Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has unveiled plans to tackle the rising crime rates in the city by implementing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and real-time crime center (RTCC) software. The targeted neighborhoods for these surveillance tools include Aurora Avenue North, the downtown Third Avenue corridor, and the Chinatown-International District.
This initiative is part of the broader One Seattle Safety Framework, which aims to enhance public safety in the city. While an expansion of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) technology was initially proposed, a detailed cost analysis led to the decision to focus on CCTV and RTCC tech for now.
Mayor Harrell emphasized the need for additional options in the city’s public safety toolkit and highlighted the evidence-based solutions and technologies that the pilot program will bring to communities. Gun violence incidents have seen a 13.4% increase this year, with 279 verified occurrences compared to 246 in the previous year, up until May 23.
To address this alarming trend, the deployment of crime prevention mechanisms has been welcomed by the Downtown Seattle Association. The organization’s President and CEO, Jon Scholes, acknowledged the potential operational improvements that the new technologies can bring, especially considering the low staffing levels in the Seattle Police Department.
The implementation of CCTV and RTCC systems will have an immediate impact on crime prevention, awareness, and evidence gathering in the targeted zones. Simultaneously, the potential of ALPR systems will be explored to aid ongoing investigations and locate missing persons.
The rollout of the surveillance systems adheres closely to the city’s surveillance ordinance. Completed Surveillance Impact Reports for the CCTV and RTCC systems will be reviewed by the Community Surveillance Working Group. The citywide engagement process, which received over 1,000 public comments and input from organizations like the NAACP and ACLU, has played a significant role in shaping the surveillance strategy.
The City’s Office of Inspector General for Public Safety will commission academic experts to oversee the implementation and effectiveness of these technologies, with results expected after the first and second years of the pilot program.
