Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson unveils plan to curb gun violence
Seattle Mayor Wilson unveils plan to curb gun violence
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has unveiled a new, five-page plan to address gun violence in Seattle, introducing "community violence interrupters, school programs and more bike patrols in an effort to decrease shootings.
SEATTLE - Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson released a new plan to tackle gun violence in the city, pairing a bigger police footprint and faster 911 responses with expanded youth programs and mental health resources.
The comprehensive strategy released Tuesday brings community violence intervention, emergency response, law enforcement, and social services together to deliver faster intervention and prevent future shootings. The announcement comes after calls for action following multiple recent shootings in Seattle, Belltown and the Bite of Seattle shooting.
The strategy also relies heavily on a model of "focused deterrence" that integrates response efforts between the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department.
Centralizing emergency response and enforcement
What they're saying:
Under the initiative, the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department – the city's third public safety branch alongside police and fire – will serve as the central command center for gun violence reduction strategies.
To speed up intervention, the plan integrates community violence interrupters directly into the 911 dispatch system. A proposed 2027 budget transfer will shift $5 million in Community Violence Intervention (CVI) contracts with nine community organizations from the Human Services Department (HSD) to CARE under Chief Amy Barden. This links CVI providers directly to emergency dispatch, hospital-based victim support at Harborview Medical Center, and targeted outreach for high-risk individuals.
Barden noted that her agency is intended to serve as the main coordinator for public health, community-based, and faith-based investments.
"It's not just about diverting from, it's about diverting to," Barden said. "That's what matters. You've got to incent the behaviors that you want to see."
The strategy also expands law enforcement presence as the Seattle Police Department continues to grow:
Targeted patrols
SPD will increase bicycle patrols in high-impact neighborhoods, including Belltown, North Aurora Avenue, Little Saigon and Rainier Beach.
Despite current police staffing constraints, Assistant Chief Nicole Powell expressed confidence in the initiative.
"This is realistic. We're using the resources that we already have available," Powell said, adding that staffing levels are expected to grow next year as new recruits complete the hiring process.
Focused enforcement
The SPD Narcotics Unit will align operations with the Community Response Group and Gun Violence Reduction Unit to target illegal firearm sellers and drug dealers.
Extreme risk protection orders
The plan sustains funding for a dedicated attorney in Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans’ office to file civil Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) petitions, taking firearms away from individuals posing significant community safety threats.
Expanded Crisis Hours
The Community Crisis Response operational hours now run from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily, following an expansion that nearly doubled the hours of service.
Administrative oversight at CARE will expand with a new Director of Gun Violence Reduction funded in 2026 and a Coordinator of Gun Violence Reduction slotted for 2027.
Tensions over gun violence flare between Seattle City Council, Mayor Wilson
The fight over public safety at Seattle City Hall is getting personal, with councilmembers publicly criticizing Mayor Katie Wilson as the city debates how to tackle gun violence.
Investing in Youth Programs and Prevention Services
The administration is directing key resources toward youth safety and early intervention to address risk factors before young people reach a crisis point.
Key investments and program expansions include:
- School and Community Support: Over $600,000 will fund an afterschool program pilot at Rainier Beach High School alongside expanded peer mentorship at the Rainier Beach Community Center.
- Safe Spaces for Teens: The city is sustaining its Teen Late Night pilot at High Point Community Center, bringing the total number of participating citywide sites to nine. The program offers recreational, educational, and mentorship activities for ages 13–19 on Friday and Saturday nights from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.
- Mental Health Resources: Free virtual mental health services are now available to all Seattle residents aged 13 to 24. Five new school-based health centers are opening in Seattle Public Schools, joining 21 existing centers.
- Workforce Opportunities: The plan expands paid internships through the Seattle Youth Employment Program, increases investments in union apprenticeship opportunities, and highlights two years of tuition-free higher education via the Seattle Promise Program at Seattle Colleges.
In addition, HSD’s Community Safety Network will add a Network Coordinator and Senior Data Analyst in the 2027–2028 budget to connect schools, service providers, and emergency responders under a unified framework.
Academic Partnerships and Homicide Reviews
To evaluate policy effectiveness and drive long-term systemic improvements, the city is establishing research partnerships with the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University.
Working with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, Seattle will launch Violence Reduction Councils (VRCs). These multidisciplinary panels—comprising public health, social services, and criminal legal system representatives—will conduct formal reviews of every homicide to identify operational failures and refine preventative services.
Concurrently, the city will collaborate with the University of Washington’s Center for Firearm Injury Prevention to map local prevention programs, establish baseline data, and address service gaps for populations most affected by firearm violence.
Advancing State Legislative Agenda
Led by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, the city plans to advocate for state-level legislation to strengthen firearm regulations and support localized prevention efforts.
The city's legislative agenda focuses on:
- Authorizing local authorities to restrict firearm possession in sensitive spaces, including parks, municipal buildings, and major public events with high youth attendance.
- Assessing venue-specific firearm regulations at Seattle Center in coordination with Rep. Liz Berry.
- Reevaluating juvenile firearm possession and sentencing laws alongside state lawmakers.
- Supporting a comprehensive safety strategy on Aurora Avenue North that combines gun violence prevention with human trafficking intervention, victim services, and transportation upgrades.
Mayor Wilson releases gun violence reduction plan for Seattle
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has released her gun violence reduction plan, saying that it is her responsibility to make communities in the city feel safe. She also said this plan is her taking action through a data-driven and coordinated plan that is using every tool available to try and reduce gun violence in Seattle.
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The Source: Information in this story comes from Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's Office.