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‘Safe Place' initiative launched in Seattle growing across the country

Seattle Police Department SAFE PLACE signage is being displayed by local supporting community members, businesses, schools and organizations that work closely with the Seattle Police Department in an effort to reduce LGBTQ hate crimes.

SEATTLE — Two years after a first of its kind initiative called "Safe Place" launched in Seattle, the program is growing, not just across the country but also around the world.

KIRO 7's Patranya Bhoolsuwan sat down with the officer who started it who says he is surprised by the how well it's done.

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On the first day Safe Place started, about 50 businesses signed on to display the stickers which designate them as a shelter for hate crime victims before police arrive.

Now you can find them at more than 6,000 businesses in the Seattle area.

Officer Jim Ritter said he's now fielding calls from police departments across the country wanting to start similar programs, including law enforcement from Canada and Germany.

One success story he points to is Pride 2015. That's when they made multiple arrests in cases involving hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.

Two of those cases were reported from a Safe Place business.

"It shows that Seattle is engaged and the business community is understanding that they have the obligation to do more than just to make money in Seattle. They have an obligation to make Seattle safer."

Ritter says aside from businesses, places like churches and schools have signed on as Safe Place shelters.

One man turned his tattoo parlor into a safe place after finding a harassing note with gay slurs on his car.

“That was the impetus behind me joining the program and talking to my neighbors up and down the street. I think now the program is more important than ever,” said Aaron Amundson with Emerald City Tattoo.

Cox Media Group

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