>>> ALL RIGHT.
GOOD EVENING.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5,
2019.
IT IS 5:30 2 PM.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL GENDER EQUITY SAFE
COMMUNITIES NEW AMERICAN
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE
SELECT LABOR COMMITTEE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION, WHO IS
ALREADY SEATED AT THE TABLE,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US THIS EVENING.
I'M COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES,
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE AND
JOINING ME HERE THIS EVENING IS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL, THE
CHAIR OF OUR SELECT LABOR
COMMITTEE, AND ALSO JOINING US
IS COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD,
WHO IS FOR THE RECORD FEELING
UNDER THE WEATHER, BUT
WEATHERING THE STORM, BECAUSE
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
BE HERE IN SPITE OF THAT.
THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE A FEW
MORE COUNCILMEMBERS JOINING US
SO WE WILL WELCOME THEM IF THEY
MAKE THEIR WAY OUT.
OKAY, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I
HAVE TO ASK IF YOU CAN ADOPT
THE AGENDA SO THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
REALLY QUICKLY, I WANTED TO GO
OVER THE AGENDA FOR THIS
EVENING AND WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE ARE HOLDING THIS HEARING
TONIGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE 4.04
.120, WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING, AT LEAST 90 DAYS
BEFORE THE CITY BEGINS
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILT
OR SPOT IN ORDER TO HEAR PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE CITY'S POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND
HAVE NOT ALREADY SIGNED UP TO
DO THAT, THERE ARE SIGN-UP
SHEETS IN THE FRONT HERE, WHERE
YOU CAN SIGN UP TO GIVE US A
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE ARE ALSO PUBLIC COMMENT
CARDS.
SO, IF YOU ARE A LITTLE SHY
FROM THE CAMERA AND DON'T WANT
TO STAND IN FRONT OF THIS BIG
AUDIENCE, YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME
TO FILL OUT ONE OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT SHEETS AND WE WILL
COLLECT THOSE AT THE END OF THE
EVENING AND ADD THOSE TO THE
RECORD AS WELL.
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO HEARING YOUR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
WE INTEND TO START THAT IN
ABOUT 30 MINUTES.
FIRST, WE WILL HEAR THREE VERY
SHORT PRESENTATIONS, FROM
REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR CIVILIAN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
FIRST WE WILL RECEIVE WILL
RECEIVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, AFTER THAT, WE WILL HEAR
FROM THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE DIRECTOR FROM THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY AND FOR
MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
ALL OF WHOM WILL PRESENT THE
CONDITION AND STATE OF ACCOUNT
ABILITY SYSTEM IN OUR UPCOMING
ANTICIPATED LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
WITH SPOT.
SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
HANDED OVER, AFTER CODY READS
IT INTO THE RECORD.
SO, I WILL HAVE CODY READ THE
FIRST AND ONLY AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD AND THEN WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND BEGIN THE
PRESENTATION.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE AND TWO,
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILT
AND PRESENTATION BY THE
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT ENTITIES FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU CODY.
BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND DIG INTO
THE PRESENTATIONS, WHY DON'T WE
GO AHEAD AND TAKE A QUICK ROUND
OF INTRODUCTIONS OF FOLKS AT
THE TABLE.
SO THAT WE CAN GET ORIENTED
THEN I WILL HAVE HANDED OVER TO
KARINA KICKING OFF THE
PRESENTATIONS.
>> HI, I AM KARINA BOWL WITH
CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EMMA PATAKI,
I AM ONE OF THE COCHAIRS.
>> MY NAME IS RAMOS, I'M ONE OF
THE COCHAIRS POINT
>> MY NAME IS BESSIE SCOTT I'M
EXCITED DIRECTOR OF THE INTERIM
LEASE ASSOCIATION POINT
>> ANDREW MEYER DIRECTOR OF THE
POLICE OFFICE OF ACCOUNT
ABILITY.
>> LISA JUDGE DIRECTOR GENERAL
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
THIS EVENING.
KARINA WENT TO KICK US OFF.
I AM GOING TO BE A PRETTY
STRICT TIMEKEEPER, BECAUSE I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME TO
HEAR FROM PUBLIC, IN TERMS OF
TESTIMONY.
>> THANK YOU, AS COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES MENTIONED, I AM
PROVIDING A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING,
AND ALSO DENIES LABOR
NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
TWO UNIONS REPRESENTING MOST
SWORN OFFICERS.
A SMALLER UNION REPRESENT ABOUT
SEVEN LIEUTENANTS AND CAPTAINS.
THE CURRENT CONTRACT RUNS FROM
JANUARY 1, 2015, THROUGH
DECEMBER 31 OF 2020.
GIVEN THE IMPENDING EXPIRATION
DATE OF THIS CONTRACT, THE
PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC
HEARING IS TO RECEIVE INPUT ON
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CITY'S
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM,
AND WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN
THE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT BEFORE THE CITY AND
THE UNION BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS.
THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT IS
REQUIRED FOR SPARC AND S PMA.
THERE ARE TWO TIMING
CONSIDERATIONS THAT AFFECT WHEN
THE CITY AND SPA CAN BEGIN TO
THINK ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS.
ON TOOTH AUGUST 14 OF 2019, THE
CITY PROVIDED FORMAL NOTICE OF
THE INTENT IS TO BEGIN
BARGAINING NO LATER THAN APRIL
2019.
THE NEXT IS THAT, BARGAINING
CANNOT BEGIN ANY SOONER THAN 90
DAYS FROM TONIGHT'S PUBLIC
HEARING.
ALL THESE TO SAY THE CITY WOULD
BE ABLE TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS
AS EARLY AS MARCH 4 OF NEXT
YEAR.
NEXT, REGARDING LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS, STATE
LAW, THE EXACT CITATION IS RCW
41.56.
ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT OF
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO JOIN LABOR
ORGANIZATIONS AND TO BE
REPRESENTED IN MATTERS
CONCERNING THEIR PUBLIC
EMPLOYMENT.
STATE LAW ALSO REQUIRES THE
CITY AND UNIONS TO NEGOTIATE IN
GOOD FAITH, ALL MANDATORY
SUBJECT OF BARGAINING, WHICH
GENERALLY RELATE TO WAGES,
HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS.
CONSISTENT WITH COMMENTS
EARLIER, S PMA WILL NEGOTIATE
WITH THE CITY ON SUBJECTS OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE CITY NEGOTIATION PROCESS
INCLUDES MEETINGS OF A LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE
CALLED THE LR PC.
THIS COMMITTEE ESTABLISHES
BARGAINING PARAMETERS FOR THE
CITY'S LABOR RELATIONS
NEGOTIATIONS TEAM, AND IT
CONSISTS OF MEMBERS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS SELECT LABOR
COMMITTEE, WHICH RIGHT NOW
INCLUDES COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARRELL, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES, O'BRIEN, BAGSHAW AND
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
ON THE OTHER SIDE, MIKE HUMES,
DEPUTY MAYOR MICROPHONE, AND
THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE DIRECTOR
MIKE NOBLE.
SINCE THESE MEETINGS DO INCLUDE
STRATEGIES FOR NEGOTIATION THAT
ARE EXEMPT FROM THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATES OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
THE LABOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR
WILL USE THE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT PARAMETERS TO
NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT.
ONCE THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN
REACHED, IT IS CALLED A
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, MEMBERS
WILL CONSIDER RATIFYING THAT
AGREEMENT AND THEN THE CITY'S
PREDECESSOR RATIFYING IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING THROUGH A
MAJORITY VOTE ON FULL COUNSEL
AND IT IS LEGISLATED.
THAT IS A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW,
HOPEFULLY I AM WITHIN THE RIGHT
MARK OF TIME LIMIT.
>> YOU ARE, THREE MINUTES TO
SPARE.
