Drafter
Clerk 07/21/2021
Title
A MOTION declaring the policy of the council to reestablish a gang unit within the department of public safety.
Body
WHEREAS, in response to rising incidents of gang-related violence, the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 18835, included funding to establish a gang unit consisting of one detective and one sergeant within the department of public safety, which is also known as the office of the sheriff, and
WHEREAS, the gang unit was intended to serve as a starting contribution to a regional effort, led by the office of the sheriff, to bring together officers from local jurisdictions to combat growing trends in gang-related crime and recruitment, and
WHEREAS, the gang unit was eliminated in the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 19210, to meet budget-reduction targets;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. It is the policy of the council, to address the continuing increase of gang related violence, that a gang unit within the department of public safety, is needed.
B. The council requests the executive fund and the sheriff reestablish a gang unit within the department of public safety.
C. The gang unit should consist of no less than one detective and one sergeant who shall employ all necessary resources and law-enforcement action to identify, investigate, and prevent gang-related criminal activity.
D. The gang unit should work in tandem with the King County sheriff's office youth and family investigative unit to address trends in youth crime by educating families, school faculty, and affected communities on gangs and their recruitment efforts, specifically among elementary- and middle-school-aged children.
E. The gang unit should work with community-based organizations to provide outreach and identify opportunities to support communities impacted by gang activity.
F. The gang unit should develop a standard system for collecting, analyzing, and reporting incidents of ...

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