturday and Sunday, you can get tickets and more details on Lakewold Gardens’ website.

The Festal program continues at the Seattle Center. This weekend, it is the Seattle Iranian Festival, celebrating Iranian culture and more with dances, a vocal performance from the Seattle Iranian Choir and other musical performances, a cooking demo and more. This is another free event and you can visit Seattle Center’s website for more details.

‘A necessary tool for community survival:’ Buskarama brings joyful melodies to Seattle

Capitol Hill hosts Pride March and Rally

Pride celebrations are continuing, and at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, there is the Pride March and Rally. This march is done in remembrance of Stonewall and in addition to the march, the event will have guest speakers, live music and the doggie drag costume contest. Things get started at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the march starting at noon. More information is available on Capitol Hill Pride Festival’s website.

Saturday at the Rainer Beach Community Center it is the 23rd Annual Atlantic Street Center’s Juneteenth celebration. There will be resources to learn more about Juneteenth and the various local organizations. There will also be live music, a wide variety of performances, vendors and free food, while supplies last. The fun starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Rainer Beach Community Center.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

The summer solstice is also the beginning of astronomical summer, more commonly called the start of the summer. After June 20, days will gradually get shorter heading to the autumn equinox in late September.

Previous coverage: Rain Monday, Summer solstice season in Seattle to follow

Throughout human history, many have observed the summer solstice with celebrations and rituals. For instance, ancient Greeks marked the solstice as the start of the New Year and started the one-month countdown to the opening of the Olympic Games, true to this day.

Ancient European pagans welcomed the solstice with bonfires amid hopes of a good fall harvest. Bonfires were also associated with magic, banishing evil spirits and often led maidens to future husbands.

Stonehenge in the south of England is aligned with the direction of sunrise on the summer solstice – one of many theories about the purpose of this megalith monument where thousands gather each year to commemorate the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Many Native Americans participated in solstice rituals still practiced today. For example, The Sioux perform a ceremonial Sundance while wearing symbolic colors.

Many still celebrate the summer solstice. Parades and festivals are the most common. In Northern Europe, bonfires are lit and homes are decorated with garlands. In parts of Scandinavia, people dance around Maypoles.

Seattle has one of the more free-spirited summer solstice parades in the country – the Fremont Solstice Parade. The 33rd annual parade is Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. More than 60 community-based ensembles are expected to be part of the parade starting from 3rd and Leary Way and finishing on North 35th Avenue near the Seattle Art Cars. In addition to the parade, two music stages of live local bands will be a part of the festivities, along with many booths with handmade goods and art, fair food and more.

From 2023: Will summer solstice feel like summer in Seattle?

The weather expected for Saturday’s parade will offer plenty of warm sunshine with high temperatures cracking the 80-degree mark. Sunscreen and other sun protective wear will be needed including wide-brimmed hats.

On Thursday’s summer solstice, all can celebrate the start of summer with the summer weather outlook offering a good chance of warmer and drier conditions into September – something many can also celebrate following a cool damp Father’s Day weekend.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. You can read more of Ted’s stories here and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter.

But the history behind Juneteenth is why so many people celebrate it. Juneteenth celebrates the day, June 19, 1865, when more than a quarter million slaves in south Texas learned the Civil War was over and they were free people. That day came two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Looking back: Celebrating Juneteenth 2024 and reflecting on local Black history

“I celebrate Juneteenth because it is actually a long overdue and unnecessary celebration. In that, we should have been free in 1863 and it took two-and-a-half-years for all of us to be acknowledged as free,” celebrant Whitney Mason told KIRO Newsradio.

Event organizer, Jerome Davis noted economic freedom.

“They were free from slavery and then put into poverty. That isn’t freedom,” Davis said. “This event is about true freedom, which I believe is economic freedom.”

Vendors offered mouth-watering food and drinks. Along with ice cream, jewelry, clothing and art. They served the crowd and supported each other.

“Just giving back to my community, supporting other vendors, seeing other black businesses grow and just being part of the community, man,” vendor Charles Davis said.

The event is hosted by Metro Parks Tacoma and WayOut Kids and goes until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

More than 8,000 people attended the celebration in 2023. Even more are expected this year, before the day is done.

You can read more of James Lynch’s stories here. Follow James on X, or email him here.

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That’s where we caught up with Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, president of the Black Heritage Society of Washington. These are lightly edited highlights from a live interview with Ms. Johnson-Toliver that was broadcast on “Seattle’s Morning News.”

Feliks Banel: It is a beautiful morning here at Jimi Hendrix Park, which is right next to the old Colman School along the south side of I-90 just west of the Mount Baker Tunnel. This is a historic location. The school was occupied 40 years ago (by activists) and became the Northwest African American Museum.

Today, there’s going to be a big event. The Africatown Community Land Trust is putting on eight hours of music and family entertainment as part of its Summer of Soul series. It’s free admission, but you have to register online.

Joining me here now is a great friend of “Seattle’s Morning News.” Stephanie Johnson-Toliver is president of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State. She’s here to give us a bigger picture perspective on Black history around our area on this Juneteenth holiday.

One of the things I’ve been wondering about is the Juneteenth holiday is not new by any stretch of the imagination, but its status as a federal holiday is really new – I think this is only the fourth national observation. So I was wondering, Stephanie, has this national holiday changed the work you do with the Black Heritage Society in terms of preserving and sharing African American history?

Stephanie Johnson-Toliver: It’s a beautiful day at Jimi Hendrix Park. The sun’s out, and the tradition and long celebration, and commemoration of Juneteenth, you’re right, is not new. It was first celebrated in 1890 in Washington State. Seattle residents jumped on a train from downtown Seattle and headed to Kent for a big celebration. But I think as a federal holiday, what it does is to bring more visibility to that struggle, the tenacity within the community to thrive, and gives us the opportunity to talk about understanding the liberation of Black people.

