Seattle Police Launch 'Neighborhood Resource Officer' Program in Magnuson Park

The new initiative aims to curb ongoing issues like shootings and street racing through proactive community policing.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:37am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police radio or other law enforcement equipment, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.Seattle's new neighborhood resource officer program aims to curb crime through proactive community engagement.Seattle Today

Seattle police have introduced a new 'neighborhood resource officer' program, assigning three officers to a three-mile radius around Magnuson Park to focus on foot and bike patrols. The program is part of a broader effort by the department to get officers back into local communities and take a more proactive approach to addressing issues like shootings, street racing, and large gatherings with loud music that have plagued the Magnuson Park and Sand Point Way areas.

Why it matters

For years, Seattle police have primarily responded to crimes in the Magnuson Park area rather than taking a proactive approach. This new program aims to change that by having dedicated officers regularly patrolling the neighborhood on foot and bike, with the goal of preventing issues before they occur. The department hopes to expand this 'beat cop' model to other parts of the city, but current efforts are focused on the Magnuson Park and Sand Point Way areas.

The details

The new neighborhood resource officer program assigns three officers to a three-mile radius around Magnuson Park. Their schedules are not yet clear, but they will be focused on foot and bike patrols to engage with the community and address ongoing issues like shootings, street racing, and large gatherings with loud music. The department says a 90-day pilot program last summer reduced crime in the area by double digits, though specific numbers were not provided. At least one city council member has met with residents from the nearby Mercy Housing and Solid Ground developments, who expressed gratitude for the police department's efforts.

  • The new neighborhood resource officer program was announced by Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes on Tuesday.
  • A 90-day pilot program last summer reportedly reduced crime in the Magnuson Park area by double digits.

The players

Shon Barnes

Seattle Police Chief who announced the new neighborhood resource officer program.

Nathan Morehouse

A Seattle police officer who joined the department in 2017 at age 53 and is one of the new neighborhood resource officers.

Maritza Rivera

A Seattle City Council member who has met with residents from the Mercy Housing and Solid Ground developments near Magnuson Park and expressed gratitude for the police department's efforts.

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What they’re saying

“For me, in a lot of ways, this is an adaptation of the 'beat cop' way of doing policing where you know everybody in your community.”

— Nathan Morehouse, Seattle Police Officer

“What I want to do is stop that before it happens.”

— Nathan Morehouse, Seattle Police Officer

“I've met with residents here at the park from Mercy Housing and Solid Ground and they're grateful for SPD's efforts at the park.”

— Maritza Rivera, Seattle City Councilmember

What’s next

SPD leaders said the focus now and in the future is on expanding the neighborhood resource officer model to other parts of the city, but that will require hiring more officers, which is an ongoing challenge for the department.

The takeaway

This new neighborhood resource officer program represents a shift in Seattle police strategy, moving from primarily responding to crimes in the Magnuson Park area to taking a more proactive, community-oriented approach. While the initial results seem promising, the long-term success of the program will depend on the department's ability to expand it to other neighborhoods and address broader staffing challenges.