Despite "horrible weather," community members gathered at the Southwest Teen Life Center on March 11 to engage directly with Seattle Police Department (SPD) leadership and local officials regarding the safety of their neighborhoods. The meeting, part of the "Our City, Our Safety" monthly series, prioritized resident voices through small-group "listening tables" designed to gather actionable feedback for the precinct's strategic planning.

A Focus on Listening and Partnership

Lee Hunt, SPD’s Executive Director for Crime and Community Harm Reduction, served as the evening's master of ceremonies, setting a tone of collaboration. “The purpose is for us to hear from you,” Hunt told the crowd. “The majority of the time is for us to listen to you around tables and take notes and understand your concerns”.

The Southwest Precinct Commander Captain Bair echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of community involvement. “Public safety isn't all about enforcement. It's also about overall well-being,” the Captain remarked, noting that West Seattle recently recorded the highest "social cohesion" in the city according to a recent survey.

District 1 Council Member Rob Saka also attended to show support for his constituents. “It’s very clear you care,” Saka told the attendees. “I appreciate you all for organizing and hosting this event”.

SPD Chief Sean Barnes highlighted the strong working relationship with Saka, noting that the council member often "challenges me to rethink the way we do things" to better serve the district.

Crime Trends: Encouraging Numbers Amidst Regional Challenges

During the presentation, SPD officials shared data indicating a downward trend in several crime categories for the Southwest Precinct in early 2026:

• Violent Crime: Currently down 38% compared to the five-year monthly average. While there have been no homicides on-site in 2026, officials identified "violent crime hotspots" in North Admiral, the Alaska Junction, High Point, and South Delridge.
• Property Crime: Reported as down 35%. High-activity areas for property crime include the Alaska Junction and Westwood Village.
• Community Calls for Service: These have remained relatively steady, showing a negligible 2% decrease. Police viewed this as a positive sign of community trust. “It means you all are trusting the department and calling to get help,” the Captain noted.
• Proactive Patrols: SPD reported that proactive patrol efforts in the precinct are up by 12%.

The top 911 calls for 2025 and 2026 were led by "Suspicious Circumstances," followed by "Disturbance," "Traffic/Parking," "Assistance," and "Domestic Violence".

Community Concerns: From Traffic to Public Order

A Public Safety Survey conducted by Seattle University identified Traffic Safety as the top concern for Southwest residents, followed by police capacity and property crime.

Deputy Chief Andre shared a specific strategy regarding traffic enforcement from his previous experience, noting that education often outweighs citations. “Only 21% of the time we wrote tickets to people. The other 79% of the time was education,” he explained, which helped significantly reduce accidents in his former jurisdiction.

During the "report out" session, representatives from various tables shared specific neighborhood issues:

• Alki: Residents reported concerns over speeding, "showboating," and smash-and-grab robberies at local restaurants.
• West Seattle Junction: Stacie from the West Seattle Junction Association emphasized the need to keep businesses safe and encouraged everyone to "always call" 911 to ensure crimes are logged, even if response times are a concern.
• Parks and Public Spaces: Concerns were raised about drug use at bus stops near Westwood Village and potential fire hazards from unauthorized camping in Fauntleroy Woods.
• Morgan Community: Deb Barker noted that traffic safety remains the number one issue for her neighborhood.

Homework for the Community

Chief Sean Barnes closed the meeting by emphasizing that the feedback would be used to create a "strategic plan" for the precinct. Drawing on his background as a former history teacher, he issued a "homework assignment" to those in attendance.

“Come to the next meeting and bring one neighbor,” Barnes requested. “That’s how progress is made”.

The next community safety meeting for the Southwest Precinct is scheduled for August.