Banel: You and I have talked about this before, we wrestle with this notion. You have February as Black History Month, but really, every month is Black History Month. But I mean, it’s nice to have attention called to a specific ethnic group (at a specific time of year), but it’s also important for people to realize that Black history is just local history.

Johnson-Toliver: Yeah!

Banel: (With this in mind), what kind of projects is the Black Heritage Society of Washington working on lately?

Johnson-Toliver: Well, we’re really excited recently, mostly, about the things that are behind the scenes that people don’t see. We are really moving strongly toward digitizing our collection, a new collections management system, which is huge for us, that will allow us to share more broadly our collections. And so that work is very important for us right now. And then we’re working in community with other groups on oral histories, we understand the importance of collecting the stories of people, and documenting our history in Washington State. So that, along with other partnerships, our partnership with the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and others, this is something that we continue to do.

Banel: I love museums, but what I love more than museums are those parts of the community where something happened or somebody lived or something like that. And oftentimes, there’s not even interpretive signage, you just have to kind of have to know the information or look up it on an app or something (one example is an old house that was once home to Annie Smith’s restaurant, an eatery featured in the Green Book listings for Seattle). Do you have favorite places like that, that are “Black history spots” in the Seattle area, but that maybe aren’t known about by too many people?

Johnson-Toliver: I love that question. Because every day, I and others, pass these sites and locations and have no idea what happened there. So whether it was a place where there was joy or harm, or some sort of civic engagement, we may not know. So I’ve been thinking as we approach summer (that) the Madison Street corridor that was so important to the Black community. In the 1920s 30s and 40s, it was a vibrant business hub that celebrated the need in the community, the Black community, but also the livelihood and lifted that livelihood.

So there were sites along Madison. (One place) was a spot just across the street, kitty-corner from where the Cayton Corner Park is now happening at 19th and Madison. It was a gas station owned by a man by the name of Eugene Moszee who was a widely known activist in Seattle. And he was the victim of a police shootout on that corner. So it’s a huge story that created a controversy in Seattle. But not many people know that about (it) as they round that corner or pass that corner.

But the Madison Street corridor was also this place of joy, where the first Mardi Gras parade and festival (in Seattle) happened. It started at 21st and Madison and moved around and southward and then back to Union Street and then back up the street and was a joy in the community. And what it’s done is to create a new and vibrant participation and community that is led by Africatown, the Umoja Fest that happens during the summer, that coordinates with Seafair.

So there’s much, much good energy and civic engagement opportunities to remember about the Madison Street corridor again. I should say that Jackie Lawson, who was one of the co-founders of the Black Heritage Society, wrote a little booklet that was called “Let’s Take A Walk” that is now available at Seattle Public Library online. They digitized that little booklet that talks about the businesses and the people who lived there.

Banel: Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, president of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, thanks for joining us so early here in the morning at Colman School and Northwest African American Museum and Jimi Hendrix Park where a celebration (will be held).

Go online to summerofsoulseries.org to register for this event, all day, noon to 8:00 p.m. for the whole family, marking the Juneteenth holiday here in Seattle. I really appreciate the work that the Black Heritage Society has done. I’ve known you for more than thirty years. I think the way the organization — the programs you guys are providing now, and the archival stuff you’re saving — you guys are a tremendous asset to the community.

You can hear Feliks Banel every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien. Read more from Feliks here and subscribe to The Resident Historian Podcast here. If you have a story idea or a question about Northwest history, please email Feliks. You can also follow Feliks on X.

Follow @https://twitter.com/feliksbanel

Follow @https://twitter.com/feliksbanel

I just felt like we were missing the bigger picture.

Let me offer a little context: The holiday Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas announcing more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. While this historical moment was no secret, it was after the 2020 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officers and the subsequent protests when the government decided to make this a federal holiday. But other than a day off, my life didn’t change because of the holiday. I wasn’t sure how this was going to reduce racism.

Companies issued Black Lives Matter statements and hung banners. I never did hang a banner, but I did join some committees to do the work to make things better. Real work often happens behind the scenes. But that doesn’t mean we should hide behind them.

More from Angela Poe Russell: It’s time to reimagine public restrooms

For someone who has been the target of an attack based on identity, one symbol or declaration can mean everything.

The Pride flag for the LGBTQ+ community feels like welcome, love and support.

For other targeted groups, someone using their voice to speak up has a way of quieting the hateful noise. It’s like lighting one candle in a dark room. Why wouldn’t we want to do that?

The government’s role is to represent the people, while rejecting hate. And the people are diverse. While governments can face some legal risks, those challenges are not insurmountable.

And highlighting one vulnerable group doesn’t mean another doesn’t matter.

And it also doesn’t mean everyone has to like it.

Part of living in the United States is we coexist despite varying religions, political views and ethnicities.

More of Angela Poe Russell’s commentaries: What we can all learn from Harrison Butker’s shocking speech

But here is the key: While public displays are meaningful, the action that follows matters most. Questioning whether someone is homophobic or racist because they don’t raise a flag is just as concerning as assuming that someone who does is putting in the work. And that’s why we can’t get hung up on them.

Flags without followup is nothing more than a sugar high with a crash coming. So on this Juneteenth, I’ll look at this symbol of a holiday as an invitation to not only have gratitude for the gesture, but to keep engaging in actions that ultimately create change.

Angela Poe Russell fills in as a host on KIRO Newsradio and has been around Seattle media in different capacities for a number of years. Read more of Angela’s commentaries here and follow her on X here.

