![]() People in the LGBTQ+ community were essentially being victimized twice first when the hate crime occurred, and next when their abuser got away with the crime because they had so much trepidation about reporting the crime to the police. In 2014, SPD Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole appointed Officer Ritter as the SPD’s first LGBTQ+ Liaison.Īt the time of his appointment, Officer Ritter was aware that the relationship between some members of the LGBTQ+ community and the Seattle Police Department were strained due to historic mistrust and a lack of communication, which had resulted in an alarming disparity between reported anti-LGBTQ+ crimes and the number of crimes that actually occurred. Officer Jim Ritter, now retired after over 35 years with the Seattle Police Department, started the initiative to bring together law enforcement, local business owners, and the community to help restore the security of Seattle’s gay community. The Seattle Police Foundation and the Seattle Police Department stand firm against hate in our community.įor more information about Safe Place, visit the Seattle Police Department’s Safe Place webpage. Safe Place is responsive to all hate crimes, including crimes motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, mental, physical, or sensory disabilities, homelessness, marital status, political ideology, age, or parental status. Safe Place starts the long process of empowering the victim to report their incident to the police so that SPD can properly investigate the crime. Next, it tells people who have experienced hate crimes that no matter their background or status, they will be heard, and they will be treated with care, dignity, and respect by both the staff inside that business and the police officers who respond to their incident. First, it gives our business community the chance to take a stand against bias and hate crimes because hate has no place in our communities. Once displayed, the distinctive, rainbow-hued Safe Place stickers adorning the windows of participating businesses serve as beacons of hope for anyone suffering after an incident of hatred or bias. Upon signing up with the Safe Place program, participating businesses, schools, and nonprofit entities are given a Safe Place sticker, training materials, and flyers, all of which are free. In 2021 Officer Korieo was thrilled to partner with Axon, a software solution provider, which pledged $36,000 to help the program achieve new levels of engagement. 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. Officer Korieo is SPD’s second LGBTQ+ liaison and took over as Safe Place Administrator in 2019. ![]() The program is overseen by Safe Place Administrator and LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer Dorian Korieo. ![]() Safe Place gives people who have experienced a crime of bias or hate a safe place to go after their incident, where they can be assured that the business will shelter them while they call for help. It was born out of a need to address low reporting of anti-LGBTQ+ crimes and school bullying incidents, and was expanded in 2018 to include all hate crimes. ![]() The Safe Place program is a partnership between the police department, schools, and the business community to help respond to hate crimes. ![]() Since then, Safe Place has been licensed and enacted by 345 law enforcement agencies large and small, across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The Seattle Police Foundation is thrilled to support the Seattle Police Department’s Safe Place Program, a trailblazing initiative conceptualized and founded in 2014 – 2015 right here in Seattle by (now retired) Officer Jim Ritter. ![]()
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