"Drug Dealing Not a Priority" States Police

While drug dealing downtown increases, Seattle police do nothing. I couldn't help but observe drug activity throughout the city, but especially around Pike Place Market and just north of it.

I decided to follow a few of them and what I learned was troubling. In my youth I had heard of young kids selling drugs for gangs, because if caught they would have light sentences. What I witnessed was the homeless people being used to sell drugs for a little money. What happens is they get a little money up front and than some at the end. They are watched by those hiring them to make sure they do not run away with the money and drugs.

I remained in the heart of the activity, sometimes within two feet. It appeared they had no problem with anyone observing them; this included a police officer across the street.

I crossed the street and spoke with the officer. I told him that those people are dealing drugs across the street, he replied, "They all are, but it isn't my job"; I asked him what his job was? He stated guarding the restroom for the church he stood in front of; he stated that only church members could use it.

A little further up I noticed three more officers and asked them about the drug-dealing problem, one officer stated, "I know, but drug dealing is not a priority in Seattle unfortunately".

I found another officer just south of Pike Place, once again I asked him about the drug problem, his comment "We just can't make them empty their pockets, besides if we bust one, we would have to bust them all". "Point Being?" I thought to myself. I began to wonder what was their priority, was it guarding restrooms? Or maybe it was knocking protesters off the sidewalks in order to arrest them?

My last thought was "I wonder how much money they make from the dealers?"