POLICE: Southwest Precinct windows boarded up

2:14 PM: Thanks for the tip: Windows on the two unfenced sides of the Southwest Precinct are being boarded up right now.

So far it’s just boards – no sign of the heavier fortification seen downtown. Protests previously have steered clear of this precinct, aside from the march from High Point on June 14 that stopped on Delridge yards short of the police building before heading north.

2:56 PM: A little more context – this is happening after Police Chief Carmen Best warned that a new city ordinance restricting what police can use for crowd control will result in “an adjusted deployment in response to any demonstrations this weekend.” She contends, “The Council legislation gives officers no ability to safely intercede to preserve property in the midst of a large, violent crowd.” Best and Mayor Durkan held a media briefing this morning in which they urged protesters to stop the violence, saying it’s distracting from their cause.

10:16 PM: At a federal court hearing tonight, a judge blocked the new city rule from taking effect. It’s complicated, as SCC Insight explains.

156 Replies to "POLICE: Southwest Precinct windows boarded up"

  • Yma July 24, 2020 (2:56 pm)

    No No No No No- These folks protect us. These folks have sat in coffee shops to talk with & engage the little ones. Big sigh – Yes- there are systemic problems, at the same time – these are really good people who are trying, trying, in West Seattle, to keep us safe. Go down & talk to them

    • Brian July 24, 2020 (9:29 pm)

      No thanks. Pretty sure the time for talk is long gone.

      • wscommuter July 24, 2020 (11:03 pm)

        @ Brian … really?  So what is your solution if talking is not an option for you?  I’m all ears.  

      • Alki July 24, 2020 (11:32 pm)

        The time for talk is never gone.

      • WTF July 25, 2020 (5:36 pm)

        You clearly are part of the problem.You keep chanting and endorsing violence and illegal activity while the real change makers DO something.

    • K July 25, 2020 (3:22 pm)

      White Center Area needs more police 👮‍♀️ presence. It would be helpful if the White Center Area had old fashion beat patrol officers 👮‍♀️ that would walk around the residential streets.  Maybe that way the community could connect positively with the police.Maybe if the police officers 👮‍♀️ would work with students in the Elementary and middle schools 🏫 on their reading and other academic skills and social emotional skills that might help change the way young children and police officers interact with each other versus having police officers act like police in a school setting.Most important is that they really need to train police 🚔 officers to not or speak so aggressive and teenager like towards people who they are attempting to communicate with.  I think there needs to be an Older age limit in order to become a police officer, I think 🤔 hiring people to become police officers when they are in their early 20s is too young and having an more mature person might be a better choice. It would be nice to clean up the White Center Area, there is way too many street people sleeping 😴 in front of business and in parking lots and alleys. Leaving their garage up and down the alleys and on sidewalks.There needs to be a group of people who are trained to work with special needs, on the autism spectrum, mental illness, etc.. when 911 is called instead of having police 🚔 show up to the calls.

  • West Seattle Hipster July 24, 2020 (3:06 pm)

    Any word on what will replace the precinct after it is closed permanently?

    • WSB July 24, 2020 (3:40 pm)

      As noted in another thread, there is no actual plan to close the precinct. The chief has speculated that COULD be a result IF the SPD budget is halved. (No actual plan for that is in writing so far either.)

    • Jort July 24, 2020 (3:55 pm)

      The precinct would only close if the mayor and the City Council decide it will be closed. Chief Best and the SPOG Union Chief don’t get to decide what closes and what doesn’t. What the police are doing is a scaremongering public relations campaign. The Chief and her employees are supposed to just do their friggin’ jobs and if they can’t handle criticism of their actions, then they need to grow up and find new jobs.

      • Jim July 24, 2020 (4:38 pm)

        The point being that the council removes pretty much all non lethal ways of dispersing rioters. It was idiocy at its finest from the council. So no, I don’t blame police for preparing for the worst. 

      • Sixbuck July 24, 2020 (4:41 pm)

        I think the police should just not show up to the protests. Let the protesters do what they will. The police should not be required to compromise their safety to appease the feckless city council and the ignorant public. 

      • WW Resident July 24, 2020 (5:42 pm)

        @Jort, yeah, like the city council were being grown ups with their emotional knee jerk reaction to defund the police by the arbitrary 50% without even looking at what that would do, who that would affect, what it would affect, no plan, just blabbering like petulant children. So I take it, you’re going downtown with the “grown ups” tomorrow to do “grown up” rioting? 

      • Bradley July 24, 2020 (7:07 pm)

        You obviusly don’t live downtown over threatened businesses or own a small store downtown. It’s easy to sit in a safe area and criticize Seattleites who don’t live in safe neighborhoods and don’t want police defunded.

        • heartless July 25, 2020 (7:02 pm)

          You’re hilarious.

          You managed to get it COMPLETELY backwards.

          Those who “don’t live in safe neighborhoods” are absolutely the biggest supporters of defunding.  Those out in the ‘safer’ suburbs?  Not so much.

          How funny.

          • Bradley July 25, 2020 (9:38 pm)

            Really? So my friends who live in Rainer Beach, where gun shots and assaults are a several-times-a-day occurrence, AREN’T terrified about the impending SPD defunding? My Sister-in-law who lives in Columbia City wants defunding? My tenants on the south end of Delridge aren’t literally trying to break their lease to escape the area over defunding? All of the above cannot afford to move. I’ve never seen a “defund SPD” sign during my thrice-weekly trips to Rainier Beach and Columbia City, but I’ve seen several in the filthy-rich areas of Laurelhurst, Magnolia, and Windermere. Perhaps you haven’t asked around enough?

          • heartless July 25, 2020 (10:26 pm)

            The plural of anecdote is not data.

            Denser areas by and large have more crime, denser areas by and large are more liberal, more liberal by and large means more support for defunding.

            If you don’t think Capitol Hill residents are more supportive of defunding than, say, Magnolia residents– you’re even nuttier than I thought you were.

          • WW Resident July 26, 2020 (4:53 am)

            Is this why the Seattle African American Advisory Council called out the city council for their knee jerk reaction to defund the police? Heartless, you might want to know something before you say something. 

