The Seattle police union is holding the city’s new socialist mayor accountable for a recent directive stopping all public arrests related to drug use. They claim this directive reveals a troubling mindset, perhaps even suggesting the mayor is in a dark place.
Katie Wilson, 43, identifies as a democratic socialist and campaigned with promises that seem, well, somewhat ambitious, including her vision of a “Trump-free Seattle.”
The police union expressed surprise at Wilson’s order to halt public drug arrests, which they learned of through a statement from her office. An internal memo indicated that officers should channel these cases into the city’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAD), which aims to keep individuals involved in low-level drug offenses out of traditional legal systems.
LEAD attempts to link suspected drug users with case managers who can assist with various issues, from finding housing to addressing mental health concerns.
The union criticized this move, arguing it signals a dangerous mindset within the city that could promote societal corruption. They stated that many officers feel LEAD supports a kind of “suicidal sympathy” through its lenient approach.
Union president Mike Solan voiced concern, saying that officers generally feel discouraged about referring cases to LEAD, viewing it as a futile effort. “We’ve watched our cities suffer from death, corruption, and crime when such ideologies take hold,” he remarked, warning that this new direction will only heighten suffering and destruction.
Police Chief Sean Burns acknowledged the impending changes in a memo, noting that “new policies and procedures are inevitable” given the shifts in the city’s political landscape.
Burns indicated that these changes would be put into effect immediately, adding that individuals who decline to engage with LEAD would still face traditional legal repercussions.
However, Wilson pushed back against the union’s assertions, maintaining that she is not imposing any new policies. “If I announce a policy change, people will know,” she quipped in a rather sarcastic tone.
Regardless of the internal memo, the Seattle Police Department reiterated that there haven’t been any changes concerning their officers’ ability to make drug-related arrests.
The newspaper has reached out to the police union for additional comments.
Wilson’s interests seem to extend beyond Seattle, as she recently expressed solidarity with Somali child care workers facing scrutiny over issues in Minnesota, which is more than 1,000 miles away. She emphasized that the city’s leadership would not accept intimidation or harassment toward these workers and reminded the Justice Department that “citizen journalism is not a hate crime in America.”
