Kent PD Safe Place Program is a unique partnership with the business community that serves a critical role in assisting the victims of these crimes. Businesses and organizations that participate place an easily recognizable decal at their entrances.

Most establishments place the decal on their glass doors, or windows, so that the victims of crime who may be running by can easily see the decal and recognize the symbolism and messaging. This symbol is a signal for victims of hate crimes that this location has partnered with the police, will call 911 on their behalf and allow them a safe place stay on the premises until the police arrive.

• Over 6,000 businesses throughout Seattle currently participate in the program. 
• Over 200 police agencies throughout the US and Canada, including Bellevue, Renton and Kent are actively working to initiate Safe Place in their communities.

In 2018 SPD Safe Place program and decal was updated to encourage any victim of a hate crime, not just those related to the LGBTQ community to seek help with Safe Place. The KPD Safe Place decal is meant to convey inclusion and intersectionality with any and all individuals, regardless of their race, political beliefs, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation and/or identification, or any other differences either actual or perceived.

Kent PD Safe Place Program is designed to assist the victims of hate and bias crime and to encourage the reporting of these crimes.

• Once your request is received, the Kent PD Safe Place Program Liaison will deliver or mail decals to your location and provide further training to you and/or your staff.
  
  
• Commit to the Safe Place responsibilities.

What are my responsibilities?

Although the Kent PD Safe Place Program is free and voluntary, it is important that you educate your staff regarding their responsibilities:

• If a crime victim enters your premise, your staff should call 911 immediately on the victim's behalf AND
• Allow the victim to remain on your premise until police arrive.
• If the victim leaves prior to police arrival, re-contact 911 and update the operator with the victim's and/or suspect's description and direction of travel.

The Definition of Hate Crimes

Although the term, "Hate Crimes," is the most frequently used term throughout the United States, the true definitions may differ depending on the jurisdiction and/or state in which you reside.

In the State of Washington, the correct term is Hate Crime, and it’s when a person maliciously and intentionally commits a crime against another person under the protected status according to the law, Washington State Law (RCW 9A.36.080).

When is an incident considered a Hate Crime?

A person is guilty of a hate crime if they commit any of the following acts because of the victims protected status: 

• Causes physical injury to the victim or another person
• Causes physical damage to or destroys the property of the victim or another person
• Makes threats that causes a person or group to have reasonable fear of harm to their person or property

• Protected statuses under Washington State Law (RCW 9A.36.080):
• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Ancestry
• National Origin
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Expression or Identity
• Mental, physical or sensory disability

Even if the victim does not belong to a certain protected status, if they were selected because they were perceived to be of that status, this is still considered a hate crime. 

When is an incident not considered a Hate Crime?

• If the suspect is in the process of committing another crime, and calls the victim a derogatory name, it does not automatically mean it is a hate crime.
• If the suspect uses insulting or derogatory words but does not place another person in a reasonable fear of harm to their person or property, this is not a hate crime.
• If the incident was a crime, but it was not believed to be motivated by your status, the police will still follow up on the crime to the full extent of the law. It just won't be charged as a hate crime.
• If the incident is not found to be a crime - either a hate crime or any other type of crime - there is often not much enforcement action police can take. Kent PD does keep detailed statistics on all hate or biased crime incidents and we very much encourage the reporting every incident of this type.

If it is found that there is no directly enforceable action that can be taken by police, this does not mean what happened to you wasn't wrong. You sometimes have the option of bringing a civil cause of action against the suspect, which carries a lower burden of proof than criminal enforcement. The suspect may be liable to the victim for actual damages, punitive damages and reasonable attorney's fees and other incurred costs. You will need to contact a private attorney to start a civil action.

For additional information about the Kent PD Safe Place Program please contact Kent PD Officer Eric Doherty at edoherty@KentWA.gov

How do I report a Hate Crime?

• If the incident is happening now, or just happened, call 911 Immediately.
  • Need a translator? Call 911 and state your language.
  • Deaf, Hard of Hearing or mute? You can text 911 for assistance *do not use this option if you are able to hear/speak.

• If the incident has already occurred, the immediate danger is over and there are no injuries, call our non-emergency dispatch number 253-852-2121.
• If you are not comfortable calling 911 or dispatch, or have additional questions regarding being a victim of or witnessing a hate crime, you can call the Kent Police Department Tipline: 253-856-5808.
• If you prefer to file a report online, and the incident is not actively occurring, you can do so here:  kentwa.gov/departments/police-department/file-a-police-report-online

Once you receive your Kent PD Safe Place decal, you must place it at the front entrance of your establishment. The placement location of the decal should be readily visible to the public from the sidewalk.

• Place the decal on the front window or door of the business or organization
• The decal should be 4 to 6 feet up from the ground, so it’s easily seen by the victim, who may be running by and can easily see the decal and recognize the symbolism and messaging.
• For schools, the decals should be placed at the front office, or school counselor's office.

Although the Kent PD Safe Place Program is free and voluntary, it is important that you educate your staff regarding their responsibilities:

•  If a crime victim enters your premise, your staff should call 911 immediately for the victim AND,
• Allow the victim to remain on your premise until police arrive.
• If the victim leaves prior to police arrival, re-contact 911 and update the operator with the victim's and/or suspect's description and direction of travel.