(The Center Square) - After a series of fatal shootings in Belltown over the weekend, Seattle police said no arrests have been made in connection with any of the shootings as of Wednesday, as calls grow for more action to curb crime.
Three people were killed and three others injured in shootings in Belltown on Sunday, Sept. 6, between 12:42 a.m. and 11:44 p.m.
Police have said the shootings were not connected.
Mayor Katie Wilson released a statement Tuesday saying her office will be announcing additional staffing to support gun violence prevention work next week.
“While any violence is too much violence, it is important to understand that SPD data show shootings and homicides at their lowest in a decade," the statement said.
"I, like everyone in Seattle, want to see that progress happen faster and steadier. That’s why we can’t let up in doing the focused, deep work. Next week, I’ll be announcing a comprehensive, focused gun violence prevention strategy to do exactly that – and in the following weeks the public will see my proposed budget that invests in those very things."
Meantime, Seattle Police Officers Guild President Kent Loux is calling out the mayor for a “fumbled” response to the recent violence.
“What we really need is a mayor who takes public safety seriously,” said Loux in a Tuesday interview with The Center Square.
Loux said the biggest problem is a total lack of consequences for criminals.
“We need a functioning criminal justice system. We need prosecutors and judges and jails cooperating with us and allowing us to do our job,” said Loux.
“How many times are you going to arrest the same people? How many times are we going to do this?” Loux added. “We need to start causing some pain and discomfort to the people who are doing this to our city. They are terrorizing the city.”
Loux said it’s nearly impossible to get someone even booked into jail.
Jail medical staff, managed via King County Public Health, can issue a medical deferral if someone brought to the jail requires medical attention beyond what the facility can safely provide.
If someone is under the influence or otherwise claims to be suffering from any kind of medical symptom, the jail will deny the booking. The officer would have to stay with the suspect at the hospital for several hours until they are cleared for potential booking, which is not in most cases possible given the demands on the police department, he said.
So the suspect often ends up being released without ever being booked.
“And then we’re lacking the prosecution. We are doing our best responding and going into dangerous situations without thinking of ourselves, but now we fight the mayor and the cameras,” said Loux.
He was referring to the stadium district cameras which were briefly turned on during the World Cup games in Seattle, but then immediately turned off again when the games concluded.
“Now we’re going into the opening game for the Seahawks (Wednesday night) and she won’t turn the cameras on. She just had them on for FIFA. So it was good enough for the international guests, but not the people who live here? Whether it be the Sounders, Seahawks or Mariners, it’s absolutely bizarre,” Loux said.
Wilson has said she wants to evaluate potential risks to personal privacy, data security, and civil rights before expanding or keeping the surveillance camera network active, and is awaiting the results of an outside audit.
The Center Square reached out to Wilson’s office following Loux’s criticism of the mayor.
“It is important to express gratitude to our police officers who responded immediately and with decisiveness to the shooting incidents this weekend. And to everyone at SPD who is working nonstop to find those responsible,” wrote Dawn Schellenberg from the mayor's communications team.
“As you know, the Mayor paused camera expansion until the promised data security and privacy audit is complete later this month, early next. People and communities experience cameras differently and it’s important to base a decision on more than feelings."
"It’s important to ground actions in a thorough understanding of how the cameras are being used, of the public benefits they are providing, and of any harm they are causing or could cause. We made a temporary exception for cameras in the Stadium District during World Cup as we became aware of a credible threat. Currently, there are no plans to turn them back on for Seahawk games,” wrote Schellenberg.
Loux said it’s irresponsible not to turn on cameras around the stadiums during games.
“Now you’re just not turning them on out of spite. Look at the tens of thousands of people who are going to be attending that game and just turn them on," he said.
Seattle Police are seeking video, pictures or other information that could help identify those involved in the weekend shootings, which can be submitted through the department’s online portal or via the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
