To: The East Precinct Community Via: centraldistrictnews.com; capitolhillseattle.com; stranger.

com Re: Cal Anderson Park/Bobby Morris Playfield

It would be an understatement to say there has been a groundswell of requests for additional police presence and enforcement in Cal Anderson Park and adjacent Bobby Morris playfield. Although there has been some disagreement among those commenting on local blogs about its safety, officers and commanders of my precinct have noted a change this summer. If there are patrons who dont feel safe in the park, we have the duty and responsibility to increase our presence and efforts there. Thank you to Laura Stockwell and others who made it known that they do not feel safe and took it upon themselves to tell others, including SPD. What 911 calls and crime statistics sometimes do not capture is a change in behavior and demeanor at a specific location that makes some feel unsafe, but may or may not rise to the level of a violation or crime. Regardless, it is the Departments responsibility to respond. When those frequenting the park noted the changes, we increased our presence, walk-throughs and enforcement. As we observed that some of the negative changes were resistant to our stepped up efforts, we requested assistance from the Parks Department for both Parks Ranger presence as well as graffiti removal. Additionally, the following has occurred: - All three patrol watches have responsibility for resetting the standards for behavior in the parks as allowed for in the Seattle Municipal Code - Increased officer presence by the mountain bike squad (1 Sergeant/6 Officers) including uniformed patrol, plain clothes enforcement as well as park observation from undisclosed locations - Buy/bust narcotics operationstwo that occurred over the weekend resulted in purchases of marijuana from a 31 year old adult male and a 17 year old female, respectively. In addition to felony charges (decision by the King County Prosecutors Office), both will be excluded from the park for a year pursuant to the SMC Parks Code Section 18.12.278 - Arrests for those with outstanding arrest warrants - Parks exclusions based on violations as allowed for in SMC 18.12.278 Additional planned support of park safety at this location:

Joint operation with members of the Mobile Outreach Team, a new team supported by King County that will link the homeless in need of mental health and other services with case managers and support (I have volunteered the East Precinct as a pilot area) Joint operation with the SPD Crisis Intervention Team with in-house MHP support to identify homeless who may need or desire mental health services and other service support

Daily notification of Parks Maintenance and Staff of areas needing cleanup or graffiti removal The mountain bike squad will be dedicated to the park, playfield and its surrounding streets until safety is restored and the behavioral standards reset as allowed for in the Seattle Municipal Code Plain clothes enforcement will also continue

A serious assault occurred in the park the night of September 4, to which my officers responded quickly and made the arrest. Both the victim and suspect are not from Seattle and the incident was reportedly related to perceived advances on a female known to both. The decision for felony assault charges will be made by the King County Prosecutors office and the suspect will be excluded from the park for one year. Lastly, the men and women of the East Precinct take it personally when community members feel unsafe in any area, be it one block or thirty blocks from the precinct. We also understand the delicate balance there is in a public place that is open to all, be they homeless, middle class or well-to-do. We take great pride in the fact that 2011 part one crimes in the East Precinct are trending below the 21 year low set in 2008. We also know that low level violations and crimes can erode the feeling of safety and security in an area that has known otherwise. I was a lieutenant in the East Precinct when Kay Rood and others formed Groundswell Off Broadway and championed the years of grassroots work that resulted in the park as it is today, a Seattle historic landmark that celebrates its sixth year this month in its current form. To those who use the park: if you see something, please continue to say somethingcall 911. Respectfully, East Precinct Commander Captain Jim Dermody