Ballard and Fremont have been chosen as two of seven neighborhoods in Seattle to receive more police patrols as part of what the city calls a “pre-summer emphasis program.”
According to a statement from Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office, the areas were selected based on community feedback and data analysis. Other neighborhoods chosen include downtown, near the Third Avenue corridor around Pike and Pine; SoDo; South Park; Georgetown; and Pioneer Square.
“Residents can expect to see increased visibility by SPD officers, and in some cases, criminal investigations of activity in these emphasis areas,” according to the statement. “SPD will evaluate the impact to understand continued and future deployments in those and other areas.”
In addition to more police, other city departments will address maintenance needs in the seven neighborhoods, such as replacing streetlights, trimming trees, removing graffiti, and removing debris from illegal dumping.
“We have a responsibility to promote the vitality and safety of our neighborhoods and communities,” Mayor Durkan said. “We will continue to advance livability and public safety through data-driven, proactive strategies and listening to community. We are taking additional immediate steps to not just make communities safer, but to partner with communities on ways we can make neighborhoods cleaner and more vibrant.”
Chief of Police Carmen Best said the increased police activity in the seven neighborhoods won’t take away from normal patrols elsewhere in the city.
“We hope that added police resources, partnered with enhanced services from other City departments, will make a positive impact for our businesses and residents,” Best said.
For the next few weeks, several city departments — Seattle Police, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, the Seattle Department of Transportation, Department of Neighborhoods, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Office of Economic Development, and the Human Services Department — will form teams that will aim to work with communities to identify areas that need maintenance. Those teams will conduct “neighborhood walks” with community members to identify priority work that the city will then address.
That’s exactly what we need, more police to come harass the people of Ballard.
“property crime is out of control in Ballard!”
“keep cops out of Ballard!”
Yup, you can’t use logic on stupid!
Property crime is not out of control in Ballard, it’s at the lowest level in years.
pointing out the fact people in our neighborhood have no clue what they want. fwiw, the police presence in seattle is far lower than anywhere else i’ve seen. as long as they’re doing what it stated up above, and you know, not harassing or shooting unarmed people, i’m ok with it, if nothing else to get people to shut up about property crime.
Please do us all a favor and simply opt out of the city. If anarchy is what you desire, move to Europe. It appears your common sense is just not so common any longer. If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Tell us all exactly where you live so we can send the human debris along with their crimes to your place. Time for adults to take over.
But, but…muh civil rights..!!.~<shudders~~..oh, the humanity 😭
I’m glad to see the mayor addressing this problem. It’s nice to see we have strong, progressive, female leadership in our city.
I think this is great news as long as they are allowed to actually enforce laws too. Small step in the right direction I guess.
enforce laws = punish the poor and minorities
yawn. Your trolling and stupidly is boring.
what fantastic sentence construction
to be fair Surly warned us that he gets confused by facts.
Wonderful. It is certainly needed and welcome by almost all residents.
Thank YOU too :). Why it isn’t welcomed by all residents baffles me. Gee, I wonder where these folks get their “news/information”. Wouldn’t be those wonderful open border folks, would it?
I’m not really sure what open borders has to do with an increased police presence in Ballard. I, for one, welcome an increased police presence in the neighborhood.
I also welcome any men, women, or children that have the desire to come to our country to make a better life for themselves. I’m not sure why so many in our country are concerned about, or fear, an influx of women and children from Central America.
elenchos2 seems unhappy about it. Not sure if he’s an open border guy.
“Open border” folks were made up boogie man to scare the feeble minded.
I don’t commit crimes, I don’t call police names or otherwise slander them and I smile and say “Thanks for serving our city” whenever I see them. Gee, I wonder why I don’t feel like police presence = harrassment? And no, the correct answer is NOT “because you’re a white male.” Try harder.
Thank you.
Easy. it’s because you are a Caucasian dude.
Police presence ????? You need a team of private security contractors and really get rid of the situation in a black ops way !
better late than never i guess….
I find it amusing that when the trolls get what they have been asking for they still find a way to complain about it.
I am happy to see a stronger SPD presence in Ballard. Thank you City Hall.
Cool, Maybe they will investigate the drive by shooting on 15th at my building.
The police report called it a property crime?
It will take them the entire summer just to clean up Ballard Commons. The current encampment around the Honey Bucket is a piece of work! At least I know where to go if my bike gets stolen.
Wow, this is an interesting comment thread. I for one think it’s great we have more police in the area!
Touristy neighborhoods Just in time for the summer tourist season, you Ballardites didn’t really think Her Honor the Mayor was doing this for you did you?
Your not fooling anyone Jenny, well maybe you are.
Thank you for this. We need this and more. But this is a start. Think positive and be supportive. We can turn this around and make this community work for all of us if we want.
Hello Vegan!
Well seen the SPD on the bikes and riding around and still same ole- same ole in commons park and St.Lukes drama in the morning and seen 3 cop cars by St. Lukes Thursday morning and still have the nuts walking around Market Street with open beers and panhandling …, can go on but waste of time !