>> KUDOS TO YOU.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL
WILL SAY THAT HIS LEADERSHIP
RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD, THANK
YOU KARINA FOR THAT GENERAL
OVERVIEW, WE REALLY APPRECIATE
IT, OF COURSE, IT IS A VERY
SIMPLE OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS,
AND WE ARE HERE TONIGHT
SPECIFICALLY TO HEAR ABOUT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS OF
THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT AND PROCESS, THERE
ARE MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT WILL
BE BARGAINED IN THE OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT AREA AS WELL.
DENIES PURPOSE OF THE HEARING
IS SQUARELY TO FOCUS ON THE
ACCOUNT ABILITY PROVISIONS,
CONSISTENT WITH THE MUNICIPAL
CODE THAT DIRECTS, AND APPLIES
TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
PROCESS.
SO IS THE NEXT THING WE WILL
TRANSITION, WE HAVE 25 MINUTES
TO COVER PRESENTATIONS BY OUR
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT ENTITIES,
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL IS GOING TO
KICK US OFF.
>> GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, I
APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING MY BACK TO
THE ROOM.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MADAM CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH
YOU TODAY OR TONIGHT, AS WE
HOLD THIS HEARING TOGETHER,
COMMUNITY INPUT AND COMMUNITY
VOICE ON THE UPCOMING
NEGOTIATION PROCESS FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILT,
LABOR AGREEMENT.
I AM PLEASED TO ADD MY VOICE TO
THE CONVERSATION BUT I AM MOST
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WORKING
WITH CITY LEADERSHIP TO IF I
ADDRESS THIS CONCERN THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS.
ACCORDINGLY, I WILL KEEP MY
COMMENTS AT A HIGH-LEVEL, AND
PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE DETAILED
INPUT AND WRITING IN THE NEAR
FUTURE AS YOU CONSIDER AND
DEVELOP THE CITIES BARGAINING
AGENDA.
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
IS CHARGED WITH SYSTEMIC
OVERSIGHT, OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO, WHILE MANY OF MY COMMENTS
WILL ADDRESS SPECIFIC FACETS OF
UPCOMING BARGAINING THAT
DIRECTLY IMPACT OIG OPERATION,
I AM ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF ANY
MEASURES SUGGESTED HERE OR
PROFFERED BY OTHERS THAT
ENHANCE THE OVERALL SYSTEM OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE, I
BELIEVE THAT SUSTAINABLE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRES
INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN
POLICE PROCESSES, AND ENHANCING
TRUST BY BARGAINING FOR STRONG
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT
ARE FAIR TO ALL AND FURTHER
OPENNESS AND TRUST BETWEEN THE
COMMUNITY AND SPD.
OF COURSE, THE BIG QUESTION,
HOW DO YOU INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY AND WHICH
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES ARE
TRULY CRITICAL IN BUILDING AND
SUSTAINING PUBLIC TRUST.
I AM PARTICULARLY SUPPORTIVE OF
ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
BARGAINING PROCESS ITSELF, AS
WELL AS ANY ELEMENTS OF THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
THAT INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OF
AND TRUST IN THE DISCIPLINARY
AND APPEALS PROCESS.
A POSSIBLE WAY TO INCREASE
TRUST IN THE BARGAINING
PROCESS.
AM I CUTTING OUT OR IS IT JUST
-- OKAY, GREAT.
IS TO ENGAGE IN EXTERNAL
ADVISOR DURING THE BARGAINING
SUPPORTED BY THE OVERSIGHT
PARTNERS, TO PROVIDE A
MECHANISM FOR REPORTING BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY, ABOUT THE
FAIRNESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE PROCESS.
THIS IS A CONCEPT RAISED BY
COMMUNITY IN THE PREVIOUS LABOR
CONTRACT HEARING, AND I AM
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS NOTION.
IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT I
THINK CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY
TO FURTHERING OUR ACCOUNT
ABILITY SYSTEM, I HIGHLIGHT
SEVERAL ISSUES WHICH YOU WILL
NO DOUBT RECOGNIZE FROM THOSE
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED BY MY
OFFICE, THE FEDERAL COURT, AND
OTHER ACCOUNT ABILITY
STAKEHOLDERS.
FIRST IS A SUBPOENA POWER.
SUBPOENA POWER IT AND OVERSIGHT
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM IS
ESSENTIAL TO OUR OPERATION.
THE CRITICAL ABILITY TO OBTAIN
INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CARRY
OUT OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS CANNOT
BE OVERSTATED.
I KNOW FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF
OTHER OVERSIGHT BODIES AROUND
THE COUNTRY WHO STRUGGLE TO
OBTAIN NECESSARY INFORMATION
AND COOPERATION, THE LACK OF
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM OFTEN
RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO
PROVIDE EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT OF
THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT
RELIANCE ON ACQUIESCENCE AND
COOPERATION WILL NOT BE ENOUGH
IF THE DAY COMES WHEN SPD IS
NOT SO KEEN TO PRODUCE ABATING
OVERSIGHT EFFORTS, OR
COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS.
THE NEXT ISSUE IS BURDEN OF
PROOF, WHICH SHOULD HOLD ALL
MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS TO A
PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE
STANDARD BY OPA, THE CHIEF AS
WELL AS ON APPEAL.
ANOTHER NECESSARY ISSUE IS
PROVIDING CLARITY AROUND THE
CALCULATION OF THE 100 TIMELINE
FOR DISCIPLINARY
INVESTIGATIONS, AND SHOULD
INCLUDE APPROPRIATE TOLLING FOR
NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE AND
TIMELINES AND REPORTING.
FINALLY, ARBITRATION.
THE CITY SHOULD ADDRESS
FEATURES OF ARBITRATION THAT
AFFECTS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, SUCH
AS INCREASING THE TRANSPARENCY
OF PROCEEDINGS, SETTING AND
ENFORCING TIMELINES,
PROHIBITING DE NOVO REVIEW OF
THE CHIEFS FINAL DISCIPLINARY
DECISIONS, AND APPROVING THE
SELECT SELECTION PROCESS FOR
ARBITRATORS TO ENSURE FAIRNESS,
OBJECTIVITY, AND EXPERTISE.
I BELIEVE DIRECTOR MARBURG MAY
ALSO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, AND
SOME ADDITIONAL CONCERNS
INCLUDING CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS, AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF
HIS EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE
ABILITY OF OPA TO DO THE WORK
OF ENSURING INDIVIDUAL OFFICER
ACCOUNT ABILITY FOR MISCONDUCT.
AS WELL AS ENSURING MEASURES
PROMOTE FAIRNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY IN THAT PROCESS.
I BELIEVE HE WILL GO INTO SOME
DETAIL ON THAT.
I RECOGNIZE THE CURRENT
CONTRACT LANGUAGE, ACKNOWLEDGES
OIG'S UNFETTERED ACCESS TO SPD
OPERATIONS, AND OIG AND SPA IS
AFFORDED LIMITED AVAILABILITY
REGARDING SUBPOENAS.
IN FACT, I HAVE FOUND SPD TO BE
COOPERATIVE IN ALL EFFORTS
UNDERWAY IN MY OFFICE BUT I
WOULD NOTE THAT AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WHICH
REQUIRES BARGAINING FOR
OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY EVERY FEW
YEARS IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE
MODEL, AND EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT
CAN BE EASILY ERODED.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE CITY
LEADERSHIP TO PLAN A BARGAINING
AGENDA THAT INCREASES PUBLIC
TRUST IN DEALING WITH
MISCONDUCT, WHICH MAKES THE
PROCESS ITSELF MORE VISIBLE TO
COMMUNITY.
I ALSO STRONGLY BELIEVE CITY
LEADERSHIP SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO
EMPOWER OVERSIGHT ENTITIES, MY
PARTNERS HERE AT THE TABLE, IN
WAYS THAT CANNOT BE COMPROMISED
IN BARGAINING, AND ARE
ADEQUATELY UNSUPPORTED AND
FUNDED TO ALLOW FOR INDEPENDENT
OPERATIONS.