          • Bradley July 26, 2020 (12:57 pm)

            Amen. African-American community leadership recently held a formal gathering and press conference to support Chief Carmen Best, who is 100% against any SPD defunding.

          • heartless July 26, 2020 (7:25 pm)

            I’m amused that you two, of all people, are suddenly supportive of Seattle having advisory councils.  How often you have complained about such things!  

            But, no, I stand by my statement–those who most support defunding the police are young and liberal, and those people overwhelmingly live in neighborhoods with more crime.
            And… those who live in sprawled out suburbs with less crime tend to be whiter and more conservative, and are less likely to support defunding. 

            This is such an amazingly obvious point that I find it truly absurd you’re arguing against it.

            Here!  Have some evidence: Recent survey of 36,000 people showed that abolishing the police (note: even more extreme than defunding) had the most support from those under 35, Democrats, and Blacks.  Who was least likely to support it?  Whites and Republicans (Hi Brad!). 

            Now, since you’re both a little slow at times, let me connect the dots for you…  Who tend to live in places like Belltown, Cap Hill, etc.?  HOLY $H-T IT’S YOUNGER LIBERALS!  And who tend to live in suburban areas with less crime?  Wow.  Could it be?  YES!  White republicans.

            Good talk.  Ciao.

          • Bradley July 27, 2020 (2:53 am)

            Please call 911 if you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or others.

          • WW Resident July 27, 2020 (12:06 pm)

            Hmmm the polls I have seen like this one day otherwise, but thanks for brushing off a council where they were concerned for the safety of their community for your “genius” https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/22/abolish-police-gallup-poll/%3foutputType=amp

          • heartless July 27, 2020 (10:07 pm)

            Actually no.

            If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, please call 1 800 273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) rather than 911.

            But at least you’re trying, Brad?  So good for you!

  • Brandon July 24, 2020 (3:07 pm)

    When this hits local residential neighborhoods it will set off a new reaction. No one is bothered by downtown until it hits their backyards. 

    • WS Longtimer July 24, 2020 (6:40 pm)

      I agree.  We are sorely on the wrong track if we lose the precinct in WS!  With the bridge closure for sure!  I hope West Seattleites take the time to reach out to City Council, Mayor’s, Governor’s office, where ever we need to to preserve our police department in WS and Seattle.  This is essential!

    • Bradley July 24, 2020 (9:42 pm)

      I couldn’t agree more!

    • candrewb July 25, 2020 (8:01 am)

      It was in front of Herbold’s house last night. Was that local enough for ya?

      • Darryll July 26, 2020 (9:24 am)

        What was in front of Herbold’s house last night?

  • D July 24, 2020 (3:16 pm)

    I hope everyone, especially those advocating defunding SPD, or encouraging all these adult size children throwing temper tantrums in the street, realize the consequences of recent actions. It’s all self-righteous virtue signalling and fun and games, until you are in distress and need to call 911.Hopefully you’ll never experience the adage that when seconds count, the police are minutes away. The way we’re going, when seconds count, the police are hours away, if at all. 

    • Jort July 24, 2020 (3:42 pm)

      If the police are so sensitive to cricitism that they intentionally delay their response times (aka stop doing their jobs), then they deserve to lose their jobs and be replaced. Maybe, if seconds really do count, they can spend a few seconds not boarding up their windows like drama queens.

      • WSB July 24, 2020 (4:37 pm)

        The boarding was not being done by police. The trucks were labeled Herzog Glsss (a Tukwila company).

        • Duffy July 24, 2020 (7:54 pm)

          Soooo, who is paying for this grandstanding? Extra taxpayer dollars to carry on this unnecessary crap?

          • 1994 July 24, 2020 (10:47 pm)

            We have seen what happened to the precinct on the hill….lots of damage. This crap is necessary to save tax dollars in the long term. Cheaper to board up the windows than replace them. Citizens need to stop the destruction.

          • The King July 25, 2020 (7:16 am)

            No grandstanding here, protests are expected to turn violent this weekend. More of downtown would be boarded up but Seattle has a plywood shortage. Federal enforcement has been sent here because the mayors summer of love ended when it got to close to her house. 

          • Wsprayers July 25, 2020 (8:53 pm)

            So i guess this is a planned violent thing troops landed last night there was talks about violence so yea they arw expexting it what does that mean? And does anyone realize what will happen if rioters get into federal buildings? And if we break full out into civil war?

          • Bradley July 25, 2020 (1:21 pm)

             “Unnecessary crap”? Uh…..have you seen the glass damage photos from the East and West Precincts and courthouse? Those giant windows at our SW Precinct are FAR more expensive than the plywood that will protect them. 

        • D July 24, 2020 (11:01 pm)

          @WSB  Please tell me you are not that naive… Herzog Glass didn’t just decide to drive on up here and board the building up. You do realize that SPD (or the city) contracted that out? Seriously? Please tell me that your argument that the SPD didn’t board up their precinct is predicated solely on the fact that the people doing the work were not SPD….

          • WSB July 24, 2020 (11:50 pm)

            Don’t be insulting. Jort’s comment “Maybe, if seconds really do count, they can spend a few seconds not boarding up their windows like drama queens” was written as if s/he was suggesting that officers themselves were out doing the boarding. Having been there and seen that non-city crews were doing the work, I pointed that out. Of course it’s on the city’s dime regardless of who’s doing the work.

      • D July 24, 2020 (10:58 pm)

        @Jort Are you so willfully blinded by your hatred of law & order that you think the SPD would intentionally delay their response? Seriously? It’s simple space/distance/time… If they close the West Precinct, where do you think they will be responding from? It will be further away, hence the delay.Also, you do realize the reason the windows were boarded up was to protect the facility from damage from people throwing temper tantrums (i.e. rioters). Or, do you prefer they NOT engage the whining children, and let them destroy the building, which then YOU (and I) will have to pay to fix/rebuild? Or are you not a tax paying Seattle resident? 

