Throughout 2022, Seattle Police Foundation donors have allowed us to dedicate resources to several key initiatives, including Officer Wellness, the lifesaving EMT Unit, Harbor Patrol Boat 4, Beds for Kids, and more. If you haven’t given already this year and want to support SPD officers, please consider making a year-end gift to the Seattle Police Foundation grant fund.

Congratulations to Seattle Police Department Officer Dorian Korieo for being honored with the 2022 Leadership in Human and Civil Rights Award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police!

IACP’s Leadership in Human and Civil Rights award seeks to recognize law enforcement programs and efforts that protect, embrace, and promote civil and human rights. Officer Korieo was presented with the award in October, at the IACP’s annual conference in Dallas.

This prestigious, worldwide honor is given to only one individual recipient per year.

Officer Korieo was selected for the award because of his work with SPD’s Safe Place program, which gives victims of hate crimes a safe place to go after they’ve been victimized. The network of safe havens is created through partnerships between businesses, schools, and police departments. Seattle’s innovative Safe Place was launched in 2014 in response to underreported anti-LGBTQ+ crimes, and was broadened in 2018 to include all hate crimes.

Officer Korieo became SPD’s Global Safe Place Coordinator in 2019, expanding the program across the United States – and the world – to more than 300 law enforcement agencies and their business partners. A member of the LGBTQ+ community himself, Officer Korieo is passionate about the mission of Safe Place, dedicated to its continued growth, and excited about the breadth of opportunity it holds for true community policing. Since taking over the program, Officer Korieo has established a Safe Place certification process, which improves overall program consistency, increases the investment of participating agencies, and adds a protective layer of accountability.

Over the years, SPF has supported Safe Place through the printing and production of Safe Place stickers and training materials, including having these important documents translated into six different languages. We are so proud of Officer Korieo and look forward to continuing our support of Safe Place!

You may have heard about the recent narcotics seizures, in which massive amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and firearms were taken off Seattle streets. But what you may not have heard, is that Seattle Police Department Narcotics Detection Dogs Devon and Serpico, along with their detective handlers and others at SPD, aided in the investigation.

This investigation spanned multiple months and was led by the FBI field offices in Seattle and Los Angeles, with assistance from the DEA, the Seattle Police Department, and other agencies. Police Dog Devon and her handler were deployed on the case, helping to facilitate the seizure of an RV that had a hidden panel packed with methamphetamine and fentanyl. Investigators conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, at which point Police Dog Devon conducted an external search. Upon her initial positive alert to the odor of narcotics, the RV was impounded by law enforcement.

From there, a search warrant was granted by a judge and executed, revealing the hidden stash of drugs.

Police Dog Serpico and his handler were also involved in the investigation, helping execute search warrants at multiple residences with known links to the operation.

Purchased by SPF in 2021, Police Dogs Devon and Serpico are powerful assets to the Seattle Police Department. A dog’s nose is at least 10,000 time more acute than a human’s, making them excellent at narcotics detection work. They can search an area four times faster than humans can, and with a much higher degree of accuracy. A positive indication by a narcotics dog helps increase efficiencies during these types of investigations, improve search warrant outcomes, and more.

Because of your generosity, Devon and Serpico are contributing to a safer community. Devon and Serpico were sought specifically to help address the surging number of overdoses in the Seattle area and to help battle the presence of fentanyl, which was declared a public health crisis by the King County Council this summer.

SPD’s Narcotics Unit has confiscated over 350,000 fentanyl pills in 2022 alone. Thanks to our generous donors, SPD detectives are better equipped to respond to this ongoing crisis!

It is not too late to order your calendars!

The Seattle Police Department’s Finest and Furriest 2023 Calendar is a first ever fundraising initiative that raises money for Seattle Police animal care and the SPD Photo Unit.

Created by SPD and SPF staff, this custom, professionally shot calendar features a showcase of SPD's four-legged law enforcement professionals, plus a few Seattle Police Foundation friends. They arrived in November, and we are really happy with how they turned out.

They make great gifts for the animal lovers in your life and are delivered right to your mailbox. Get yours today for a $45 donation. Place your order by Friday, December 16 (calendars ordered on December 16 will be mailed on Monday, December 19), to ensure you receive your calendar in time for the holidays.

Thank you for your support and have a wonderful holiday season!

In November, we were excited to host an open house at SPD’s East Precinct to show off the transformational kitchen improvement project spearheaded by SPF board member and Compass Construction President Frank Stauff.