WHILE BARGAINING IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT, IT IS NOT THE ONLY
MECHANISM CONTRIBUTING TO
UNACCOUNTABLE POLICE FORCE.
MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IS NOT
ENTIRELY TIED TO BARGAINING
OUTCOMES.
IN COLLABORATION WITH OPA, CPC,
AND SPD, MY OFFICE IS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON EFFORTS TO REDUCE
SIGNIFICANT HARMFUL EVENTS
THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT,
TO PROMOTE MEANINGFUL SCRUTINY
OF USE OF FORCE INTERNALLY
ANNEXED INTERNALLY AND TO
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEST
POLICING PRACTICES INCLUDING A
CURRENT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO
SUPPORT FAIR AND EFFECTIVE
VICTIM AND WITNESS
INTERVIEWING.
I WOULD LIKE TO APPRECIATE
RIGHT NOW THE COLLABORATION OF
MY PARTNERS HERE AT THE TABLE
AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE
COME TO THE TABLE ON THESE
ISSUES.
AS WE ALL DISCUSSED TODAY WHAT
SHOULD BE DONE TO PROMOTE
EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT, I ALSO
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE
IS WORK IN PROGRESS CHANGING
THINGS FOR THE BETTER.
A STRONG BARGAINING AGENDA CAN
HELP SOLIDIFY OUR ABILITY TO
AFFECT THOSE CHANGES.
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME AND FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> INSPECTOR GENERAL WE
APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO
THOSE DETAILS, AND I KNOW THAT
WE WILL ALL CONTINUE TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ALL GET A MORE ROBUST
AND DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU ARE
FLAGGING FOR US NOW.
LET'S MOVE ON TO DIRECTOR
MARBURG FROM OUR OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN COUNSEL FOR
HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR
SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
BEING HERE TONIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
AND, THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS
THAT ARE HERE, CPC OIG AS
ALWAYS WE APPRECIATE THE
COLLABORATION WE DEVELOPED IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IN PREPARING FOR THIS MEETING,
AND IN PREPARING FOR THESE MAIN
CONTRACTS, WE HAVE SPENT A LOT
OF TIME COLLECTIVELY AS ACCOUNT
ABILITY PARTNERS, THINKING ABOUT
WHAT IS WORKING RIGHT NOW FOR
THE CONTRACT, WHAT IS NOT
WORKING AND WHAT ARE CHANGES WE
CAN MAKE TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM.
THIS CONTRACT IS NOT PERFECT,
NO CONTRACT IS PERFECT, BUT WE
ARE HERE TO ACT AS MUCH AS WE
CAN AS TECHNICAL ADVISORS TO
MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD, AND
TO MAKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIVE
TO THE PEOPLE THAT IT SERVES.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AREAS AND
IS CONTRACTED IMPACT ON OPA.
PERHAPS OPA'S IMPACTED MORE BY
ANY OTHER ENTITY AT THE TABLE,
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW
IN THE CROWD, THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY WE ARE
THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND WE
INVESTIGATE OFFICER MISCONDUCT.
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I
CANNOT COVER AT EVERYTHING IN
THE CONTRACT ON ALL THESE
ISSUES, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS
FOCUS ON SOME THAT I FIND
PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN
SOME THAT I THINK WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH THE COUNCIL
AND THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT
AND DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
FIRST, I THINK EVERYONE UP
HERE, OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE UP
HERE KNOWS ABOUT THE DEADLINE
BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY, ALL OF
OPA'S AND LITIGATIONS ARE
GOVERNED BY A 180 DAY TIMELINE,
THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO
COMPLETE OUR INVESTIGATIONS IN
SIX MONTHS.
IF WE DON'T DO IT THEN WE
CANNOT IMPOSE DISCIPLINE ON A
POLICE OFFICER.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I THINK
WE'VE HAD HISTORICALLY WITH THE
180 DAY DEADLINE IS NOT
NECESSARILY WHEN IT STOPPED
RUNNING BUT WHEN IT STARTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY
DID REALLY WELL IN THIS LAST
ROUND OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
WAS WITH SPM A THE NEGOTIATED
LANGUAGE WHICH SAID THAT THE
TIMELINE RUNS FROM WHENEVER OPA
INITIATES OR RECEIVES A
COMPLAINT.
THAT MEANS THAT IF I INITIATE,
OR MY OFFICE INITIATES
COMPLAINT OR WE RECEIVE A
COMPLETE FROM SOME OTHER ENTITY
THAT IS WHEN THE DEADLINE
STARTS.
THIS CONTRACT IS MUCH MORE
COMPLICATED.
THERE ARE FIVE EXCEPTIONS
BASICALLY FOR WHAT WHEN THE 180
DAY DEADLINE RUNS.
I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM
NOW IN DETAIL BUT THEY ARE
COMPLEX.
OFFICERS THAT I INTERACT WITH
OTHER PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE DON'T
ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THEM.
IF WE DON'T GET THEM THAT I
CAN'T IMAGINE THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS NOT VERSED IN THIS
PROCESS GOT THEM.
AND THAT'S A PROBLEM IF WE WANT
TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND
UNDERSTANDING IN THE PROCESS WE
NEED TO SIMPLY FIVE.
OPA IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
SPA CONTRACT, THAT LANGUAGE
MIRRORING THIS CONTRACT AND
THAT WE WOULD WANT BOTH
CONTRACTS TO INITIATE AND
RECEIVE BUT IN COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING THAT MAY NOT BE
POSSIBLE AT THE LEAST WE WOULD
LIKE TO -- YES I'M SORRY.
WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE THE
DEADLINE START DATES TO BE
SIMPLE FIVE.
ANOTHER THING THAT WAS CREATED
AS PART OF THE CONTRACT WAS A
PROGRAM CALLED RAPID
ADJUDICATION.
WHAT RAPID ADJUDICATION ALLOWED
FOR WAS OFFICERS TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONS,
ADMIT THAT THEY VIOLATED THE
POLICY.
AND THEN, TO CLOSE THE CASE OUT
WITHOUT A FURTHER
INVESTIGATION.
UNDER THESE CONTRACTS, THIS WAS
THE PILOT PROGRAM.
WE THINK IT HAS WORKED VERY
WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN SIX CASES
SO FAR TO GO THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM.
WE WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL AND
EXECUTIVE TO MAKE THIS
PERMANENT.
WE WOULD ALSO VERY MUCH LIKE
THAT THE TIMELINES BE MORE
FLEXIBLE, SO, RIGHT NOW THERE
ARE STRICT TIMELINES TO GOVERN
WHEN OPA CAN OFFER RAPID
ADJUDICATION AND WHEN AN
OFFICER CAN ASK FOR RAPID
ADJUDICATION.
WE WOULD WANT MORE TIME TO
ALLOW MORE OFFICERS TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM
PARTICULARLY AS OFFICERS BEGIN
TO LEARN WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS
AND THE BENEFITS.
WE WOULD ALSO PROPOSE THAT THE
CITY CONSIDER BARGAINING THE
ELIMINATION OF THE FIVE DAY
NOTICE.
I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYONE UP
YOUR NOSE, BUT FOR THE
AUDIENCE, OPA IS REQUIRED TO
SEND TO CONTRACTUAL NOTICES TO
OFFICERS DURING INVESTIGATIONS.
THE FIRST NOTICE IS CALLED A
FIVE DAY NOTICE, AND BASICALLY,
IT IS NOT A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION BUT WE HAVE TO SEND
IT WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF
RECEIVING OR INITIATING A
COMPLAINT.
AND, WE JUST SAY OFFICER ASKED,
YOU HAVE BEEN NAMED IN A
COMPLAINT.
OFFICERS, THE MAJORITY OF
OFFICERS IN OUR EXPERTS DO NOT
LIKE THE FIVE DAY NOTICE, THEY
FIND IT STRESSFUL AND
OVERWHELMING.
