Policing and Drug Policy

An internal email from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, citing guidance from the City Attorney’s Office, directs that most user‑level drug possession and public‑use charges in 2026 be diverted to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program rather than prosecuted, sparking criticism that new Mayor Katie Wilson is softening enforcement as open drug use remains visible downtown. City and police officials insist there has been no formal policy change, stressing that officers will still arrest in public‑use and other priority cases and that dealers and people ineligible for LEAD remain subject to prosecution, while pointing to recent gains in staffing and falling crime rates.