Welcome back to the Gee and Ursula Show Tuesday Morning Edition. So I kind of admit when I get press releases in my email, I don't get overly excited. But yesterday I did get one that made me kind of excited. And it came from Republican King County Council member Reagan Dunn, who wants to tackle the rise in hate crimes in our region by having a dedicated unit in the King County Sheriff's Office to address the problems. So we've invited Councilman Reagan done to join us now and he's on the show with us, good morning.

Welcome back to the Gee and Ursula Show Tuesday Morning Edition. So I kind of admit when I get press releases in my email, I don't get overly excited. But yesterday I did get one that made me kind of excited. And it came from Republican King County Council member Reagan Dunn, who wants to tackle the rise in hate crimes in our region by having a dedicated unit in the King County Sheriff's Office to address the problems. So we've invited Councilman Reagan done to join us now and he's on the show with us, good morning.

Good morning. Thanks so much for having me.

Good morning. Thanks so much for having me.

Thank you for joining us. So there are a lot of people who still don't think hate crimes are actually a problem or they don't exist at all or they're an overreaction. Why do you feel we need a dedicated hate crime unit in the sheriff's office with four deputies?

Thank you for joining us. So there are a lot of people who still don't think hate crimes are actually a problem or they don't exist at all or they're an overreaction. Why do you feel we need a dedicated hate crime unit in the sheriff's office with four deputies?

You know, I'm a former federal prosecutor in three jurisdictions across the United States, and one of the worst kinds of crimes we see are hate crimes. It's a crime that is particularly bad because it preys on the particular vulnerability or difference between an individual and the majority of the population, for example, a hate crime can be based on race, or it can be based on sexual orientation. Then it involves another element of criminal activity, intent and an action, for example, an assault beating, some kind of a really nasty crime. And so we need to focus on those. And what we have seen, unfortunately in the last 12 months is nearly 150% increase in hate crimes occurring across the United States. And that's reflective too of what we've seen here locally in King County.

You know, I'm a former federal prosecutor in three jurisdictions across the United States, and one of the worst kinds of crimes we see are hate crimes. It's a crime that is particularly bad because it preys on the particular vulnerability or difference between an individual and the majority of the population, for example, a hate crime can be based on race, or it can be based on sexual orientation. Then it involves another element of criminal activity, intent and an action, for example, an assault beating, some kind of a really nasty crime. And so we need to focus on those. And what we have seen, unfortunately in the last 12 months is nearly 150% increase in hate crimes occurring across the United States. And that's reflective too of what we've seen here locally in King County.

You come from the Republican side, and I'll admit to you that when I saw that it was you that proposed this, I was really excited to talk to you and interview you. Why is it that it feels that way? And it seems that that the issue about hate crime and whether it exists or doesn't seems to feel like it's a partisan issue? Why is that?

You come from the Republican side, and I'll admit to you that when I saw that it was you that proposed this, I was really excited to talk to you and interview you. Why is it that it feels that way? And it seems that that the issue about hate crime and whether it exists or doesn't seems to feel like it's a partisan issue? Why is that?

Yeah, it might seem to some, but, you know, I of course, there are different types of Republicans, different types of Democrats. I really think this is an issue that that all parties, a bipartisan approach to solving it is the best way to go. Hate crimes are very serious, and it's not just, you know, like as I indicated, a race thing. It can be based on a lot of different things, and what we know is that we need to begin the process of reaching out to the community and enforcing. We also know that only about one third of these hate crimes are actually reported. And what we need to do is in addition to, you know, putting some investigators in place and some prosecutors in place, we also need to work really closely with the community and do a whole lot of good outreach to the community because there are certain communities, for example, communities of color, who don't trust law enforcement. And so it's not just an enforcement emphasis, it's a holistic approach to outreach, working with the community to raise awareness about what hate crimes are and approach it from a bipartisan perspective. That's how we'll get the best results.

Yeah, it might seem to some, but, you know, I of course, there are different types of Republicans, different types of Democrats. I really think this is an issue that that all parties, a bipartisan approach to solving it is the best way to go. Hate crimes are very serious, and it's not just, you know, like as I indicated, a race thing. It can be based on a lot of different things, and what we know is that we need to begin the process of reaching out to the community and enforcing. We also know that only about one third of these hate crimes are actually reported. And what we need to do is in addition to, you know, putting some investigators in place and some prosecutors in place, we also need to work really closely with the community and do a whole lot of good outreach to the community because there are certain communities, for example, communities of color, who don't trust law enforcement. And so it's not just an enforcement emphasis, it's a holistic approach to outreach, working with the community to raise awareness about what hate crimes are and approach it from a bipartisan perspective. That's how we'll get the best results.

