2025 SPD Year in Review – SPD Blotter

Seattle Police Division Chief Shon Barnes introduced that total crime in Seattle fell 18% in 2025 in comparison with 2024, with reductions throughout main classes together with essentially the most severe – murder.

There’s nonetheless loads of work to do in 2026 and past, Barnes mentioned in a speech on the Northwest African American Museum on Feb. 2, noting {that a} single yr of optimistic outcomes is only one step in “an extended marathon towards making each neighborhood safer.” However, he added, final yr’s progress demonstrates that his Seattle-Centric Policing Plan could make Seattle safer if we keep constant in our method. The technique, which takes Seattle’s values under consideration, includes deepening metropolis engagement to take a “complete of presidency” method, deepening group partnerships to foster belief, responsibly utilizing expertise, and deploying evidence-based methods.

Homicides Fell by 36% and SPD Solved Extra Instances

Whereas any lack of life is unacceptable, final yr Seattle skilled 37 homicides, which is 36% fewer than the 58 individuals killed in 2024. Meaning 21 fewer lives have been misplaced than the earlier yr, and the quantity reached the bottom degree since earlier than the pandemic over 5 years in the past.

Final yr, the division’s sworn {and professional} workers labored collectively to unravel 86% of the circumstances. Meaning SPD introduced some measure of closure to 32 of 37 households affected by a tragic murder.

The 86% clearance fee additionally represents a dramatic enchancment from the division’s 2024 clearance fee of 57%, and it surpasses the 61% nationwide common.

Barnes credit SPD’s clearance fee to deepening collaboration throughout the Seattle Police Division—patrol officers, crime scene investigators, assist workers, detectives, proof professionals, and crime analysts in SPD’s Actual‑Time Crime Middle. Despite the fact that the RTCC launched in Might, RTCC workers assisted in investigating 17 murder circumstances – that’s 45% of all circumstances — and assisted in case closure for 10 of the murder circumstances.

He additionally credit the group, since many murder circumstances usually get solved as a result of somebody gave detectives a lead, referred to as SPD’s Tip Line, or reported suspicious exercise to police.

“Our means to unravel 86% of final yr’s murder circumstances suggests we’re bettering in an important class of all: group belief,” Barnes mentioned.

Gun Violence

About 80% of final yr’s murder victims misplaced their lives to somebody who fired a gun.

However we can not discuss homicides with out addressing gun violence extra broadly. In 2025, police noticed some optimistic indicators:

The variety of individuals struck by gunfire decreased by 36%.

Stories of pictures fired—a serious driver of worry amongst our neighbors—fell by 12%, and for the primary time in years, we didn’t see the everyday spike throughout the heat summer time months.

Whereas these are encouraging indicators that replicate optimistic momentum in each enforcement and group partnership, Chief Barnes acknowledged the tragic capturing deaths of three individuals – together with two highschool college students – this previous weekend.

“With regards to stopping future gun violence, I need to stress that all of us have an element to play. Our complete group should work collectively on a constant, evidence-based answer. Regulation enforcement have to be concerned, however this problem requires a “complete of presidency and group” method, which this second clearly demonstrates,” he mentioned. “We should assist each other throughout all neighborhoods to do what it takes to forestall extra mindless gun violence.”

Firearm Recoveries

There are inherent risks in police work, and whereas we respect the rights afforded by the Second Modification, SPD additionally is aware of that some individuals carry weapons illegally or with dangerous intent.

Final yr, SPD officers lawfully recovered 1,500 firearms—that’s a 74% enhance from the earlier yr.

Whereas extra evaluation is required to find out causation, Barnes mentioned that eradicating firearms from those that mustn’t possess them is instantly linked to the reductions we’re seeing in violent crime. On the very least, each firearm SPD’s officers recovered represented one much less alternative for somebody in Seattle to develop into a sufferer.

Aggravated Assaults

Aggravated assaults in Washington embody a variety of offenses—from punches to shootings. In 2025, we noticed an 8% discount in these incidents.

This implies 320 fewer individuals have been injured or assaulted final yr than in 2024—nearly one fewer sufferer each day. It is a optimistic development.

Stolen Automobiles

Auto theft has challenged cities throughout the nation, and Seattle has been no exception. Stolen automobiles endanger motorists, gasoline different crimes, and impose monetary and emotional hardships on victims.

In 2025, we diminished stolen automobiles by 24%— 1,821 fewer victims.

This success was pushed by technique. After analyzing traits, we established a threshold: 4 automobiles stolen, inside 1 / 4‑mile radius, over 7 days, routinely triggers against the law bulletin, particular emphasis patrols, group schooling, and investigative motion.

“As our colleagues within the Hearth Division say: Forestall small fires from turning into massive fires,” Barnes mentioned.

Automobile Prowls together with Gun Thefts

Automobile prowls stay a persistent frustration for our neighborhoods. We proceed to encourage residents to lock their automobiles and take away valuables—particularly jewellery, wallets, purses, and firearms, that are among the many mostly stolen gadgets.

Final yr, 206 firearms have been stolen from automobiles in Seattle. Chief Barnes encourages gun homeowners to take steps to forestall this from occurring. “Automobiles make horrible gun safes,” he mentioned.

Even with these challenges, SPD reported a 7% discount in automotive prowls in 2025.

Burglaries

Few crimes create worry and lasting trauma like housebreaking. Whether or not it’s a enterprise or a house, the violation feels deeply private.

In 2025, burglaries decreased by 18%, which implies that 1,571 fewer individuals who skilled the sensation of being violated. It is a main win for our metropolis.

What to Anticipate in 2026

Our work is much from completed. Chief Barnes shared an summary of what to anticipate in 2026 that features:

Persevering with our new, month-to-month group dialog collection referred to as Our Metropolis, Our Security. The subsequent one will probably be held on Feb. 10 at 6 PM on the Loyal Heights Group Middle

Increasing SPD’s new Neighborhood Useful resource Officer Packages, which places extra officers in your native neighborhoods, to third and James in addition to twelfth and Jackson

Utilizing evidence-based group violence intervention (CVI) to interrupt cycles of hurt.

Accelerating retention and recruitment efforts to proceed our record-breaking hiring surge to maintain extra officers in your streets.

Working to enhance response occasions as a result of it may well save lives and interrupt crimes.

Making ready for the FIFA World Cup video games to make sure a protected and pleasurable expertise for everybody.