Rantz Exclusive: Former Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz announces he’s gay

Diaz told Rantz he became self-aware of his true sexual orientation about four years ago, roughly at the time he was appointed interim police chief by then-Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who has been very public about being gay for decades. There is no evidence that Diaz told Durkan about his thoughts on his sexuality at the time. Diaz became interim chief on August 11, 2020, following the sudden retirement of Chief Carmen Best. Diaz was named permanent chief by Harrell 25 months later in September 2022.

The 27-year veteran of the department stepped down as chief on May 30 following what the mayor described as a mutual agreement between the two. Harrell repeated himself several times when reporters asked if there was one event that “broke the camel’s back” leading to Diaz’s removal from his post.

“There seems to be this concern that there was an epiphany, or an incident occurred; it just wasn’t the case,” Harrell said on May 30 with Diaz standing behind him during a press conference. “This is just in the best interest of the city, and the interests of the city transcend everything else.”

Past coverage: Diaz to depart as SPD chief; Interim Sue Rahr to focus on cultural change

During Diaz’s interview with Rantz, he said it was a mutual decision with the mayor to step aside, and he told the mayor in February about his realization that he was gay.

“I had a good conversation with the mayor about four months ago, and he was very supportive. I was very appreciative of it,” Diaz said.

He claimed the mayor told him to “come out when you are ready; it should be your timeline.”

“I was very appreciative of that support,” Diaz said.

However, later in the interview, Diaz was asked by Rantz if anyone in the Harrell administration suggested he should not come out.

“That will be something that will be discussed at a later time,” he said.

Timeline of Diaz’s final moments as chief before his announcement

Between comments made by Harrell during the May 30 announcement and Diaz’s description of his final months as chief, a timeline can be developed that could shed light on the timing of Harrell’s decision to get Diaz to step down as chief and Diaz’s announcement that he was gay during a tumultuous time at SPD that left six people suing Diaz for various reasons.

In November 2023, SPD detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin, who is Black, filed a lawsuit alleging years of discrimination by SPD management. Diaz was the chief during the latter part of her current 43-year career at the department. Two months later, Captain Deanna Nollette filed a lawsuit against the city specifically naming Diaz’s alleged history of misogyny that held back women from leadership positions. Nollette had been an assistant chief under Chief Best but was demoted to captain by Diaz.

Report: Seattle mayor hires firm to probe SPD sexual harassment, discrimination claims

A month later, the Seattle Times published a story about a then-unreleased report by a Washington State University researcher and professor who spent three days in August 2023 interviewing members of the department, primarily women, about discrimination. The report had been completed and submitted to SPD in September 2023. The Times article forced SPD to release the report publicly on February 9. (A PDF of that report can be viewed here.)

The report describes incidents of alleged sexual harassment in the department and a culture discouraging women from advancing into leadership roles. It was around this time that Diaz said he told Harrell about his sexual orientation.

One former SPD ranking officer who did not want to be identified told me Diaz is “lying about being gay in order to protect himself in these lawsuits.” In late April, four female members of the department filed a tort claim with the city alleging Diaz engaged in predatory and discriminatory behavior. A few days later, Mayor Harrell hired an independent investigator to explore the tort allegations and matters involving the chief.

Then another lawsuit claiming discrimination was filed by a 30-year veteran of the department, Eric Greening, who is Black. The lawsuit alleges Diaz discriminated against female and BIPOC officers. Greening was a finalist with Diaz for chief in 2022. Diaz demoted Greening from assistant chief to captain in July 2023.

It was that same week when Harrell reached out to former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr to see if she was interested in being interim chief, as soon as Chief Diaz was to step down. Diaz did just that a week later, on May 30.

The comments Harrell made on that day when pressed by reporters about the timing of the decision to ask Diaz to step down may have new meaning in light of Diaz’s remarks in the Rantz interview. Harrell made the decision to let Diaz go before his independent investigator returned with their conclusions.

“We concluded as an executive team, and I don’t make these decisions in a vacuum; we do not need to wait for the termination of an investigation,” Harrell said on May 30. “We did not need to evaluate that.”

“I have a sense of urgency in creating the safe city that I demand we have; that’s why we didn’t wait,” Harrell added.

Diaz is one of 32 candidates to apply to be chief of Police for Austin, Texas, according to a report published Tuesday in the Austin American-Statesman. Another candidate is Kevin Hall, the assistant police chief of Tucson Arizona who was a finalist for Seattle police chief in 2022 along with Eric Greening. Diaz got the Seattle job.

In light of new information provided by the Diaz interview, I asked the mayor’s office if Diaz’s February conversation with the mayor had any bearing on asking Diaz to step down and the legal complications that could be represented in a sexual harassment case. We are waiting for an answer from the mayor’s office.

Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.

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I can’t imagine what it feels like to not be able to live your truth and I hope that Diaz feels like a burden has been lifted now that he’s no longer keeping that secret.

But that’s not his only struggle.

During that same time, Diaz has also been the embattled chief of a police department that is suffering from historically low staffing, poor morale, and scandals. In the past year, Diaz has been hit with lawsuits and claims from women who accuse him of sexual harassment, misconduct, misogyny and gender discrimination.

Report: Seattle mayor hires firm to probe SPD sexual harassment, discrimination claims

In his exclusive interview with “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, Diaz said he hasn’t had the opportunity to share his side of the story.  And he believes if people knew the truth about him being gay, we would understand how the allegations couldn’t also be true. (Even though he also acknowledged that being gay doesn’t mean you can’t be a misogynist).

What he said in this interview is mind-blowing to me! Diaz wants us to believe that all these women at SPD are making up their allegations because he is gay and wouldn’t have an interest in them. As far as everyone knew, until yesterday, he was married and has three children. What he was feeling internally doesn’t absolve him from what those women were feeling because of his external actions. The disclosure of his sexual orientation changes absolutely nothing about these cases. It also doesn’t explain some of the other issues that have been raised about his leadership style or the actions of others on his leadership team.