        • Zark00 July 25, 2020 (1:34 pm)

          Best has already threatened very long response times if we don’t just do whatever the cops say. Response time are already artificially highlight now. SPD is already doping what you claim they would never do.Buildings have insurance, people’s lives do not. SPD prioritizes the protection of property over the protection of people. That should be a problem to you.

    • WS Longtimer July 24, 2020 (6:21 pm)

      D,. I wholeheartedly AGREE!    On top of pandemic let’s just throw some more to fire, with all this utter nonsense. This is a mess proposing to get rid of a precinct with crisis and chaos at hand.  It’s like can we make it any worse, people afraid, sick, dying, lost jobs, income, no schools, stress, idiotic Prrsident, inconsistencies from govt, etc..  protestors spreading Covid…..now let’s top it all off so no one gets their needs met under critical times and defund our only way to have help when we need it.  Total insanity!!  The whole idea of social workers to handle anything the police deals with is just utter nonsense!  This is so out of hand and spiraling big time out of major control.  Oh, the ego headed who pushed for this well, maybe may they never have a need for their big heads!

      • D July 24, 2020 (11:08 pm)

        @WS LONGTIMER  The people who make the decisions (council members, mayor, governor) will NEVER experience the ramifications of their decisions. I believe there are a number of things within policing as a whole that are seriously broken and need to be fixed. However, the immediate jump to “Police bad… defund… riot…” mentality is NOT the way to go about it. It’s a seriously shortsighted approach which ignores the long term consequences of decisions of this magnitude. It is a complex problem (deeply woven into society), and the “easy button” response, while attractive, isn’t the answer. The solution will take time, and calm, to figure out. However, those that want to express their rage and implement an immediate solution, are going to end up hurting themselves in the long term by the results.

  • Jort July 24, 2020 (3:23 pm)

    Such drama queens. For people who often claim a public image of toughness and grit, the police have incredibly thin skins to any kind of criticism and these kinds of histrionic displays are a great example. Ooga booga! Antifa’s comin’ to Delridge! Better begin the fortifications! 

    • Anne July 24, 2020 (3:42 pm)

      Wow- I truly feel sorry for you Jort. 

      • mok4315 July 24, 2020 (4:45 pm)

        We usually just tend to ignore Jort. Just let him/her do their Jort thing. 

        • WS Longtimer July 24, 2020 (6:03 pm)

          Please Jort, Really??  Your negative rambling on is getting annoying.  You think you know everything.  Many people are in need monetarily with this pandemic , and we need the precinct in WS.  Covid is only growing and hardship is worsening. West Seattle needs this precinct, crime could only rise under these conditions.  Please show respect. 

          • CS July 24, 2020 (7:57 pm)

            I don’t see anything wrong with what jort said. The police are acting like prima donnas, boarding up the windows of a precincts that’s had no issues is overkill. They’re trying to scare us

          • KM July 25, 2020 (9:21 am)

            My favorite is when someone built concrete walls around other precincts and took over sidewalks to do so, rendering them useless. I’m sick of funding these law-breaking, armed, fragile babies. 

        • wscommuter July 24, 2020 (11:06 pm)

          Precisely.  The trolls troll.  Not worth responding to.

    • Brandon July 24, 2020 (4:47 pm)

      Oh Jort (in my best Dan Ackroyd impression). Take a moment and hit up #Seattleprotests on Twitter. You might be shocked at what the police absorb.  

    • nonni July 25, 2020 (7:49 am)

      and when QFC Westwood boarded up their windows, were they being drama queens?

  • Jort July 24, 2020 (3:45 pm)

    Ah, now I see the context from the Chief, who somehow made this look even worse in saying that that gosh-darn City Council has prevented them from using violent tactics on protestors, so now they have to have performative fortification art on the outsides of their facilities to make it look like they are indefensibly under seige. This drama queen garbage makes them look like incredible, inconsolable whiny crybabies. Boarding up the Delridge precinct because someone said you can’t shoot pepper balls and indiscriminantly tear gas people protesting police brutality? Good lord, what drama queens.    

    • Mark Schletty July 24, 2020 (5:03 pm)

      ???  Is this the same authoritarian Jort that is always demanding that the cops strictly enforce the letter of every law? Ticket for 1 mph over the limit, for every car on the lower bridge, for anyone who didn’t stop quick enough for a red light, demands traffic cameras on every corner, etc. etc.  Now he projects himself and calls the cops “incredible, inconsolable whiny crybabies” for trying to protect taxpayer-paid-for property in case things go south this weekend. Jort, I’m afraid you are way beyond any hope for rational thought.

    • A July 24, 2020 (5:19 pm)

      Jort- you are either a troll or you are a really sad person. Either way, I hope you find peace in your life. Thanks to the men and women in blue who protect us and sacrifice their lives for our well being. Their are so many more of us that support you than there are the vocal minority that are screaming at you. We will have your backs if and when you need us

      • Support, NOT jort July 24, 2020 (8:10 pm)

        +1000

      • Sam-c July 25, 2020 (7:24 am)

        Jort has been trolling for many, many years.   

        • heartless July 25, 2020 (6:02 pm)

          Pfft, Jort has been PREACHING for many, many years.

  • Josh July 24, 2020 (3:46 pm)

    President Kennedy famously said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

  • TreeHouse July 24, 2020 (3:51 pm)

    Nobody has even been protesting at the southwest precinct! This is a dumb performance art stunt. The police need to start acting like adults and holding their people accountable. Grow up Chief Best!

    • WSB July 24, 2020 (4:17 pm)

      As we noted. The mid-June protest approached the precinct’s Delridge side (we were there reporting on it), and leaders yelled toward it for a but they then resumed marching, north on Delridge to end at Boren.

      • momof3boys July 25, 2020 (10:01 am)

        And apparently they were near south park last night. Never say never. A bit of plywood is a LOT cheaper than the cost of replacing those huge windows. Seriously, You think this is because officers have “thin-skins”?  I’d like to see how you’d respond to calls to “eat your gun” “kill your family first.”

