If the Everett City Council approves a consent-agenda item at its Aug. 12 meeting, a reality TV crew will have exclusive access to film Everett police officers responding to 911 calls, traffic stops and criminal investigations.

Anyone who ends up on camera will be asked to sign a waiver, but the production company will own every frame of footage forever and hold "complete creative and editorial control" over what airs.

The council is scheduled to vote at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at City Council Chambers, 3002 Wetmore Ave., on a production agreement with Mulholland Media, LLC, authorizing the Everett Police Department's participation in the CW Network show "Police 24/7." The item appears on the consent agenda, meaning it could pass in a batch without separate debate unless a council member pulls it for discussion.

What the agreement says

No money changes hands. Filming uses on-duty officers with no overtime cost to the city. The police chief can cancel immediately if production interferes with law enforcement, and either party may terminate with 45 days' written notice.

But the fine print tilts heavily toward the production company. Under the agreement's terms, Mulholland Media retains complete creative and editorial control and owns all intellectual property, including video, photographs and recordings, "in perpetuity, throughout the universe, in all media."

The company also gains the right to use EPD's name, trademarks and logos for advertising and merchandising.

EPD gets seven days to review a rough cut of each episode and may request cuts only on narrow grounds: factual accuracy, confidential information or operational safety.

If the department misses that window, the content is deemed approved. The city has largely waived its right to seek an injunction stopping broadcast if Mulholland Media breaches the agreement. EPD may seek injunctive relief only for specific footage it flagged during the seven-day review window, and only before the episode is delivered to the network.

Beyond that, the city's sole legal remedy is monetary damages.

The agreement also restricts EPD's own communications. The department cannot mention the project, Mulholland Media or The CW Network on its social media accounts without the company's prior written approval.

Everett would join the show's fourth production cycle. Mulholland Media holds options for up to six additional cycles. The show's executive producer is SallyAnn Salsano, also known for producing "Jersey Shore."

The recruitment argument

EPD spokesperson Natalie Given told The Herald the department views the show as a recruitment tool to address a persistent shortage of about 10 officers.

"I think the department really sees our presence on the TV show as a vehicle for recruitment," Given said. "Being on a TV show like 'Police 24/7' really helps with our reach."

Everett previously appeared on "On Patrol: Live," a live-format predecessor, in 2024 and reported increased social media viewership during that run. But Given acknowledged EPD has no concrete data linking television exposure to actual hiring gains. She said the department will monitor results going forward.

Unlike the live format, "Police 24/7" episodes are edited before broadcast, and anyone whose face appears must first sign a waiver. Given said the shift addresses community concerns about privacy raised during the earlier show.

Critics raise civil liberties concerns

Kathleen Kyle, executive director of the Snohomish County Public Defender Association, said the show risks exploiting people at their worst moments for profit.

"These types of productions only make money when systems fail," Kyle told The Herald. "So they're almost like rooting against a good response, because they want something to happen."

Jazmyn Clark, policy director of the ACLU of Washington's Smart Justice program, said in a written statement to The Herald that such shows normalize and justify police misconduct while villainizing people entitled to due process. She urged cities to focus on "real solutions that provide safety for everyone, not just entertainment."

No officer is required to participate against their will under the agreement, and officers cannot be directed by the production crew to take or avoid any law enforcement action.

How to weigh in

Residents can register to speak at Wednesday's meeting via everettwa.gov/speakerform no later than 30 minutes before the meeting. They can also email the council at [email protected] or call 425-257-8703. EPD accepts community concerns at [email protected].