Crime in Seattle
Moving to Seattle? Beware of Violent Crime
If you are considering moving to Seattle, here are a few things to keep in mind. You’ll want to lock your car door, hide valuables in your trunk, and park in well-lit areas. This will help you avoid car break-ins in broad daylight. Also, while panhandlers aren’t particularly dangerous, they are not the norm and it is illegal to beg for money on the streets in Seattle.
Violence
For decades, Seattle was considered one of the safest cities in the country, but the city’s violent crime rate has recently spiked. Last year alone, there were 612 shootings, nearly double the annual average. The city is now facing the worst homicide seasons since the 1990s, and shootings are happening everywhere – not just in the most violent neighborhoods. A 14-year-old boy was recently arrested after he shot dead a 15-year-old customer at a downtown bakery. Sometimes bad things happen to good people that’s why our bail bondsman in Seattle is there to assist and give legal advice.
The Seattle police department has been working overtime in response to the recent surge in violent crime. But Seattle’s staffing crisis has left police officers short of officers. The city’s police department reported that violent crime in Seattle is expected to rise 20 percent by 2021, to a total of 4,360. And that’s only the first year of a heightened level of crime.
Property crime
Property crime is a growing problem in Seattle. The police department is working hard to curb the number of crimes committed on Seattle property. It uses resources from the Major Crimes Task Force and precinct detectives to fight property crimes. It is also increasing its officer proactivity and implementing emphasis patrols. SPD executives meet regularly to discuss ongoing trends and devise strategies.
In 2017, there were 47,389 crimes committed in Seattle. By 2020, the city is projected to have a crime rate of 43,180. This number is higher than the rate for the vast majority of cities in Washington.
Homicides
Police in Seattle have spoken about the recent spike in homicides in the city. There have been several recent shootings in the city, including two random killings. One of these incidents left a man dead after he was struck by a stray bullet as he drove, and another resulted in the death of a woman. In both cases, the suspect was not publicly identified. Police have reassigned SWAT units and robbery units to homicide cases.
In the first three months of 2022, Seattle has recorded 13 homicides. This makes up about half of the 26 homicides reported in King County in that time. In the first quarter of 2016, there were 23 homicides in Seattle. Four of these killings took place in a single week, from March 17 to 24. A total of ten people died in the Seattle area from gunshot wounds, though their identities have not yet been released.
Gun crimes
Seattle has been one of the safest cities in the country for years, but shootings and other crimes are taking a toll. Last year, the city had 612 shooting incidents, almost double the number from the year before. The city has now seen its two deadliest years since the 1990s. Shootings have broken out throughout the city, not just in high-crime neighborhoods. Gun violence has reached epidemic proportions in Seattle, and a top prosecutor in King County recently filed charges against a 14-year-old suspect.
Seattle police are working to curb gun crimes, and a recent incident involved the seizure of a handgun from a South Seattle gas station cooler. In another incident, a handgun was recovered from the car of a suspect involved in a burglary. Police are focusing on reducing the number of gun crimes in the South Precinct, and have added bike units and detectives from the Anti-Crime Teams and Special Operations Bureau to patrol neighborhoods in that area.
Racially biased policing
In a new report, the Seattle Police Department examined the disparate impact of policing on Seattle’s minority communities. In the two years from 2020 to 2021, black people were stopped more often than white people and faced more arrests and use of force incidents. Although it doesn’t define justified versus unwarranted policing, the findings suggest that police departments need to do more to address racial bias.
Seattle police officers have a history of using excessive force against minority populations. Although overall use of force has declined, officers are still more likely to use force against Native Americans and African Americans. African Americans are also disproportionately involved in officer-involved shootings and serious incidents. In 2016, 36 percent of use-of-force incidents involved an African-American person. In addition, nearly one-third of police reports did not provide any data on race.