Soundside_20240717_Ashley-Hiruko-OPA

A few months ago, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was demoted following numerous HR complaints – and legal filings – during his time at the helm of the SPD. Those complaints include claims of discriminatory behavior by Diaz toward women and people of color. There were also rumors of a relationship with an employee.

Diaz has denied those allegations, but in May, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that Diaz would no longer lead the department and appointed former-King County Sheriff Sue Rahr to replace him as interim police chief. 

But in a recent unsigned letter sent to the Seattle City Council, a whistleblower has alleged that the department’s issues could continue even after Diaz -- because the agency tasked with holding SPD accountable hasn’t been doing its job. 

KUOW’s Ashley Hiruko has been reporting on all of these developments and joined Soundside to discuss a letter confirmed to be written by a whistleblower within the Office of Police Accountability. 

Guests: 
Ashley Hiruko, KUOW investigative reporter

Recommended Links:
KUOW - Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council
KUOW - Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is being dismissed
KUOW - Interim SPD Chief talks SPD culture, school safety, and whether to bring officers back to campuses

A few months ago, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was demoted following numerous HR complaints – and legal filings – during his time at the helm of the SPD. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-police-chief-adrian-diaz-is-being-dismisse">Those complaints include</a> claims of discriminatory behavior by Diaz toward women and people of color. There were also rumors of a relationship with an employee.
Diaz has denied those allegations, but in May, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that Diaz would no longer lead the department and appointed former-King County Sheriff Sue Rahr to replace him as interim police chief. 
But in a recent unsigned letter sent to the Seattle City Council, a whistleblower has alleged that the department’s issues could continue even after Diaz -- because the agency tasked with holding SPD accountable hasn’t been doing its job. 
KUOW’s Ashley Hiruko has been reporting on all of these developments and joined Soundside to discuss a letter confirmed to be written by a whistleblower within the Office of Police Accountability. 
Guests: 
<ul>
<li>Ashley Hiruko, KUOW investigative reporter</li>
</ul>
Recommended Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/police-watchdog-heads-ignored-complaints-against-former-chief-adrian-diaz-letter-to-council">KUOW - Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-police-chief-adrian-diaz-is-being-dismisse">KUOW - Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is being dismissed</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/community-resource-officers-once-suspended-should">KUOW - Interim SPD Chief talks SPD culture, school safety, and whether to bring officers back to campuses</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside

Anonymous letter says police watchdogs ignored complaints against former police chief

King County is in the midst of a coordinated effort to confront gun violence. Late last week, the county announced a 100-day initiative to combat shootings in the area.  

Gun violence is a national issue, and it’s the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, surpassing traffic collisions in 2020, and last month U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence a public health crisis.

Guests:
Eulethra Lisch - Director of Public Health - Seattle and King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention


Celia Jackson - Director of Criminal Legal System Transformation in the King County Executive’s Office

Relevant Links:
King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention: Community-based Resource Guide
Axios: Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence

King County is in the midst of a coordinated effort to confront gun violence. Late last week, the county announced a 100-day initiative to combat shootings in the area.  
Gun violence is a national issue, and it’s the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, surpassing traffic collisions in 2020, and last month U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence a public health crisis.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Eulethra Lisch - Director of Public Health - Seattle and King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention</li>
<li>
Celia Jackson - Director of Criminal Legal System Transformation in the King County Executive’s Office
</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/safety-injury-prevention/regional-gun-violence-community-guide">King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention: Community-based Resource Guide</a></li>
<li>Axios: <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/07/12/seattle-shooting-gun-violence-king-county">Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence</a></li>
</ul>

King County launches 100 day effort to confront gun violence

Soundside_20240717_Juvie crowding

Where do you put juvenile offenders when correctional facilities won’t take them?

That’s the question many county judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials are facing after Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families closed both of the state’s youth correctional facilities to new inmates until further notice.

To explain what’s happening and what it means for youth who are convicted of serious crimes, Soundside was joined by KUOW investigative reporter Ann Dornfeld.

Guests:
Ann Dornfeld, KUOW investigative reporter

Related Links:
KUOW - Conflict and confusion after state suspends intake for convicted juveniles
WA suspends taking in sentenced youth at two detention centers | The Seattle Times

Where do you put juvenile offenders when correctional facilities won’t take them?
That’s the question many county judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials are facing after Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families closed both of the state’s youth correctional facilities to new inmates until further notice.
To explain what’s happening and what it means for youth who are convicted of serious crimes, Soundside was joined by KUOW investigative reporter Ann Dornfeld.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Ann Dornfeld, KUOW investigative reporter</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/conflict-and-confusion-after-state-suspends-intake-for-convicted-juveniles">KUOW - Conflict and confusion after state suspends intake for convicted juveniles</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/wa-suspends-taking-in-sentenced-youth-at-two-detention-centers/">WA suspends taking in sentenced youth at two detention centers | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>

WA state suspends intake for convicted juveniles

Last night - President Biden sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt, and answered a question on everyone’s mind: will the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump change the election?

His answer: "I don't know. And you don't know either."

He’s right - we don’t know how last weekend’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump will change things.

But, at least for now, some corners are calling for unity and dialing back extreme rhetoric.

And public calls for the incumbent president to pass the torch within the Democratic Party have quieted, as attention instead turns to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

This is not the first act of political violence that has occurred in America in recent years. To name a few:

Two people died when supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, to disrupt the certification of the presidential election.

In 2017, a gunman opened fire as Republican members of congress held a baseball practice, injuring congressman Steve Scalise. 

And in 2011, another member of congress, Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head while meeting with constituents in Arizona. Six people at the event were killed.

Congressman Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district, which includes areas from Auburn to Bellevue and parts of Seattle. He’s also a close friend of Gabby Giffords.


Congressman Smith sat down with Soundside to discuss the shooting, as well as continued calls for President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee.

Guest:
Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th congressional district, which includes areas from Auburn to Bellevue and parts of Seattle.

Related Links:
Transcript: Read the full Biden interview with Lester Holt on NBC News
Adam Smith, renegade? The promise and peril of crossing your party

Last night - President Biden sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt, and answered a question on everyone’s mind: will the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump change the election?
His answer: "I don't know. And you don't know either."
He’s right - we don’t know how last weekend’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump will change things.
But, at least for now, some corners are calling for unity and dialing back extreme rhetoric. And public calls for the incumbent president to pass the torch within the Democratic Party have quieted, as attention instead turns to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
This is not the first act of political violence that has occurred in America in recent years. To name a few:
Two people died when supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, to disrupt the certification of the presidential election.
In 2017, a gunman opened fire as Republican members of congress held a baseball practice, injuring congressman Steve Scalise. And in 2011, another member of congress, Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head while meeting with constituents in Arizona. Six people at the event were killed.
Congressman Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district, which includes areas from Auburn to Bellevue and parts of Seattle. He’s also a close friend of Gabby Giffords. 
Congressman Smith sat down with Soundside to discuss the shooting, as well as continued calls for President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th congressional district, which includes areas from Auburn to Bellevue and parts of Seattle.</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/transcript-read-full-biden-interview-lester-holt-nbc-news-rcna162029">Transcript: Read the full Biden interview with Lester Holt on NBC News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/adam-smith-renegade-the-promise-and-peril-of-crossing-your-party/">Adam Smith, renegade? The promise and peril of crossing your party</a></li>
</ul>

Anonymous letter says police watchdogs ignored complaints against former police chief

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips