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Seattle police release year-end crime report; Gun violence, motor vehicle thefts reach all-time high

SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department released its year-end crime report on Monday.

While overall crime decreased during the last three months of the year, crime increased by 4% in 2022 compared to 2021.

“Would I say that we’re perfect right now? No. I think we have a long road ahead,” said Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. “But are we on the right track? I believe that we’re moving towards that track and we’re doing really, really good work.”

Homicides were up 24%, with 52 cases last year. That’s the second-highest total since 2020, when 53 homicides were reported.

Gun violence was at an all-time high with 739 incidents, beating the record set two years earlier. 39 of those shootings were fatal.

Motor vehicle thefts in Seattle also hit a 15-year high. Ford, Honda and Toyota topped the list of the ten most-stolen vehicle model makes in 2022.

Some highlights of the report include a decrease in hate crimes, as well as a decrease in emergency response times; now around seven minutes.

Diaz says the Department is continuing to do more policing with less officers.

“We’re down about 375 officers,” he said. “That’s going to be one of the biggest challenges that we face over the next several years because we want to make sure that we’re hiring good people.”

When asked if he felt safe in Seattle, Diaz said ‘yes’.

“I feel comfortable. But I understand why not everyone does,” he said.

“The Seattle Police Department (SPD) would like to acknowledge the victims, families and communities impacted by the events contained within this report. The SPD recognizes that these data represent more than facts and figures and shares this information and analysis to promote transparency, community dialogue, and the critical partnerships needed to address public safety,” the report reads in part.

The full report is available here.