IT HURTS MORALE.
AS A GENERAL MATTER, ABOUT 40
TO 45 PERCENT OF OUR CASES
ACTUALLY ARE INVESTIGATED.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT BETWEEN 55
TO 60 PERCENT OF CASES THAT ARE
NEVER GOING TO INVESTIGATION.
CIRCUM-OFFICERS ARE GETTING
NOTICES FOR CASES THAT DON'T GO
TO LITIGATION IT'S AN ADDED
STRESS.
WE HAVE TALKED TO OR HEARD THE
RATIONALE FROM THE GUILD, BUT
WE THINK THAT THE BENEFIT OF
FIVE DAY NOTICES IS OUTWEIGHED.
A REASONABLE COMPROMISE WOULD
BE TO ISSUE FIVE DAY NOTICES IN
CERTAIN CASES BUT NOT IN OTHERS
AND, WE THINK THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE
THE CITY TO CONSIDER.
OF USUALLY I CAN GIVE MORE
DETAIL TO THE COUNCIL ON THAT.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, NUMBER
OF ISSUES INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL
INTEREST EDITIONS.
WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
TODAY WAS RELATING TO THE 180
DAY TIMELINE, SPECIFY TOLLING
OF THE TIMELINE.
SO, RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THE
CONTRACT WORKS IS IF OPA
RECEIVES AN ALLEGATION OF
CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT, WE ARE
REQUIRED TO SEND US BACK TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
INVESTIGATE.
IF THEY MISCONDUCT OCCURRED IN
SEATTLE, AND IS BEING
INVESTIGATED BY SPD, THE
TIMELINE DOES NOT TOLL.
SO, OUR 180 DAY TIMELINE RUNS
PENDING UNIFICATION.
THAT IS A PROBLEM, AND THAT IF
THE INVESTIGATION FOR EXAMPLE
CRIMINAL LITIGATION TAKES
LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS, WE ARE
OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE BY THE TIME
WE GET BACK WE HAVE NO TIME TO
DO OUR INVESTIGATION.
UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT,
DEADLINE TOLLS UNDER TWO
CIRCUMSTANCES.
FIRST, IF THE CASE IS WITH THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OR IS BEING
REVIEWED OR PROSECUTED.
SECOND, IF THE MISCONDUCT
OCCURS OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE, AND
IT IS BEING LITIGATED OUTSIDE
OF SEATTLE.
WHAT THAT WOULD NOT COVER FOR
EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY THERE IS A
CRIMINAL ACT THAT AROSE FROM
USE OF FORCE IN SEATTLE.
AND WE ASK THAT APARTMENT AS
THEY PLEASE SEND IT OUT TO
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON STATE
PATROL OR WHATEVER ENTITY YOU
WANTED TO OUTSIDE THE CITY,
THAT WOULD NOT TOLL.
SO, WE THINK IT WOULD BE VERY
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE DEADLINE
TOLLS FOR THOSE CASES WHICH ARE
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
CASES.
OR, THE MOST SERIOUS CASES THAT
OPA LOOKS AT.
A COUPLE OTHER ISSUES, AT LEAST
ONE ISSUE THAT IS A TANGENTIAL
ISSUE FOR OPA BUT ONE THAT WE
FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, SO
MEMBERS WITHIN OPA FEEL VERY
STRONGLY ABOUT IS MANDATORY
ROTATIONS.
SO, CURRENTLY THERE IS NO
MANDATORY ROTATION.
WHAT I MEAN BY MANDATORY
ROTATION IS BEING ABLE TO MOVE
OFFICERS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, FROM PATROL TO
INVESTIGATIONS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A MORALE
BUILDER, AND I THINK IT WOULD
BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE
DEPARTMENT IN DEVELOPING ITS
PERSONNEL, TO MOVE EVERY FIVE
YEARS, EVERY SIX YEARS IT
DOESN'T REALLY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE BUT TO MOVE PEOPLE
FROM DIFFERENT UNITS TO GIVE
PATROL OFFICERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE IN SPECIALIZED UNITS.
RIGHT NOW, I WORRY THAT PATROL
OFFICERS FEEL THAT THEY WILL
NEVER BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM
PATROL, YOU CAN SPEND 15 OR 20
YEARS AND PATROL, SOME PEOPLE
LOVE THAT JOB, AND PATROL IS
VERY INTERESTING AND EXCITING
JOB BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I
THINK HAVING OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BUILD A
HAPPIER WORKFORCE THAT IS
SOMETHING WE FEEL STRONGLY
ABOUT.
I WOULD SAY THE BENEFIT TO
PATROL OF HAVING AN OFFICER WHO
MAY HAVE SPENT FIVE YEARS
WORKING IN DV OR SAU, SPECIAL
VICTIMS OR IN HOMICIDE, THEN
COMING BACK TO PATROL WOULD BE
HUGELY BENEFICIAL FOR YOUNGER
OFFICERS AND OTHER PEOPLE TO BE
PAIRED UP WITH.
>> DIRECTOR, CAN YOU START
WRAPPING UP PLEASE?
>> YEP, TWO OTHER THINGS IN THE
LINK ARE RESTRICTIONS ON OPA
PERSONNEL.
CURRENTLY, THE CONTRACT ALLOWS
FOR TWO CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS
AT OPA BUT IT LIMITS OPA'S
ABILITY TO UTILIZE THEM AS WE
SEE FIT.
RIGHT NOW, THEY NEED TO DO THE
PRIMARY WORK ON CIVILIAN
INITIATED CASES, AND TO THE
EXTENT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE
CASE THAT COULD INVOLVE
TERMINATION THEY HAVE TO BE
PAIRED UP WITH A SWORN
SERGEANT.
WHAT WE WOULD ASK FOR IS THAT
THE CITY CONSIDER ILLUMINATING
THOSE RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOWING
OPA TO ALLOCATE PERSONNEL AS IT
SEES FIT.
AGAIN, AS A NUMBER OF OTHER
ISSUES I COULD TALK ABOUT.
THAT IS AN OVERVIEW AND I'M
HAPPY TO OFFER TECHNICAL ADVICE
AS THE PROCESS GOES ON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO SHIFT US QUICKLY OVER
TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
WILL IT BE REVEREND WALDEN,
WILL YOU KICK US OFF ON THIS
PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL AND
MEDICARE GONZALEZ.
I AM REVEREND WALDEN, ONE OF
THE COCHAIRS OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE COMMISSION.
WITH ME TODAY, IS MY FELLOW
COCHAIR EMMA.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GIVE YOU OUR THOUGHTS
CONCERNING THE NEXT SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS GUILD CONTRACT.
AND, IN 2017, THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CBC AND COMMUNITY GROUPS
UNANIMOUSLY ADAPTED ONE OF THE
MOST ROBUST POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY LAWS IN THE
COUNTRY.
IT WAS HAILED AS A HISTORIC
MOMENT, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
ACCOUNTABILITY OVERSIGHT OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATED A
STRONG DISCIPLINE SYSTEM,
ENSURING OFFICERS WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S
OFFICE IMPLEMENT IN THEIR
ACCOUNTABILITY LAW, SOME OF
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE
THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
WITH THE CITY.
POLICE UNION.
BUT, MANY OF THESE REFORMS DID
NOT GET INTO CONTRACTS BECAUSE
OF -- BETWEEN THE CITY AND THAT
IS WHY THE CPC RELUCTANTLY CAME
OUT IN OPPOSITION OF THE LAST
CONTRACT TO THE JUDGE PROVIDING
OVER THE CONSENT DEGREE AGREED
WITH THE CPC, AND CONCLUDED
THAT THE CONTRACT SIGNED LAST
YEAR PUT THE CITY OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
ENTERING INTO CITIES PLEDGE AT
THE CONCLUSION OF THE LAST
ROUND OF BARGAINING, TO BUILD
UPON THE ACCOUNTABILITY LAWS.
