Seattle Police Spokesman Mark Jamieson Responds

Casey McNearthy of the Seattle PI put my question to Seattle Police Department spokesman Mark Jamieson as part of his ongoing series here. I’ll let you judge the response for yourself. Perhaps the most helpful thing is this feedback link http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/police/involved/feedback.htm from Mr. McNearthy. I discovered that link also has a commendation/complaint form.

• Q: I’m a downtown Seattle homeowner concerned with the tolerance for lawlessness, intimidating, or uncivil behavior in my neighborhood. Several parts of downtown, in the heart of the city, are simply “no go” areas much of the time. A couple years ago, I was assaulted by a transient in what seemed like a safe area, the courtyard outside the Harbor Steps apartments. Even though this is a well-known landmark, the 911 operator refused to send any help without a street address, and even then it arrived long after the fact.

  Since then I’ve learned of other similar incidents. I’m told the Seattle Police Department is stretched very thin, which baffles me given all the money we spend on other stuff.

  That’s my complaint, now here are my questions:
  What constructive action can I take to change this?

  How can I get full-time officers to patrol Steinbrueck and other parks, the well-known gang intersections on Third Avenue, etc.?

  How can we get 911 operators with the initiative to look up locations in the telephone directory when someone is in danger?

• A: From Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson:
  

  Seattle Police are increasing patrol presence around Pike Place Market and Victor Steinbrueck Park. We have been doing that since the beginning of summer (I believe the P-I reported on that).

  This is on top of the emphasis patrols we have been conducting in the Pike/Pine corridor since last summer. The emphasis consists of having extra officers in cars, foot beats and bicycle patrols in the area.

  As far as the 911 operators go, it sounds like officers did respond to his location, even without a street address. When people need the police in an emergency, it is best to call 911. Provide as much information as possible, the more the better, but even with limited information we do our best to respond.

  Hope that answered your questions.

• Casey McNerthney adds:
  

  Also, readers can follow this link to give feedback to Seattle police.

• My followup:
  

  I sent in the original question, and appreciate the response from Mark Jamieson. I have indeed been seeing more officers downtown lately, even two on Segways. I felt Mr. Jamieson missed two points.

  1. The 911 operator was unable to locate a well-known landmark in Seattle, and refused to help until I finally managed to get a street address from someone else. How is this incompetence or lack of initiative excusable in an emergency response system? Even then officers didn’t arrive until about 15 minutes after the transient (who was striking me and threatening to stab me) left. The officers were pretty motivated to catch the transient, but of course it was much too late. The officers also expressed frustrations with “having their hands tied” by the current transient-friendly climate. In retrospect, calling 911 was a mistake which only increased the danger.
  2. While I appreciate Mr. Jamieson’s response (and Mr. McNerthney’s choice to put the question to him), he didn’t answer my question about what I can do to change the current situation.