SPD presents year-to-date drops in homicides and shootings; RTCC, Magnuson Park pilot and hiring cited as factors

Lee Hunt, executive director of Crime & Community Harm Reduction for the Seattle Police Department, told the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Dec. 9 that preliminary year-to-date data through November show notable declines across several major crime categories. "We've had across seven significant categories through the November more than 3,800 less victims of crime," Hunt said, and added the city recorded a roughly 36% reduction in homicides and a 28–33% reduction in nonfatal shootings in the eleven-month period.

Hunt previewed a full National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) report scheduled for February and said the department will publish a preliminary report in early January while records continue to be processed. He attributed reduced seasonal spikes this year to a combination of interventions — from targeted patrols to public education campaigns — and noted a specific city ordinance aimed at nightlife contributed to fewer after‑2 a.m. shootings: a slide prepared by the city attorney’s…