BEFORE TURNING IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, FOR HIGH LEVELS, FOR
JUST A FEW KEY REFORMS, CPC HAS
IDENTIFIED THE ROUND OF
BARGAINING, I WOULD LIKE TO
EMPHASIZE, OUR STRONG
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY
APPOINT AN EXTERNAL ADVISOR
CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED BY OPA
AND CBC, WAS ADVISOR CAN AND
SHOULD HELP PLAN THE BARGAINING
AGENDA AND REPORT OUT TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, I WOULD LIKE TO DO A
POINT OF ORDER I'VE BEEN DOING
THIS WORK FOR 30 YEARS AND WHEN
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID
YESTERDAY FIND THAT WAS REALLY
TROUBLING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NOT HEARD WHAT HE SAID, HE SAID
IN ESSENCE, IF THE PEOPLE DO
NOT SHOW MORE RESPECT, TWO
POLICE OFFICERS, THEN YOU MIGHT
NOT GET ANY PROTECTION.
AND SO, I PASSED OUT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE
NATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT, AND I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW
THEY FELT ABOUT THIS AND I
THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT, AND THE MOVEMENT
AWAY FROM CONSTITUTIONAL
POLICING FOR US AS CITIZENS IN
AMERICA.
ANYWAY, POINT OF PRIVILEGE AND
I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU REVEREND.
>> THANK YOU REVEREND WALDEN.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS SOGGY, ONE OF
THE COCHAIRS OF THE CPC.
LAST MONTH, THE CPC SENT A
LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL, OUTLINE SOME OF THE
MANY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
LAWS.
THAT STILL HAVE NOT BEEN
IMPLEMENTED.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW
OF THOSE PRIORITIES, OR SOME OF
THEM ARE ALREADY MENTIONED BY
OIT AND OPA.
FIRST, WE URGE THE CITY TO FIX
THE BURDEN STANDARD REVIEW IN
DISCIPLINE CASES BY RETURNING
TO THE YEARS OF THE
PREPONDERANCE STANDARD OF ALL
ALLEGATION OF MISCONDUCT.
SECOND, THE 180 DAYS FOR
DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION
CANNOT BE USED TO SHORT-CIRCUIT
INVESTIGATIONS.
WE HAVE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO
MAKE THE TIMELINE START AND END
DATES CONSISTENT, AND TO ENSURE
IT IS TOLD WHEN FOR INSTANCE
NEW EVIDENCE EMERGES.
OPA AND OIG SHOULD HAVE
AUTHORITY, THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT THE JUDGE
HAS IDENTIFIED IN HIS ORDERS,
AND THAT CPC HAS HIGHLIGHTED IN
ITS BRIEF TO THE COURT.
THE CPC HAS IDENTIFIED VARIOUS
FEATURES OF THE DISCIPLINARY
PROCESS AFFECTING PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE THAT MUST BE
REFORMED, SUCH AS PROVIDING
DIFFERENT TO THE CHIEF OF
POLICE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT
OFFICERS ALWAYS HAVE A DUTY TO
BE HONEST, MAKING DISCIPLINARY
NOTICES DISCIPLINARY HEARING,
AND THAT DECISION-MAKERS ARE
THROWING IT DOWN.
WE URGE THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT EXTENDS TO
ALLEGATION OF CRIMINALS,
MISCONDUCT.
OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE IS THAT
OPA SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO
REFER, OVERSEE, AND COORDINATE,
THAT MEANS OPA SHOULD HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO REFER AN
INVESTIGATION TO AN INDEPENDENT
AGENCY.
OVERSEE THAT INVESTIGATION AND
COORDINATE WITH THE AGENCY AND
PROSECUTORS.
WE LISTED VARIOUS
ACCOMMODATIONS IN OUR NOVEMBER
25 LETTER WHICH WE PERFORM TO
THE STUDY OF RECORDS RETENTION,
ADDING A REQUIREMENT TO
INVESTIGATIONS URGING THE CHIEF
TO PLACE EMPLOYEES ON LEAVE
WITHOUT PAY, CRITICAL REFORMS
TO SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT, AND
PERCEIVED CORRUPTION IN THE
POLICE FORCE, AND FINALLY I
WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE BY
ADDRESSING THOSE FROM THE
COMMUNITY WHO HAVE JOINED US
TODAY.
THIS HEARING IS A RARE
OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT A
POLICE CONTRACT THAT WILL
AFFECT THE SAFETY AND WELL-
BEING OF EVERYONE IN SEATTLE.
WHETHER THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE
CPC'S COMMUNITY OR NOT, WE
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MAKE
YOUR VOICE HEARD.
CONTRACT WAS ONLY MADE CONTRACT
BY THE TIRELESS WORK OF
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU
HAVE TO SAY TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REVEREND WALDEN, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR SO THOUGHTFULLY
BRINGING UP THE ISSUE RELATED
TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
WILLIAM BARR, AND HIS COMMENTS,
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
NOT SEEN THEM YET, IT IS IN A
NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE THAT WAS
JUST PUBLISHED TITLED WILLIAM
BARR SAYS THOSE WHO DON'T SHOW
MORE RESPECT TO COPS MAY NOT
GET POLICE PROTECTION.
OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE COMMENTS
THAT HE MAKES AND CERTAINLY HAS
PERSPECTIVE IS NOT SURPRISING,
GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OUT OF
THIS ADMINISTRATION BUT IT IS
NONETHELESS IMPORTANT.
AND, CERTAINLY WE CONDEMN THAT
TYPE OF PHILOSOPHY THAT SOMEHOW
STANDING UP FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
AND CONTINUING THE FIGHT FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS IN POLICING AND IN
OTHER AREAS IS SOMEHOW
INAPPROPRIATE, OR ILLEGITIMATE,
OR JUST CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WE AS PEOPLE WHO EXPECT TO
RECEIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT
SERVICES, AND NOT BE VICTIMS OF
CRIME, DESERVE CONSTITUTIONAL
PROTECTION IN THE COURSE OF
RECEIVING THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES, AND THAT IS WHAT I
BELIEVE THE COMMITMENT OF THESE
FOLKS AT THE TABLE IS, I FORGOT
REPEATEDLY FROM Y'ALL AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL
BLACK POLICE ASSOCIATION,
CONDEMNING ATTORNEY GENERAL
BARS REMARKS ON THE ISSUE, AND
THERE IS SO MUCH IN THIS LETTER
THAT IS JUST A SPOT ON.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT
SEEN THE LETTER, THERE ARE
COPIES OF YOUR IN THE FRONT.
PLEASE HELP YOURSELF TO THEM.
BUT, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO READ REALLY QUICKLY
FROM A PORTION OF THE LETTER
THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION, TODAY, WE ARE
OBVIOUSLY HERE TO GET PUBLIC
TESTIMONY FROM YOU ALL.
BUT, IT WILL BE AN ONGOING
CONVERSATION.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST AND ONLY
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WILL ALL
HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS
COMMITTEE, TO REALLY MAKE SURE
THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT, AND SO,
FROM THE LETTER, I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THESE
SENTIMENTS.
BUT, I WANTED TO JUST SORT OF
HIGHLIGHT ONE PARAGRAPH ON THE
SECOND PAGE, WHICH SAYS THAT
THE NATIONAL BLACK POLICE
ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE FOR THIS
FALSE NARRATIVE THAT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY DOES NOT RESPECT THE
POLICE TO STOP.
IT IS POLICE ABUSE THAT IS
BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT AND IT
SHOULD BE.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR POLICE
BRUTALITY AND CORRUPTION TO BE
ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN IT OCCURS AND
FOR POLICING IS TO STOP
PROTECTING THOSE OFFICERS WHO
CONDUCT THEMSELVES UNETHICALLY
AND OR CRIMINALLY, FOR THAT IS
WHAT WILL BUILD TRUST AND
LEGITIMACY IN ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WILL BUILD
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR POLICE
OFFICERS TO REMEMBER THE OATH
WE ALL SWORE TO, AND CARRY
FORTH OUR POLICE MISSIONS,
VISIONS AND PRINCIPLES WITH
FAIRNESS AND EQUITY.
