Why this Seattle business owner wishes there were ’10 times more police officers’ downtown

Trevor Boone has been running Emerald City Guitars in Pioneer Square for 25 years. But for the past few years he says he has never seen police officers in the neighborhood and calls the area “free for everyone”.

During the pandemic, the guitar store started seeing customers by appointment only. But now Boone says politics is also a safety precaution.

“We don’t want our customers to have to come here unless we can take them straight to the store,” says Boone. “It’s a safe place. We create our own world. “

Last Thursday, Boone stepped outside his guitar shop to pay the parking meter. Suddenly a person came up to Boone and pulled out a knife. Boone ran away and called 911. It took almost half an hour for the police to arrive.

“I was pretty disappointed when I pulled a knife on me and then visually saw the man standing free for 20, 25 minutes before someone showed up,” says Boone.

He says the neighborhood has become less and less safe in the nearly three decades he’s spent on South Washington Street and 1st Avenue.

“It’s absolutely out of control,” says Boone. “Super brutal, garbage bags are emptied every two seconds. Almost every day we pick up bags and needles down here in front of all our shops. “

Meanwhile, the Seattle Police Department says they are facing staff shortages and a lack of support from some city guides.

“I know they’re understaffed, but we need them,” Boone said. “I wish there were ten times more police officers in the city center.”

Seattle Police are increasing patrols and facing shortages

Last weekend the SPD sent additional patrols in Pioneer Square, Belltown and downtown. It was in response to a series of shootings in the city that killed five people and injured nine others.

But these additional patrols stopped on Monday. An SPD spokesman said they would look at the data from the weekend “to determine how / where and how many officials we have to use in the future.”

At a press conference last week, Mayor Jenny Durkan stressed that more police officers are needed to keep up with the city’s crime rate.

“In the past 17 months, the Seattle Police Department has lost over 250 officers,” said Durkan.

Durkan points out the lack of support from some city council members who have called for the police to separate.

“Not unexpected – losing so many officers,” said Durkan. “When city guides talk about cutting a department by 50%, you will lose employees.”

Trevor Boone sold his house five months ago and moved out of Seattle, but he doesn’t want to leave Pioneer Square yet. He says he’ll go down with the building.

He tries to stay positive but is still frustrated with the city because it is no longer doing anything to protect the area.

“I still love this little neighborhood. But it’s different, man. You didn’t make it. “