Seattle CARE Department

08/13/2026

Today marks one week since our Community Crisis Responders — or "CARE team" — expanded their daily, citywide hours to 6:30-1:00 AM. 📈 We saw a 25% increase in CCR events last week, compared to the week prior, and are thrilled to be serving our community in the early morning and late night hours. Learn more at seattle.gov/care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGjiBN6BMzw

As of August 5, 2026, the Seattle CARE Department’s Community Crisi...

08/07/2026

What a week to hit this milestone! 🎉

Just days before our Community Crisis Responder (CCR) division expanded its hours, the number of calls they've logged since the program's late 2023 inception surpassed 15,000. (They're at 15,009, to be exact.)

From dispatches to on views, every single interaction makes a difference in our community. Thank you, CCR division — and congratulations!

08/06/2026

A few moments from the first day of our Community Crisis Responders' expanded hours.

The first 6:30 AM shift got their first call at 6:30 AM, and it was a busy day from there. Now, the first late night shift is working until 1:00 AM.

Call 911 to request their help with welfare checks, resources, or referrals, and more — every day, citywide.

Learn more here: https://seattle.gov/care/community-crisis-responders

08/04/2026

📢 Effective tomorrow, August 5, the Seattle CARE Department’s Community Crisis Responders (CCRs) will operate from 6:30-1:00 AM daily, citywide. Current citywide service is from 12:00-10:00 PM daily.

This expansion into the early morning and late night hours addresses a significant need for community support during windows of time when our call data shows the highest volume of calls that crisis responders can support, including welfare checks, requests for resources, and assistance with people who are experiencing a crisis. Approximately 84% of the responders’ most common call types come in between 6:30-1:00 AM.

By sending highly trained and unarmed mental health professionals to these events, the CARE Department helps the City of Seattle address underlying needs and connect people in need to long-term solutions. So far this year, crisis responders have responded to 6,279 calls, compared to 7,136 for all of 2025.

The public can continue to call 911 or the City’s non-emergency line (206-625-5011) to request the CCRs, including for welfare checks, referrals, and resources. Call-takers will determine the appropriate response based on the scenario.

Visit seattle.gov/care/community-crisis-responders for more information.

08/03/2026

As the home of Seattle’s 911 Communications Center, our hearts go out to all the 911 call-takers, dispatchers, and emergency responders who are helping tens of thousands of people evacuate the wildfires on the other side of our state. Spokane County, we are sending our love to you.

07/31/2026

Congratulations, Interim Chief Sayles!

07/27/2026

We want to take a moment to appreciate the 911 call-takers and dispatchers who handled a spike in calls during and after the shooting last night, and who coordinated additional resources to secure the scene. Thank you, 911 division.

Meanwhile, the search for a second suspect continues. If you have any information about the shooting, call the SPD tip line (206-233-5000).

07/22/2026

Apropos of absolutely nothing, our 911 Communications Center receives dozens of calls each year about raccoons. Some of them are pretty serious! Others are... less serious.
 
So, just a reminder:
 
DO call 911...
🦝 If a raccoon is trapped or injured
🦝 If a raccoon attacks you or your pet
🦝 If a racoon is blocking the street, sidewalk, or entry to your home

We will refer all relevant calls to Seattle Animal Control or WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife.
 
DO NOT call 911...
🦝 To report a raccoon sighting
🦝 If a raccoon has been chilling in your yard for a long time
🦝 If you think a raccoon is in your house, but you’re not sure yet

Also, don’t feed raccoons. That seems to start fights between neighbors, and raccoons are notoriously great at finding their own food. 🩶🖤🤍

07/20/2026

We told you we can translate nearly 300 languages at our 911 Communications Center. On World Cup match days, we proved it, translating 911 calls into several of the top languages spoken in Seattle and others we anticipated from possible visitors.

Whatever language you speak, call 911 in an emergency.

07/17/2026

The numbers are in: our 911 Communications Center handled a total of 11,304 calls on Seattle's six World Cup match days. That's only a slight increase from the same dates in 2025, a sign of our public safety partners' fantastic collaboration over the course of the tournament. Major props to our 911 staff who came ready to keep first responders safe and emergency impacts to a minimum.