Crime Rate Dips in Seattle Some 2019 magazine headlines like “Left-coast Lawlessness” and “Seattle Under Siege” might have been a bit overblown. According to the official records, crime rates decreased across the board last year. Property crime rates, mostly theft, were at their lowest levels since the 1970s. Violent crime rates also dropped sharply. Seattle Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Sean… Read More
Half Of Seattle Property Crimes Involve Motor Vehicles Collectively, auto theft cases, auto burglary (car prowling), and other automobile theft incidents make up about 42 percent of the property crime in Seattle. At over 12,000 reported incidents in 2017, car prowls lead the category by a country mile. The actual figure is probably much higher. Crime statistics usually only include reported offenses. Downtown… Read More
Legal Loophole Blocks King County Case Against Seattle Officers Lack of Evidence; The best defense in both police officer and civilian assault cases; although, other defenses include self-defense and defense of property. King County officials will not file charges against two former Seattle officers who poured numerous gunshots into a fleeing vehicle. In refusing to pursue the case, prosecutors cited Washington’s controversial malice requirement in police… Read More
Zero-Tolerance Policies Each of the 50 states has either statutes or common law rules providing that a person has the right to defend himself from unlawful attack by another. This is a reflection of the understanding of natural law which dictates that all people have the right to be secure in their persons and be free from… Read More
Evidence Illegally Seized The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides that “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place… Read More
Is Protesting Really Legal? The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech. In other words, the government cannot censor the expression of citizens. “Speech” goes beyond verbal language and includes print and other media as well. The right to peacefully assemble also arises out of the First Amendment. However, these rights are not absolute. A permit… Read More
Good Samaritan Laws The Constitution of the United States separates our country from many other nations on earth because it guarantees several types of freedom. Citizens are generally free to act at their own discretion, so long as they do not violate the rights of others. Citizens are also generally free not to act if they so choose,… Read More
The Basics of Reporting a Crime Just as preventive measures can be enacted to help protect against the commission of crimes, reactive measures taken by civic-minded persons can increase the chances of recovering property or achieving justice after the fact. While most people never consider how to be a good witness for police before the fact, a small amount of education… Read More
How To Prevent Property Crimes and Break Ins Experienced police officers unanimously agree that a large percentage of crime victims opened the metaphorical door for the criminal, and unwittingly created the opportunity, themselves. While no procedures can guarantee complete safety and freedom from crime, the practicing of some basic measures of vigilance can prevent many common property crimes. While many of these concepts… Read More