The Implementation Plan is supported by a $1.25 million investment
Seattle—Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the Recommendations and Implementation Plan developed by the Sexual Assault Advisory Panel that began work in 2023 following his Executive Order to enhance Seattle Police Department (SPD) investigations, victim care, and support services. The multi-year implementation plan provides a road map to ensure City investigative efforts are both trauma and data informed, incorporate community involvement, increase transparency to victims, and implement continuous improvement.
“When I took office, officer staffing at SPD had reached a 30-year low following over 400 officer departures over a two-and-a-half-year period. Staffing levels, along with longstanding and dated practices, had a significant impact on SPD’s ability to conduct effective investigations, which require specialized training for what are often complex cases,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “From my first months in office, our administration made it a priority to reform and modernize how Seattle handles these critically important cases. Since then, we’ve hired over 350 officers, conducted a systematic assessment of the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) Investigations Bureau, and implemented new approaches and strategies to support survivors and our community. The resulting expert recommendations and implementation plan provide a path forward to ensure victims of sexual assault receive the resources and care they deserve. Thank you to Advisory Panel members for your time, insights, and commitment to supporting sexual assault victims and survivors.”
The Advisory Panel recommendations identified these areas for improvement and innovation:
- Need for a Trauma-Informed Approach
- Ongoing Community and Advocate Involvement
- Improved Data and Transparency
- Ensuring Recommendation Implementation and Continuous Improvement
To operationalize these recommendations, the Advisory Panel, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, developed action items to be implemented in 2025 and 2026 supported by $1 million in funding in Mayor’s 2025/2026 biennial budget and an additional $250,000 from the 2024 budget. Both allocations were approved by the Seattle City Council.
“I am grateful for the Sexual Assault Advisory Panel’s dedicated service in helping the Seattle Police Department identify gaps and opportunities to upgrade our work, from investigations to victim care,” said SPD Chief Shon Barnes. “We look forward to continuously improving in 2026. When investigating sexual assault, there is no zero room for error. We owe it to victims to get this right.”
In addition to final Advisory Panel recommendations, Mayor Harrell worked with advocates and experts to strengthen, improve, and reform how the City investigates and addresses sexual assault. Under actions taken by Mayor Harrell’s administration, detective staffing in the sexual assault unit has more than doubled despite a historic 30-year low in police staffing; patrol officers receive trauma-informed training; and the City has increased investments in King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, the Sexual Violence Law Center, and the Seattle Indian Health Board.
The Advisory Panel conducted a thorough review of documentation related to SPD’s policies and procedures, materials concerning advocate-led case reviews, and documentation concerning victim support services. They also engaged a wide range of stakeholders and experts including SPD executives, SPD’s Sexual Assault Unit staff, the City’s Victim Support Advocates, the Women’s Law Center, and the Mayor’s Office for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Staff supporting the Advisory Panel conducted outreach with the Center for Policing Equity, the National Crime Victims Law Institute, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Research Forum, and the Austin Police Department, among other organizations. While the Advisory Panel’s focus was on SPD and City policy, they acknowledge that system-wide improvements across the prosecutors’ offices, the courts, and the corrections system were needed.
“We are pleased to see that many of the recommendations from the Sexual Assault Advisory Panel focus on empowering survivors,” said Tanya Kim, Director of the Seattle Human Services Department. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with SPD and community partners in an effort to more effectively help all survivors of sexual assault move toward healing and stability.”
The members of the advisory panel included:
- Megan Allen, Legal Advocacy Manager, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
- Michael Cervantes, Policy Manager, Seattle Indian Health Board
- George Gonzalez, Assistant Director, Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center
- Jackie Helfgott, PhD, Professor of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics; Director of the Crime & Justice Research Center, Seattle University
- Sara Mooney, Pro Bono Counsel, Sexual Violence Law Center
- Jennifer Wallace, Program Director – Sexual Assault, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
Detailed bios of advisory panel members available here.