SEATTLE --
While Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn was holding a news conference at the West Police Precinct on Tuesday, his SUV was parked in front of a fire hydrant.
Videotape, shot by a KIRO 7 Eyewitness News crew, shows a black Toyota Highlander, complete with a bike rack on the back, blocking access to the hydrant from the street.
At the same time McGinns SUV was parked at the hydrant, he was speaking to reporters about how "a horrific fire," which killed five people in Fremont recently, had forced him to delay a decision on naming Seattles new police chief.
KIRO Team 7 Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne called and emailed a photo of the apparent violation to the mayors office Wednesday morning. Assistant communications director for the mayor, Aaron Pickus, referred Halsne to a spokesperson for the Seattle Police Department.
Sgt. Sean Whitcomb of SPD said a plain clothes Seattle police officer, assigned to mayoral security detail, escorted McGinn to the press conference. With McGinn in the SUV, the driver parked in the open space next to the fire hydrant. While McGinn spoke to reporters at a podium further up the street, the driver told SPD he could still see the SUV in case it needed to be moved.
Seattle police do not think this was a matter of public safety, but one of public perception.
Whitcomb said a review and discussion of the situation is under way.
No citation is expected to be issued, but a change in policy is not out of the question.
City code states if you get caught parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, the fine is $42 dollars.
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