Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement after the public release of Mayor Wilson’s requested audit of the Seattle Police Department’s Technology-assisted Crime Prevention Program, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The review, announced back in March, was conducted by New York University’s (NYU) Policing Project.  

“The NYU Law Policing Project audit report is a welcome element to our work with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) Technology-assisted Crime Prevention Program to ensure the right balance between public safety on one hand, and on the other hand, privacy and civil liberties. This report, along with those from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and City Auditor, in addition to the ongoing University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) study are crucial in the continual improvement approach we have taken on the City Council to the program. 

“As the study noted, the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC ) program, which includes CCTV and describes it as ‘fairly limited,’ along with the currently-paused Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) program, are an ‘important foundation’ established by the City of Seattle. 

“The study notes that the RTCC has already made a difference for SPD by identifying offenders, and also in assisting the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) in the prosecution of those crimes as seen in KCPAO statements. 

“My commitment is to continually work to improve the program with them, SPD, and all stakeholders that uphold Seattle’s values as a guide. The Public Safety committee of the City Council will take up the recommendations in the NYU Law Policing Project audit report, along with those from the OIG and the City Auditor to help in the program’s continued improvement. To ensure safe communities across all Seattle neighborhoods, businesses, and diverse stakeholders, we must effectively leverage this technology like other major cities across the country.” 

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