Mission Statement and Priorities

Mission Statement

The mission of the Seattle Police Department is to prevent crime, enforce the law, and support quality public safety by delivering respectful, professional and dependable police services.

• Preventing crime includes everything from strengthening neighborhoods and families to using crime data to identify patterns and suspects.
• Enforcing the law includes not just the measures of arrest and warnings but also educating the public about their responsibilities.
• Supporting quality public safety means being a full partner with other parts of the criminal justice system and assisting witnesses and crime victims throughout the process.
• Delivering respectful police services means treating people the way you want to be treated.
• Professionalism is our hallmark and it means knowledgeable, competent, and ethical policing.
• Dependable means that we keep our promises and serve with courage and dedication.

Department Priorities

Best Practices in Policing – Use best practices that include officer safety guidelines and performance-based accountability to provide progressive and responsive police services to crime victims, witnesses and all members of the community.

Ethics and Integrity – Foster an organizational culture where fundamental values are integrity, accountability, ethical decision-making, and respect for civil and constitutional rights.

Community Partnership – Strengthen links with all community members and associations through open communications, mutual responsibility, and a commitment to service.
Identify, Prioritize & Solve Problems – Identify and prioritize crime prevention and law enforcement challenges using a flexible problem-solving approach that achieves results.

Management & Organizational Efficiency & Effectiveness – Structure the organization to support the SPD mission and field a well-trained sworn and non-sworn workforce that uses technology, training, equipment, and research strategically and effectively.