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Public Safety

News and interviews about public and community safety on Hacks & Wonks

Amy Sundberg, public safety reporter for The Urbanist and publisher of Notes from the Emerald City

Seattle Moves Forward with Surveillance Expansion Despite Lack of Pilot Data, Raises Federal Access Concerns

Seattle City Council will vote Sept 9 to expand surveillance pilot before collecting evaluation data. Program adds cameras citywide despite limited evidence of success & concerns about federal access to data amid Trump admin immigration enforcement.

Evan Thompkins, STAR Program Specialist, and Stephanie Van Jacobs, Program Manager at WellPower

Denver's STAR Program Offers Promising Alternative Response to Mental Health and Substance Use Crises

Evan Thompkins and Stephanie Van Jacobs discuss the Denver STAR program, an alternative 911 response model that pairs behavioral health clinicians with EMTs/paramedics. They highlight how STAR provides support for individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, or other non-violent crises.

Eleuthera Lisch, Director of King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention

King County's Community-Led Approach Showing Promise in Combating Gun Violence

King County shows promise curbing youth gun violence using community-based approach with violence interrupters. Early data indicates fewer youth involved in shootings, fewer re-hospitalizations after gun injuries, less shoplifting near outreach, and 400+ high-risk youth mentored.

Jason Schwarz, Director of the Snohomish County Office of Public Defense and Chair of Washington's Council on Public Defense

Public Defense Crisis Deepens as Caseloads Overwhelm System, Supreme Court Weighs Reform

Washington Supreme Court weighs public defense reform as decades-old caseload standards and lack of state funding create crisis. Defenders handle 3x recommended cases amid complex digital evidence, leading to massive delays and staff exodus.

Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts

Shoreline Mayor Highlights City's Progress on Housing, Development, and Public Safety

In a recent interview, Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts outlined the city's approaches to housing, development, and public safety, emphasizing how the newly opened light rail stations are reshaping the community north of Seattle.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion

King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion Reflects on Progress and Challenges in First 18 Months

King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion discusses progress and challenges in her first 18 months, highlighting efforts to rebuild law enforcement relationships, reduce juvenile crime, and address violent crime through collaboration and early intervention.

Amy Sundberg and BJ Last from Solidarity Budget

Seattle Considers Controversial Surveillance Technologies with Flawed Approval Process

Seattle's rushed approval process for intrusive surveillance technologies is discussed in a recent interview on the Hacks & Wonks podcast guest hosted by Dr. Shannon Cheng, with Amy Sundberg and BJ Last from Solidarity Budget