We had such a great time celebrating this extensive renovation project, which completely updated the aging kitchen and dining area at the East Precinct, turning it into a vibrant, functional, welcoming space to better serve SPD officers, staff, and guests. This 100% in-kind project was led by our friends at Compass Construction and brought to fruition by a team of talented contractors, including Interior Logic Group, SJS Mechanical LLC, Haggard Electric, Ancient Stone Works LLC, and Cabinets Northwest - CNW.

This project was a great fit for Compass, which specializes in large scale, multifamily residential projects. Stauff was able to leverage the excellent relationships Compass maintains with its subcontractors, who were eager to be involved. In fact, it was a remarkably easy ask, Stauff shared.

The response was, overwhelmingly, “When, where and what do you need?”

The project was officially completed in November and the results speak for themselves. The centerpiece of the room is a custom-built fir dining table, laminated to hold a beautiful, glossy shine, and decorated with the Seattle Police Department logo. Other standout features in the newly modernized space include gorgeous blue tile backsplash, updated lighting, sleek pale grey cupboards, a large, glass-doored refrigerator, stunning marble countertops, and new appliances. The new kitchen is both elegant and sturdy and has earned rave reviews from officers and staff.

Additional miscellaneous enhancements at the East precinct included a new coffee maker, plates, a vacuum cleaner, and new lounge furniture. These items were largely funded with HomeStreet Bank’s generous contributions to officer wellness.

We are grateful to Compass for its partnership, and all the contractors for their time and generosity in reimagining this space. In-kind donations such as this are such a wonderful way to tangibly demonstrate to the men and the women of the Seattle Police Department that the community appreciates their hard work and commitment to Seattle.

SPF was happy to provide a barbecue feast and are grateful to Blue Hero Project for attending the event and bringing a huge selection of delicious beverages.

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!

The 2022 NW Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) conference was an incredible success! Once again, SPF was proud to be a partner in this important conference. This year’s event took place during the first week in October, and boasted record attendance levels, new features, 27 exhibitor tables, and a variety of educational sessions taught by experts in the field.

The three-day conference welcomed a total of 672 attendees and featured 118 speakers who presented a total of 130 sessions, including a course on ‘Advanced Interview Techniques’ by world renowned forensic psychologist Dr. Joe Sullivan. A known expert in his field, Dr. Sullivan has worked in law enforcement since 1996, assisting with investigations into crimes against children.

We’d like to thank this year’s team of conference sponsors, including Cellebrite, Google, OUR, Griffeye, Meta, SEARCH, NCJTC, and Fox Valley Technical College. Additional thanks goes out to our 27 exhibitors, whose contribution and presence at the conference allows our attendees to learn about the newest industry-leading tools and technology to assist in these investigations.

As lead agency of the WA ICAC Task Force, SPD strives to keep this annual conference free for attendees to ensure its accessibility to all who wish to attend, no matter the agency size or budget, which is why sponsorship is so key. This conference is a unique opportunity to leverage collaboration and expertise among investigators, prosecutors, advocates, educators, tech industry professionals, and all others in the arena of keeping kids safe in our region, across the nation, and around the world.

Over 15 countries were represented at this year’s conference.

Sponsorship is crucial to the continued success of this conference and our team is grateful for the generosity of the conference sponsors. Because of this resounding support, the WA ICAC TF was able to provide grants for hotel/travel expenses to roughly 60 smaller agencies in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, that wished to attend but lacked travel budget.

Lastly, huge thanks to conference partner Microsoft for hosting!

The WA ICAC Task Force is currently looking for sponsors for the 2023 conference. If you have questions or are interested, or know anyone who would like to help, please reach out to ICAC Strategic Advisor Kelly Crouch at: Kelly.Crouch@seattle.gov.

Thanks to your support, the Seattle Police Foundation is able to provide meaningful grants to the men and women of SPD. These grant-funded programs and initiatives are helping create department-wide positive change and having profound impact on the Seattle community. Thank you for supporting this crucial work and standing by SPD's commitment to continual improvement.

Here are a few recent grant highlights:

This year we were happy to help SPD’s hardworking Motorcycle Unit not only look their best, but dramatically increase officer safety through the addition of custom-made protective summer gear.

While SPD provides the Unit with winter riding gear and rain gear, there was a gap that left motorcycle officers unprotected during the spring and summer months. The grant requested funding to purchase innovative Air Mesh jackets by Motorport USA, which specializes in law enforcement gear and is known for producing high quality, durable products. These fade-resistant jackets are crafted from materials made with Dupont™ Kevlar® fiber and are very difficult to cut or tear, even with a sharp knife. They’ll help officers stay comfortable in a wide range of temperatures and are built to last. Importantly, they will dramatically reduce injury during incidents, particularly if an officer crashes.

