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SPD’s East Precinct approval ratings improve, still lowest in Seattle

screen-shot-2016-10-25-at-9-43-08-amThe East Precinct may still has the lowest approval rating of the five divisions that make up the Seattle Police Department, but public perceptions of the Capitol Hill-based officers are improving significantly.

A Department of Justice study released this week found 62% of residents in the East Precinct approve of police, up from 52% in 2015, and 49% in 2013. Citywide, SPD’s approval rating jumped to 72% from 64% last year. Approval ratings have also increased substantially among all surveyed racial groups, including a 14 point bump among African Americans.

City and SPD officials have repeatedly said that restoring public trust in the police goes hand-in-hand with reform. The annual survey is part of the federally mandated reforms SPD is making to correct its history of overly aggressive policing tactics identified by the DOJ in 2012. The monitor tasked with overseeing that reform has said the department is making encouraging progress under the leadership of Chief Kathleen O’Toole, who was hired partially for her expertise in police reform.

“The report commissioned by the federal monitoring team underscores the progress being made by the Seattle Police Department in addressing the gulf that exists between officers and the communities they serve,” said Mayor Ed Murray in a statement.

Still, race continues to be a significant factor in how likely residents are to have interactions with the police.

African Americans are more likely to be stopped in their car (23% in the last year) than Latinos (19%), who are in turn more likely than Asian Americans (8%) and whites (10%). African Americans are also more likely to have a non-traffic interaction with the police. The pattern persists for non-traffic interactions: African Americans have experienced 2-3x as many per person in the last year (21%) as Whites (7%), Latinos (10%), and Asian Americans (11%). This number spikes for Black men (27%).

Twice as many African Americans (14%) than whites (7%) reported police using abusive language towards them in 2016. The number of Asian Americans who know someone who’s been a victim of racial profiling is also at an all-time high. In general, people of color reported more negative interactions with police than whites, though that number is dropping.

60% of Seattle residents also think police treat homeless people worse than others, a 2 point increase from last year. Sweeps of homeless encampments has received serious backlash from elected officials and homeless advocates this year.

One potential factor to the East Precinct’s improved ratings could be a period of relative stability among it’s top brass. Capt. Paul McDonagh returned to command the 12th and Pine precinct in March 2015, making him the 10th leadership change in 15 years. He previously held the post for two and a half years into 2009 — the longest tenure of any of the commanders the precinct had seen since 1999.

SPD’s handling of this year’s May Day, which was largely sequestered downtown, may have improved its standing with East Precinct residents. Last year the federal monitor found the department was failing to adequately investigate mid-level use of force incidents, like those involving pepper spray, tasers, and blast balls.

Last year’s troubling arrest of William Wingate on Capitol Hill also likely played into the relatively low East Precinct approval ratings from past years. Cynthia Whitlatch, an 18-year veteran officer, arrested the elderly man on Capitol Hill in an incident that was later deemed to be aggressive and biased. Whitlatch, a white officer, claimed Wingate, a black man, pointed a golf club at her while he was standing on the corner of 12th and Pine. Wingate had used the golf club as a cane for years, but ended up in jail and charged with unlawful use of a weapon. Throughout the investigation into the incident, Whitlatch claimed no wrong doing and maintained she was actually the target of reverse racism. Whitlatch was eventually fired but the decision remains under appeal.

Here are some other findings from the survey:

  • Less than 1% of survey respondents reported being racially profiled by police, unchanged from last year.
  • 92% of people say they want officers to wear body cameras.
  • 76% of people agree the SPD keeps people safe, statistically unchanged from 71% (2015) and 74% (2013)
  • Doing a good job of serving my neighborhood (73% now / 68% 2015 / 72% 2013)
  • Quickly solve crimes and arrest criminals (65% now / 65% 2015 / 63% 2013)
  • 20% of Seattleites say they’ve been treated differently because of their race or they know someone who has. That’s similar to 2013 (21%) and 2015 (23%).
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BF
BF
7 years ago

I’m actually surprised it’s even that high. Does this account for the fact that they seem to pick and choose what complaints they wish to respond to? I’ve called 911 at least 6 times over the past 10 months ranging from assaults to watching our neighbor’s building being broken into, and the police showed up once. The other times- they literally did a drive by. Last week we had a response that turned out 8 (!) squad cars outside our building, which resulted in nothing as they released the person causing a problem. While this is all going on, someone set our dumpster on fire literally 20 feet away from them and no one did anything. I literally had to yell at one of the officers to put some hustle in his steps to get a fire extinguisher. I’ve lived in quite a few major cities, and I’m sorry but Seattle ranks at the bottom. I’m not even sure the “we need more cops” argument applies, I think it’s more of a “we need more people that actually want to do to the job”.

