See something others should know about? Email CHS or call/txt (206) 399-5959.

• More cops in Seattle: Facing an uphill climb in the polls approaching the November election, Mayor Mike McGinn has announced plans to hire 15 more cops to patrol Seattle streets starting next year. SPD says the bump will bring its numbers to “an authorized strength of 1342 total officers” — a 1% increase. City budget cuts froze SPD hiring in 2010 and 2011. Last week, CHS reported on the rise in street robberies and burglaries in 2013 on Capitol Hill as a debate over crime in the city has become a larger factor in the November race for mayor. The announcement follows an earlier $400,000 decision to boost officer numbers to help address crime hot spots in central and downtown Seattle.
• 

  (Image: SPD)

  SPD code: Seattle cops now have a code of ethics including these top-lines:

  • Treat people fairly and act in good faith
  • Work toward racial and social justice for all
  • Listen to what other people are saying, ask questions and consider their concerns
  • Commit to exploring new ways to improve public safety while reducing harm to communities and individuals
  • Keep service to our community as my first priority
• FBI WA crime stats: The FBI has released its annual crime stats for Washington State. “Nationally, the violent crime rate increased slightly—by 0.7 percent—in 2012 compared to 2011,” the bureau tells us, with a tinge of hope. The FBI’s 2012 highlights?
  • The rate of violent crime for Washington’s cities increased by 0.1 percent (per 100,000 people), and its property crime rate increased by 2.2 percent (per 100,000 people) from 2011 to 2012.
  • In Seattle, there was a decrease in the number of burglaries. There were slight increases in the numbers of murders/non-negligent manslaughters and robberies and increases in the numbers of rapes, aggravated assaults, larceny-thefts, and motor vehicle thefts.
• 

  (Image: @YuzuTenCo via Twitter)

  First Hill white powder: A scare Tuesday night at First Hill’s Sorrento Hotel turned out to be nothing more than that. Seattle Fire and police sealed off the 900 block of Madison for a time around 5 PM while responding to an envelope containing a white powder found inside the building. With a hazmat response shutting down the area for around 90 minutes, investigators determined that the material was harmless, disappointing TV helicopters everywhere.

• Quiet weekend: This assault against a drag performer and the City Market stabbing notwithstanding, Capitol Hill had a very quiet weekend with pretty much only burglaries among the significant crimes reported over the weekend:
• UPDATE — 12th/John assault: Turns out, the weekend wasn’t so peaceful. A report that didn’t show up in the City of Seattle database reveals details of a serious beating at 12th and John just after midnight Saturday morning. Police say the victim was intoxicated and that it was difficult to get more information from him. We’ll check in on any follow-ups from when things settled down.
• Boren car theft caught on video: These guys caught the theft of their car along Boren on video — and want something done about crime in the city: