Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan condemned Mayor Katie Wilson’s drug enforcement approach as "suicidal empathy," arguing it risks greater death and decay. An internal email from Police Chief Shon Barnes said eligible personal-use drug possession and public-use cases would be diverted to the LEAD program, while sales and delivery offenses remain prosecutable. The department told KOMO News that arrests continue and Barnes clarified that failures to comply with LEAD can lead to prosecution. Mayor Wilson said she will implement LEAD as part of a broader public safety vision while targeting enforcement in priority situations.
Seattle Police Union Blasts Mayor’s Drug Policy as “Suicidal Empathy”; LEAD Diversion Clarified
Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion seeks to redirect such cases away from the criminal legal system to mental health services.
The president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild sharply criticized newly sworn-in Mayor Katie Wilson’s approach to public drug use on Sunday, calling it “suicidal empathy” and warning it could lead to increased death and social decay.
Union Statement and Mayor’s Response
"The recent naive, ignorant political decision to not arrest offenders for open drug use in the City of Seattle is horrifically dangerous and will create more death and societal decay,"said Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, arguing that a non-punitive approach to people in the throes of addiction is misguided.
Mayor Katie Wilson responded in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying she would publicly announce any policy change and that her published vision for public safety pledges that everyone in Seattle deserves to be safe in their homes, on streets, in parks and in places of business across every neighborhood.
What Triggered the Confusion
Confusion about whether arrests would stop stems from an internal email from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes reported by KOMO News. The email said, in part, that "effective immediately, all charges related to drug possession and/or drug use will be diverted from prosecution to the LEAD program," referring to Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD).
Chief Barnes clarified that the diversion applies only to eligible, personal-use cases and that individuals arrested for selling or delivering drugs are excluded. He also said that if participants fail to meet LEAD program requirements, their cases would proceed through normal prosecution. Barnes noted that LEAD has long been an established alternative under existing Seattle city ordinance.
About LEAD
LEAD describes itself as a program that redirects low-level offenders with unmet behavioral health needs away from jail and prosecution and into nonpunitive, community-based services. Supporters say it reduces recidivism and connects people to treatment; critics argue it can undermine public safety if applied too broadly.
Department Response and Ongoing Debate
The Seattle Police Department told KOMO News that "nothing has changed when it comes to police continuing to make drug-related arrests in Seattle," seeking to reassure the public that enforcement remains an active duty for officers.
Solan maintained strong opposition to LEAD, calling the program an example of "suicidal empathy" and warning it will intensify death, destruction and human suffering if broadly reinstated.
Mayor Wilson reiterated that the LEAD framework will be implemented as part of her public safety vision while also saying the city will prioritize enforcement of possession and public-use ordinances in critical situations and devote appropriate resources and urgency to neighborhood hot spots.
Wilson was sworn in after defeating incumbent Bruce Harrell. The Seattle Police Department did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment. Reporting cited Fox News Digital and KOMO News.
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