Mayor Wilson wants CARE to lead Seattle gun violence response with community partners, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/mayor-wilson-wants-care-to-lead-seattle-gun-violence-response-with-community-partners/ar-AA2cHpEq?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
22-09-2026
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a comprehensive gun violence reduction plan that establishes the city’s Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department as the central command center for coordinating Seattle’s response to gun violence.
Key details of the announcement:
Shifting $5 Million to CARE: The mayor’s proposed budget moves over $5 million in annual Community Violence Intervention (CVI) contractscovering nine community-based organizationsfrom the Human Services Department (HSD) directly into the CARE Department. This brings community violence interrupters into direct coordination with 911 dispatch, the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and the Seattle Fire Department.
New Dedicated Leadership: The proposal funds a new Director and Coordinator of Gun Violence Reduction within CARE to oversee programs, track outcomes, and manage inter-agency collaboration.
Expanded Crisis Response Hours: The plan sustains expanded operating hours for community crisis responders, operating more than 18 hours a day (from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily), up from 10 hours previously.
Focused Deterrence Model: CARE, police, and community organizations will implement a focused deterrence strategy targeting individuals identified as being at the highest risk of engaging in gun violence. Community partners will offer direct alternatives, such as employment training, housing support, and mental health services, while law enforcement targets repeat offenders with clear legal consequences.
Increased Police Patrols: Alongside community-led interventions, SPD is increasing bicycle patrols in neighborhoods frequently impacted by violence, including Belltown, Rainier Beach, Little Saigon, and North Aurora.
Public Health and Academic Partnerships: Seattle is partnering with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions to create the city’s first Violence Reduction Council, which will review every local homicide to identify missed prevention opportunities. The city is also collaborating with the University of Washington’s Center for Firearm Injury Prevention to evaluate baseline program effectiveness and identify gaps in community safety services.