Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell calls for community support
Statement regarding recent homicides at 9400 Block on Rainier Ave South
Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee released the following statement regarding the recent double homicides in Rainier Valley:
“We just witnessed two more lives cut tragically short as a result of violence and criminal activity. This brings the total number of homicides to nine in 2012. The Mayor and the City Council are concerned about these events. These recent deaths are even more disturbing for Southeast Seattle residents who recently expressed their concerns of increased violence and crime at a standing room-only community meeting on February 6 in Southeast Seattle.
“Our Seattle Police Department is aggressively pursuing leads on this most recent shooting and a critical link to obtain evidence is the cooperation of witnesses and people knowledgeable about the victims, suspects and the event itself.
“Many witnesses withhold valuable information from the police because of their fear of retaliation, mistrust of the government and because they comply with a code of silence. We are asking community leaders and organizations to work with the Police Department, the Mayor’s Office and the Public Safety Committee in establishing new norms of cooperation and trust. Every community has the right to be safe and we are asking the community to help us establish cooperation with the police, institute preventative measures before crime and violence occurs through the 9-1-1 system; and help deliver a message to our youth that violence and the unlawful use of guns destroy what so many work to build—healthy communities. Our strategy will be to strengthen and protect our community.
“We will discuss these efforts at a Special Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee meeting on March 7th (5:30 p.m.) at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center (4655 South Holly Street) on how we move forward together.”