Why not... I'm just going to use some of the arguments I've heard from people who are very, um, adamant about not making everything a hate crime, which I understand. As someone who's actually married to a prosecutor as well that hate crimes are very hard to prove. I mean it. It comes with an additional penalty, but it's also an additional burden to come up with the proof. Um, but why is it so important? Why don't you just say, Hey, we're just going to make the... you know it was an egregious crime. We're just going to make it whether it's, you know, against an Asian or a black person, or why don't we just make it... Uh, it's a bad crime. And why is it so important to make it a hate crime?

Why not... I'm just going to use some of the arguments I've heard from people who are very, um, adamant about not making everything a hate crime, which I understand. As someone who's actually married to a prosecutor as well that hate crimes are very hard to prove. I mean it. It comes with an additional penalty, but it's also an additional burden to come up with the proof. Um, but why is it so important? Why don't you just say, Hey, we're just going to make the... you know it was an egregious crime. We're just going to make it whether it's, you know, against an Asian or a black person, or why don't we just make it... Uh, it's a bad crime. And why is it so important to make it a hate crime?

Well, there's a lot of different reasons. First of all, the reason why I wanted to create a specialized unit inside the sheriff's office is because, as you mentioned, it is really, really hard to prove these crimes because the real issue goes to intent. What is the intent? Is this person going to... is the perpetrator going to prey on somebody, for example, because of their race and also commit a violent act? And because of that challenge in proving intent, it's much like other crimes. It's like a domestic violence, crime or like molestation of children, for example, where you really have to have a unit that knows what they're doing in terms of of investigating and prosecuting these, then with respect to your question about you know, why is this so important to focus on this and call it out? The theory of prosecution is deterrence. Okay, so the idea is that you arrest, investigate, prosecute, in part not only to punish the offender but to send a message to others who would engage in this kind of heinous crime. But, hey, in King County, we're not going to tolerate this stuff, and you're going to be prosecuted the full extent of the law. And then, in addition to that, you have to provide important victim services and community outreach as well. So that's what we're trying to do with this unit against hate and bias.

Well, there's a lot of different reasons. First of all, the reason why I wanted to create a specialized unit inside the sheriff's office is because, as you mentioned, it is really, really hard to prove these crimes because the real issue goes to intent. What is the intent? Is this person going to... is the perpetrator going to prey on somebody, for example, because of their race and also commit a violent act? And because of that challenge in proving intent, it's much like other crimes. It's like a domestic violence, crime or like molestation of children, for example, where you really have to have a unit that knows what they're doing in terms of of investigating and prosecuting these, then with respect to your question about you know, why is this so important to focus on this and call it out? The theory of prosecution is deterrence. Okay, so the idea is that you arrest, investigate, prosecute, in part not only to punish the offender but to send a message to others who would engage in this kind of heinous crime. But, hey, in King County, we're not going to tolerate this stuff, and you're going to be prosecuted the full extent of the law. And then, in addition to that, you have to provide important victim services and community outreach as well. So that's what we're trying to do with this unit against hate and bias.

This is the voice of King County Council member Reagan, done as he joins the G and Ursula show. You know, in November, the King County Council axed, got rid of the King County Sheriff's Office gang unit, and I know that, you know, talking to someone who's in and and advocates of gangs right now, um, gang violence has increased around King County. So my question is this. I was looking at some of these settlements. A quick search shows me that $2 million settlement for a dog bite lawsuit, a $2.25 million for a botched sting, a $4.25 million last year, also in the $5 million that just happened this year for the family of Tommy Le. Is there a possibility that if we can just slow down on some of these settlements that are going out, that we can also have a gang unit and a hate crime unit at the same time?

This is the voice of King County Council member Reagan, done as he joins the G and Ursula show. You know, in November, the King County Council axed, got rid of the King County Sheriff's Office gang unit, and I know that, you know, talking to someone who's in and and advocates of gangs right now, um, gang violence has increased around King County. So my question is this. I was looking at some of these settlements. A quick search shows me that $2 million settlement for a dog bite lawsuit, a $2.25 million for a botched sting, a $4.25 million last year, also in the $5 million that just happened this year for the family of Tommy Le. Is there a possibility that if we can just slow down on some of these settlements that are going out, that we can also have a gang unit and a hate crime unit at the same time?

