Seattle PD will not respond to mental crisis calls. Unarmed 'crisis responders' will be sent instead.



The city of Seattle will no longer dispatch police officers to mental crisis calls. Instead, unarmed "crisis responders" will be sent to address the situation.

Katie Daviscourt shared the development on social media, writing: "BREAKING: Seattle police and fire will no longer be answering to mental crisis calls. 'Crisis responders' or social workers, will be dispatched instead. They are not allowed to be armed."

— (@)

"Dispatchers will make @SeattlePD aware of the crisis call, but officers will only be allowed to observe nearby. Crisis calls often consist of the person in crisis brandishing weapons; like knives and firearms."

A video clip was included in Daviscourt's post, which featured Seattle Councilmember Lisa Herbold.

Herbold said: "Well, you know, usually I'm complaining about how delayed we are and how frustrated I am that we're not meeting our benchmarks for developing this program. But today, I'm really really happy to report that the city is hiring for the six positions for its first pilot, alternate response team."

"It's going to be a way for 911 operators to dispatch calls to somebody other than police, somebody other than fire — a crisis responder who is unarmed. The police department will be aware of the dispatch, they may attend. They may stage nearby where they just may have situational awareness. Each call is going to be different, but it's really exciting that we're finally up and running, with hiring the folks who will be doing this really important work that we have been working on since, I think, August of 2020."

The development of the Crisis Response Team came just months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protests and riots broke out as a consequence. The city of Seattle quickly entered the spotlight with the creation of CHAZ — the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.

The Post Millennial reported that the Seattle police noted there was a 250% increase in rapes, robberies, and murders during the time CHAZ was in operation. In February 2023, the city of Seattle agreed to pay out $3.65 million in damages to business owners who brought a lawsuit after the formation of CHAZ. Those involved originally sought $2.9 million.

The Seattle Police Department's Crisis Response Team page says it uses "a co-responder model, partnering Mental Health Professionals (MHP's) with specially trained Officers."

"The Crisis Response Team focuses on taking a holistic approach to law enforcement encounters with persons experiencing behavioral health issues. Whether responding to in-progress calls or conducting follow up, the goal of the Crisis Response Unit is to divert individuals from the traditional criminal justice system and redirect them to the most appropriate resources."

Herbold announced earlier this year that she would not be running for re-election in Seattle.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Councilmember Herbold won't seek re-election in 2023 | FOX 13 Seattle www.youtube.com

VIDEO: Rioter hits Seattle police officer in back of head with metal baseball bat, explosives thrown at cops



Following Wednesday's decision by a grand jury not to indict police officers on homicide charges in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, cities across the country erupted in protests and violence, including St. Petersburg, Portland, and Louisville, where two police officers were shot. In Seattle, riots erupted that included a vicious baseball bat attack on a police officer.

A shocking video from Wednesday night's riots in Seattle shows a man dressed in all black violently smash a police officer in the back of the head with a metal baseball bat. The police officer was wearing a helmet, which may have saved his life.

The officer was attempting to wrest his bicycle back from a person in the crowd. The masked rioter sneaks up on the officer while he is distracted and steps into a swinging attack with the metal bat that hits the cop in the back of the helmet. The officer was able to keep his footing after being bashed in the head and escaped the violent mob.

Black bloc terrorist tries to kill a Seattle police officer by hitting him in the head with a bat. The Council and… https://t.co/3NBk3a2oSA
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@(((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio)1600952724.0

The Seattle Police Department issued a press release on Wednesday night's violence in the city. "Multiple officers were injured to include one who was struck in the head with a baseball bat cracking his helmet," the statement said, which included photos of the officer's damaged helmet.

Seattle police released these photos of a cracked helmet belonging to the police officer who was viciously attacked… https://t.co/lpo7DsmTQo
— Ian Miles Cheong (@Ian Miles Cheong)1600949452.0

The Seattle Police Department also noted that an individual threw an explosive at law enforcement officers at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday night. The incendiary device "exploded near waiting bike officers."

When cops attempted to arrest the suspect, they were assaulted with glass bottles and rocks from the crowd of rioters. Police said they "deployed pepper spray and blast balls in an attempt to create space between the officers and the protestors."

Agitators also cut wires powering the security cameras to the precinct and set dumpsters on fire, and more explosives were thrown at officers. Seattle Police declared the ongoing protest an unlawful assembly after several fireworks were fired at police.

The Seattle police said they arrested 13 individuals. Charges include property destruction, resisting arrest, failure to disperse, and assault on an officer.

