SPD hopes new plan will satisfy feds' requirements for change
SEATTLE -- Seattle Police are under the gun to implement far-reaching reforms, or face a federal take-over of department operations.
"Some high profile incidents in our community, and criticism from the (Department of Justice) has caused us to look internally and ask some tough questions of ourselves and how we do business," said Asst. Chief Mike Sanford.
The city's answer is the 20/20 plan -- 20 major reforms implemented over 20 months.
The city set up a website so the public can track its progress.
"It's about transformation," said Chief John Diaz. "20/20 will make us better."
The push for change comes after the Department of Justice found what it called a "pattern and practice" of excessive force by Seattle police officers caught using racial slurs before striking suspects, or resorting to deadly force quickly in an encounter prompted these findings.
Fixes will include more officer training, and more supervisors reviewing citizen complaints.
"The 20/20 plan is ambitious," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. "There will be costs associated with it. We are working currently to fit those costs within the existing budget."
However, the DOJ wants a court-enforceable agreement, or consent decree. Such a deal would likely require a outside monitor with sweeping powers over Seattle police, but who would only answer to federal authorities.
And the city would be stuck with the bill.
"We put a $5 million-a-year number for the DOJ," McGinn said.
The city says it's still trying to broker a deal that minimizes DOJ oversight and the added costs for taxpayers that comes with it.
"We are all in," Sanford said. "And we invite the community to be all in, in terms of holding us accountable."
Wednesday is the deadline set by the DOJ for the city to respond. If there is no agreement, it could lead to a lawsuit so the feds could force the changes.
"Some high profile incidents in our community, and criticism from the (Department of Justice) has caused us to look internally and ask some tough questions of ourselves and how we do business," said Asst. Chief Mike Sanford.
The city's answer is the 20/20 plan -- 20 major reforms implemented over 20 months.
The city set up a website so the public can track its progress.
"It's about transformation," said Chief John Diaz. "20/20 will make us better."
The push for change comes after the Department of Justice found what it called a "pattern and practice" of excessive force by Seattle police officers caught using racial slurs before striking suspects, or resorting to deadly force quickly in an encounter prompted these findings.
Fixes will include more officer training, and more supervisors reviewing citizen complaints.
"The 20/20 plan is ambitious," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. "There will be costs associated with it. We are working currently to fit those costs within the existing budget."
However, the DOJ wants a court-enforceable agreement, or consent decree. Such a deal would likely require a outside monitor with sweeping powers over Seattle police, but who would only answer to federal authorities.
And the city would be stuck with the bill.
"We put a $5 million-a-year number for the DOJ," McGinn said.
The city says it's still trying to broker a deal that minimizes DOJ oversight and the added costs for taxpayers that comes with it.
"We are all in," Sanford said. "And we invite the community to be all in, in terms of holding us accountable."
Wednesday is the deadline set by the DOJ for the city to respond. If there is no agreement, it could lead to a lawsuit so the feds could force the changes.