Rantz Exclusive: Former Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz announces he’s gay

So why did he only make this announcement to one talk show host instead of having a news conference? It’s clearly a tactic to control the message and to avoid any follow-up questions that other reporters will have. Diaz said his decision to step down was made together with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who opted not to wait for an independent investigation to be completed. The mayor named former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr as interim chief while Diaz will work on unspecified special assignments.

Rantz asked whether anyone in the mayor’s administration pressured him NOT to come out publicly. Diaz’s answer was vague, saying it’s something that will be discussed at a later time. He then went on to say he’s had an immense amount of support from the community but also predicts there will be people who will try to “de-gay” or “un-gay” him because it doesn’t fit their narrative.  Then he finally admitted that yes, he got pushback from the mayor’s office but he wants to move forward for his and the community’s sake.

More from Ursula Reutin: The outside investigation of SPD can’t come soon enough

Does this mean that Diaz will make a claim against the city or get a payout to leave? I hope not but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s in the pipeline. Seattle taxpayers are already on the hook for so many of SPD’s issues, so just add this to the list.

Diaz is now vying for the police chief job in Austin, Texas. He’s one of more than 30 candidates. Austin better do its homework.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m.- noon on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Follow @https://twitter.com/UrsulaKIROFM

Nelson is on trial for the 2019 shooting of Jesse Sarey. It happened as the two men struggled.

Nelson was attempting to arrest 26-year-old Jesse Sarey for disorderly conduct. Sarey was allegedly throwing garbage, banging on store windows and kicking vehicles in an Auburn shopping area.

Nelson reported he failed to comply with his arrest, leading to a physical altercation where the officer was seen on surveillance footage punching Sarey numerous times in the head and upper body. Nelson then drew his gun and shot Sarey in the torso. After Sarey fell onto the pavement, Nelson attempted to fire his gun again, before it jammed. Video then shows Nelson clearing the round, racking another bullet, and firing a second shot into Sarey’s head.

Past coverage: First-of-its-kind murder trial against Auburn police officer set for early 2022

Former Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist said the decision for Nelson not to testify means one of two options.

“Either the defense feels very confident about the prosecution’s weaknesses, or the defense is very worried about how their client will present. The defense has no obligation to put on testimony or evidence. The burden of proof is entirely on the prosecution,” Lindquist said.

The defense did call two witnesses — a records custodian and an expert on the holster. They had planned to call additional experts and the defendant but then announced this morning that they rested.

Opening statements: Auburn police officer on trial for murder

Nelson’s attorney told the jurors, at the start of the trial, they would hear Nelson testify.

“You’re going to hear from Officer Nelson. He has been waiting for five years to tell you what happened, and to explain what actually occurred,” Nelson’s attorney Emma Scanlan told the jury during her opening statement.

Lindquist called the strategy, risky.

“Jurors have different expectations for a police officer. Additionally, the defense told jurors in opening that the officer would explain what happened,” Lindquist said.

The schedule for closing arguments is being determined now and an update on that schedule is likely later this week, according to a spokesperson with the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

You can read more of James Lynch’s stories here. Follow James on X, or email him here.

Follow @James_KIRORadio

The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) investigates misconduct and critical use of force complaints made by members of the public and sheriff’s staff.

The office saw 282 complaints in 2023, a decline of 16% compared to 2022 and a decline of 34% compared to 2021. It also reported that 78% of those complaints were made by community members and 22% came internally from within the KCSO.

Of those complaints, the OLEO certified 68 for investigation, representing an increase of 87% from 2022.

The OLEO represents all areas of King County except incorporated cities that don’t contract with the sheriff’s department for police services.

In 2023, a quarter of the sheriff’s office sworn employees (186 of 736) received at least one complaint from a community member. Of the sworn employees, 15% received one allegation, another 6% had two allegations made against them and 4% received three. Nine deputies received three or more allegations in both 2022 and 2023.

Other news: King County to replace correctional facility with modern jail, behavioral health center

Among investigations closed in 2023, over three-quarters (79%) of fully investigated external allegations ended with a sheriff’s office employee being exonerated or a conclusion that the allegations were unfounded.

In total, 12% of investigated allegations were sustained, including those sustained in expedited investigations and resulting in performance-related training being given to an employee, per the report.

The office finished 2023 with findings in 250 cases, including some cases that started in the previous year.

Of the sustained complaints, nine involved a deputy performing below standard, six were for discourtesy, two were for violations of directives and one was for abuse of authority. The OLEO did not find evidence to sustain 72 complaints of excessive force or 20 complaints of discrimination.

Only two deputies were suspended for their actions. Others received additional training and verbal counseling.

The King County Council is expected to formally accept the report during Tuesday’s weekly meeting.

Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.

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It highlights King County Executive Dow Constantine’s urgent request for a new facility that prioritizes efficiency, safety and the treatment of behavioral health issues.

One of the major hurdles in the project is funding. The report stated preliminary cost estimates for a new facility exceed $1 billion. King County will likely need voter-approved bonds or levy lifts to finance the project. However, funding the preliminary design and siting work required for a ballot measure poses an additional challenge, given the financial constraints of the county’s general fund.

Other news: Designs unveiled for new I-5 bridge between Washington, Oregon

New King County jail would focus on behavioral health treatments

In the report, Constantine identified key features for a new facility, though detailed planning has yet to commence. The envisioned facility would house fewer beds, emphasizing diversion and behavioral health treatment. It would include a co-located behavioral health facility and provide appropriate medical and psychological care, preferably near Harborview Medical Center.

It would also accommodate all inmate classifications, including high-security, and maintain proximity to the King County Courthouse for in-custody court appearances, along with incorporating modern design standards for efficiency and improved environments for inmates and staff. Lastly, it would offer 24/7 intake, transfer, and release facilities.

