Seattle police beef up coverage to quell late-night trouble

In the past two weeks, Belltown has seen two shootings — one fatal — and a fistfight that left a man knocked unconscious. The common thread: Each occurred in early-morning hours, after crowds had spilled from the neighborhood's nightclubs and bars.

To tamp down after-hours violence, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn on Tuesday announced a plan to redeploy police officers and extend some shifts on Friday and Saturday nights, concentrating more cops on downtown streets.

McGinn joined Interim Police Chief John Diaz in pitching the initiative to a large group of reporters, who were on hand in case the mayor said something about his choice for the department's new chief.

Diaz is a finalist for the job along with Police Chief Ron Davis of East Palo Alto, Calif.

Facing a throng of reporters and TV cameras, McGinn pre-empted the speculation, saying, "When we have something to announce on that, we'll let you know." Later, though, McGinn — responding to a question about Diaz's performance — praised the interim chief.

"Chief Diaz, since the day I came into office, has been the chief and is acting like the chief," McGinn said. "He's done a great job."

Diaz, who was on hand to talk about the "Late Night Public Safety Initiative," noted that Seattle "is a vibrant city with great restaurants and a great nightlife" and that the two shootings happened well after the bars had closed.

With that in mind, more than 20 officers — many currently assigned to Anti-Crime Teams, the night SWAT team, DUI emphasis patrols and other tasks — will focus on Belltown, Pioneer Square and sections of Fourth Avenue South, working until 4 a.m., Diaz said. In each of the department's other precincts, roughly six officers will work similar shifts in areas such as lower Capitol Hill and Fremont, he said.

While there may be some overtime expenses, the plan is to use existing resources more effectively, according to Diaz and McGinn.

Tuesday night, about 300 people showed up at the Labor Temple in Belltown to listen to justice-system officials and ask questions. Diaz promised they would notice an immediate change in the number of officers on the street.

Capt. Steve Brown, West Precinct commander, blamed the violence partly on overserving by some bars, and suggested that they be required to confer often with neighborhood groups and police.

A string of alcohol-fueled incidents illustrate the need for the additional patrols:

• Just before 3 a.m. June 6, 21-year-old Steve Sok was fatally shot and another man was injured after a confrontation outside V-Bar Noodle Bar & Lounge, police said.

• Two weeks later, on June 20, a man and some friends were walking in the 300 block of Wall Street around 3:30 a.m. when the man was wounded by gunfire from a passing white Camaro, police said.

• About an hour before that, a man and his girlfriend were walking in the 2300 block of First Avenue when four men began "catcalling" the woman, according to police. The man confronted the four, who knocked him unconscious.

"Alcohol and testosterone — that's what fuels fights and other things in the early-morning hours," said Assistant Police Chief Mike Sanford. "Where and when you have the greatest concentration of people is where you want the greatest concentration of police."

Seattle Times staff reporters Steve Miletich and Mike Lindblom contributed to this report.

Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com