Michael Yasutake

Seattle Police won’t comment on it but there was somebody missing from last night’s East Precinct Crime Prevention meeting. The precinct’s crime prevention coordinator, a kind of community outreach and llaison role that helps make things like the crime prevention meeting possible, was not in attendance. It was announced that Michael Yasutake has been let go due to budget cuts.

It is not yet clear if the move was part of larger cuts by the city. A SPD spokesperson said department policy prevented her from discussing personnel issues and referred inquiries to the mayor’s office.

Yasutake could not be reached for comment.

The Central District News is reporting that the East Precinct was the only district to lose its coordinator.