More fireworks launched at police #Seattleprotests https://t.co/3NhWhDgJWy
— Kitty Shackleford (@Kitty Shackleford)1600931363.0
Thid the video of SPD pushing protestors onto @SeattleCentral College and deploying crowd control weaponry on campu… https://t.co/9dNBB0J5IC
— Alexa (@Alexa)1600930704.0
BREAKING: @SeattlePD rushes and arrests multiple Antifa Militants and BLM Rioters Downtown Seattle. #breonnataylor… https://t.co/tS7M1k7Xeh
— Katie Daviscourt🇺🇸 (@Katie Daviscourt🇺🇸)1600920894.0

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice announced that Seattle is one of three U.S. cities declared to be "anarchist jurisdictions," along with Portland and New York City. The designation could cause those cities to lose federal funding.

Dozen Seattle Cops Injured As Rioters Attack Multiple Police Buildings, Court Building, Amazon, Starbucks

At least a dozen Seattle police officers were injured on Sunday as rioters attacked multiple police precincts, a municipal court, an Amazon building, and a Starbucks. The Seattle Police Department said the rioters “were responsible for a significant amount of property damage to government buildings and private businesses” and that “at least a dozen officers […]

At least a dozen Seattle police officers were injured on Sunday as rioters attacked multiple police precincts, a municipal court, an Amazon building, and a Starbucks.

The Seattle Police Department said the rioters “were responsible for a significant amount of property damage to government buildings and private businesses” and that “at least a dozen officers were injured.”

SPD said that “Arson/Bomb detectives” were involved in the department’s investigation into the attacks by the extremists which SPD said “appeared to be very organized and this appeared to be a very concerted effort at property damage of certain businesses and government facilities.”

SPD highlighted the following from the attacks:

  • The group headed south to the Seattle Police Headquarters and Seattle Municipal Court where they broke windows and spray painted both buildings. The demonstration then marched northbound on Third Avenue, where some businesses were targeted by individuals with more smashed windows, looting, and graffiti on the walls.
  • The group eventually made it to the West Precinct and some individuals attempted to break into the building. Protesters threw rocks and bottles at the officers who were outside defending the precinct. An unknown person or persons threw multiple large mortar-type fireworks at officers from a close range. Multiple officers were injured by the fireworks thrown at them. Two of the officers suffered lacerations and abrasion injuries while a third officer sustained burns to his neck area and needed to be treated by the Seattle Fire Department. He was later transported to the hospital. A total of twelve officers were injured.
  • The march then made its way up to Capitol Hill, where individuals in the group committed more property damage and looting. A small fire was set inside one of the businesses after the windows were broken out.
  • Eventually the group went to the East Precinct where several individuals smashed out the front windows. A large, mortar-type firework was thrown inside the lobby of the precinct, causing a small fire. The fire was extinguished quickly. Officers located another unlit large mortar-type firework nearby.

Local journalist Katie Daviscourt tweeted a video that showed an Amazon Go building being attacked and wrote: “Antifa Militants and Black Lives Matter rioters are breaking into Amazon Go Downtown Seattle. This protest has turned into a riot.”

NOW: Antifa Militants and Black Lives Matter rioters are breaking into Amazon Go Downtown Seattle. This protest has turned into a riot. #SeattleProtest #AntifaDomesticTerrorists #seattleriots #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/RH8u56fCGP

— Katie Daviscourt🇺🇸 (@KatieDaviscourt) July 19, 2020

The Seattle Police Department tweeted out photographs of some of the damage, writing: “Demonstrators went from Westlake Park to the Municipal Courthouse and then headed back north to the West Precinct…leaving behind a trail of property destruction. These are criminal acts, not peaceful protests.”

Demonstrators went from Westlake Park to the Municipal Courthouse and then headed back north to the West Precinct…leaving behind a trail of property destruction. These are criminal acts, not peaceful protests. pic.twitter.com/7GYkDxAg9s

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 20, 2020

#SeattleProtests – Damage done to @SeattlePD East Precinct just now as protesters move across Capitol Hill. pic.twitter.com/IPYbWBilkz

— Omari Salisbury (@Omarisal) July 20, 2020

Other videos that were posted online showed severe damage at Starbucks and other stores.

Antifa wrecked a Starbucks in Seattle during an anti-ICE "protest." pic.twitter.com/ALXgkfjc3l

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 20, 2020

On Sunday, Antifa militants in Seattle attacked several Starbucks cafes, looted a Walgreens and an Amazon Go. In the Starbucks on Broadway and E Denny Wy, the militants set off a smoke bomb after smashing the windows and wrecking the interior. pic.twitter.com/UU7rS8tyB1

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 20, 2020

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has yet to issue any kind of a statement about the violent riots, the destruction of property, the attacks on government buildings, or the at least dozen police officers who were injured.

The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member.