        • North Delridge July 25, 2020 (1:52 pm)

          I watched several nights of protests via livestreams of what was going on pre-CHOP at Capitol Hill. The police are absolutely the thin-skinned ones here, they indiscriminately tear gassed, pepper balled and terrorized the protestors with no provocation before any of their actions.  A girl was nearly killed when shot with a rubber bullet at point blank on one of the nights the cops chose to act first and start tear gassing Captiol Hill. I agree with the others too, this is all just a stunt to rile up the pearl clutchers. There won’t be any big scary protests here.

        • heartless July 25, 2020 (2:34 pm)

          I’d like to see how you’d respond to calls to “eat your gun” “kill your family first.””

          I’d tear gas them and then rush in and hit them a bunch with my baton!  That’s what I’d do!

          Oh.  Wait.  No, if I did that I’d get arrested and thrown in jail. 

          I guess I’d respond by flipping them off and walking away. I’m curious though–how would you respond?

          • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (8:32 pm)

            If someone was yelling those words at me or my family, and threatening us or our house with a brick, bat, metal bar, or torch, I would get away and call the police. And while my id would no doubt want a certain outcome, I need to trust the institution (for better or worse). It is this loss of trust from some within our community that is being raised loud. I would be terrified if I could not trust those who are meant to protect me. That is real. But does not provide permission to participate in the actions of which we ourselves want to be protected.

          • Darryll July 26, 2020 (9:32 am)

            The protesters should demonstrate with the behaviors they want police to use. Using violence to protest violence shows their true intentions and underscores that they have no ideas, only complaints. This is why voting is so important. 

          • WW Resident July 26, 2020 (4:56 am)

            Heartless, you wouldn’t respond with anything, because you’d never do such a thankless job. It’s much easier to be armchair quarterbacking and pontificating from a keyboard

  • AB83 July 24, 2020 (4:07 pm)

    My girlfriend works at Home Depot she said they’re boarding up the windows as well

    • WSB July 24, 2020 (4:15 pm)

      Thanks, we’ll take a look when we go back to check on the final extent of the precinct boarding (which was still in progress when we took these photos).

      • AB83 July 24, 2020 (5:05 pm)

        Never mind she was mistaken sorry for the false information

    • where? July 24, 2020 (9:18 pm)

      I think they have skylights at that home depot!?

  • MrsT July 24, 2020 (4:08 pm)

    I am not at all impressed with the scare tactics the City is using to try to end this push for Police Reform. If they can’t kill with impunity and deploy chemical warfare against citizens they won’t protect anybody? This is a moment of reckoning for entire country on the issues of racism, police brutality, and systematic racism. It is beyond time for both sides to grow up, show some emotional and intellectual honesty, and make some meaningful compromises towards solving these issues. I have several ideas if anyone is interested :p 

    • StoneBuddha July 24, 2020 (5:16 pm)

      I would love to read your ideas.

    • Canton July 24, 2020 (10:58 pm)

      Would be great to hear what ideas you propose. 

  • River July 24, 2020 (4:12 pm)

    Defund Dow and Durkin’s personal security details NOW!

    • heartless July 24, 2020 (5:02 pm)

      Yeah!  Let’s threaten people!  WAY TO GO, RIVER!

      • River July 24, 2020 (6:56 pm)

        Who’s threatening?  I suggest those resources be put to use in under-served communities.  There’s no need for police in future Seattle, don’t you know?

        • heartless July 24, 2020 (9:01 pm)

          Who’s threatening?”

          You were, obviously.  Why play coy all of a sudden?  Afraid your mother will be disappointed in you? 

    • Russell July 24, 2020 (5:46 pm)

      Defund your access to the internet NOW!

      • River July 24, 2020 (8:24 pm)

        Thanks Russ but I pay for my own.  Have a job ya know.  You should look into it.

    • Smittytheclown July 25, 2020 (6:45 am)

      Exactly.  “Good for me, but not for thee”.

  • Brandon July 24, 2020 (4:50 pm)

    Seattle is an easy target. Let’s see them take on eastern Washington and Idaho 

    • heartless July 24, 2020 (9:03 pm)

      The question is, why would anyone want to?

    • Brian July 24, 2020 (9:31 pm)

      Who is “them”? ANTIFA HQ?    

  • Julia July 24, 2020 (5:00 pm)

    I’m with Jort. Drama queens and big old babies is what immediately came to mind.

  • FedUp July 24, 2020 (5:02 pm)

    There seems to be some difference in opinion about what the ordinance means. Would love to have more information. From what I understand, the SPD has accountability concerns from the DOJ re: excessive force and biased policing. As they near the end of this oversight, they once again use excessive force on peaceful protesters. So now, if I understand it, the new ordinance says that someone actually has to be committing a crime if the SPD wants to use some non-lethal weapons on that person. Ummmm….this actually seems exactly right. I can’t understand why the police will refuse respond to crimes being committed simply because we have said you can’t beat on someone that isn’t committing a crime. Seriously? 

    • WSB July 24, 2020 (6:59 pm)

      Here’s the actual ordinance.

      I’m sorry we don’t have any archived coverage – all the West Seattle protests have been nonviolent and so crowd control hasn’t been an issue in our coverage. More background in this Times story from earlier in the week when the judge overseeing the consent decree declined to take the mayor and chief’s side opposing the new rule.

  • StoneBuddha July 24, 2020 (5:05 pm)

    There’s a lot here. I do feel sorry for most of the police, who are just doing there jobs. Last year (before the crazy), I was crossing a street by Lake Union, and there was a young cop directing traffic. I don’t remember their words, but a car drove by yelling at him and spitting. As I waited for the stop light to clear, I felt the need to apologize. His response, “it’s the job.” He was a POC, and the car looked to be POCs. I was also at a few days of the protests, and saw some folks throw projectiles and punch the cops. In the few cases I saw, none of the police reacted. I always left before the rubber bullets and tear gas. We are advocating for change in an institution that most agree, including the police, needs to change. However, we’re doing it by asking people (yes, police are people) to stand there and take a beating (now without tools), small business owners to allow us to break into their shops and set them alight, and for other groups to take on the anxiety of their protectors distracted…. I think the police will continue to show up, because “it’s the job.” I think some small businesses will rebuild, and we’ll learn to protect each other in community. But we won’t be ok. Some are fine with that, but I’m not sure we should be. We need to go back to kindergarten, apparently, and remind ourselves that “two wrongs, don’t make a right,” and “do unto others….” Lastly, I challenge the over use of the word “mostly” when describing the protests. If a protest includes violence, it’s a violent protest. That’s it. To think otherwise, belittles the experience of those who are having their livelihoods broken into and damaged, and the people (police and protesters) who are getting really, physically hurt. Let’s not forget that we just rightfully shutdown our economy and made sweeping irreversible cultural changes for a disease that is mostly safe.

