(The Middle Sq.) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and members of town council have proposed a memorandum of understanding with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that compliments a not too long ago imposed dual-dispatch emergency response pilot program.
The MOU would codify what sort of nonviolent calls the brand new emergency responses could be activated for. Seattle’s latest public security division, the Neighborhood Assisted Response and Engagement division, also called CARE, options behavioral well being specialists who’ve prior discipline expertise and better training credentials in behavioral well being.
The dual dispatch pilot program pairs CARE responders with Seattle cops when the 911 Middle solutions an emergency name. When officers make sure the scene is protected, they’ll reply to different calls whereas the CARE staff supplies companies.
Together with supplementing the brand new pilot program, the MOU additionally proposed to enhance workplace availability citywide via a particular occasions staffing system. The system supplies any officers who volunteer to work particular occasions with a $225 per shift premium whereas permitting any unfilled positions to be staffed by staff that aren’t cops, similar to parking enforcement officers.
Presently, the Seattle Police Division fills vacant positions at particular occasions via an officer draft system. Based on a press release from Seattle officers, this negatively impacts officer morale, division planning and citywide staffing.
Particular occasions within the metropolis vary from Seahawks, Mariners and Kraken video games to smaller community-based festivities.
Lastly, the proposed settlement would allow park rangers to serve in all metropolis parks to enhance public park security. Presently, park rangers are restricted to patrol parks in downtown Seattle.
Town not too long ago expanded the park ranger program with a view to rent 26 park rangers in 2023.
“This proposal acknowledges the labor implications at hand and meets the collective bargaining necessities wanted to place into motion these enhancements,” Harrell stated in an announcement. “As we proceed to work towards a safer Seattle, strong diversified responses, and a good contract for cops, this settlement is a step in the suitable course and a win-win for the folks of Seattle and our officers.”