The location of the current KCCF is also valuable, with potential for generating significant revenue through sale or lease, which could fund parts of the new facility.

The replacement of KCCF is part of a broader County Civic Campus Plan, which aims to address aging infrastructure, reduce energy use and integrate housing and retail spaces. Listening sessions with stakeholders have suggested that the new facility should have a therapeutic focus, better family meeting spaces and flexible design for future needs. The planning team aims to complete this phase by summer, with proposals expected in the 2025 budget.

More local news: Seattle City Council takes steps to expand use of automated license plate readers

King County Correctional Facility was outdated when it opened

The KCCF, which opened in 1986, was outdated from the start according to Constantine, requiring high staffing ratios and plagued by construction and security system issues. Today, it houses 744 individuals, many with medical and psychological needs, and receives 85% of the county’s bookings due to its central location in downtown Seattle and broader operating hours compared to the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC). The county does not intend to close the MRJC located in Kent.

Despite significant investments in recent years, the report stated facility remains inefficient and ill-suited for modern correctional needs. As the population it serves has shifted to include more individuals with behavioral health issues, the need for a facility that can provide adequate treatment has become apparent.

Constantine has pushed back the closure of the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC) to 2028.  The original goal to close the juvenile detention facility was 2024. The CCFJC opened in 2020 at a cost of $242 million and features a more rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice, containing modern classrooms, a library, a gym and a medical clinic along with juvenile courtrooms.

Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.

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Davin Steadman, co-founder of Buskarama, said it’s an opportunity for the community.

“My favorite thing about Buskarama was I saw the opportunities with my fellow craft people and fellow musicians and saw how the stories of how great the busking scene was at its peak in the 90s, the energy, and because of certain economic situations, the change from cash to credit, we’re not seeing the same level of participation,” he told KIRO Newsradio.

“I love the idea that we’re starting something new, that its past present, future and we’re honoring the past,” he added.

Weekend revelry roundup: Father’s Day, skating, yoga and more!

Jim Page is an icon in the busking community. He is someone who has spent his life not only telling his stories through song but fighting to give opportunities for those to do the same. He said events like Buskarama help spread the word.

“It’s the visibility and opens doors to possibilities to everybody, everybody from the 10-year-old drummer to someone my age who’s been doing it for a long time,” Page told KIRO Newsradio.

Busking is a thousand-year-old craft

He added that busking has been around for thousands of years.

“You come from the community, you perform to the community, for the good of the community and then you go back into the community,” Page said. “It’s a necessary tool for community survival.”

While busking is allowed at the market, there are still some factors those looking to perform need to consider, such as getting a license.

However, Stedman said once through the process, the market is a great place for artists to thrive.

“The Pike Place Market has been a musical opportunity for hundreds of musicians to hone their skills and be heard,” he said

Buskers navigate a cashless world

One thing buskers are figuring out? Navigating an increasingly cash-free world.

“I think people need to understand the buskers that are there next to you at Starbucks are there providing a service and they’re not necessarily associated with some of the struggles were trying to fix in our city,” Stedman said.

However, he also noted that a lot of buskers are “in a situation of desperation.”

“So how do we make it so regular people can go show up and be seen as artists and creators and find a way for people to feel comfortable giving their cards,” he added.

Page said lately they have been using a QR code for cashless payments.

‘Part of our legacy’: ‘Boys in the Boat’ rower’s family yearns to bring gold medal home

Busking comes down to ‘connection’

However, singer Hannah Rames worries about the barriers that phones create between the artist and the audience because the connection is key.

“That busking experience is so much connection. It is being in the moment with somebody it is saying what is on the mind in that moment, it’s reacting to what’s happening in that moment,” she told KIRO Newsradio.

If you are looking to try out busking, you can get more information on the license process at Pike Place Market’s website and once you do decide to get out and play?

“Don’t quit. Start learning the ropes,” Page said.

Find your next favorite artist this weekend at Buskarama, Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pike Place Market and don’t miss the busker showcase at the Rabbit Box at 7:30 p.m.

Contributing: Julia Dallas and Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

He said for the third year in a row, the city is participating in 100 Safe Days of Summer which is coordinated with the King County Traffic Safety Coalition’s Target Zero.

“The Traffic Safety Coalition, also known as the King County Target Zero Task Force, works collaboratively with traffic safety and community partners to create equitable traffic safety programs and plans to reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities in King County,” stated King County’s website.

Past coverage: Bellevue Police Department has had enough with traffic fatalities

Last weekend BPD alongside the Seattle Police Department and Washington State Patrol conducted a mobile impaired driving unit as a preventative measure to get drivers under the influence off the roads.

KIRO Newsradio acquired a video of a Bellevue officer pulling over a suspected impaired driver, you can watch it below:

However, the numbers are in from last weekend’s event, and BPD spokesperson Drew Anderson gave us an update.

“And over last weekend, the kickoff weekend, we had at least 36 DUIs across the county, and that’s holding people accountable for driving under the influence,” he said.

Anderson said that the overall message to drivers is to be responsible.

“Micki, as we said last week, if you are drinking, when you’re out, if you are impaired, be responsible,” he said. “That means taking a ride-sharing program, that means calling a family member or a friend, that easily could mean just simply as walking home, we don’t want you on the road, we don’t want you driving impaired and it’s because the state has seen its 33 year high and fatalities on the road.

We want to do what we can to bring that down. Doing that is a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the public to do what we can to be responsible and save lives,” he continued.

Anderson said that even though last weekend’s event is over, 100 Safe Days of Summer continues.

