Civilian liaison connects Seattle police with East African community

Alex Cnossen

Alex Cnossen Jun 22, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Civilian liaison connects Seattle police with East African community</h1>
                <h2><p>Habamu Abdi — the first ever civilian liaison between the Seattle Police Department and the city's East African community — starts his new job today. Mayor Ed Murray called for the position to be created last year, saying that it was part of his public safety strategy and would serve</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/alex-cnossen-crosscut-com/">Alex Cnossen</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Habamu Abdi — the first ever civilian liaison between the Seattle Police Department and the city's East African community — starts his new job today. Mayor Ed Murray called for the position to be created last year, saying that it was part of his public safety strategy and would serve as “a first step to reconnecting officers to the communities they serve,” <a href="http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/06/17/seattle-police-liaison-east-african/28850469/?ref=avalancheghost.one">KING 5 notes</a>.</p><p>Abdi, who lost four friends to gun violence last year, sees this as a new beginning. "It is about me stepping in and seeing if there is a way to work with this department to stop this violence."</p>
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Habamu Abdi — the first ever civilian liaison between the Seattle Police Department and the city's East African community — starts his new job today. Mayor Ed Murray called for the position to be created last year, saying that it was part of his public safety strategy and would serve as “a first step to reconnecting officers to the communities they serve,” KING 5 notes.

Abdi, who lost four friends to gun violence last year, sees this as a new beginning. "It is about me stepping in and seeing if there is a way to work with this department to stop this violence."

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By Alex Cnossen

Alex Cnossen is a Northwest native and has worked for several local publications, including KOMO, KIRO and KING-TV. He grew up in Portland and loves to run and write. Follow him on Twitter @CnossenAle