    • mok4315 July 24, 2020 (9:43 pm)

      Couldn’t agree with you more, very well said. 

    • Pelicans July 24, 2020 (9:43 pm)

      SB, I read your thoughtful post, and agree with most of it, but what does POC stand for?

      • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (6:42 am)

        Thank you for the kind words. POC is Person / People of Color. Recently updated to BIPOC, which is Black, Indigenous and / or Person of Color. 

    • momof3boys July 25, 2020 (10:05 am)

      Agreed. What a delightfully, reasoned statement. Thank you!

  • PedroTheLion July 24, 2020 (5:07 pm)

    It’s really pretty simple; the police no longer have any reasonable means of dispersing rioters. The rioters know this, and will go about destroying property with impunity (like the other night). The rioters also use well intentioned, but clueless and naive peaceful protestors as cover. Because of this, it’s very likely Seattle will burn this weekend; and then everyone will blame the police for being too soft. Here’s a good idea; protest to your hearts content during the day, and shut it down by 6. There is no valid, legitimate reason for protesting late into the evening. And of course, it’s the evening when the violence typically escalates. If you are peaceful and want to protect this city, that’s the way to go. Otherwise, you are a pawn of the rioters, plain and simple. Yes, we all know you have a right to protest, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions; but just because you can do something doesn’t mean it’s right or a good idea. Here, late evening protests are counter productive – unless your goal is putting the police in the position of choosing between letting the city burn or indiscriminately going after a mass of rioters and protestors. The police are not the enemy. They are by and large good and even great people trying to do a tough job.  They are our neighbors, family, and friends. The peaceful protestor are not the enemy. They too are our neighbors, family, and friends.The rioters, on the other hand, are the enemy of the people and should be dealt with as such. 

    • Panoptikon July 24, 2020 (9:04 pm)

      1000 Thumbs Up!!!

    • John July 25, 2020 (7:49 am)

      Thank you, well said!

  • Mj July 24, 2020 (5:30 pm)

    Enough already.  Polarized politics is not helping at all.  Everyone needs to be held accountable for their actions.  

  • Peter July 24, 2020 (5:43 pm)

    Are they afraid the big bad wolf will huff and puff and blow their house down?

  • Doh July 24, 2020 (5:55 pm)

    Chief Best’s scare tactics are very revealing: “officers [have] no ability to safely intercede to preserve property.”  The #1 priority of the police ought to be to preserve the safety of every person in the community. If the police take out a person’s eye with a rubber bullet (or worse) in order to preserve a few windows, I’d say the windows aren’t worth it.  The disregard for human life in order to protect property is exactly how we got here.

    • Terri July 24, 2020 (7:18 pm)

      Agree. Their priorities are totally skewed. My hope is that if the police do stand down, there will actually be less property damage. The alternative will just feed into Trump’s narrative. 

    • Jul n Jer July 24, 2020 (8:12 pm)

      I agree wholeheartedly. It’s absurd for our police dept and those Homeland Security as#holes to publicly state that they prioritize property over people. At the very least, they could just stop a saying the quiet parts out loud.

      • PedroTheLion July 24, 2020 (11:50 pm)

        Your false dichotomy is absurd. According to you, if police protect property in any way, they’ve somehow prioritized people over property. People have a right to have their property protected from thieves and vandals. It’s a hallmark of a civilized society. Take away that notion, and you get what happened on Capitol Hill earlier this week. Fires and looting. And the police are the bad guys here? There is a better way. And the police are only a small part of the problem; and far and away do more good than harm. Do they have a lot of room for improvement? Of course. The same can be said (and then some) with regard to the people the police encounter every day in their jobs.

  • Doug July 24, 2020 (6:16 pm)

    Meanwhile, nothing but silence from Lisa Herbold and her city council friends.

    • WS Rez July 26, 2020 (1:05 am)

      Meanwhile, people like @Doug in the name of the patriarchy continue to bash Lisa Herbold who is actually being thoughtful and researching solutions. An analysis of 911 calls Lisa requested showed that half were “non-criminal”. Lisa contends that reallocating funds to agencies better equipped to support non-criminal calls actually “supports policing by allowing them to focus the work they do” on where they’re truly needed. I’m with Lisa.

  • Really July 24, 2020 (7:55 pm)

    I support the SPD

  • Me July 24, 2020 (8:35 pm)

    It’s clear some of you aren’t business owners. People are having their livelihoods destroyed, and yet because it isn’t a person being injured it doesn’t matter? Grow up. I’d like SPD to enforce all of the laws and that includes holding people accountable for property damage. Why should these losers be able to smash windows and throw things at officers? What is that accomplishing? The biggest winers in this whole situation are the “protestors” who are causing damage and then complaining about the consequences. This city is continuing to allow this to go on. Where is the leadership in this city? SPD has the hardest job right now as their hands are completely tied. 

    • ~Hockeywitch~ July 24, 2020 (10:34 pm)

      I agree with you 100%.

      • Me July 25, 2020 (5:56 am)

        I am so over these people justifying the destruction of our city. Yes, our city. One of the reporters on today’s press conference (the first question asked of Durkan and Best) was how much the barricades around the west precinct cost the city? Excuse me? That cost is nothing compared to the overtime we’re paying officers to work these “protests”, cleaning up the damage caused by rioters, among other things. People need to educate themselves on what’s going on and stop accepting that this is ok. I have stayed silent this whole time but I am so sick of it. This isn’t justice. These people causing destruction aren’t helping anyone.