“Because as we all know, Washington State, especially in the summer is beautiful. So everyone’s out and about. So this is peak time for when people could be driving impaired. So it’s going to be happening all summer. But this is an ongoing effort that does not stop even after the summer ends,” he said.

You can read more of Micki Gamez’s stories here. Follow Micki on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email her here.

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A child, now confirmed to have measles, went to the Franciscan Health Urgent Care clinic in West Seattle, Public Health – Seattle & King County officials said in a release Friday. Now, officials are warning others may have also been exposed.

The child was there on June 10 “during a period when they were infectious but before being diagnosed,” officials said. Anyone who was at the facility from 3:30 to 8 p.m. could have been exposed. The clinic is located in Suite 110 at 4755 Fauntleroy Way Southwest.

Officials said the child is not vaccinated and likely picked up the disease when traveling abroad.

“Measles is highly contagious and if you don’t have immunity, you can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” said Dr. Eric Chow, communicable disease chief for Seattle and King County.

Vaccination remains highly effective against the disease, with most people having been vaccinated before turning 6 years old.

Previous recent measles cases

Friday’s announcement is the third measles-related warning Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) has issued in the last two months.

Most recently, Public Health said in a statement it was notified May 30 about a confirmed measles case in an adult who traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac Airport) on May 10 and 11 while infectious. That person lives in Arizona and was likely exposed to measles while traveling to or within Europe. The person’s vaccine status is unknown.

“Measles is highly contagious and if you don’t have immunity, you can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” Chow said in a separate statement issued at the time of the news being disclosed. “We’ve seen an increase in measles cases around the world and in the U.S., so it’s an important time to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if you aren’t protected.”

Previous coverage: Confirmed measles case at Sea-Tac Airport

In April, Public Health reported a group of international travelers were exposed to a person with measles prior to arriving in Seattle. The agency reported members of the group who did not have evidence of immunity to measles entered quarantine after arriving in Seattle.

Later, the agency updated its previous online post to report one of the people in the group of travelers developed measles while in quarantine in the Puget Sound. That person is recovering and is no longer contagious, Public Health reported.

The other travelers who were exposed and did not have evidence of immunity have completed their quarantines as well. There are no exposures to the general public.

“We recognize how challenging this situation was for the group of travelers. It is very difficult to quarantine away from everyone for weeks, particularly when traveling far from home,” Medical Epidemiologist for Public Health Elysia Gonzales said in the statement issued April 29.

Isolation: International students in quarantine in King County hotel after measles exposure

What to know about measles

Public Health’s website includes a significant amount of information about measles.

The agency states that people in Seattle and King County at large have immunity to the measles through a previous vaccination, so “the risk to the general public is low.” That said, it also said people who were in the location of potential exposure to measles around the times listed should complete the following steps:

• Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. That includes talking to your doctor and making sure you are up-to-date with the recommended measles (MMR) vaccinations.
• Reach out to a healthcare provider promptly if you develop an illness with fever or with an unexplained rash. The agency suggests not going to a clinic or a hospital without calling first to tell them you want to be checked for measles after an exposure. This is important because medical professionals will want to do everything possible to avoid possibly spreading measles to others. “It’s important to limit contact with others, especially those without known immunity,” Public Health says on its site.
• Consider that vaccination or medication can be still be provided after exposure, in some cases to prevent illness, the agency states. Therefore, it remains vital to check with your healthcare provider. This is especially important for people at high risk for measles complications.

You can read more of Sam Campbell’s stories here. Follow Sam Campbell on X, or email him here.

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, or email him here.

The collision occurred near 70th Avenue East around 4:40 a.m.

WSP Trooper and Public Information Officer John Dattilo wrote in a post on X early Friday that troopers are investigating the collision that included a semitruck. He also stated one person died in the crash.

In a later X post, Dattilo provided additional details about the crash, writing a car moving south on I-5 struck a disabled vehicle on the right shoulder of the freeway. That car was then struck by a semitruck, and the driver of that car died in the crash. The driver of the semitruck was not injured in the crash. The driver of the disabled car was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

How this I-5 south crash affected traffic

In a post on X about the incident just after 6:40 a.m., the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported I-5 south in Fife still is reduced to two left lanes after the early crash with backups extended to State Route 18 (SR 18). The lane closures “will continue until the investigation is complete,” the agency wrote.

A short time later, between 6:55 and 7:15 a.m., the WSDOT sent out two more posts on X. The first told drivers to “expect continued lane closures thru the morning commute.” The agency has suggested travelers delay or reschedule their trips in that area.

The second X post stated I-5 north is also congested due to “a lot of lookie loos” trying to catch a glimpse of what happened on I-5 south.

Dattilo confirmed in a separate X post at 9:25 a.m. the cleanup of the freeway after the crash had been completed. In its last X post at 9:40 a.m., the WSDOT indicated all I-5 south lanes reopened.

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, or email him here.

“We’re on track to strengthen 16 bridges across Seattle to be safer during an earthquake,” Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) Kitt Loo said.

Five of the bridges, including the Lower Spokane Swing Bridge, are already retrofitted. Loo said the bridges can’t be torn down and rebuilt. Instead, the bridges have to be upgraded.

“Some of these older structures are deemed historical, or have some type of landmark preservation designation associated with them,” he said. “So with those, we use a lot of seismic retrofit techniques that try to maintain a lot of those architectural characteristics that may include either just enlarging specific elements of the bridge, using concrete, or we may wrap the bridge with carbon fiber to increase the strength. Those are key components that help maintain seismic resiliency for those bridges.”

These are bridges to be retrofitted and some have already been worked on, according to SDOT:

Loo said SDOT plans to complete all the projects by the end of 2025. It’s all part of the Levy to Move Seattle which was voted on back in 2015. According to SDOT, the $930 million levy will be used to maintain streets and bridges and keep the roadways safe for travelers.

