In a fiery exchange on The Ari Hoffman Show, Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan pushed back against a recent Seattle Times column that criticized the police union’s social media campaign. The column, written by longtime Times journalist Danny Westneat, accused the guild of spreading misleading information about crime trends in Seattle—an accusation Solan vehemently denies.
“Not Just a Hit Piece — It’s an Attack on the Truth”
The Seattle Times has been drifting into far-left ideology for quite some time. Danny Westneat’s recent article, which mocked the police union’s “This is Seattle” campaign on social media and accused it of ignoring crime statistics released by the city, is the latest example. Solan said the article wasn’t a general attack on the Seattle Police Department, but rather a targeted hit on the union—and by extension, him. “We don’t shy away from the reality on the street,” Solan said. “We don’t spin anything.”
He argued that crime is underreported because many Seattle residents no longer bother calling 911, knowing it may take hours for officers to respond—if they respond at all. “People are giving up on reporting property crime,” Hoffman agreed, sharing a personal story of his own vehicle being broken into and choosing not to file a report and instead just calling the insurance company.
“Its Not Just a Hit Piece, It’s an Attack on the Truth”@SPOG1952 president Mike Solan slams the @seattletimes for a hit piece accusing the guild of spreading misleading information about crime trends
Danny Westneat hasn't responded for requests to debate Solan on my show pic.twitter.com/Tk66bjOANQ
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) April 15, 2025
The Disconnect Between Stats and Reality
Solan took particular issue with the way crime statistics are compiled and presented. He claimed the appearance of declining crime is an illusion created by both public underreporting and internal downgrading of offenses by the department itself.
“We’ve been told to categorize some felony-level assaults as property damage,” Solan revealed. “That’s a deliberate effort to water down the reality.”
He called out the influence of activist-driven policy decisions on law enforcement practices and media coverage, arguing that this distorted view has significant public safety consequences.
Legacy Media vs. Social Media
Both Hoffman and Solan expressed deep skepticism toward traditional media, accusing outlets like the Seattle Times of pushing ideological narratives over facts. “Legacy media is dying,” Solan said. “If you’re still using it as your main source for understanding public safety, you’re not getting the truth.”
Instead, he pointed to independent platforms and podcasts—including his own, Hold the Line with Mike Solan—as more trustworthy sources of information about what’s really happening on Seattle’s streets.
MUST WATCH! Brand new episode: This is Seattle: Danny Westnut Edition.
In this episode Mike reacts to Seattle Times reporter Danny Westnut’s hit piece on SPOG’s “This is Seattle” social media campaign. Mike also discusses Council Member Saka’s resolution that officially kills… pic.twitter.com/PggePvFBoX
— Mike Solan (@HTLwithMSolan) April 14, 2025
As part of the conversation, Hoffman played a clip from the Renton Police Department urging residents to report crimes, reinforcing Solan’s point about widespread underreporting.
See something suspicious or feel unsafe? Call 911!
Many folks hesitate, but waiting can let situations escalate. Sgt. Moynihan reminded downtown businesses—we’d rather check things out early than respond to a bigger problem later. Stay safe & call when in doubt! pic.twitter.com/uKncAVrzO2
— Renton Police Dept. (@RentonpdWA) March 31, 2025
A Challenge to the Seattle Times
In a bold moment during the interview, Hoffman proposed setting up a debate between Solan and Danny Westneat to discuss crime stats and the state of public safety in Seattle. Solan didn’t hesitate: “I would do it in a heartbeat,” he said, adding that similar invitations to Times reporters have been ignored in the past.
“They don’t want to answer the questions,” he said. “It’s not journalism anymore. It’s activism.”
Westneat has not responded to Hoffman’s requests for the Seattle Times journalist to attend the debate.
Final Thoughts
Solan concluded by reiterating his commitment to standing up for Seattle’s police officers and the community’s right to accurate, unfiltered information. “Bring it on,” he said. “I will take on legacy media every day and twice on Sunday.”