    • MG July 25, 2020 (7:55 am)

      The police have had their hands tied with the enforcement of riot cotrol.  They should do what happens elsewhere. Use water Cannon’s and blast them away.  Any judge that allows a lawsuit to continue that specifically allows a protester to receive award for damages done by police control should be disbarred.  It’s time to aggressively stop this nonsense.  

  • wseaturtle July 24, 2020 (9:07 pm)

    I don’t understand.  They’re saying, because the Police cannot use pepper spray/tear gas, the Police  have no way to protect property?  I don’t get it. If an officer sees damage being done, isn’t it his job to put that person under arrest? And, if the person refuses to comply, it is his job to put him in submission.  Where does pepper spray and tear gas fit into this equation?  

    • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (6:51 am)

      Mine isn’t a great reply, but as I understand it, it is a question of scale. Crowd control tools allow police to influence a very large group, with relatively few officers. In the case of the protests where people are actively disrupting police making violence, arson, and property arrests, the SPD uses the tools to keep the crowds back. Where things get wonky is crowd control is messy, literally, and not precise. The gas is a gas, so is indiscriminate, and rubber bullets and bean bags don’t fire like real bullets. They are much more prone to environmental disruption, and get off target, assuming they were aimed well in the first place. I’m sure if this were just an “arrest the arsonists, vandals” situation, standard kit and the usual SOP of overwhelming force would be fine. Just can’t do that with an understaffed and demoralized police.

    • PedroTheLion July 25, 2020 (7:19 am)

      I am glad you raised this issue; because people need to understand. In the situation you describe – one individual acting out – crowd control measures are unnecessary. In situations like we had on Capitol Hill earlier this week, where 100+ people were looting and committing arson, the options are either: (1) crowd control measures like tear gas to disperse the large group (and ideally arrest individuals as the group breaks apart) or (2) an all out melee, with night sticks and batons on the part of police going toe to toe against 100+ rioters using what ever tools and weapons they have. I’d choose option (1) any day of the week. (And yes, there is a third option – the police could do nothing and just let rioters run wild and destroy other people’s propery and lives, while terrorizing them in the process – but that is unacceptable). In short, crowd control measures are sometimes necessary in the real world.Unfortunately, city counsel lives in a bubble of selfish, ego driven idealism and doesn’t believe the real world exists. 

    • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (7:21 am)

      One small addition, but this, I think, is important. You use “his” when describing the police, and most police are male, however, SPD has as recently as last year become known for actively recruiting women, with more than a quarter of some departments female. Not to mention it has a female POC chief, and 40% of its leadership are women (as of the figures I saw for last year). SPD also has a ways to go, but does have an increasing number of POCs, hence the hullabaloo around last in, first out. So, when we are talking about SPD, we are not talking about a bunch of over-muscled, scary white men. We are also talking about our neighbors, sisters, mothers, brothers. I haven’t been able to find it again, but I will share if I can. But the Times posted a picture recently of a police line during Chop that really enforced this point for me. It included a wide menagerie of people, non of which I would label Cop if passing in the street.

  • M July 24, 2020 (9:16 pm)

    Just saw on a Twitter feed that DOJ is asking for temporary restraining order on the new directive the city council approved. It goes against the agreement in the consent decree. Judge Robart has to rule on it.

  • Question Authority July 24, 2020 (9:19 pm)

    It’s absolutely incredible that some people do not see the need for boarding up the SW Precinct.  If it gets destroyed by (rioters) as real protesters do not lite fires and break windows, there will be no hub for all the 911 responses in the area.  Destroying City, State or Federal property serves no real purpose and hurts all of society in the long run. Some wonder who pays for boarding it up, we all do because of the actions of punks on a rampage.

  • WSB July 24, 2020 (9:55 pm)

    We’ll be updating above too, but to the point of the chief’s contention – a federal judge tonight granted a federal motion to stop the tear gas (etc.) ban.
    https://crosscut.com/2020/07/judge-blocks-seattles-ban-tear-gas-other-crowd-control-weapons

    • Tracey July 25, 2020 (6:11 am)

      Thank goodness for some sanity in all of this.  Thank you DOJ and SPD.

  • B July 24, 2020 (10:07 pm)

    Thank god!! SPD gets their crowd control back! Thank you DOJ!

    • Brian July 25, 2020 (9:39 am)

      Yes. Thank god for war crimes.   You’re an absolute monster.

  • ro July 24, 2020 (10:52 pm)

    You all need the SPD if you like it or not i support them 1000% thank God for them ,what happen if there is a school shooting who is running in to that building ? that is right none of you but the SPD , Be careful what you wish for .

    • pilsner July 25, 2020 (9:24 am)

      For reals. Cops aren’t bad. Racist people are bad.

  • Smartbutt July 24, 2020 (10:53 pm)

    The hoodlums are heading this way.   Release the Kraked Bridge!

  • Mel July 24, 2020 (11:00 pm)

    Is the Delridge precinct under credible threat of vandalism/property destruction? It certainly does not appear that way to me. Is every precinct in SEA boarding up?  It is hard not to interpret Best’s comments to be “If we can’t potentially kill rioters, then we are defenseless.” Really? Nothing in between? It’s only the threat of death that allows you to do crowd control? Even beating the tar out of someone is not sufficient?

    • WSB July 24, 2020 (11:52 pm)

      I asked SPD that question. No reply.

  • Ghost of America's Past July 25, 2020 (1:34 am)

    Since there is so much discussion on riots here, a Martin Luthor King Jr quote on rioting is appropriate:”…I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air.
    Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be
    condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a
    riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has
    failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor
    has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the
    promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to
    hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about
    tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and
    humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are
    caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America
    postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences
    of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress
    are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”

    • PedroTheLion July 25, 2020 (7:07 am)

      And sometimes a riot is just a riot fueled by angry, frustrated, immature, selfish, self-entitled, naive individuals. The rioters we have seen are not making some political statement, so let’s not legitimize or politicize what they are doing. They are people doing bad things out of ignorance (at best) or knowing bad intent. Moreover, much of what we have seen in the way of rioting is by white males in their 20s, i.e., the so-called privileged class. So please, don’t try to sell me on the false notion that rioting is somehow someone else’s fault. It is a choice – and a bad one at that – made by a lot of adult children acting out. 

