Seattle Mayor issues executive order to reform emergency protocols

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has issued an executive order to reform the city’s emergency response protocols following controversy surrounding the Bite of Seattle shooting. The incident, which left three people dead, drew criticism due to a failure to activate the AlertSeattle text notification system and a five-hour delay in holding a press conference to inform the public that the Seattle Center area was safe.

The new order mandates that the Mayor’s Office and the Seattle Office of Emergency Management establish “clear standards” for activating the AlertSeattle system during mass casualty events or natural disasters. Mayor Wilson acknowledged that the alert system should have been utilized during the food festival shooting.

Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles and the Mayor’s Office released a joint statement expressing a commitment to building a more transparent communications strategy to improve public safety and community trust. An investigation by the Office of Inspector General into the city’s response to the shooting is expected to be completed in November.