Public Safety Archives - Office of the Mayor

Mayor Harrell Signs New Police Contact to Permanently Expand CARE Department, Strengthen Accountability, and Improve Recruitment

December 11, 2025

Approval reflects monumental, nation-leading step forward in diversified public safety response Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed a new contract with rank-and-file Seattle police officers that will allow for the permanent expansion and direct dispatch of the CARE department’s crisis responder teams, marking a significant milestone for efforts to… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Public Health, Public Safety

Mayor Harrell Signs City of Seattle’s 2026 Budget into Law

November 26, 2025

Seattle – This week, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the City of Seattle’s 2026 budget into law, totaling $8.9 billion in appropriations overall and $2.0 billion toward General Fund priorities. Passed unanimously by the City Council last week, the final budget preserves key priorities from the mayor’s proposed budget, including record… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Federal Response, Housing and Homelessness, Office of the Mayor, Public Safety

Mayor Harrell Celebrates CARE Department Two-Year Anniversary and Permanent Responder Program

October 23, 2025

Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell celebrated the two-year anniversary of the creation of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) department, combining Seattle’s 911 Center with the new Community Crisis Responder (CCR) team. Initially launched as a small team with limited hours and service area, CCRs steadily expanded in… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Public Safety

CARE’s NEXT PHASE: Mayor Harrell Delivers Permanent and Significant Expansion of Diversified Unarmed Response, Unlimited Crisis Responder Hiring, and Direct Dispatch for Thousands of Incidents

October 22, 2025

Under a new police contract negotiated by Mayor Harrell’s administration, Seattle’s CARE Department crisis response teams will permanently expand beyond the limited pilot that launched in October 2023 and continue shifting the public safety paradigm. New contract strengthens accountability with 180-day investigation timeline resolution, provides dual language and education incentives… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Citywide Strategy, Public Health, Public Safety

Mayor Harrell and City Council Proclaim October 2025 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Seattle”

October 16, 2025

Seattle—This week, Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council proclaimed October 2025 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Seattle,” and today, the Mayor’s office and City employees participated in “Purple Thursday” by wearing the color purple to raise awareness and honor survivors of domestic violence. Domestic Violence Awareness Month,… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Office of the Mayor, Public Safety

Statement from Mayor Bruce Harrell on Immigration Enforcement Advertisements

September 23, 2025

Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell made the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched recruitment ads: “The recent efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting Seattle Police officers in their recruiting campaign using misstatements of both law and fact is disappointing and insulting to the oath that… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Federal Response, Office of the Mayor, Public Safety

Mayor Harrell Announces Proposal to Double CARE Response, Invest in Public Safety and Treatment with New Revenue

September 18, 2025

Investments would allow for expansion of CARE Department responders and efforts, add new fire recruits, increase the post-overdose response team, and support community treatment and diversion programs. Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced his funding proposal to expand the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department and allow for… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Public Health, Public Safety

City of Seattle and Seattle Police Successfully Exit Consent Decree, Marking New Chapter of Accountability and Community Partnership

September 3, 2025

SEATTLE — The City of Seattle and its Police Department were released today from 13 years of federal oversight when Federal Judge James Robart of the Western District of Washington granted the City’s motion to terminate the consent decree. Judge Robart’s ruling that the City had met the terms of… [ Keep reading ]