    • Hammer In Hand July 25, 2020 (8:05 am)

      Yell, scream, jump up and down, wave your hands, Stomp your feet… all good and well!Pick up a rock, garbage can, smash a window and steal what is not yours you are going to Jail for the crime committed plain and simply. Even the poor, underservered, those  Out of work underpaid understand thisprotest all you want, do the crime, do the time

    • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (8:23 am)

      The challenge here is that justice is not a moral constant, and progress only a description of movement, not direction. I’m a fan of Dr. King, so this is not meant to be a slight on his eloquence, but the last sentence really should be, “homogeneity is the absolute guarantee….” Since that is not going to happen – as aren’t we doing what we are in the name of diversity – then I think protest and revolution are here to stay. To Dr. King’s point, it is how the population tells leadership what they find absolutely important at this moment. I add that last, as there have been protests in the past for more police and crime prevention. What we have now is the catalyst of time. Covid has given a lot of people a lot of time to express just how upset we are.

  • Martin July 25, 2020 (6:36 am)

    1. Protest peacefully2. Register to vote3. Research the candidates4. Vote you conscienceWe are still a country of laws. Laws are created by elected officials. Vote for candidates you believe will implement the change you desire. Protesting is meaningless unless you VOTE !

  • anonyme July 25, 2020 (7:31 am)

    Police precincts are publicly owned taxpayer-funded facilities.  To not protect them would be negligent.  It is not a political statement.  The hysteria and hyperbole are unjustified and just adding fuel to the flames.

  • ScubaFrog July 25, 2020 (9:12 am)

    I haven’t seen any “rioters” in West Seattle.  According to many of the posters in this thread, the sky is falling, antifa’s a murderous death cult (much worse than the murderous, white supremacist hate groups who’ve done the mass-shootings in trump’s name), and they’re going to burn WS to the ground — and the police can’t stop them (oh and the SW Precinct is “shuttered because it’s closing”).  It would appear facts don’t account to much to many of these posters.  Mass Stupidity Strikes Again!  Replace trump with chief best/durkan and you’ve got 2 educated authoritarians who pack much more potency than trump ever did.

  • Brandon July 25, 2020 (9:47 am)

    As Rodney King stated “Can’t we all just get along?”

  • Moses887 July 25, 2020 (10:20 am)

    Very scary.  Some of my West Seattle neighbors have had attempted break-ins recently.  I am mobility impaired and now find it necessary to purchase a gun for protection.  Gun shops in Seattle are literally sold out of any smaller hand guns- anyone know of a gun shop in the Seattle area that still has some stock left?

    • Friend O'Dinghus July 25, 2020 (10:40 am)

      Some of your neighbors have had attempted home break-ins Moses887? Were they run-of-the mill burglaries, or were the residents present inside the home when this was happening? Can you provide us all more details like times, dates, neighborhood (or even better closest major cross street(s), description of the break-in(s), descriptions of the perpetrators? Thanks for the extra help so we can all be best informed and best prepared.

  • Lagartija Nick July 25, 2020 (11:14 am)

    It’s clear that quite a lot of you have lost your grip on reality. Buildings destroyed? When? Where? The Federal Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed when McVeigh blew it up. Graffiti and broken windows are vandalism, not destruction. Get some perspective. Similarly, a lot of you talk like SPD has been defunded already and the West Seattle precinct has already closed. There is no actual proposal to defund the SPD and there is no actual proposal to close the WS precinct. Please come back to reality. 

    • Me July 25, 2020 (2:44 pm)

      Lagartjja Nick- have you not seen capital hill? Amazon go, Whole Foods, uncle Ike’s, among others. They’ve had a lot of destruction. Just because they aren’t burned to the ground doesn’t make it acceptable. Do you condone this type of behavior? 

      • Lagartija Nick July 25, 2020 (3:31 pm)

        What I don’t condone is hyperbole. All of those buildings are still standing and can easily be repaired. They have emphatically not been destroyed. Do you think buildings are more important than people? I don’t. Furthermore, most of those buildings that were vandalized were targeted for a reason. Uncle Ike’s was involved in a long standing dispute with their black neighbors over gentrification of the 23rd and Union neighborhood. The clothing store (Nova I think) was owned by the wife of the cop that killed Charlena Lyles. Amazon has done more to destroy low income housing and neighborhoods in our city than anyone. So yes, those places were targeted. Do I like it? No, but I understand it. And frankly, you should be more upset that protests against police brutality were met with even more police brutality than a few buildings being vandalized.

        • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (6:58 pm)

          Since you dislike hyperbole, I challenge your last statement. While some people did get hurt (including police) it is my opinion that it doesn’t raise to the level of “brutality.” At least not broad sweeping brutality by a whole organization. It was a reaction to violence and property damage initiated by people within the protest. There are several comments explaining why the police and their tools are / were necessary, so I will not belabor. However, how would you, specifically, address the situation? Please don’t say you would let the damage happen because “it’s just property.” Buildings have value – not as much as individuals – that represents significant effort of humans to create and maintain. The destruction of property not only damages a building, it negates the very human reality of time and resources. No one gets to destroy some else’s effort, including police, people protesting, or kids smashing mailboxes. My idea would be to hold the organizers legally and financially liable for damage done during the event. That would require self-policing, and, I surmise, a very real lesson in the importance of professionals. I hold up CHOP as Exibit A.

          • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (8:11 pm)

            I was too glib and apologize. I cannot speak to the individual motivations of each officer. I am 100% certain there were police who were switched on, angry, and looking to hurt people. I have no doubt they were brutal, should be called out, and fired. Personally, I believe becoming a gun-carrying cop should be one of the hardest jobs to get in the U.S., and require special forces level training. I also believe Patrol should be unarmed, similar to the British models. That being said, my comment is directed to “brutality” being broadly used to describe the use of rubber bullets and tear gas by police protecting city and private property, and attempting to maintain order. I’m pretty sure this would be a similar outcome across the pond.

