Politics
Seattle mayor’s public-safety director asked police to wait for mayor before shooting update
A voicemail released through a public-records request shows Alison Holcomb asking a Seattle police spokesperson to delay a briefing after the Bite of Seattle shooting until Mayor Katie Wilson arrived. The recording adds a new detail to conflicting accounts about whether city officials sought to postpone public updates.
A voicemail from Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s public-safety director shows her asking police to hold a planned briefing after a gang-related mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle in July until the mayor could join it.
Alison Holcomb left the message for Seattle police communications officer Brian Pritchard, who was at Seattle Center that night. The recording, obtained through a public-disclosure request, refers to a scheduled 9:45 briefing.
Holcomb told Pritchard the mayor was on her way and asked him to “hold on the 9:45 availability” until Wilson could join him.
The recording adds to a dispute over who sought to delay information for the public after the shooting. Seattle police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis has said Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt repeatedly told him to hold off on a briefing. Wilson has strongly denied that account.
Wilson has not said whether another member of her staff asked police to wait. Her office had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication.
The voicemail documents a request from Holcomb, but does not establish whether the briefing was delayed or how long any delay lasted.