This morning the Washington State Supreme court issued a powerful 49-page unanimous ruling resolving a fierce, multi-year, multi-party battle over how inquests should be conducted in King County. The ruling upholds portions of the changes that King County Executive Dow Constantine enacted through a series of executive orders, but wipes out other parts.
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Council passes new ban on less-lethal weapons out of committee
This morning the City Council voted out of committee its latest iteration of a ban on SPD’s use of so-called “less lethal” weapons, with a couple of small amendments.
Continue readingOPA investigation finds two SPD officers participated in January 6th insurrection
This afternoon the Office of Police Accountability released its long-awaited and much-anticipated report of its investigation of six SPD officers who were in Washington D.C. on January 6th, the day of the Trump-inspired insurrection. It concluded that all six officers joined the rally at which then-President Trump spoke, but it only found evidence that two of them participated in the illegal storming of the Capitol that followed. It found conclusive evidence that three of the other four were elsewhere at the time, and its investigation of the fourth was inconclusive. Omari Salisbury and I discussed today’s OPA report with OPA …
Continue readingHerbold holds first hearing on new version of “less lethal weapon” ban
This morning, Councilmember Lisa Herbold held a first hearing on her bill revising the Council’s ban on SPD’s use of so-called “less lethal” weapons.
Continue readingHerbold introduces new version of ban on less-lethal weapons
This week Councilmember Lisa Herbold is formally introducing an update to the City Council’s ban on less-lethal weapons that it passed last summer and that was subsequently struck down by Judge James Robart.
Continue readingSPD Chief Diaz demotes assistant chief for role in protests, “pink umbrella” incident (updated)
Two weeks ago, SPD Interim Chief Adrian Diaz announced that he was overruling a disciplinary recommendation by the Office of Police Accountability for a supervisor who had a central role in the “pink umbrella” incident during last summer’s protests. Diaz came under fire for asserting that he would not punish the supervisor for decisions that were made above him, while not providing any more details as to what those higher-up decisions were nor holding anyone else accountable. At the time, a spokesperson for SPD said that further actions would be forthcoming. Today, Diaz announced that he has demoted one of …
Continue reading911 call center moves to new civilian public safety agency, while SPD budget cut still on hold
This afternoon the City Council passed an ordinance transferring the employees of SPD’s 911 call center to the newly-created Community Safety and Communications Center (CSCC), a civilian-led sister organization to the police department. But after a last-minute amendment, SPD’s parking enforcement officers were left in place until consensus can be reached on the right place to move them.
Continue readingHerbold challenges Diaz on reversal of OPA findings in “pink umbrella” case
Last Thursday and continuing today, Councilmember Lisa Herbold and SPD Interim Chief Adrian Diaz have been exchanging emails over Diaz’s reversal of an OPA discipline recommendation last week.
Continue readingSPD Chief Diaz overturns OPA’s findings of violations in last summer’s “pink umbrella” protest incident
In a surprise announcement yesterday, SPD Interim Chief Adrian Diaz announced that he has overturned a finding by the Office of Police Accountability that a police supervisor violated department policies last June when he ordered a crowd of protesters to be dispersed with blast balls, pepper spray, and tear gas.
Continue readingSPD’s civilian-run sister department slowly taking shape
Earlier this week the City Council took the first steps toward staffing up the newly-formed Community Safety and Communications Center, a civilian-run department intended to house community safety functions at arm’s length from sworn police officers. But negotiations with unions are slowing the pace of moving staff into the new organization.
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