How The Police Deal With Homeless Issues In Seattle

This month’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council featured returning speaker, Seattle Police Department Officer Bryan Kennedy, speaking about “How the police interact with homeless individuals.”
Read the entire minutes of the May meeting.
Officer Kennedy said, “Our goal is not to arrest our way out of this issue.” The city council calls the shots, and that policy includes at the moment non-enforcement of laws about sleeping on sidewalks, in parks, etc. Typically officers try to do an assessment of any homeless persons and try to hook them up with services, but often they are dealing with people with mental health and addiction issues. There is a Navigation Team to deal with large encampments. If you see someone sleeping on public property, use the “Find It, Fix It” app (or website) to report it. On private property where trespassing is an issue, or if there is a crisis moment occurring, you should call 911. Ultimately he said of homelessness, “This kind of issue isn’t resolved quickly.”
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, June 16th: Neighborhood-wide Yard Sale.  We will be closing NE 106th Street just west of the park if you want to set up as a group, or you can sell things directly from your yard or garage.
Tuesday, June 19th: Victory Heights Community Council Meeting, probably in the park (we can’t use the preschool during the summer). Guest speaker: Tracy Cramer, sharps disposal educator.
Tuesday, July 17th (note new date!): Our annual Victory Heights Potluck and Ice Cream Social. 6 PM on NE 106th Street on the west side of the park.
Tuesday, July 24th: Block Leader Meeting, which will feature our local crime prevention coordinator.
More events coming including a “Stop The Bleed” first-aid course, soliciting for paint designs for the traffic circles, a “Tallest Tree in Victory Heights” contest, and an Urban Survival Skills demonstration in the park this autumn after the path is finish.
Don’t forget the Lake City Farmer’s Market starts Thursday, June 7th, every Thursday through September. They have 14 new vendors this year.