Proposed bill aims to keep DOJ out of SPD policies
SEATTLE -- An 11-month long federal investigation into the Seattle Police Department's practices concluded that the department uses "excessive force."
After reviewing hundreds of allegations of police conduct, many of which were caught on camera, the DOJ in December released its findings. The report said the department "engages in a pattern of unnecessary and excessive force" in "violation of the Fourth Amendment."
The report also outlined a host of changes meant to address the problems.
But a new proposal in Olympia could derail those changes and put the DOJ's review in the hands of a task force.
Citing the Tenth Amendment, House Bill 2630 says any recommendations coming from the DOJ's investigation are not binding for state and local agencies.
Early next month, HB 2630 will have its first hearing in the House. Rep. Mike Hope, an officer with the Seattle Police Department, introduced the bill. The Lake Stevens Republican wants the DOJ's findings in the hands of a bi-partisan task force.
"People can be very critical and say 'Well, he's a police officer and he's also a state legislator,' but keep in mind it's going to go through legislative process where there are 98 state reps and I am only one," Hope said.
According to Hope, under the Tenth Amendment, federal policies or practices recommended for resolving law enforcement's use of force issues would not be binding unless authorized by an act of Congress.
If the bill passes, the task force would review the DOJ's findings and release its own report late this year.
After reviewing hundreds of allegations of police conduct, many of which were caught on camera, the DOJ in December released its findings. The report said the department "engages in a pattern of unnecessary and excessive force" in "violation of the Fourth Amendment."
The report also outlined a host of changes meant to address the problems.
But a new proposal in Olympia could derail those changes and put the DOJ's review in the hands of a task force.
Citing the Tenth Amendment, House Bill 2630 says any recommendations coming from the DOJ's investigation are not binding for state and local agencies.
Early next month, HB 2630 will have its first hearing in the House. Rep. Mike Hope, an officer with the Seattle Police Department, introduced the bill. The Lake Stevens Republican wants the DOJ's findings in the hands of a bi-partisan task force.
"People can be very critical and say 'Well, he's a police officer and he's also a state legislator,' but keep in mind it's going to go through legislative process where there are 98 state reps and I am only one," Hope said.
According to Hope, under the Tenth Amendment, federal policies or practices recommended for resolving law enforcement's use of force issues would not be binding unless authorized by an act of Congress.
If the bill passes, the task force would review the DOJ's findings and release its own report late this year.
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