On the Hill
On the Hill
7 years ago
Reply to  BF

I have the impression that police here don’t feel enabled to actually enforce the law, for constant fear of backlash. The BLM movement has probably added to that as has the fierce protectionism over the homeless. The former effect has been noted throughout the country but I think it’s far worse and longer standing in Seattle.

I’m no expert, this is just an impression. I did read somewhere that Seattle has 600 fewer police than Boston, which is a smaller city geographically with a similar population. I do feel since moving here that it’s the least safe city I’ve lived in, because of these issues.

A
A
7 years ago
Reply to  BF

It is unfortunate they don’t feel empowered to do even their most basic job responsibilities. As long as you don’t go killing people they should be able to do what is necessary.

Del
Del
7 years ago
Reply to  BF

In Rialto California body cams were implemented and use of force went down by 60% & complaints about the police went down a similar percentage. Let’s stop spending 5 million dollars per year in Seattle taxpayer money to fund a Department of Justice monitor (complete with his outrageous expense account covering everything from corkscrews for alcohol to a fancy apartment downtown which no one lives in, to executive suites at a 4 star hotel for his staff to live in) and instead invest in bodycams. Cops can then do their jobs without fear of being accused of wrongdoing.

BF
BF
7 years ago

I do agree with you, and I also feel that it’s a lot to do with the homeless taking up a lot of their time and resources. And yes, I can agree on feeling less safe. I actually lived in a very rough part of Boston for years (Savin Hill) and I never felt as wary as I do here. I mean, last week we had 3 nights of shootings in a row in a very busy place. It’s also not even close to the first time this has happened, yet, it just continues to occur every few months. When is it going to change? When a few innocent bystanders get gunned down because they’re walking home after the bar? Or the young woman who got bashed in the face last week in broad daylight?

scott Johnson
scott Johnson
7 years ago

SPD is worthless. They showed up at Seattle Central and refused to take custody of a mentally ill person, only to have to arrest him less than an hour later in the QFC naked and attacking the manager. Completely worthless.!!!!!

Matt R.
Matt R.
7 years ago
Reply to  scott Johnson

Your right! I see the Seattle Central guys out a lot patrolling the campus dealing with situations unarmed that SPD is afraid to deal with or even respond to. Just pathetic!!!!

Hmm
Hmm
7 years ago
Reply to  scott Johnson

I’d guess that’s because if they arrested a homeless person without some super obvious cause, the neighborhood would jump to the defense of that individual crying “police brutality”! The police just can’t win.

Del
Del
7 years ago
Reply to  scott Johnson

Had he committed a crime at SCCC? Cops cant arrest without probable cause that a crime has been committed and being crazy isn’t a crime.

Paul
Paul
7 years ago

A little surprising East got low marks. North Precinct by comparison has historically had much worse service at the front desk for walk ins or on burglary/theft complaints. Its a complex situation and a complex job. No one I know supports bad cops, conversely no activists are going to answer the phone at 3:00 in the morning and come over to deal with someone locked in their bathroom while their abusive partner is trying to batter down the door to beat the crap out of them. It just isn’t going to happen. We need a balance between doing a challenging job that often involves dealing with unpleasant or unsafe individuals and doing that job in a way that upholds all civil rights.

Hmm
Hmm
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Well said!

Matt R.
Matt R.
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

They can take them to Harborview for mental health evaluations.

CD neighbor
CD neighbor
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

@ Matt – I think it’s not nearly as simple as being able to take someone to Harborview… Unless the person is committing a crime or appears to seriously endangering themselves or others, neither the police or the EMTs can do anything to or for them without their permission. I’ve watched the poor EMT’s trying to negotiate with really altered and bleeding people to try to get them to come and be treated, but it really seems like unless they are actually in danger of dying, if they don’t want to go they can’t be forced.

BF
BF
7 years ago

I was actually living in Boston back when O’Toole was Commissioner. I still have hopes that she can turn things around here, as she did a fairly good job back then. But, as many pointed out, it’s a bit of a catch 22. We all want better policing, but I’m afraid as soon as we get that, folks will start screaming that we live in a police state. There has to be some middle line. On a side note, I was physically attacked by a transient a few months back, when I shoved him off of me and knocked him on the ground, a woman from the neighborhood told me that I need to be more compassionate. Sigh.

Xander
Xander
7 years ago
Reply to  BF

Too bad you didn’t have a gun you could have made the entire neighborhood a better place.

Del
Del
7 years ago
Reply to  BF

O’Toole has shown herself to be corrupt and to retaliate against cops who tell the truth. Her shite has already cost us millions in lawsuits brought by her former staff and she’s only been here 2 years!