I AM SURE THAT WE WOULD BE HARD
FOR US TO FIND A NOTE THAT SAID
WE WERE ONLY TO BE OF
OUTSTANDING SERVICE IF THE
PERSON WE ARE SERVING LIKES OR
RESPECT US.".
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING
THIS WITH US REVEREND WALDEN I
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THAT BRINGS US TO EXACTLY 25
MINUTES FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
WE ARE NOW AT 6:0 5 PM, I AM
GOING TO SUGGEST THAT OUR GUEST
AT THE TABLE CAN JOIN THE
AUDIENCE IF YOU WISH.
YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME TO STAY
COMFORTABLY WHERE YOU ARE AT
BUT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO OF
COURSE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND SHIFT NOW
INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION
OF TONIGHT, WE ARE VERY EXCITED
THAT THE ROOM IS FULL.
AND, WE WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, TO
GIVE US PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON
THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
SO, LET'S GO AHEAD AND BEGIN
THIS PORTION.
IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING
COMMENTS TONIGHT, YOU CAN ALSO
EMAIL ME YOUR TESTIMONY, AND IT
WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE
OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARING RECORD.
IF YOU WISH TO EMAIL US YOUR
COMMENTS, YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ME AT
LORENA.GONZALEZ AT SEATTLE.GOV.
SO, I WILL CALL AT EACH
INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNED UP.
WE HAVE ABOUT 32 FOLKS,
EVERYBODY GETS TWO MINUTES TO
PROVIDE US THEIR COMMENTS ON
THE TOPIC AT HAND.
IF YOU ARE TESTIFYING IN A
GROUP OF THREE OR MORE
INDIVIDUALS, THEN YOU WILL GET
UP TO FIVE MINUTES.
TO SPEAK.
SO, IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN THE
AUDIENCE, YOU SHOULD START
COORDINATING YOURSELVES NOW.
AND, AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE NOT
ALREADY DONE SO BECAUSE YOU
SHOWED UP LATE AND YOU DID NOT
HEAR ME SAY, YOU CAN STILL SIGN
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL
ACCEPT SIGNATURES UNTIL THE
VERY END.
OF TONIGHT PUBLIC HEARING, WE
HAVE FORMS UP IN FRONT WHERE
YOU CAN SIGN UP STILL AND AND
CODY WILL HAND ME YOUR NAME,
AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL
YOU UP IN THE ORDER THAT YOU
SIGNED UP.
SO, AGAIN.
I WILL CALL 63 AT A TIME.
EACH OF YOU GET TWO MINUTES.
AND, THERE ARE TIMERS UP IN
FRONT.
AND, IF YOU COULD JUST TO HELP
US EXPEDITE THE PROCESS, AS YOU
HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED, BEGIN
THE PROCESS OF COMING TO THE
FRONT OF THE ROOM OR LINING UP,
THAT WILL REALLY HELP TO SPEED
UP THE EVENING FOR EVERYONE,
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYBODY IS SIGNED UP AND
ACTUALLY GETS HEARD.
SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
THERE IS A DELAY IN THE CUING,
AND THEN FOLKS GET TIRED AND
END UP GOING HOME, AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HEAR
FROM EVERYBODY.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO WE WILL
GET STARTED.
WE HAVE THE FIRST THREE
SPEAKERS, DAVID HAYNES, J
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND THEN BETTY
JEAN WILLIAMSON.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHEN HAYNES,
THIS BUDGET IS PROOF WE STILL
HAVE UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.
PRESENTLY CITY COUNCIL'S
LOCKSTEP WITH THE MAYOR HERE
SABOTAGE THE SAFETY AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 2012
POLICE REFORM, BY SLITTING A
SENTENCE BYPASSING THE
LEGISLATURE AS U.S. ATTORNEY
EXEMPTING LOW DOLLAR LEVEL DRUG
PUSHERS WHO DESTROY LIVES
DAILY.
EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY LEGALIZE
PROPER GROWN MARIJUANA SOMEHOW
THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSIONER LOBBIED AND
CONVINCED COUNSEL TO ADD CRACK
METH AND HEROIN TO THE LIST OF
EXEMPTIONS THAT WILL MAKE THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER, UPENDING
PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOMMODATING
CRIMINALS WEALTHY.
NOW, THE CITY ALLOWS SEATTLE
COPS TO USE TAXPAYER FINANCED
TRAINING AND THEN REFUSES TO
FIGHT REAL CRIME, INSTEAD THEY
MOONLIGHT AT WHOLE FOODS, AS
SECURITY OFFICERS PURPOSEFULLY
PROFILE INNOCENT FOR PEOPLE WHO
ALLOW THE ESCALATION OF A
PROBLEM THAT ENDANGERS INNOCENT
PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ALLOWED THE
FASCIST RACIST MANAGER TO
EMBELLISH POLICE REPORTS, WHILE
THEY STAND THERE AND ALLOW THEM
TO LIVE.
I'M FILMING RIGHT, I'VE GOT A
WEAPON, UP IN HIS FACE, AND
HE'S COMING AT ME, AND FOR SOME
REASON, HE PROFILED ME FROM THE
TIME I WENT INTO THIS WHOLE
FOODS A WHILE BACK AT FIVE COPS
SHOW UP WITH GUNS AND
EVERYTHING IT WAS LIKE -- YOU
KNOW, I DIDN'T GO TO JAIL OR
ANYTHING BUT THEY ARE IN
VIOLATION, THE COPS STAND THERE
AND ALLOW IT AND IT'S BECAUSE
THEY ARE LIKE TRAFFIC COPS
MOONLIGHTING, GETTING RICH, AND
THEY ARE ENDANGERING THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE
GETTING IT WRONG IS NOT
FIGHTING REAL CRIME.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE EXEMPTING
DRUG PUSHERS, AND FOCUSING ON
BIASED POLICING THAT EMPHASIZES
LOOKING FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO
ACT LIKE A HERO, USING THE
EMPHASIS PATROLS AND OFFICER
OUTREACH, IT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN
30 DAYS OF THE YEAR COUNT, AND
A WILL LIE AND SAY THEY ARE
DONE THE WHOLE TIME PEOPLE
DRIVING OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF
MIND ARE STILL OPPRESSED AND
PERSECUTED AND IN NEED OF A
FREAKING HOME.
DESPISE THANK YOU MISTER
HAYNES.
>>> NEXT UP IS J HOLLINGSWORTH
FOLLOWED BY BETTY JEAN
WILLIAMSON AND THEN, WE WILL
HEAR FROM BOBBY GEIGER, DESPITE
I'M A MOHICAN TRIBAL MEMBER AND
I GIVE THANKS TO THE DUWAMISH
PEOPLE, FOR THEIR USE OF THEIR
LAND HERE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JOHN T'S BROTHER.
I HAVE STOOD AND WORKED FOR
JUSTICE WITH HIM, FOR NINE
YEARS NOW.
SO, THE FEDERAL JUDGE HAD SOME
COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN HIS DECISION LAST MAY.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES
REGARDING THE 180 DAY
STIPULATION, ON INVESTIGATIONS.
HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE
ARBITRATOR BEING ABLE TO
OVERTURN THE DECISION OF A 30
YEAR PROFESSIONAL OFFICER, AS
THE POLICE CHIEF.
SO THOSE WERE THE ISSUES THAT
HE SPOKE TO, FOR KEEPING THE
CONSENT DECREE OPEN, AND OUT OF
COMPLIANCE FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SOME OTHER THINGS I THINK WE
CAN GO BEYOND, POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION IN
2017.
