Is Seattle Doing Enough? Audit Questions City's Gun Violence Response
Photo from a vigil on the steps of Garfield High School following the murder of Amarr Murphy-Paine in June 2024. (Photo: Susan Fried)
By Staff Reports
The Seattle Office of City Auditor has released a report detailing current gun violence patterns in Seattle and offering four recommendations to better understand and address the issue. The report highlights a significant increase in gun violence in the city over the past decade, with a sustained post-pandemic rise in shootings.
According to the report, between 2020 and 2024, shots fired incidents increased by 71 percent, non-fatal shootings rose by 58 percent, and fatal shootings increased by 23 percent. The audit, requested by Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson, aims to provide insights into whether city-funded interventions are aligned with current gun violence problems.
The audit found that the City of Seattle currently lacks a mechanism for systematically reporting on gun violence patterns to city departments, elected officials, and community stakeholders. Additionally, the city reportedly does not have consistent access to other data and analyses, such as public health data, that could contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of gun violence.
The report outlines four key recommendations:
Develop systematic reporting on gun violence patterns: The report suggests creating a framework for sharing information on gun violence patterns with city departments, government agencies, elected officials, and the public.
Provide an update on the CARE Department's violence intervention initiative: The report recommends that the Mayor's Office update the City Council on the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department's initiative to integrate violence intervention programs.
Improve capacity for problem analysis: The report calls for improving the city's capacity for problem analysis, including implementing problem-oriented policing and exploring the use of analyses such as homicide reviews and place network investigations.
Implement a framework for systematic coordination: The report advises implementing a framework for regular coordination among city departments, government entities, and community organizations to address gun violence.
The Mayor's Office has reportedly concurred with the audit recommendations, stating that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) currently maintains a public-facing online dashboard with some of the suggested information. The Mayor's Office also indicated that SPD will expand and improve its online reporting within legal and regulatory restrictions.
The report also includes an item for City Council consideration regarding improving SPD investigations. It references a 2023 report that identified weaknesses in SPD's investigative operations and suggests the City Council continue to monitor SPD's efforts to address these findings.
The audit involved interviews with officials from various city departments, federal agencies, and other jurisdictions, as well as a review of research and data on gun violence patterns. The report emphasizes the importance of data-driven strategies and collaboration among various stakeholders to address gun violence effectively.
