 |
| Seattle PD |
The Obama Administration’s Department of Justice use-of-force study regarding Portland cops likely will be issued before the end of October and I predict the results will make a similar investigation into Seattle’s cops look tame by comparison.
The feds rode into Portland at the behest of concerned community members who were ignited by the police shooting of Aaron Campbell and a well documented history of friction between the minority community and Portland Police. The catalyst for the federal investigation was based on the continuing community drum beat about lack of criminal charges brought against police in this case and the general lack of accountability by the locals over a much longer time period.
Over the past three weeks the US Department of Justice and the City of Seattle have come to an agreement (of sorts) to implement the changes to Seattle’s policing methods and specifically how and when Seattle PD uses FORCE. The three key pieces to the agreement are:
A) The appointment of a “strongman” (my word) monitor who will oversee implementation of the department from within. This monitor will need to have the power to:
- Overrule those within the police department who do not want change.
- Identify which members are friends to reform.
- Recognize the community as an equal partner in developing new procedures
This will have a strong racial disparity component.Look for an Office of Inspector or Inspector General to be created in SPD. Look for it to be “civilian.”B. Require the Mayor to create a community police commission with a “broad scope of work” and thus far reaching authority. They need to be ready to take it to the ground.Look for a “Police Review Commission” much like Portland’s except look for it to have much more specific powers. A Police Commissioner is in the works. This one might go the ballot for a structural change the City of Seattle charter.C. All parties must acknowledge that the racial issue is not a person by person problem but one of people of color being treated differently than whites for the same act. If that scenario exists then there is a systemic problem within SPD.
When Portland’s report is issued look for a hard hitting report with many of these same requirements–not recommendations– imposed by the USDOJ. I think the point-by-point fixes will be even more onerous than in Seattle and will prompt a huge debate within the community.Bernie Giusto is the former Multnomah County Sheriff, former Gresham Police Chief and is a former OSP Trooper. He appears on The Victoria Taft Show every Friday at 11 for “Week’s End With Bernie” where he tackles your questions and opines on law enforcement issues throughout the country and their impact locally.