Yeah, I think so. I mean, we really should have a gang unit as well as a hate crime unit, And I was, you know, obviously not happy with the gang unit being asked to actually put an amendment forward to add those officers back, which failed 6 to 3. But here's one of the problems and you raise a really good point. Homicides are now up 86% in King County, 86% overall. Crime is the highest it's been in almost 30 years. And we really need to keep the focus on deterring crime and investigating crime. I'm very worried about organized crime coming into our community. And, you know, you're right if we continue to pay out these super large settlements, it really erodes our ability to to to put law enforcement on the ground prosecutors to fund the entire pipeline of justice, including victims services. You know, certainly there's some cases I know that you mentioned it probably deserved a proper settlement. But I think the point that should be made here is an elected officials are moving way too quick to settle these cases with taxpayer money because they just want them out of the way and behind them. So it's no longer a political liability. And that's what we've got to stop doing. And we got to be more careful with the taxpayer dollars here.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, we really should have a gang unit as well as a hate crime unit, And I was, you know, obviously not happy with the gang unit being asked to actually put an amendment forward to add those officers back, which failed 6 to 3. But here's one of the problems and you raise a really good point. Homicides are now up 86% in King County, 86% overall. Crime is the highest it's been in almost 30 years. And we really need to keep the focus on deterring crime and investigating crime. I'm very worried about organized crime coming into our community. And, you know, you're right if we continue to pay out these super large settlements, it really erodes our ability to to to put law enforcement on the ground prosecutors to fund the entire pipeline of justice, including victims services. You know, certainly there's some cases I know that you mentioned it probably deserved a proper settlement. But I think the point that should be made here is an elected officials are moving way too quick to settle these cases with taxpayer money because they just want them out of the way and behind them. So it's no longer a political liability. And that's what we've got to stop doing. And we got to be more careful with the taxpayer dollars here.

Speaking of taxpayer dollars. So how much would it cost? Your legislation calls for hiring four new deputies. Would these would this mean pulling those deputies off other duties or these would be new positions? How much will this cost and how much support do you have on the council?

Speaking of taxpayer dollars. So how much would it cost? Your legislation calls for hiring four new deputies. Would these would this mean pulling those deputies off other duties or these would be new positions? How much will this cost and how much support do you have on the council?

Well, great questions. It's around $600,000 annually to put this unit in place. You know, we have an $11.5 billion budget. Um, and so you know, it's easy for us to afford, as was just mentioned, you know, you can you can certainly tone down the settlements as one way to collect it. But the other thing is, you know, the federal government is funding something like $440 million to King County in this most recent 1.9 trillion supplemental, and COVID is causing an increase in crime. It's not causing our entire increase in crime. Part of that is because we've completely obliterated our criminal justice system, but it's causing some of it. So we, you know, we really can take the money coming from the federal government and fund this without too much problem. But in my judgment, it is a very sound investment. It is an addition to the existing number of sheriff's deputies. It would be an add on, and that's what we desperately need. If you really want to knock down crime, you've got to keep at least a baseline investment in your criminal justice system. We have been doing that. That's tragic.

Well, great questions. It's around $600,000 annually to put this unit in place. You know, we have an $11.5 billion budget. Um, and so you know, it's easy for us to afford, as was just mentioned, you know, you can you can certainly tone down the settlements as one way to collect it. But the other thing is, you know, the federal government is funding something like $440 million to King County in this most recent 1.9 trillion supplemental, and COVID is causing an increase in crime. It's not causing our entire increase in crime. Part of that is because we've completely obliterated our criminal justice system, but it's causing some of it. So we, you know, we really can take the money coming from the federal government and fund this without too much problem. But in my judgment, it is a very sound investment. It is an addition to the existing number of sheriff's deputies. It would be an add on, and that's what we desperately need. If you really want to knock down crime, you've got to keep at least a baseline investment in your criminal justice system. We have been doing that. That's tragic.

King County Council member Reagan Dunn. Thank you so much for your time. We're grateful that you joined the Gee and Ursula Show.

King County Council member Reagan Dunn. Thank you so much for your time. We're grateful that you joined the Gee and Ursula Show.