Seattle Councilmember Addresses Police Tech
Seattle City Councilmember Robert Kettle, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, addressed what he called misconceptions about the Seattle Police Department's use of technology. On February 24, Kettle aimed to clarify the department's methods for crime prevention and increase transparency around its technological tools.
- The technologies addressed by Councilmember Kettle include Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, and the city's Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC). Kettle specifically clarified that Seattle does not use the controversial vendor Flock Safety, whose data has reportedly been accessed by federal immigration agencies in other jurisdictions. - Between May and December 2025, the Real-Time Crime Center assisted in 2,580 cases, which included 17 homicides and were associated with 947 arrests. This center collates data from city cameras, Department of Transportation cameras, ALPRs, and some private cameras registered with the city. - In September 2025, the City Council voted 7-2 to expand the police surveillance camera network to three new neighborhoods—Capitol Hill, the Stadium District, and near Garfield High School. This expansion faced strong opposition from over 60 community groups and civil liberties organizations. - An amendment sponsored by Councilmember Kettle was added to the surveillance legislation, requiring the system to be shut down for 60 days if the federal government subpoenas its data for civil immigration enforcement. - Seattle has also considered implementing an Acoustic Gunshot Location System (AGLS) to automatically detect and locate gunfire. However, after pushback from community groups like the NAACP and ACLU, Mayor Bruce Harrell's office decided not to pursue the estimated $1.8 million technology. - All surveillance technology acquisitions by city departments are governed by Seattle's Surveillance Ordinance, which was passed in 2017. This ordinance requires a public review process and City Council approval before any new surveillance technology is acquired or used. - Concerns about police surveillance in Seattle have been raised previously, including in 2020 when the ACLU alleged the Seattle Police Department used Clearview AI facial recognition technology in apparent violation of the city's surveillance ordinance. - The police department has also utilized Mobile Device Forensic Tools (MDFTs) that can extract data from locked cell phones. Records show SPD has spent over $240,000 on these tools from vendors such as Cellebrite and Grayshift.
