The policing of Seattle Police: Murray and Council unveil reform package

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Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole and Mayor Ed Murray: Murray hired O’Toole, a former Boston police commissioner, in 2013 after a rocky start down the path to reform. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray: “An historic and critical juncture” as long-awaited police reform legislation is introduced.

The long march for Seattle Police reform, overseen by a U.S. Justice Department monitor, reached its high camp on Wednesday, as Mayor Ed Murray and eight Council members unveiled a three-legged program to police the police.

Its keystone are creation of an Office of Inspector General to review policies and practices; the Community Police Commission made permanent; and more powers and independence to the SPD’s Office of Professional Accountability.

“This package has the potential to truly change the culture of our police department and significantly increase community trust and confidence in our officers,” said Council member Tim Burgess, a former cop and reform voice while chairing the Council’s public safety committee.

The Council must enact the legislation, likely with eight members aboard. It may first have to listen to an anti-police speech by limelight-loving socialist City Council member Kshama Sawant.

Mayor Murray noted that the package is outgrowth of a Consent Decree, which was in turn prompted when 34 community groups called on the U.S. Department of Justice to probe the SPD.

They asked Justice to investigate whether the Seattle Police Department was violating civil rights by using unnecessary and excessive force, and needed training to deal with race-tinged confrontations with members of the public.

The probe won backing from then-U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan and Tom Perez, head of the Civil Rights division at Justice. Perez was later Secretary of Labor and is now running to chair the Democratic National Committee.

“This is an historic and critical juncture as the legislation reflects the strongest and most transparent police accountability structure we have ever had,” said Murray, “and helps on our path to make lasting institutional change that builds trust between the police and communities they serve.”

In his state-of-the-city speeches, Murray has repeatedly argued that racism is a major problem facing Seattle, and put great emphasis on police training and recruitment of a force that looks like the city’s population.

The process has received periodic pushback from the Seattle Police Officers Guild.

It has, however, enjoyed steadfast support from U.S. District Judge James Robart, overseer of the 2012 federal Consent Decree requiring the SPD to deal with excessive force and biased policing.

The nuts and bolts of the reform package:

–The Office of Inspector General will be fully independent, external of the police department. It will have jurisdiction over all SPD policies, procedures and operations. It will acquire subpoena power to compel cooperation with investigations .

–The SPD’s much-criticized Office of Professional Accountability will become fully independent, its leadership to be named by the Mayor. A civilian staff will supervise a mix of civilian and sworn investigators. It will have subpoena power.

–The Community Police Commission, initially created by then-Mayor Mike McGinn, will become a permanent community-led body that reviews SPD policies than impact on public trust. It will review hiring, and play a major role in police engagement with the community.

The top positions, on all three fronts, will have the power of the purse.

The Inspector General, the OPA Director, and the Community Police Commission executive director will have budget and program control over operations, work plans, and the hiring of staff.

The legislation expressly prohibits interference with, or retaliation against, the staffs of the newly empowered agencies.

Burgess, serving his last year on the Council, reflected:

“Since the early 1990’s, city government has attempted multiple police reform efforts, but we have never had such a comprehensive and sweeping legislative package as we are releasing today.”

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