New Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson face tough questions soon after being sworn in this week. Source: City of Seattle
SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson on Monday denied any change in how police enforce public drug use or possession laws, rejecting claims triggered by an internal Seattle Police Department email and criticism from police union leaders.
The dispute centers on an internal email attributed to the Seattle Police Department. The message instructs officers to route drug possession and use cases to the city’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program instead of traditional prosecution.
Seattle media outlets published the email verbatim after journalists, including Brandi Kruse, shared images of the message on X. Conservative talk radio hosts also reported the email, citing law enforcement sources.
KIRO 7 News Seattle confirmed the email’s authenticity.
Asked whether her administration changed enforcement practices, Wilson rejected the claim.
“You’ll know when I announce a policy change, because I’ll announce a policy change,” Wilson told reporters. She said no policy change occurred and reaffirmed her support for diversion programs as part of the city’s public safety strategy.
What the Chief’s Email Says
The email states in the picture:
“Effective immediately, all charges related to drug possession and or drug use will be diverted from prosecution to the LEAD program.”
The directive says officers should continue making arrests when they have probable cause, particularly in public view. It also explains that prosecutors, not officers, decide whether a case formally enters diversion.
Councilmember Responds
Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle released a statement calling reports that Seattle stopped making drug arrests erroneous, despite the social media and new reports today.
Kettle said the mayor’s office and the Seattle Police Department told media outlets there was no policy change. He described the moment as an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the city’s drug enforcement laws.
Kettle said he supports diversion programs like LEAD but stressed that enforcement must still address individuals who repeatedly harm neighborhoods.
Police Union Criticism
The Seattle Police Officers Guild condemned the approach described in the email.
Union President Mike Solan called the diversion-first approach naive and dangerous. He warned it would increase death and societal decay. Union leaders argue similar policies failed to reduce crime and overdoses in the past.
Why This Matters
The dispute highlights a deep divide in Seattle over how to enforce public drug laws. Wilson and police leadership say officers retain full enforcement authority and that no policy change occurred. Critics argue routing cases into diversion reduces traditional prosecution in practice.
City officials say any formal policy shift would come through a public announcement. As of Monday, Wilson’s office and SPD say enforcement discretion remains unchanged under existing Seattle law.
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