Seattle police use registry to help people protect themselves from swatting

Intentionally reporting made-up, violent crimes, at someone else's home to trigger a swarm of SWAT officers can have deadly and criminal consequences.

The term for it is swatting – a crime that isn’t new but continues to be a problem for law enforcement, particularly involving gamers, tech workers and personalities.

Seattle police say they have created a free registry after hearing from people in the community who wanted a way to give a heads-up to the department's 911 center that they have been or may be targets of swatting.

Police wouldn't disclose how many people have already signed up for the registry, which has been active since last October, but said information shared through Rave Facility can allow dispatchers to know immediately whether a registered address is susceptible to swatting.

"It better informs us as a 911 center to provide that information to our responding officers,” said Russ St. Myers, 911 Operations Manager for Seattle police, who told us they’ve received fewer swatting calls as of late. “For a period of time, it was rampant.”

Seattle police released bodycam video this week of a swatting call from last year that involved a reported hostage situation that turned out to be a hoax.

"People are using police as a weapon against, unsuspecting, innocent individuals,” said Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, who told us officers will still respond to 911 calls at homes where people have registered swatting concerns.

People who are not worried about swatting, but want to share other potentially lifesaving information with 911 dispatchers, can read more about the Smart 911 Program.

Click here to see KIRO 7's previous coverage on swatting.

Cox Media Group