SPOG president says mayor’s budget for more officers falls short

SEATTLE — People are reacting to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s call for 125 more officers in next year’s budget.

The president of the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild says that is not enough to keep Seattle safe from crime.

That comes four days after a consulate staff called 911 for help that never came.

The call came from the Mexican Consulate here on Harvard Avenue East and East Roy Street.

There was a protest outside Friday, and they needed SPD’s help.

But the operator told them they had 50 other 911 calls and the security staff here would have to fend for themselves.

It appeared to be business as usual at the Mexican Consulate on this unexpectedly sunny Tuesday. Last Friday, however, security called 911 for help controlling a crowd of protestors. But the 911 operator told them there weren’t enough patrol units to send their way.

“I don’t think the Mayor’s office understands the staffing crisis that we’re currently in,” said Seattle Police Officers Guild president Mike Solan.

He says that “crisis” says is a threat to public safety.

“A 125 officers doesn’t equate to solving our public safety crisis that we’re in,” said Solan.

What does?

“More political support that says, ‘We support our police; Let’s get to the contract table,’” said Solan.

One hundred and twenty-five is how many new police officers Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan included in her final budget proposal, unveiled Monday.

“Like many of you, I believe it’s a false choice that we must choose investing in effective community alternatives or investing in enough well-trained police officers,” said Durkan, in a taped address.  “We need both.”

The owner of the Kobo Shop and Gallery around the corner from the Mexican consulate isn’t surprised no officers showed up when they were called.

“They’re not around,” said Binko Chiong-Bisbee, KOBO Shop & Gallery.

But she isn’t sure they always should be.

“It’s a very complicated issue,” she said. “I don’t think just throwing police at the situation or increasing a budget is the solution. I think we have to be more thoughtful about what kind of resources our community.”

This environmental justice would go even further.

“And money as a budgetary process, we can move to social services,” said Dr. Sarah Myhre, “to invest in black communities, to invest in black and brown centers of power in the city, I support that.”

The Seattle City Council will decide how much of the mayor’s budget passes muster.

That process has already begun.

SPD will get its turn Thursday afternoon. The public can weigh in, too.

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