https://www.lawofficer.com/seattle-is-looking-to-legalize-most-misdemeanor-crimes/


SEATTLE — The city of Seattle may legalize most misdemeanor crimes. This isn’t an exaggeration. It’s arguably not even the most radical idea introduced by the Seattle City Council, wrote Jason Rantz, a Seattle-based talk show host.


Rather, it’s the latest move by politicians growing increasingly dangerous and aloof to concerns in a city spiraling dangerously out of control.


In the final week of October, the Council used the 2021 budget process to forward an updated plan installing heroin injection sites, replace a specialized police unit tackling homelessness, and lay off more Seattle police officers, which already has record low staffing.

As a result, some of the city’s highest paid residents are fleeing, Rantz reported.

Councilmember Lisa Herbold argues that misdemeanor defendants disproportionately suffer from mental illness, addiction and/or homelessness. Punishing them for crimes, therefore, is unconscionable. Consequently, Herbold introduced legislation rewriting Seattle’s criminal code to offer affirmative defenses for suspects.

Merely arguing that crime was a consequence of your homelessness, addiction or mental illness could warrant a dismissal of charges. Seattle is experiencing a historic surge in homicides – the highest since at least 2008. Should it add more unpunished misdemeanors to the growing list of concerns? Herbold originally tried to sneak the legislation in as a budget item, meaning it would not be subject to the same public scrutiny, but the Council tabled it and plans to review the idea as a standalone item.

In truth, the shameful reality in Seattle is that misdemeanor crimes are seldom seriously charged and criminals rarely see meaningful jail time. It’s created a dangerous environment highlighted by a report showing 100 prolific offenders responsible for 636 jail bookings in 2019. A year later, the problem hasn’t gone away, according to Rantz, published via Fox.

One fed up judge finally rejected yet another plea deal to let a homeless man with over 70 convictions go free. Judge Ed McKenna questioned how releasing him served public safety interests. Aghast that the judge put a homeless man in jail, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes partnered with the public defender in an unprecedented media campaign to shame the judge. Consequently, McKenna felt forced into early retirement.

The Council argues it’s addressing the underlying causes of the crimes when, in truth, it is exacerbating them. The Council cut Seattle’s Navigation Team, a specialized unit of police and outreach workers clearing dangerous encampments while connecting the homeless with shelter.

The Council replaced the team with eight civilian outreach workers doing the same work, minus enforcement powers. That means no more sweeps. Good luck finding a park not completely covered with tents. Seattle is about to hit year 16 of the 10-year plan to end homelessness precisely because of the city’s permissive attitudes on homelessness.

A significant problem is the overwhelming number of homeless addicts. City officials believe over 50% of Seattle’s homeless are dealing with addiction. Unfortunately, the Council intends on coddling, rather than treating, them.

Despite pushback from residents, neighboring cities and the U.S. attorney for Western Washington, the Council edged closer to heroin injection sites (dubiously called “safe consumption sites,” though it’s uncontroversial to note it’s never “safe” to shoot up).

Rather than standalone sites, the Council now plans to fund them in pre-existing social service offices where the homeless already visit. The plan has the support of the Council, despite little data to suggest it would be successful. In fact, the data shows the opposite, Rantz reported.

With addiction comes crime. It’s not just open-air drug dealing, which remains a fixture, but thefts and burglaries where addicts steal then sell items to fuel their addiction. As those crimes go unpunished, a Council hellbent on defunding the police has forced good officers to leave.

The SPD has the lowest number of deployable staff since 1990, which interim chief Adrian Diaz warns is not enough to keep the city safe. Officers accelerated their historic mass exodus after the Council partially defunded the department to force layoffs. At least 118 officers separated by the end of September. Yet the Council is preparing to cut an additional 20% in the police budget, which eliminates staff by not filling over 90 empty positions and laying off 35.

Rantz notes that residents are fed up and leaving. South Lake Union and Downtown Seattle, where many of the city’s high paid tech workers live, are ditching their high-priced neighborhoods leaving a 9.5% and 8.5% large-apartment vacancy behind. Why pay high rents for small apartments in a city that’s growing increasingly dangerous, dirty and expensive? Businesses are following suit.

The very addicts on Seattle streets can change when they hit rock bottom. That may be what it takes to get Seattle to change its course: hitting rock bottom. But at that point, what will be left of this once great city? If there’s not quick intervention, we may soon find out, Rantz concludes.

https://www.lawofficer.com/seattle-police-officers-leave-scathing-comments-during-exit-interviews/


SEATTLE — Seattle Police officers who are leaving the department have given scathing responses during their exit interviews.

KOMO News obtained the exit interviews, which blamed poor city leadership, riots, and low morale for leaving the department.

One retiring patrol sergeant who had been on the department for more than 20 years said, “I refuse to work for this socialist city council and their political agenda. This agenda sacrifices the health and well-being of the officers and ultimately will destroy the fabric of this once fine city.”

When asked: “What factors had a negative effect on morale in the department?”

One officer whose job is up in the air said, “The council wanting to defund us and gaining ground doing it. Rioters not being charged even when they assault officers.”

Another patrol officer from the East Precinct who was resigning after 6-10 years of service offered this explanation for leaving the department: “Current hostile work environment. In a precinct that is under civil unrest by a small group that is constantly committing multiple felonies and attempting to murder peace officers.”

When followed up with the question: “What did you enjoy least about working at SPD?”

The officer said, “I enjoyed almost every aspect of working with Seattle PD itself. The one thing that I enjoyed the least was the handling of the last three months of riots.”

Jim Fuda, Crimestoppers Director of Law Enforcement Services which works with SPD, says the responses point to a hostile and non-supportive work environment for officers, KOMO reported.

“It’s ridiculous,” Fuda said. “Just when you think it can’t get more inane, it does.”

In response to the question: “Would you like to work for SPD again in the future?”

Some said they’re open to the opportunity if things change, “drastically.”

One canine officer who’s resigning after more than 11 years said, “I highly doubt it. You could pay me twice what you’re paying me now and I would not work for Seattle under this current political mayhem, Marxist collaborations and lack of government and police leadership.”

“It’s an absolute joke and a travesty for the rest of the citizens here in this city, this once beautiful city,” said Fuda. “Our police department is there to protect all of us and because of the cutbacks and the retirements, who’s going to protect our public safety?”

According to the exit interviews, some of the Seattle officers are leaving for departments like Everett, Des Moines, Kennewick and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department — places they said the feel like they will get more support.

Law Officer recently reported that as many as 200 officers could be leaving the police agency after suffering humiliation and a vast number of injuries during riots.

In addition to the agencies previously mentioned, prior reports also confirmed SPD officers were leaving for police departments in Tukwila, Bellevue, Kent, as well as the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Seattle needs a thermonuclear enema.

Frasier does not approve:

Seattle is leading the way but this is happening across the country.

The rule of law is dead. The MOB rules now.

Its not circling drain, the voters of that city are getting what they desire.

Time for the surrounding jurisdictions to start locking down their borders and locking the Seattle dumpster fire in

The circling the drain is what the voters want

Law Officer has been doing some pretty strong work lately, esp its original articles.  

Good and hard.

As amazing as that would be, the SJW backlash would be epic, and I wonder if the local governments and citizens of those areas have the stones to withstand it?

I've spent years telling people 'you get the government you vote in'.


I'm thinking I need to revise it to 'you get the government YOU ALLOW TO BE VOTED IN.'

I feel terrible for those officers. Hopefully their retirement will follow them, I'm sure their longevity and other stuff is gone.