SEATTLE — City leaders on Thursday received a progress report on efforts to curb gun crime and drug overdoses, revealing encouraging declines in both homicides and shootings compared to last year.
According to city data, homicides in Seattle are down by roughly 25% in 2025, while non-fatal shootings have dropped by about one-third.
“These problems were years in the making, and we can’t take our eye off the ball,” said City Council President Sara Nelson. “We’re not just talking about numbers or statistics — we’re talking about people’s lives. We have to do better to prevent more deaths, shootings, and addictions.”
Coordinated Approach to Gun Crime
Seattle police officials said they have fully implemented recommendations from a recent audit, including closer collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The integration of the ATF’s gun tracing tools has significantly improved investigative efficiency, reducing the time it takes to trace firearms recovered from crime scenes by about six weeks.
Additionally, city agencies and prosecutors are now holding twice-weekly “gun crime review” meetings to better coordinate responses to violent incidents involving firearms.
Staffing Improvements at SPD
Nelson also highlighted progress in reversing the Seattle Police Department’s staffing decline.
“We have reversed the trend of losing more officers than we can hire — that is huge,” she said. “We have got to bring staffing levels at SPD up faster.”
Increased recruitment and retention efforts are expected to help the department maintain momentum in reducing crime rates.
Recent Violence Keeps Focus High
The meeting came just days after a double homicide at a Lake City park on Monday, a stark reminder of the challenges that remain despite overall improvements.
City leaders emphasized that continued investment in prevention, enforcement, and community engagement is essential to sustaining the positive trends.
Overdose Crisis Still a Priority
While much of Thursday’s discussion centered on gun violence, city officials stressed that combating Seattle’s ongoing drug overdose crisis is equally urgent. They noted that many of the same principles — interagency coordination, targeted intervention, and timely data-sharing — are being applied to both public safety challenges.
Looking Ahead
Officials say the combination of data-driven policing, stronger interagency partnerships, and improvements in officer staffing is beginning to yield results. However, they acknowledged that the city’s fight against violent crime and drug-related deaths will require long-term commitment.
“We can’t relax now,” Nelson warned. “We know what works, and we need to keep pushing forward so that fewer families suffer the pain of losing someone to violence or addiction.”
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