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Committee hears data showing arrests up, LEAD diversions down; council seeks geographic breakdown and policy tweaks
Summary
Seattle's Public Safety Committee reviewed data showing drug-possession arrests rose from 633 in 2024 to 942 in 2025 while LEAD post-arrest diversions fell from 256 to 180. Council members pressed SPD and LEAD for neighborhood-level data and clarity on officer discretion and the threat-of-harm assessment.
Seattle's Public Safety Committee on April 28 reviewed the city's 2023 public drug use and possession ordinance and data showing a sharp year-over-year increase in arrests alongside a drop in LEAD diversion referrals.
Greg Doss of central staff told the committee the ordinance (cited in the briefing as Ordinance 126896) emphasizes diversion but requires officers to complete a threat-of-harm assessment once they have probable cause. Doss said SPD data show arrests for drug use and possession rose from 633 in 2024 to 942 in 2025, while LEAD post-arrest diversions fell from 256 to 180 and pre-arrest social-contact referrals fell from 164 to 96. "Arrests are increasing 47% and diversions are decreasing about 30%," he said.
Seattle Police Chief Sean Barnes said…
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