WE NEED TO END THE SHOOT TO
KILL TRAINING, WE NEED TO END
THE SHOOT PEOPLE, WHO CARRY
KNIVES.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE SUBJECT
EXPERT CHOSEN BY THE OPA, THE
CPC AND OIG.
TO HELP WITH YOUR NEGOTIATIONS.
GETTING TO RIDE UP FRONT IS
MOST IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THERE
ARE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
CALLED OPENERS, WHICH CANNOT BE
OPENED DURING THE PROCESS.
RIGHT FROM THE START YOU HAVE
TO HAVE THE LIST OF THINGS TO
NEGOTIATE, FOR THE CONTRACT SET
IN PLACE.
AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL
INCLUDE FULLY THE 2017 POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION.
AND I THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> NEXT UP IS BETTY JEAN
WILLIAMSON, FOLLOWED BY BOBBY,
THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM LYNN
BORDEAUX.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THE NEXT
SEATTLE POLICE GUILD CONTRACT
MUST ADHERE TO THE SEATTLE
ORDINANCE 125, 315, WHICH HAS
BEEN REFERRED TO OFTEN AS THE
ORDINANCE FROM 2017.
WHILE I AM NOT A SPECIALIST IN
HUMAN RESOURCES, IT IS OBVIOUS
TO ME THAT NOW CIVIL SERVICE
CONTRACT SHOULD SUPERSEDE THE
LAW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, ALL OTHER
CITY CONTRACTS AND WITH A
STATEMENT THAT SHOULD ANY
PORTION OF THE AFORESAID
CONTRACT THE CONTRARY TO THE
SOVEREIGN LAW OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THAT PORTION IS NULL
AND VOID.
IT TROUBLES ME DEEPLY THAT
AFTER SIX YEARS OF DILIGENT
WORK BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
COMMISSION, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND HIS LEGISLATIVE
BODY, TO DRAFT LEGISLATION TO
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONSENT
DECREE, THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ATTORNEY CITY ATTORNEY AND THIS
BODY, THROUGH APPROVED PUSH
THROUGH A CONTRACT THAT, THE
BOTTOM LINE STATES SHOULD ANY
PORTION OF THEIR CONTRACT BE
CONTRARY TO SEATTLE LAW, THE
CONTRACT WOULD HOLD SWAY.
AS LONG AS THE POLICE CONTRACT
IS ALLOWED TO THWART THE LAW,
THERE IS AN APPEARANCE THAT THE
POLICE ARE ABOVE THE LAW.
AND, THAT PERHAPS, THEY HAVE
THE PRIVILEGE TO SELECT WHICH
LAWS TO ENFORCE AND WHEN TO
ENFORCE THEM.
THAT IS SIMPLY AN ACCEPTABLE.
>> THE CITY COUNCIL SET THIS
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, WHEN THEY
VOTED TO APPROVE THE LAST
CONTRACT, AND IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THIS
MISTAKE.
PLEASE ALIGN THE PUBLIC
CONTRACT, ALL PUBLIC CONTRACT,
WITH THE LAW, AND REQUIRE SPOCK
TO ENFORCE ORDINANCE, ONE, TWO,
FIVE, 315.
TWO.
>> THANK YOU, BETTY JEAN.
>> NEXT UP IS BOBBY FOLLOWED BY
LYNN BORDEAUX, AND THEN WE WILL
HEAR FROM MEGAN MURPHY.
>> I'M BOBBY GEIGER, I'M A
LONGTIME CITIZEN OF SEATTLE.
I LIVE IN ALEX PEDERSEN'S
DISTRICTS, I HAVE REALLY BEEN
VERY UPSET ABOUT EXCESSIVE USE
OF FORCE.
IT DISGUSTS ME.
PARTICULARLY, THAT IT IS
DISPROPORTIONATE, TOWARDS
PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL AS
MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE.
I AM A RETIREDCRITIC LEGAL
SOCIAL WORKER.
I HAVE WORKED IN HARBORVIEW ER,
WHERE MANY OUT-OF-CONTROL
MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE,, AND WE
KNEW HOW TO CONTROL THEM,
WITHOUT HURTING THEM.
SO, I THINK THAT THEY CAN TALK
TO THE POLICE, WOULD BE WISE TO
TAKE SOME LESSONS FROM THE
PROFESSIONALS THERE, TO LEARN
HOW TO DEAL WITH MENTALLY ILL
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF CONTROL.
I, TOO, THE WOMAN BEFORE ME
SAID IT BEAUTIFULLY.
I COULD NOT SAY IT ANY BETTER
THAN THAT.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE LEGISLATION
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT
WAS DRAWN UP IN 2017.
BE A PART OF THE CONTRACT.
AND, THEN, WE WILL NOT ONLY BE
DOING ALL OF THE CITIZENS AND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOOD, WE
WILL ALSO BE IN COMPLIANCE,
WITH THE DECREE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL NOW HEAR
FROM LEM FOLLOWEDBY MEGAN
MURPHY, AND THEN DIANE YOUR
SAKE.
ALL THE MICROPHONES ARE
WORKING, SO YOU CAN WORK
YOURSELF AT HOME AT ANY ONE OF
THE MICROPHONE.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE THIS HEARING, AND
TESTIFY.
MY NAME IS LYNN BORDEAUX, I
LIVE IN SEATTLE, LAKE CITY ZIP
CODE 98125.
AND, I WANT TO THANK AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMENTS, MADE
BY THE CIVILIAN POLICE
OVERSIGHT FOLKS ESPECIALLY I'M
SORRY I DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES,
BUT SOMEONE FROM THE OIG AND
ALSO FROM THE CPC, VERY MUCH
EXPRESSED MY VIEWS ABOUT THIS.
WHEN CHARLENE LILES WAS KILLED,
I REACHED A TIPPING POINT.
I WENT TO THE INQUEST AROUND
HER, SHOOTING, AND ICE BEEN
FOLLOWING THINGS CLOSELY SENSE,
AND IT'S OF DEEP IMPORTANCE TO
ME, THE COUNCIL PASSED THIS
ACCOUNTABILITY LAW IN 2017,
WHICH WAS EXCELLENT.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED IT TO BE ENFORCED.
AND SO, WITH BECOMING LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS, I HOPE WE WILL
RETURN TO A STATE WHERE THE
LABOR CONTRACT IS IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE LAW.
WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
TRANSPARENCY.
THAT WILL BE GOOD NOT ONLY FOR
THE CITIZENS, THAT WOULD ALSO
BE GOOD FOR THE POLICE FORCE,
IF THE CITIZENS CAN TRUST AND
HAVE FAITH IN THEM.
I AM TERRIFIED.
TERRIFIED.
WE HAVE SEEN IN SEATTLE, WHAT
CAN HAPPEN WHEN A COMMUNITY
LOSES CONFIDENCE AND FAITH AND
TRUST IN THE POLICE.
AND, WE CAN HAVE VIOLENCE, I
DON'T WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN,
SO I AM HOPING THAT YOU AND IS
A WELL DO YOUR JOB, AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT
CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE
UNIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM MEGAN,
THEN DIANE ERA SAKE, AND THEN
POLY G POINT
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
SPEAK.
THERE NEEDS TO BE, THE 180 DAY
LOOPHOLE, SEVERELY AFFECTED
WILLIAM WINGATE AND OTHER
VICTIMS, WHO GET NO
COMPENSATION WHEN THE POLICE
OFFICERS DEAL WITH THEIR
SITUATIONS IN A WAY OF
ESCALATION, TO THE POINT WHERE
THERE IS DAMAGE THAT HAVE BEEN
DE-ESCALATED IN A MOTOR MORE
APPROPRIATE WAY.
THE PEOPLE WHO GATHER THE
EVIDENCE SHOULD NOT ONLY BE THE
POLICE OFFICERS, THERE NEEDS TO
BE A THIRD-PARTY THAT ALSO
GATHERS EVIDENCE AND THE
EVIDENCE IS SHARED IN A
COMMUNITY POLICE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE OUT IN THE PUBLIC.
