Seattle’s Public Safety Committee has taken a key step toward broadening the city’s use of crime surveillance cameras, approving two measures that would place new cameras in additional high-traffic and high-crime areas.
Under the proposal, cameras would be added near Garfield High School, in the Stadium District, and across parts of Capitol Hill. These sites were selected based on public safety data and feedback from law enforcement, and they would join the existing network already operating along Aurora Avenue, 3rd Avenue, and in the Chinatown–International District.
The network is monitored through the Real-Time Crime Center at Seattle Police Department (SPD) headquarters. SPD officials say the center allows them to watch criminal hot spots as incidents unfold, providing officers with real-time updates and critical evidence for ongoing cases. According to the department, the technology has assisted in investigating more than 600 incidents since its launch, with 90 cases still active.
Advocates for the expansion argue that additional cameras could deter illegal activity, speed up response times, and help identify suspects. Critics, however, have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for over-surveillance.
Council Bills 121052 and 121053 will now move to the full Seattle City Council for a final vote on September 2. If passed, the city would move forward with installing the new equipment, further expanding its real-time crime monitoring capabilities.
