A few weeks ago, I attended a public safety forum held at the Labor Temple in Belltown. There were some high profile crimes that occurred there and the public wanted their concerns addressed. The place was packed. Although the sound system wasn't that great and there was no air conditioning, the evening went well and it was probably the best community meeting I've ever been to. Concerned citizens wanted their questions answered and the Seattle Police Department (among others) was there to do that. This forum was mostly put together by a tiny group called Belltown Citizens on Patrol AKA BCOP (bee-cop).
At the podium is a presenter with opening comments. Left of him is Brett Paulson, moderator for the evening; to the presenter's right, acting police chief, John Diaz. Diaz apologized for his scratchy voice. He scratched his throat and joked that he didn't try to hang himself. Diaz presented a summer pilot public safety initiative, which reprioritized where police are located. It was a pragmatic solution for a city that is going through budget problems. The crowd was mostly civil and appreciative. Days later, citizens have noticed a larger police presence in Belltown.
A few weeks ago, I attended a public safety forum held at the Labor Temple in Belltown. There were some high profile crimes that occurred there and the public wanted their concerns addressed. The place was packed. Although the sound system wasn't that great and there was no air conditioning, the evening went well and it was probably the best community meeting I've ever been to. Concerned citizens wanted their questions answered and the Seattle Police Department (among others) was there to do that. This forum was mostly put together by a tiny group called Belltown Citizens on Patrol AKA BCOP (bee-cop).
At the podium is a presenter with opening comments. Left of him is Brett Paulson, moderator for the evening; to the presenter's right, acting police chief, John Diaz. Diaz apologized for his scratchy voice. He scratched his throat and joked that he didn't try to hang himself. Diaz presented a summer pilot public safety initiative, which reprioritized where police are located. It was a pragmatic solution for a city that is going through budget problems. The crowd was mostly civil and appreciative. Days later, citizens have noticed a larger police presence in Belltown.
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