Best of all, they’re custom made for the rider, are completely machine washable, and look sharp!

The Motorcycle Unit is a high-visibility, forward-facing Unit, seen by community members of all ages and from all areas of our city. In addition to traffic enforcement, motorcycle officers are often called to work sporting events, concerts, funeral processions, and other events that attract large crowds. These jackets enhance safety, prevent injury, keep officers comfortable during the spring and summer months, and preserve the uniformity of the Unit. They increase professionalism and reflect the department’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and quality policing.

We think they look pretty great. We hope you agree!

Whether sun, sleet, snow, drizzle or downpour, SPD officers are faced with constantly changing weather conditions every time they respond to a call. Specialty Units like SWAT and K9 are routinely exposed to the elements, so when we learned that their existing rain gear had long since reached the end of its useful life, we were eager to help.

SWAT’s new rain gear was purchased from a Seattle-based company called Outdoor Research, which specializes in weatherproof gear for members of the military and first responders. The gear is tactically-oriented and meant to withstand extreme conditions, like the ones commonly faced by SWAT officers. During high-risk incidents such as a barricaded suspect, they might be out in the weather for 10-plus hours at a stretch, making effective gear a vital component of staying alert and comfortable.

One of the best things about this new equipment is that it’s giving SWAT officers a newfound confidence in their gear. SWAT officers had unfortunately become accustomed to their aging subpar rain gear, which was leaky, torn, and did not perform well in inclement weather. The damp would penetrate their clothing, leaving parts of their uniform wet and uncomfortable, and they’d be stuck for the duration of the call.

The new rain gear is top of the line, and so far, doing a great job of keeping everyone dry.

“It’s nice because it’s lightweight, and can fit under, or over the gear,” said Officer Brehon Ness.

For the K9 Unit, we acquired StormForce ALPHA GORE-TEX jackets from an Oregon-based company called WaterShed. These rugged, high-quality jackets are tailored specifically for law enforcement professionals/first responders and are made to fit over body armor.

Like SWAT, K9 handlers are often deployed in the very worst of weather, including torrential rainstorms. If a suspect decides to make a run for it, they’ll do so whether it’s pouring down rain or not. Recently, Officer Kame Spencer responded to a call in extremely soggy conditions, in which the jackets were truly put to the test. Several officers in the Unit now have bragging rights, she said, as their uniforms and vests remained dry and warm thanks to the new jackets.

“You have no idea the peace of mind it brings us, when we have a piece of equipment that not only works, but is reliable, durable, and functional, and one that we enjoy using,” Officer Spencer said. “They are easy to move around in and they fit perfectly.”

The jackets truly live up to their “waterproof” descriptor. Thank you to all of our supporters who make these important investments possible!

We were happy to provide a grant to support this year’s Seattle Police Department Heroes and Helpers event, which takes place in December at two Seattle Target stores.

Heroes and Helpers is a referral-based program that pairs Seattle police officers with kids and families in the Seattle community, for an unforgettable holiday shopping experience in which each child is given a $100 gift card to spend however they wish. It’s a unique opportunity for police officers and kids to spend time one-on-one, while browsing the aisles, selecting gifts, and taking the time to get to know one another. Heroes and Helpers allows officers to connect with our youngest community members, helping to foster lasting, positive relationships between youth and law enforcement.

With our support, Heroes and Helpers expects to serve a total of 75 youth. Huge thanks to our partners at Target for their $2,500 grant and for being such gracious hosts.

We hope this year’s event goes well and can’t wait to see pictures!

We are already excited for our upcoming events! Here are the dates for 2023 so that you can mark your calendars now.

The Blue Tie Ball is our largest fundraiser of the year and one of the most powerful, inspirational events that we host. This gala-style event includes speakers, displays, dinner, and a live auction featuring unique items and opportunities (sometimes even including the chance to name our newest K9s and Police Horses)!

The Seattle Police Awards Ceremony is our chance to let the men and women of the Seattle Police Department know that we see them, we hear them, we value them, and we appreciate them.

In 2022, Seattle Police Foundation was added to the esteemed list of Celebrity Waiters Luncheon event beneficiaries. This quirky, vibrant event brings together community leaders, representatives from key businesses, and local philanthropists, for a fun-filled lunchtime auction that raises money for a local charitable organization. We are tremendously honored to have been named the beneficiary of the 2023 Celebrity Waiters Luncheon and we cannot wait!

There are sponsorship opportunities for all three of these events. Please reach out to us at: info@seattlepolicefoundation.org with questions.

Because of donors like you, SPF has provided more than $13 million in grants and program support to the Seattle Police Department since 2002. Please donate today to help make Seattle a safer community.