SPD will no longer send officers to alarm calls without active evidence of crime

As the Seattle Police Department (SPD) navigates ways to hire new officers, it has had to make decisions about where to send its remaining staff.

According to a letter from SPD Interim Chief of Police Sue Rahr, starting October 1, the department will only send officers to calls from alarm companies that have evidence — audio, video, panic alarms or eyewitnesses, etc. — that a person is illegally entering or trying to enter a home or business.

Rahr said SPD will no longer respond to calls from alarm companies based only on sensor or motion activations.

After crunching the numbers, Rahr said that of the 13,000 burglary alarm calls SPD received last year, less than 4% had a crime associated with them.