PUBLIC SAFETY
Public / Schools
Do you feel your family is safe?
Public safety must be at the forefront of the conversation. How many of us are afraid to go shopping after dark? Why are our kids fearful of violence at school? Why must our businesses “tolerate” shoplifting and vandalism? We are seeing increased reports of lawlessness, from violet crimes and physical abuse, to car theft and property damage. This state of fear that we are living in needs to end. It is my desire to help us get through this lawless time period by taking the handcuffs off our law enforcement, providing additional tools to decision makers, and increasing access to services for those who need it.
After talking to police and correctional officers, it has become apparent that drug addiction and mental health issues are at the root of the problem, and a revolving jail system with inadequate treatment plans is just pushing the issue down the road. We must bring common sense and compassion to these problems and address them with a multi-tiered plan that can be tailored to an individual, and address the reason why they are in the situation they are. Hardened criminals need to be separated out and prosecuted. Those with drug and mental health issues need to be provided treatment.
We need to show compassion while still demanding individual responsibility. Policies that do not uphold the requirement of individual responsibility and prosecutors that fail to prosecute crimes must be replaced. Criminals must not be encouraged to continue down their lawless path because of soft punishments with zero real consequences.
With your support we can fight measures that are making our cities unsafe, while providing compassionate treatment to combat the drug addiction and homelessness problem facing our communities.
My Plan
Remove the handcuffs
I would continue the process of unhandcuffing our law enforcement by undoing the damage done by the following decisions and laws:
- Blake Decision-Virtual decriminalization of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other dangerous substances
- House Bill 1054-Vehicle pursuits (RCW 10.116.060)
- House Bill 1310-Permissible uses of force(RCW 10.120)
I would also include supporting recent bills like House Bill 2037, House Bill 1735, House Bill 1719, and Senate Bill 5919, while pushing for initiatives like I-1474 and I-1510.
Create new tools
I will work with the different members of our law enforcement, correctional, and judicial systems to increase the sharing of data that will provide our decision makers with the information they need to make the best decision for everyone involved.
Some of the shared data would include.
- Intervention (Treatment data)
- Incarceration (Jail data)
- Support (Peer navigator data)
- Court (Previous case data)
This type of sharing can help the professionals by providing the information they need to determine who are the ones that won’t change and need to be incarcerated and those who, because of barriers, can’t change by themselves, and need a little compassion and a helping hand. It is not about being harder, or softer, it is about being smarter.
Support individuals with the right treatment
There is no one size fits all when it comes to mental health treatment. The analogy of a Swiss army knife of options is the best way to look at providing treatment. Some people may be able to find success with a simple treatment plan, while others may require multiple attempts. The first step is to determine, “what are the barriers” that need to be overcome.
- Treatment (Drug & Mental Health)
- Job Training
- Employment
- Permeant Housing
- Court (fines, fees, and case support)
- Trama Informed Care
How you can help.
You can help make your city, neighborhood, and schools safer by becoming engaged. Below are links to three public safety initiatives that you can support by going to the page, reading up on the initiative, and finding a location to sign the petitions.
Restore Police Pursuit
Ballot Measure Summary — This measure would reduce certain restrictions on when peace officers may conduct vehicular pursuits.
Make Hard Drugs Illegal
Ballot Measure Summary — This measure would change the classification of the crime of knowing possession of a controlled substance from a misdemeanor to a class C felony …
Keep Guns From Criminals
Ballot Measure Summary — This measure would make certain existing state restrictions on possession, use, manufacture, distribution, sale, or purchase of firearms apply only to “felony firearm offenders” and those convicted of a “serious offense,” as defined in RCW 9.41.010.