CNS SEATTLECITY COUNCIL

June 27, 2018

Dear Mayor Durkan,

We are writing to express continued support for the reinstatement of the Community Service
Officer (CSO) Program, and to fulfill the promises made to Seattle residents to get the Program
off the ground this year.

By way of background, the C50 program was originally created in 1971, allowing for unsworn
officers with distinctive uniforms to assist regular police officers by performing community
services associated with law enforcement, conducting crime prevention activities, improving
relations, and developing potential police officers. The original CSO program connected
vulnerable populations with services and provided an important link between the community
and the police department. Community partnership has long been one of Seattle Police
Department?s priorities and while it is best achieved as a department wide effort, the C80
program allowed officers the flexibility to achieve this while allowing sworn officers to focus on
high priority calls. The CSO program existed for over 30 years before it was eliminated due to
budget reductions in the early 2000?s.

One of the primary motivations for the reinstatement of the C50 Program came from the 2016
recommendations ofthe Chinatown/ID Public Safety Task Force, which had representatives
from the Mayor?s office, SPD, businesses, nonprofits, and community associations. According to
the task force report: helped free up sworn officers? time to deal with emergent
situations, given their role of information gathering, follow up and community education.
Reinstating a C50 officer in the CID would bolster trust and understanding between the
community and SPD and be a cost?effective way to increase police response to community
requests for assistance.?

As identified in the original CSO job description, CSOs patrolled areas serving populations such
as unsheltered individuals, disabled, runaway youth, and the elderly. They mediated
neighborhood disputes; provided basic counseling and social services referrals; participated in
crime prevention activities, and prepared a variety of incident reports, among other things.
Many CSO duties have since been absorbed within SPD or other departments. However, CSOs
as unsworn personnel were able to achieve a different community dynamic and place an
emphasis on social services over law enforcement functions

In the Fall of 2016, the Seattle City Council allocated funding for the program?s reinstatement,
with a goal of launching the program in the 2nd quarter of 2018. Towards that end, SPD and the

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Ils SEATTLECITY COUNCIL

Office for Civil Rights conducted over 40 community meetings representing a wide range of
perspectives, to understand what residents would like to see in a revived CSO program. Our
understanding is that much of what they heard reflected the original program?s mission and
values, and the sentiments of the Chinatown/ID Public Safety Task Force.

Similarly, we hear from constituents often that they would like to see more of a police presence
and increased police response times. We believe the C505 can meet this need by being a
representative of law enforcement that knows the neighborhood and businesses, and is able to
help people who are vulnerable. Community Service Officers can support sworn officers in
many of non?emergency tasks that they are called upon to do, freeing up those sworn police
officers to respond more quickly to our higher priority calls. We can meet neighborhoods?
public safety needs in a much more cost?effective and people?centered way using Community
Service Officers.

We are aware that SPD has be asked to reduce its budget by 2% or approximately $6.5 million
dollars. We respectfully request that a cut ofthe CSO program remain off the table as you
develop your 2019?20 Proposed Biennial Budget. A key budget principle for the Council will be
to ensure that SPD gains the capacities that are noted above, which are absolutely critical as
SPD moves beyond the DOJ settlement agreement and seeks to develop closer ties to the
Community.

As we approach the end ofthe second quarter of 2018, we would like to inquire into the status
ofthe program?s reinstatement, and the revised timeline for its launch. We continue to expect
the launch ofthe program and hiring to take place this year.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with your office and the Seattle
Police Department in advancing this important work.

Best,

    

 

 

 

 

Councilmember)? #0 lez Councilmember Lisa Herbold
Councilmember Mike O?Brien Councilmember SM Bagshaw

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600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2 PO Box 34025, Seattle Washington 98124-4025
Phone {206) 684?8804 Fax {206) 684-8587 TTY (206} 233-0025
Email