Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4 – Northeast Seattle) issued the following statement in support of Mayor Jenny Durkan’s proposed legislation being transmitted today to City Council to address public safety issues, including SPD’s record-breaking loss of officers — 286 police officers over the past 18 months, according to a Seattle Police Department memo:
“I commend our Mayor and Police Chief for responding to the surge in gun violence and the alarming loss of police officers by transmitting this sensible safety legislation to the City Council,” said Councilmember Alex Pedersen. “I urge my colleagues on the City Council to embrace these initial public safety solutions by acting swiftly on this legislation with a vote next week. I believe this legislation would be a vital, immediate addition to the alternative public safety strategies we are striving to stand up, such as the Triage One emergency response recently announced by Mayor Durkan and Public Safety Chair Lisa Herbold.”