Seattle Police Division removes concrete boundaries round precinct in Capitol Hill

Seattle police said the barriers fell after receiving feedback from business owners, residents and community leaders in Capitol Hill.

SEATTLE – The Seattle Police Department (SPD) removed the concrete barriers around the East Precinct in Capitol Hill after eight months.

The department said the barriers would fall after receiving feedback from business owners, residents and community leaders in Capitol Hill. The barriers hindered pedestrian and bicycle traffic around the area.

The barriers were first erected in August 2020 to “protect the facility from arson and other damage,” Seattle city officials said.

The East Precinct was located within the barriers of the Capitol Hill-occupied protest zone, also known as the CHOP, which was built during the protests against the assassination of George Floyd in the summer of 2020.

According to Seattle Police, the department will keep the station’s windows covered with plywood due to previous damage in the East Precinct, including multiple arson attempts. A security fence also remains around the building.

“We know that now is a crucial moment for our department, and we know that the barriers around the district are a clear visual reminder of the cracks in our city,” said the SPD in a deletion post. “We know our department is busier and we look forward to the challenge of strengthening our relationships in our communities.”