Seattle’s City Council gathered Thursday afternoon to assess recent strides in addressing gun-related violence and the ongoing overdose crisis.
According to updated city data, homicides in 2025 have declined by roughly 25% compared to the same point last year, while non-fatal shootings have dropped by about a third. Council President Sara Nelson emphasized that these are problems “years in the making” and stressed the importance of staying vigilant. She noted that the statistics represent real lives, adding that the city cannot allow “more people dying, more people getting shot, more people being addicted” when proven solutions are available.
Seattle Police Department leaders reported that they have implemented several recommendations from a recent audit, including closer collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The integration of ATF’s gun tracing tools has shortened the time it takes to identify firearms recovered from crimes by approximately six weeks. Officials also confirmed that multiple city agencies and prosecutors are now hosting twice-weekly “gun crime review meetings” to coordinate responses to violent incidents involving firearms.
Nelson also pointed to promising developments in SPD staffing, saying the city has “reversed the trend of losing more officers than we can hire” and must now work to boost staffing levels even faster.
The council’s review came days after a string of high-profile shootings, including a double homicide at a Lake City park on Monday. Lake City business owner Richard Ridout expressed frustration with police response times, recounting how officers had told him to call for service even though they might not be able to respond immediately, so they could still track the data. Ridout said that while data has its place, the community is “interested in results.”
