A crisis responder vehicle was stolen during a Greenwood welfare check. The CARE budget comes up Thursday

A vehicle belonging to Seattle's civilian crisis response team was stolen last Wednesday night in Greenwood by the person its two responders were there to help, the Seattle Police Department blotter says. Officers found the vehicle a few blocks away and took the driver into custody without further incident. No one was hurt.

The theft is drawing attention as the City Council prepares to review the budget for the Community Assisted Response and Engagement department, known as CARE, on Thursday. CARE runs the city's 911 call center and sends unarmed crisis responders to some calls, and how much it grows is one of this budget's open questions.

What happened

According to the SPD blotter, CARE responders were trying to help a person in crisis around 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 near 3rd Avenue NW and NW 86th Street when that person took the department's vehicle. MyNorthwest reported that one responder had left the keys in the ignition, believing that was needed to keep the vehicle's amber lights on, and that the responder radioed for police. The person was booked into King County Jail, according to MyNorthwest. Charges, if any, have not been reported.

CARE said it was the first time one of its vehicles had been stolen. Department communications officer Bobbie Nickel said CARE was "grateful to our partners at SPD for the swift response" and wants to "incorporate learnings into our responder training," MyNorthwest reported. Division leaders are reviewing the incident before deciding on any corrective action. MyNorthwest reported that CARE had 40 responders as of August.

What our records add: the CARE budget

The Council's Central Staff CARE memo, presented at the Oct. 15 Select Budget Committee meeting (agenda item), lays out the mayor's plan:

• CARE's total budget would grow by $3.8 million, or 5.6 percent, in 2027, mostly because about $6.3 million in gun violence programs would move in from the Human Services Department.
• The plan saves $2.3 million by eliminating 14 vacant crisis responder positions. The 2026 budget added 24 of these positions, and 10 have been filled. The memo says current citywide deployment would be maintained.

Budget Chair Dan Strauss, whose District 6 includes Greenwood, said at the start of budget season that he had concerns about cuts to CARE's crisis responders, according to a Council release. We covered that in Fire overtime and unfilled crisis responder jobs.

What's not posted yet. Councilmember proposals for CARE are on Thursday's agenda (agenda item), but the packet had not been posted as of Tuesday morning, so it is not yet known whether any member will try to restore the 14 positions or change how responders are dispatched.

The debate around it

The incident has been cited by commentators who argue police should respond first to volatile calls, including in a MyNorthwest opinion segment. Mayor Katie Wilson has pointed to expanded hours for crisis responder teams as part of her public safety budget, FOX 13 reported from her Oct. 13 press conference.

What's next

• Thursday, Oct. 29, 9:30 a.m.: CARE, Police and Human Services proposals at the Select Budget Committee.
• Nov. 4: Strauss's balancing package. Nov. 5: public hearing.