Typical modifications for a concrete arch bridge include (shown on the graphic below):

1. Repairing existing concrete components that are in poor condition.
2. Installing concrete bolsters and enlarging the bridge’s columns and crossbeams.
3. Strengthening the existing arch with a concrete infill wall.
4. Installing carbon fiber wrapping to the bridge’s crossbeams, columns and arches.
5. Replacing the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge.

Examples of the types of modifications SDOT typically makes during a bridge seismic improvement. (Image courtesy of SDOT)

The McGraw Street Bridge seismic retrofit construction began in March and the Delridge Way Pedestrian Bridge seismic retrofit construction began in April.

In general, during work for bridge seismic retrofit projects, neighbors can expect work in the public right-of-way near your home or business. You can also expect occasional traffic or lane restrictions, including closures on side streets and detours for people walking and biking, including potential closures of crosswalks and sidewalks.

Residents should also prepare for typical construction activities such as noise, dust, vibrations and construction equipment staged on the bridge and within the work area. Also, temporary on-street parking restrictions, with signs placed 72 hours in advance to notify residents not to park in the areas.

Construction work will generally occur on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

You can read more of Micki Gamez’s stories here. Follow Micki on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email her here.

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The 90 residents, most of whom are seniors, live in the manufactured home community of Royal Wood Estates. The residents own their homes and have no mortgage rates, but still have to pay rent on the land their homes sit on — in other words they own their homes but not the land underneath them.

A new landowner of the property said maintaining their utility connections will require a spike in rent. And because a majority of the residents are seniors on fixed incomes, residents spoke out in a forum a couple of weeks ago and said they will be forced to move.

According to Lynnwood City Council President George Hurst, the rent increase went into effect on June 1, as did separate fees for water, sewer and garbage. Hurst told “Seattle’s Morning News” host Dave Ross Thursday all of those fees had previously been included in the rent. But since the rent increase, fees have gone from $640 a month to $940+ a month.

However, Hurst said his team found the increase is actually in violation of the Manufactured Home Landlord Tenant Act.

Ross: Let the rich pay the exorbitant ‘luxury lane’ toll prices

Hurst said the landlord cannot implement a blanket increase to everyone, it has to be when their lease renews. So now, Hurst and his team are working with some of the residents to file a complaint with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. However, they would only be able to hold off the increase temporarily.

“And we’ve been in meetings before and talked to attorneys. And they basically said, ‘The only option to really protect these type of residents in manufactured homes, is rent stabilization of some sort.’ And Olympia has a real problem getting that passed,” Hurst told Ross.

Looking more at the number of manufactured homes

Ross asked how many manufactured home parks are in Western Washington.

According to Hurst, there are 119 in Snohomish County, 20 have a Lynnwood address and 14 are in Lynnwood city limits. In comparison, Hurst noted, there are three parks in Edmonds, two in Mountlake Terrace, one in Mill Creek and none in Mukilteo.

“As a city council member, I’m really concerned and focused on these folks, because they’re a large part of our residents,” Hurst said.

Hurst said his team could potentially protect a few tenants, who are being charged too much, but in the end, rent can go up each year and he has no control over it. However, he is hopeful his team could at least prevent the increasing rent for the Royal Wood Estates residents in the short term, either through city funding or some sort of rental assistance.

“We need, at the state legislator level, to take some action, because you heard that we had people from the Department of Commerce, they’re there. They’re basically giving us the programs to what happens if people get kicked out, what happens if they have to sell their homes, they don’t have the tools right now to actually preserve a park and that’s really what we need to do,” Hurst said.

To hear the full interview, where Ross and Hurst get into the details of the land owner’s thinking, head here or tap on the player below:

Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email her here.

There have been 21 reported shootings over the last six days, just Rahr’s second week on the job.

“The first big most important step is we need to get a larger pool of applicants,” Rahr said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO 97.3 FM. “If we want to improve diversity, if we want to have more choices of who we choose to put in a uniform, we need to have a bigger group to select from. I am focused on improving and expanding our recruiting and hiring. We have some very tangible steps in mind.”

‘SPD is dying’: What Seattle police officers are saying during exit interviews

Among the steps, Rahr mentioned was lobbying the Civil Service Commission to change the testing for recruitment in order to “dramatically increase” the size of the police force’s applicant pool. Streamlining the hiring and onboarding processes, removing the “many” barriers blocking quality candidates and staffing the field training program are other immediate goals for Rahr and her team.

“When we make these changes, we’re going to have a deluge of new applicants and we have to be ready to bring them on board,” Rahr added.

One of the violent instances that occurred in Seattle over the past week was the shooting and killing of 17-year-old Garfield High School student Amarr Murphy-Paine. The high school canceled classes for two days, increased its police presence when it reopened and became a hub for multiple rallies led by parents and students. The suspect in the shooting has yet to be caught, as of this reporting.

More on the Garfield High School shooting: Teen killed in Garfield High School shooting in Seattle; classes canceled

“We have just a mountain of digital information from cell phone cameras and all other kinds of cameras that are around the community,” Rahr said. “Lots of people have pieces of information. Lots of people are posting things on social media. What people are not doing is calling our tip line, so we can’t take a piece of information that is posted online when we can’t go to the original source to validate and verify whether that information is accurate or not.”

“Are you confident that you will get the suspect in this case?” Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show,” asked Rahr.

“Yes,” she answered.

The removal of school resource officers

School resource officers were active and apparent on campuses across the city until the summer of 2020 — when the Seattle School Board canceled the job during the backlash against policing after George Floyd’s murder. Now, after a string of violent crimes on campuses with no school resource officers in sight, leadership among the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and the city are considering bringing them back.

