Citywide crime’s up, neighborhood stats still in the works, as Seattle Police work on neighborhood ‘micropolicing’ plans

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

When Mayor Murray previewed his public-safety budget last Friday, our coverage noted his mention of “more than 100 micropolicing plans” in progress. Tonight, Seattle Police mentioned those plans in the context of the newest crime statistics.

The precinct-by-precinct crime-stats breakouts for May, June, July, and August aren’t out yet, but the citywide numbers are, and SPD Blotter reports they show an overall increase, led by a 44 percent citywide jump in auto theft. The SPD Blotter update also says: “The Department is using the crime data as part of a new program it’s launched, called SeaStat, that’s aimed at quickly addressing crime hotspots based on analysis of crime data and community reports of incidents.” In addition to computer analysis, “SeaStat also takes community views into account through regular meetings where the department can hear directly from residents if its efforts are working. The community feedback, and analysis of crime data, will be used to adjust the precinct community policing plans now under development.”

In West Seattle, local precinct leadership has been consulting neighborhood groups while drafting those plans. Just two examples: The North Delridge Neighborhood Council is looking for feedback from its community on the latest revision of a proposed North Delridge plan, linked from the NDNC website; and if you are in the Alki/Beach Drive area, the Alki Community Council is looking for feedback on that area’s draft plan when it resumes monthly meetings tomorrow night (Thursday 9/18, 7 pm, Alki UCC parlor, 6112 SW Hinds).

Meantime, we’re awaiting the precinct-specific (West Seattle and South Park comprise the Southwest Precinct) crime-data updates and could hear tomorrow (per our Twitter exchange with SPD, below) when that’ll be available:

@westseattleblog Don't have precinct data finalized yet but should be soon. We'll see if we can get an ETA tomorrow.

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) September 18, 2014

You can see the citywide updates on this page (which, at the bottom, links precinct-by-precinct data through April).

Brian September 18, 2014 (7:55 am)

Regarding the 44% increase in auto thefts, I’m interested in seeing these offenses broken down into “first time offenders” and “repeat offenders” so we can get a better look at which criminals we are repeatedly letting off the hook so they can offend again.

Frank Frankie September 18, 2014 (9:26 am)

Gentrification, handcuffing our police force (Justice Dept), revolving door policies of the courts = increase in crime. It’s pretty simple.

Brian September 18, 2014 (9:57 am)

This has nothing to do with the federal oversight of the SPD unless you mean how some officers outright refuse to do their jobs as some sort of civil protest.

Steven Gomez September 18, 2014 (10:47 am)

Most auto thieves aren’t getting caught.

wetone September 18, 2014 (3:57 pm)

Been saying for years on here how crime has been getting worse in this city, only to hear repeatedly that crime was on a down swing. Hum I guess it must be getting so bad SPD can’t deny/hide the truth anymore :) This city makes it way to easy for criminals to do as they wish with little or no repercussions. Normal business for this city. Now they will use this for another excuse to raise our taxes with promises of getting crime under control. Sad part is money won’t help. We need people in office to enforce the laws we have now, until then things will only get worse.