At the start of January we were excited to attend the third installment of Cooking with the Chief, a five-part youth-oriented community engagement series funded by the Seattle Police Foundation grant program.

Cooking with the Chief takes place monthly at the PCC community kitchen in Columbia City. Each class welcomes Chief Adrian Z. Diaz or another member of SPD leadership, youth from different areas of Seattle, one to two Seattle police officers, and a special guest, who all learn to create food from scratch.

The January class featured Chief Diaz, a group of students from Roxhill EC Hughes Elementary School in West Seattle, special guest Seattle Housing Authority Vice Chair and former major league baseball player Gerald Smiley, and professional Chef and Culinary Instructor Pranee Halvorsen. 

Originally from Phuket, Thailand, Chef Pranee loves to share her passion for traditional Thai cooking. She masterfully led students through a culinary journey that included Som Tum (green papaya salad with lime-peanut dressing), Phad Thai (stir-fried rice noodles and tofu), Pranee’s Delicious Phad Thai Sauce, and Kleuy Bud Chee (banana in sweet coconut milk). 

The dishes were made from Chef Pranee’s own custom recipes, meant to showcase a perfectly balanced combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. The food was absolutely delicious and enjoyed by all!

Cooking with the Chief was conceptualized in 2023 as a creative and fun way to engage with the community and make Chief Diaz and other law enforcement professionals accessible to Seattle’s younger demographic. Also in attendance were SPD Officer Aaron Lucas and Officer Jess Bailey, whose presence helped the January event exemplify that vision! A pair of outgoing students took turns interviewing the Chief and asking him questions about what it’s like to be the chief of police, and much more. 

We love watching our grants program come to life! SPF’s grant program allows the men and women of the Seattle Police Department to ask for the funding they need to turn their ideas into reality, whether they’re a member of command staff or a brand-new patrol officer. Our grants process is competitive, giving each applicant the opportunity to advocate for their idea. 

Thanks to our generous supporters for making our grant program possible! 

Thanks to our supporters, we were able to complete two grant review processes in 2023, one in February and another in December. Here are a few examples of what was selected for funding in December:

Hailer and BRINC Ball Communication Systems 

Requested by: Hostage Negotiation Team

These innovative tools are essential to the HNT’s work to deescalate critical incidents, helping to facilitate communication between the person in crisis and SPD negotiators. A BRINC Ball is a lightweight, durable handheld two-way communication device, which can be used in tense situations when face-to-face communication isn’t an option. 

Seattle-based BRINC created the BRINC Ball to be tough! In the case of a barricaded subject, the BRINC Ball can be thrown into a scene or even dropped into a room from 10-feet above. SPD’s HNT is not a funded entity, yet its work is crucial to public safety in Seattle as it typically responds to 150 to 180 incidents per year. This added hailer system (PA speaker) and BRINC Ball help set the HNT up for success by ensuring they have the equipment they need to do their work.

BRINC Ball image courtesy of BRINC

TruNarc Narcotics Analyzer

Requested by: North Precinct Patrol Operations

The committee approved a request for a TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer, an innovative device that can accurately identify hundreds of different narcotic substances, plus common cutting agents, with only one test. This device can scan through plastic or glass for swift, lab-quality analysis, improving safety for officers and the community by minimizing exposure and providing the timely identification of illicit substances. 

The requestor proposed the purchase of five devices in partnership with SPD, which would match SPF’s funding to effectively split the cost. SPF was unable to accommodate the full request, but the committee approved the purchase of one device, which will be matched by SPD, making two TruNarc Narcotics Analyzers available for patrol officers to use to keep our community safer.  

Firstgevity Video Yoga

Requested by: SPD Wellness Unit

This investment in Officer Wellness provides officers with access to Firstgevity, an online yoga program designed exclusively for first responders. Firstgevity’s extensive on-demand library offers flexibility, so that SPD officers who work around the clock can participate from the precinct or from their homes. Yoga is a proven remedy to help mitigate the impacts of cumulative stress and repeated exposure to trauma. 

At the end of 2022, former Seattle Police Foundation Board Member Dan Quatier generously donated $25,000 on behalf of his consulting firm, Interior Technology Inc., to help support officer wellness, retention, and morale.

This donation funded monthly snacks, food, and treats at all five precincts throughout 2023. 

We are happy to share that he did it again for 2024! 

We kicked off the new year with delicious cupcakes, hand-crafted by our friends at Pinewood Baking. We're so grateful for the generous supporters who make it possible for us to tangibly demonstrate to SPD officers and staff that they're seen, valued, and appreciated. 

Thank you for supporting the men and women of the Seattle Police Department!

Thanks to SPF's generous donors, SPD's Harbor Patrol Unit is better equipped to save lives and property in 2024.

The Unit was recently able to purchase six large portable fire pumps and two smaller ones, used for dewatering sinking boats and marine firefighting. These new pumps are more efficient than the Unit’s old ones, drawing up more water, which makes a huge difference when officers are trying to save a boat that is sinking or on fire.

