Councilmembers and mayor describe neighborhood shooting concerns and policing priorities on Auburn podcast

Councilmember Kate Baldwin and Councilmember Yolanda Trout Manuel described neighborhood visits and community concerns about gunfire and public safety during a conversation on the "That's So Auburn" podcast hosted by Mayor Nancy Backus.

Baldwin said she and Trout Manuel toured a neighborhood last fall after a resident complained of shootings and violent activity. “There had been some, you know, crime activity, and she just wanted us to see and experience what it was like living in that neighborhood,” Baldwin said. She added that the hardest part of the visit was being able to leave the neighborhood while residents could not: “The people who are in those homes don't.”

Trout Manuel recounted standing in a driveway with a resident who had been targeted: the resident showed “bullet holes where it's gone through her living room,” and a nearby car suddenly sped away; Trout Manuel said the moment left her shaken. “For three weeks, I still could feel the trauma,” she said.

On public-safety responses, Baldwin said council conversations include options such as increasing police staffing and using camera technology. She referenced council-level considerations about supporting the police department and tools to track incidents when they happen.

Mayor Nancy Backus described recent staffing and budget developments related to public safety: she said the city has increased police-authorized full-time-equivalent positions by 10 this year and that Auburn is now funded for 128 officer positions, though recruitment remains ongoing. “We are looking for great people to become officers,” Backus said, and directed interested applicants to the city's website.

All three officials framed these remarks as descriptive of concerns and priorities discussed with residents and in council work; no formal policy vote or ordinance was taken during the recorded conversation.

The conversation also touched on how the city prepared for demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd, with Backus praising the community and police for a peaceful event. The officials said their focus includes both immediate responses—investigations and cameras—and longer-term strategies such as staffing decisions and community engagement.