“I 100% stand on that there is a great benefit to having police officers in the schools, but their role has to be crystal clear,” Rahr said. “Their role should not be, ‘We are we’re extra school security, we’re here for discipline.’ That should not be the role of the police officer. The greatest benefit of having resource officers in the schools with carefully designed roles and responsibilities is to build relationships.”

Jason Rantz on the end of school resource officers in Seattle: Latest Seattle school shooting again shows Democrats to blame

More than one in 10 schools with a regular police presence removed officers from facilities since 2020, according to new federal data. Before 2020, 58% of schools, including 72% of high schools, had resource officers. That number was just 36% by 2004.

“I think in the last five years, the idea of police in schools has been politicized,” Rahr said. “I know there are bad stories out there about school resource officers being misused. I would like to start a dialogue with the Seattle Public Schools and say, ‘Can we please hit the reset button?'”

“Rahr, I would like to see you put that on a t-shirt,” Gee said. “The next time I see you at a press conference, I want to read on your shirt, ‘Hit the reset button.’ Reset Seattle. That is the message to everybody.”

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

The shooting happened at lunchtime at Garfield High School, just outside of a building. Police said there were witnesses and there was even a video taken on a cell phone. But, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) told KIRO Newsradio officers can’t make arrests based on what’s been posted on social media. They need warrants to obtain the digital data and SPD said there’s a lot of it.

Past coverage: Teen killed in Garfield High School shooting in Seattle; classes canceled

When police do get the data, they will then analyze it firsthand. SPD said detectives are working with local and federal agencies, including the FBI, to get that done.

KIRO Newsradio asked retired King County Sheriff John Urquhart if the lack of arrest is cause for concern.

“No not at all and from everything that I’ve read about this case, this was done at noon at school and in front of a bunch of other people, there’s no doubt in my mind at least that the Seattle Police Department knows who their suspect is,” Urquhart said.

He added that police are reluctant to name juvenile suspects.

“When I was sheriff, and certainly when I was a detective, we would not release the name of the juveniles to the press and we typically would not release the name of a suspect even if they were an adult, unless there was a real good investigative reason to do that,” Urquhart explained.

He also noted that it’s likely Seattle officers are being tight-lipped on purpose.

“They wanna plan what information they release, sometimes it’s better to keep the identity of a suspect quiet,” he said.

Other local crime: Suspect in 2022 Ingraham High School shooting pleads guilty to first-degree murder

Urquhart also told KIRO Newsradio SPD almost certainly knows who did it. However, “the suspect is presumably a juvenile and most police departments don’t release the names of juveniles.”

Urquhart added he thinks the shooter may be in hiding, but it’s “just a matter of time” before he’s arrested.

SPD is asking people to contact them directly if they have any recordings, photos or information regarding the shooting.

Contributing: Heather Bosch, Aaron Granillo and Charlier Harger, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

The City Council initially approved limited use of ALPRs in 2021 for 11 SPD vehicles, leading to the recovery of 622 stolen vehicles, according to the SPD. The trade-offs between privacy, data security, and retention versus SPD’s request to hold data longer to help solve crimes were hotly debated for nearly 90 minutes at Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting.

Council Bill 120778, which authorizes the expansion of ALPRs and sets restrictions regarding who has access to the collected data, was under scrutiny. Former King County Superior Court Judge and current council member Cathy Moore expressed deep concerns about the public’s ability to use the state’s Public Records Act to request potentially hundreds of thousands of scans performed by ALPRs.

“The main issue here is how do we protect individuals who are coming to the state of Washington to access reproductive care or gender-affirming care?” Moore asked. “How do we protect them from being criminalized and prosecuted in non-protected states?”

More from Matt Markovich: Seattle scraps ShotSpotter plans; advances surveillance, license plate readers

Under the current proposal, data not tied to an active investigation would be retained for 90 days. For active investigations, the data would be retained indefinitely. Data collected by ALPR technology is considered public record under Washington State’s Public Records Act and can be requested by the public. Additionally, there are concerns about external entities attempting to compel data disclosure from the third-party vendors managing the data.

Public comments earlier in the meeting underscored these issues, reflecting a community divided on balancing public safety and privacy rights. Moore prefers data not involved in an investigation be retained for only 48 hours, reducing the likelihood of disclosure requests from the public or other states.

SPD official speaks out at the meeting

Brian Maxey, Chief Operating Officer for SPD, stated a 48-hour retention period would severely limit the potential for investigating other crimes.

“We know that most stolen vehicles these days are not stolen for joyriding or some random purpose. They are stolen specifically to use in other crimes,” Maxey told the City Council. “If we have a hit on a vehicle that is not on our list but we now know was involved in a crime, having that 90-day buffer lets us look back in time to see what other crimes that car was associated with.”

Currently, there are 9,000 stolen vehicles in Seattle that have not been recovered, Maxey noted. The buffer will help solve these crimes and other cases, including missing persons.

“This technology just tells you where a car has been. It does not tell you who was driving it or what happened when the person exited that vehicle. It simply provides the location of a vehicle,” Maxey said.

Affecting taxpayers: Seattle homeowners face sticker shock with new levies

The committee approved an amendment Moore offered, solidifying SPD’s current practice of not publicly disclosing ALPR data that links specific license plates to particular times, dates, and locations. This non-disclosure practice would remain in effect unless altered by court order or changes in applicable law. Should such changes occur, the amendment mandates that SPD promptly notify the City Council.

However, Moore abstained from the vote for final passage, stating she plans to introduce new legislation that caps retention at 48 hours for data not involved with an active SPD case. The City Council’s decision on this ordinance will have significant implications for both law enforcement capabilities and civil liberties in Seattle.

The Committee passed the expansion 4-0 with Moore abstaining. A full Seattle City Council is expected next week.

Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.

Follow @https://twitter.com/mattmarkovich