When responding to marine fires, these easily portable pumps can be placed on board any of the boats in Harbor’s fleet, for more rapid deployment and quicker response to the blaze. This means that officers can begin fire suppression efforts from any boat in the fleet, while waiting for Patrol 4 (SPD’s primary firefighting boat) and the Seattle Fire Department to arrive. Additionally, the portability of this new gear allows Harbor officers to easily transport pumps in a Harbor Unit vehicle, to impacted locations that are better accessed via land.

The pumps are made by C.E.T., a leading manufacturer of specialized firefighting equipment. The six larger pumps are capable of delivering a maximum flow of 290 gallons of water per minute, while the two smaller pumps can deliver 200 gallons per minute. 

Both models are powered by dependable Honda engines. 

These new pumps have increased the Harbor Patrol Unit officers’ ability to save lives and property. Thank you all so much for helping to improve public safety on Seattle waters! 

On Christmas Eve we were honored to spend the afternoon and evening on a cruise ship thanks to the annual Ronald McDonald House Cruise with Argosy.

This long-standing (over two decades) tradition is a collaboration with Ronald McDonald House, the Seattle Police Department, and Argosy. 

We were onsite at Shilshole Marina in Ballard as so many precious families arrived via bus, escorted from RMH's Seattle location by SPD’s Motorcycle Unit. The VIP treatment continued once they arrived at the Marina, where they were greeted by Seattle Police Pipes and Drums, SWAT, the Mounted Patrol Unit, members of the K9 Unit, the Harbor Patrol Unit, and many others, including Chief Adrian Diaz! 

And the VIP experience didn’t stop at the Marina! The cruise ship was escorted by Harbor Patrol Unit officers in Patrol 4, SPD’s primary firefighting boat, which put on a great show for these incredible guests. On board the boat, there was cookie decorating, face painting, an array of delicious food, live music, a visit from Santa Claus, pictures with Santa, and gifts for all the amazing kiddos and their siblings. 

This was the Ronald McDonald House Cruise’s first year back in action since the pandemic put a pause on large gatherings in 2020, and we feel so lucky that we got to be there. We are incredibly grateful for the generous donors who make it possible for us to contribute meaningfully to the community. 

Ronald McDonald House provides space for pediatric patients 21 years old and younger. This cruise ship was filled with beautiful, brave heroes, all facing unimaginable challenges. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to gift these charming kids with plush SPD K9s and other novelty items, plus provide each family with a 2024 Finest and Furriest calendar.  

Thank you!

Our 2024 Finest and Furriest calendars are on sale for $10 each!

This year's calendar is a tribute to the Seattle Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit, featuring the magnificent horses of the MPU.

Proceeds from the calendar support the Seattle Police Department Forensic Digital Imaging Section, otherwise known as the Photo and Video Unit. Not only do the digital imaging professionals of SPD preserve and showcase the history of the Seattle Police Department through photos and videos, but they also deploy to crime scenes to capture crucial evidence via forensic photography.

Like other SPD Units, budget limitations hinder this Section’s ability to invest in new technology. The funds raised through the sale of SPF’s 2024 calendars help pay for things like camera equipment, specialized lighting, and more. The calendar is on sale now for $10 and makes a great gift for the equestrian enthusiasts in your life.

Order your copies before we sell out! Calendars are available at: Finest and Furriest 2024.

Do you have a passion for law enforcement and a heart for community service? If so, you may be a great fit for our volunteer program.

The Seattle Police Foundation (SPF) is actively recruiting volunteers to help us ensure that our events are successful and fun for everyone involved. As a 501C3 nonprofit organization, SPF hosts multiple fundraising events throughout the year, several of which include an auction. As such, we are looking for enthusiastic, detail-oriented folks with excellent communication skills to assist with a variety of event-related tasks.

Tasks may include things like guest check-in and check-out, data entry, venue set-up and take-down, clerical support (filing, organizing paperwork), live auction support, bid tracking, bid spotting, staffing donation tables, decorating tabletops, and much more.

Event support is fast-paced and dynamic! You might start your day hauling boxes of stuffed SPD K9s, and end it making sure that our guests leave with the correct auction items.

If this sounds like you, please fill out our volunteer application today.

The next Seattle Police Awards Ceremony takes place March 21, 2024. 

This inspirational evening honors the excellence and bravery of Seattle police officers and civilian staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep our community safe. This is an opportunity to show them that their commitment and sacrifice is valued and appreciated.

With staffing at an all-time low, it is clear that SPF’s mission and the need for a public-private partnership is more important than ever. As a community, now is the time to come together and support the great work and people of SPD.

Information on sponsorship opportunities can be found here or by clicking the button below. We have sponsorship opportunities to accommodate all budgets, starting with our $250 Sponsor-an-Officer level and rising up to the $15,000 Title Sponsor level.

Thank you for helping us demonstrate to the men and women of SPD that their work is seen, valued, and appreciated.  

Did you know that SPF has a reoccurring giving program?

For as little as $10 per month, you can sign up for our recurring pledge program, which automatically deducts your monthly donation so that you don’t have to think about it. When you sign up as a monthly donor, you're essentially signing up for a monthly subscription to improved public safety in the Seattle community.

It's one of the safest and most efficient ways to support our work!

The Seattle Police Foundation is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, so if your donations meet a certain threshold, they may be tax deductible (pursuant to IRS rules).