          • Lagartija Nick July 25, 2020 (9:21 pm)

            Perhaps the police could actually arrest the vandals instead of wasting their time pepper spraying peaceful protesters? I watched the news video of tonight’s protests, while the construction trailers were being set on fire the cops were pepper spraying the crowd. All you law and order types always ignore this. The cops are so busy trying to control a crowd they can’t, or won’t arrest the people who are actually commiting crimes. This is unacceptable and partly what the defund idea is all about.

        • Rick July 25, 2020 (7:16 pm)

          “Peacefully protesting”. Unless you don’t agree with me. Then I can burn,loot and murder with the approval of the pc government of seattle. Try it with the tables turned. When the gov,mayor, council are running to cover their political hides, it will be a different story. I can guarantee that.

        • Darryll July 26, 2020 (9:49 am)

          The logic is astounding, Nick. Just to test it a bit, can we come and break your windows tonight? Steal your stuff? We promise your building will still be standing; it will just be in need of some repairs. It’s ok because we’re just upset about the policies that you don’t control. 

  • Stevie J July 25, 2020 (11:27 am)

    The police responded to protests against police brutality and executions of black Americans in the streets with more police brutality. Now there are protests against the federal government’s involvement in unconstitutional arrests, abductions, and violence against protestors and journalists. I envy the ignorant bliss and privilege of anyone calling these protestors “childish” and “clueless”. The internet you are using to comment makes reading about the history of racism in America  easier than ever. 

    • foe no July 25, 2020 (2:02 pm)

      Well said

    • Me July 25, 2020 (2:49 pm)

      Stevie j- sorry but these people are childish. On Sunday and Wednesday there was a ton of property damage. You really think these people are getting their point across? I think the difference is that those causing destruction don’t have a cause. They’re just out there to wreak havoc. I live in the real world and am far from privileged. I don’t want police defunded as someone in a lower income neighborhood. It seems to be the “privileged” people who think they know best about what we want/need in our communities. 

      • Stevie J July 25, 2020 (4:08 pm)

        So what you’re saying is it’s not protestors who are doing the “rioting”? Please clarify when you say “these people” and don’t discredit those who aren’t causing trouble. Please don’t blame legitimate protestors and their causes for the issues caused by outside agitators. Unfortunately the efforts of 99% of peaceful protestors can be outweighed by the 1% whose actions look bad on cable news. I’m not sure what you expect the peaceful protestors to do when faced with “these people”.

        The police are the only social service left in a lot of America. Previous generations of politicians were happy to defund mental health, defund transit, and defund public housing. They were happy to unconstitutionally segregate housing, bulldoze black neighborhoods and businesses to put in freeways for white people to quickly exit the city, and and full our prisons with black men who understandably had trouble making ends meet in this framework that seemed to be at odds with their very existence. 

        When people say “defund the police”, they are saying, stop sending the police to fix every problem caused by historical mistakes. Start fixing the social safety net, transportation, and housing, and send the right people to do the job. The catch-all “send a jumpy man with a gun” to every problem we face isn’t working for everyone. 

      • Community Member July 25, 2020 (4:35 pm)

        • Me July 25, 2020 (7:11 pm)

          Community member- funny, because it seems every officer is being judged based off of the actions of a few. 

          • Listen more July 25, 2020 (9:07 pm)

            It’s not funny.

            Some who work in a position to protect and serve others, have been killing people unjustly, and there are abuses of power.

            All officers aren’t being judged, but the system is, and the behavior of officers contributing to the issues is being called out.

            Police killing people of color, like George Floyd, is very different from some angry people showing up to protests and damaging buildings or looting.

            Just because all police haven’t been involved with one of these incidents, doesn’t mean people shouldn’t speak up and demand change, when the system is clearly in need of change.

            How can anyone care more about property damage and focus on that, rather than on what has happened to George Floyd and many others, and the collective pain of millions of fellow Americans who are sick and tired of racism and oppression?

          • Me July 26, 2020 (6:09 am)

            Listen more- no one is saying what happened to George Floyd is funny. Every law enforcement officer and agency has publicly condemned what happened. And no one is arguing that property is more important than a persons life. Can you not think about them as separate entities? I’m sick and tired of the city allowing this type of destruction in the name of “justice”. It’s not helping the cause. I’ve heard more people fed up with the cause since the destruction/damage began. And I don’t believe the people who actually want change are the ones doing the damage for the record. 

  • Sml July 25, 2020 (4:50 pm)

    If people are allowed to protest then the parking lots for parks should be reopened. 

  • Millie July 25, 2020 (7:09 pm)

    We’ve gone beyond “protesting”.   Free speech is guaranteed under the Constitution.  What is happening now is no longer “free speech” –  it is “lawlessness (property damage, looting, threatening  people’s lives and livelihoods”.   No society can exist without laws!  It can not be easy to be a police officer and I appreciate/support them.   

  • StoneBuddha July 25, 2020 (8:50 pm)

    For what it’s worth, I think (and sincerely hope) the SW Precinct is not specifically threatened. I don’t think West Seattle will burn, and I’m worldly enough to know that Chief Best might be using theater to get what she believes her organization needs. I would expect nothing less. I am also very proud to live in West Seattle. This is a great community. We can have these discussions, support each other in protest without destruction, and I’m learning we have a thriving volunteer community. I believe it is the purpose of life to continually seek virtue for ourselves and our communities, so, yes, there’s work to do. And please let’s continue to do the work, and empower leaders to do it on our behalf. I sincerely enjoy this community, and am thankful for the WSB in keeping us informed and providing a forum for discussion.

  • YES2WS July 26, 2020 (5:21 am)

    @ Listen More, I couldn’t agree more. 

  • anonyme July 26, 2020 (6:34 am)

    Pedro the Lion – a well-articulated voice of reason.  Thank you for your thoughtful and well thought out comments.  Your perspective is appreciated.

  • Real West Seattleite July 26, 2020 (9:38 pm)

    Who are you anti-police “safe space” people gonna call when you are in the middle of a home invasion? Lol. It’s going to be a real interesting new world y’all are making for us all…

Sorry, comment time is over.