West Seattle community grapples with shelter issues, celebrates crime reductions at safety meeting

Crime Prevention Coordinator for the South Precinct of the Seattle Police Department, filling in for Jennifer Satterwhite at the Southwest Precinct led the discussion at the Alki Masonic Center for a public safety meeting Oct. 7.

Photo by Patrick Robinson

The Southwest Precinct Advisory Council (SWPAC) meeting, held at the Alki Masonic Center on the evening of October 7 served as a crucial forum for community members to engage directly with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and local leaders regarding crime and public safety in West Seattle. The event, themed “Let Your Voice Be Heard,” featured introductions from Community Leads and City representatives, followed by updates from Southwest Precinct officers, including Lieutenant Wes Collier and CSO Matt Brown, filling in for Jennifer Satterwhite who was away on leave.

Roughly 55 people attended the meeting.

While officials touted significant drops in year-to-date crime, the majority of the discussion centered on safety concerns and open-air drug use related to a privately owned local facility, the Westside Shelter.

Intense debate over Westside Neighbors Shelter and drug activity

The most significant and heated topic addressed by attendees was the impact of the Westside Neighbors Shelter on Alaska Street which is a privately owned, volunteer-run cold-weather shelter operated by Keith Hughes and his team of volunteers. It is a 501c3 operated by but has reportedly become a “magnet area for drug dealing” . The shelter originally served veterans.

One resident detailed the persistent safety concerns in the surrounding area, stating: “I have a 2-year-old. I live right across the street from it. There are drug dealers every night backing in. Right. Every single night.”. This resident also recounted that they were robbed at gunpoint on a bus a month prior, and another person was robbed near the shelter in May at gunpoint.

Community members expressed frustration that the shelter’s proprietor, Keith and his staff who they believe is “over their heads” and “incredibly underresourced”, is unwilling to shut down operations despite neighborhood impacts. Deb Barker, President of the Morgan Community Association, shared an observation from a recent visit to the area, noting that many people found in a “fentanyl slump” near Junction Plaza Park had previously been at the shelter for breakfast.

Abby, a resident living near the facility, stressed the need for a “solution oriented mindset”. She proposed implementing a “good neighbor agreement” similar to those used by other Seattle properties that provide services. This agreement would establish a clear, ongoing safety operations plan and require community engagement and education, but implementing it requires substantial funding, as the shelter is currently under resourced.

The SPD and city representatives offered guidance and information regarding resources and enforcement:

• Outreach and Case Management: Community Service Officer Matt Brown suggested partnering with professional outreach organizations like Lehi, DEESC, and REACH to connect Keith with “real case management” and provide long-term assistance.

• Chronic Nuisance Ordinance: SPD confirmed that the chronic nuisance statute, which requires certain documented criteria, could not be used against the nonprofit facility since it is not a governmental agency.

• Funding Challenges: Eric Schmidt, from  Council Member Rob Saka’s office, informed the attendees that “this city is in a $140 million deficit,” with the deficit expected to worsen, meaning “there is not free flowing cash around anywhere”.

• Increased Patrols: When asked how the community could partner with SPD immediately to increase patrols and mitigate open-air drug use, officials advised the use of the website tool to submit a “request to watch” for specific times and locations. They also noted that the Southwest Precinct started an “emphasis vehicle” in September during second watch hours focused on dealing with community-identified problems.

The importance of reporting was repeatedly emphasized, with SPD noting that reporting to 911 or using the Find It Fix It app provides the necessary data to allocate resources and serves as documentation for enforcement actions.

Crime Trends and Police Staffing Updates

Lieutenant Wes Collier and CSO Matt Brown delivered positive updates on crime trends and police staffing within the Southwest Precinct.

“Overall year to date,” total crime is down 16%. Specific statistics shared included:

• Burglaries are down 31%.

• Robberies are down nearly 30%.

• The Southwest Precinct is the only precinct in Seattle with “zero homicides this year which I think is awesome”, Brown said.

Total instances of crime year-to-date were roughly 2,800, compared to approximately 3,500 the previous year. “Shots fired” incidents were also down slightly year-to-date, with 77 incidents compared to 83 the year prior.

Regarding staffing, Matt Brown stated that SPD is “net 64 officers,” which is the biggest annual increase the department has ever had. The Lieutenant added that hiring is improving, and the SPD is actively recruiting “lateral officers” who can be placed on the street handling 911 calls much faster due to prior experience.

The department also highlighted community collaboration tools, including the ability for residents to share evidence from personal cameras with the Seattle Police Department, emphasizing that it will take “all of us to make our community a little bit safer”.

Crisis Response Team Introduction and Upcoming Events

Michelle Kim, a mental health professional, introduced herself as part of the Seattle Police Crisis Response Team (CRT), newly assigned to the Southwest Precinct. The CRT uses a “forward responder model,” where a clinician and an officer respond to 911 calls together in a marked car.

To close the meeting, community leaders shared a list of upcoming events designed to foster connection and safety: