Audit of Seattle Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center

Morning. We may get an answer to a hot button public safety question that has lingered for months in Seattle. Whether or not Mayor Katie Wilson will turn surveillance cameras back on. This comes after a month long audit on the technology. Fox 13's Taylor Winkle is live in the Stadium District where during the audit, some of those cameras, they were turned on only to be turned off again. Good morning, Taylor. Yeah, good morning, Maria. So I want to point out to you, this is one of the cameras that is at the root of that controversy. The old administration was in the process of expanding this camera system through Seattle. In September of 2025, the City Council voted to install them here in the Stadium District, in the Central District, around Garfield High School, and in the Capitol Hill Nightlife area. When Mayor Wilson took office, she paused that expansion, citing privacy concerns. These cameras stayed off until the World Cup data we requested from Seattle police shows us that during that period they were helpful in solving at least four crimes in this area. After the World Cup, though, they were turned back off. The NYU Policing Project conducted the review of SPD's real time crime center, including its camera network of more than 500 cameras. And it found both Key privacy safeguards as well as serious gaps in oversight while auditors found strict bans on Facial recognition and passive patrol monitoring, they warn that analysts don't have to cite a reason to pull up these live feeds. Saved evidence is held indefinitely and tracking suspects without a warrant risks Fourth Amendment violations. We know Mayor Wilson announced an 11:15 press conference along with Interim Police Chief Andre Sales today, but already the Downtown Association has issued a statement. Reading in part, quote, we commend Mayor Wilson for a thoughtful decision to leverage 21st century technology to keep Seattle safe. And that same statement goes on to say, quote, with Seattle police staffing levels still lagging, additional public safety tools are essential for solving crimes. And making the best use of the limited available patrol officers. So it would suggest that the mayor told the downtown association that she may be turning these cameras back on. Either way, we're going to have to wait until that press conference at 1115 to hear it come out of her mouth. For Now Reporting Live in Seattle, I'm Taylor Winkle, Fox 13 News.