I IDENTIFIED STRONGLY WITH
CHARLENA LILES, BECAUSE WITH
THE POLICE, I WAS IMAGINING
THIS HUGE DE-ESCALATION
OCCURRING BECAUSE I WAS IN
SIOUX CITY, IOWA, AND I BELIEVE
I WAS BEING STALKED BECAUSE MY
FACEBOOK I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
RUSSIAN TROLLS AND IT WAS
FREAKING ME OUT AND THEN I
WOULD GO TO AA, AND THERE WERE
PEOPLE AT THE AA MEETING THAT
FELT LIKE THEY WERE STALKING
ME, AND I JUST -- I WAS SCARED
SO I WENT TO THE POLICE, AND I
THOUGHT THEY WOULD REFER ME TO
A COUNSELOR AND HE DID NOT HAVE
A CAMERA ON, THEY NOW HAVE TO
WEAR CAMERAS HERE IN SEATTLE,
THEY SAID IT WAS LIKE -- IF
THEY HAD A CAMERA THEY WOULD
SEE THE REPORT THAT DHS GOT WAS
INCORRECT, BECAUSE MY SON HAD A
WINTER COAT ON AND I DID NOT
FIGHT THEM AT ALL, I WAS
TOTALLY CALM, I'M ALWAYS A
TOTALLY CALM PERSON, AND THEY
DIAGNOSED ME WITH
SCHIZOPHRENIA, AS A RESULT IN
SIOUX CITY, IOWA, AND I LOST
CUSTODY OF MY SON AFTER THREE
MONTHS IN THE DHS SYSTEM.
AND I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM IN OVER
NINE YEARS AND I WAS HOPING FOR
DE-ESCALATION.
SO, PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME IN AN
EVERYDAY WAY CAN SEE, I DO NOT
HAVE SCHIZOPHRENIA, I HAVE AN
ANXIETY DISORDER, IT'S TOTALLY
-- I WAS AN AWESOME PARENT I
TOOK MY SON TO CHURCH, TO THE
PLAYGROUND, EVERYWHERE.
AND I WILL NEVER BE COMPENSATED
FOR THE LOST TIME.
AND IF ONLY THEY HAD A CAMERA
ON AND IF ONLY SIOUX CITY,
IOWA, HAD A COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION LIKE THEY HAVE HERE
IN SEATTLE.
LEAVING INTO THE REST FOR
CITIES LIKE I'M FROM SO I COULD
GO BACK AND TELL THEM LOOK YOU
NEED TO GO BE LIKE SEATTLE.
I FOUND COMMUNITY HERE DOES NOT
CALL ME CRAZY WHEN I THINK I AM
BEING STALKED WHICH TOTALLY DE-
ESCALATED AND MAKES THE REST OF
MY DAY EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE.
MAKING SURE SOME KIND OF FREAK
OUT THERE STALKING ME POINT
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT FOLLOWED BY POLY G AND
THEN NICOLE GRANT.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I AM DIANA SAKE, ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER COALITION, KING COUNTY
COCHAIR.
DRIVER PHILLIPS IS EXPRESSING
DEEP CONCERN ABOUT OUR CITIES
BROKEN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, AND, PUTTING THE CITY
UNDER OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH
THE CONSENT DECREE AND
CONSEQUENTLY THE FULL
REALIZATION OF REFORMS WITHIN
THE 2017 ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE.
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
WITH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND
COLLABORATION, BOTH LOCAL AND
NATIONAL TAILOR-MADE TO ADDRESS
THE WEAKNESSES OF SEATTLE'S
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
TO BETTER ENABLE THE CITY
COUNCIL AND ACCORDINGLY, AN
ADVISOR WITH DEEP KNOWLEDGE,
THE ORDINANCE AND CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE
COMMUNITIES CONCERNED.
WITH A JOINT RECOMMENDATION BY
THE CPC, OPA, AND INSPECTOR OF
THE -- OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
HE MUST BE APPOINTED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE TO HELP SET THE AGENDA
AND BE AT THE TABLE WITH THE
CITY NEGOTIATING TEAM FROM
START TO FINISH, WITH THE
CONFIDENTIAL COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS.
WITHOUT THE STEPS OF DEDICATED
EXPERTISE TO ASSIST THE CITY,
WE FEAR WE ARE ONCE AGAIN GOING
TO BE LEFT WITH A CONTRACT WHICH
LEADS TO A BROKEN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND
BROKEN TRUST BETWEEN OUR CITY,
POLICE AND COMMUNITY.
WE URGE THE CITY WITH THE
RESULTING CONTRACT TO FIRST AND
FOREMOST FINALLY KEEP ITS
PROMISES TO THE COMMUNITY,
BRING THE CITY BACK INTO
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT
DECREE, AND TO IMPROVE PUBLIC
SAFETY BY STRENGTHENING TRUST
BETWEEN OUR CITY, OUR POLICE,
AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIANE.
>>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE PAUL E.G.,
FOLLOWED BY NICOLE GRANT, AND
THEN KENNY STEWART.
>> MY NAME IS PAUL E.G.
AND TODAY I HAVE COME TO TALK
ABOUT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND THE COLLECTIVE
BELLIGERENCE OF THE SEATTLE
CITY GOVERNMENT.
THIS CITY HAS FAILED FOR YEARS
ON END TO REIGN IN ITS
MILITARIZED POLICE FORCE.
THE SEATTLE POLICE LED BY
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH PRECINCT 2
ARE UNRESTRAINED IN THEIR
CAPACITY FOR KILLING, ON RECORD
FOR POLICE KILLINGS IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
LET'S REVIEW THE FACTS.
THE POLICE UNION'S CONTRACT
HAVE RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THE CITIES ABILITY TO ADDRESS
THAT PROBLEM IS TO CONTEST THE
JUDGE'S DECISION AND PRETEND
THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST AT
ALL.
MEANWHILE ONLY TWO YEARS AGO,
THE NORTH PRECINCT SHOT AND
KILLED CHARLENA LILES, A
PREGNANT WOMAN AT HER HOME, IN
FRONT OF HER SURVIVING
CHILDREN.
JUST THIS PAST NEW YEAR'S EVE,
THE NORTH PRECINCT MURDERED YES
EFL ATAGO.
VIDEO RECORDED AT THE MOMENT OF
SURRENDER, ARMS OUTSTRETCHED
MIDSENTENCE AS HE SAID I AM NOT
REACHING, THE NORTH PRECINCT
SHOT AND KILLED HIM ANYWAY.
A BULLET TO THE BACK OF THE
HEAD EXECUTION STYLE.
>> IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY, IS ACCUSED OF CRIME
ARE GUARANTEED A FAIR TRIAL,
BUT THE NORTH PRECINCT HAS
FREED THEMSELVES OF SUCH
ENCUMBRANCES TO COMMIT EXTRA
DIGIT JUDICIAL KILLINGS.
NOW THE MAYOR SAYS THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HER FULL
SUPPORT.
MAYOR DURKIN, THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE
OVERSIGHT, NOT LESS.
BECAUSE INSTEAD OF CONSISTENTLY
ADHERING TO THE REFORMS
OUTLINED IN THE CONSENT DECREE,
THE SEATTLE POLICE HAVE
CONSISTENTLY BEEN KILLING US.
MAYOR, GO FIX THIS POLICE UNION
CONTRACT, AND DELIVER TO
SEATTLE CONSTITUTIONAL
POLICING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS NICOLE GRANT,
THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM KENNY
STEWART FOLLOWED BY RICHARD
HOLE.
>> COUNCILMAN GONZALES AND
COMMITTEE, NICOLE GRANT FROM
MLK LABOR, WE REPRESENT UNIONS
IN KING COUNTY, AND, I AM HERE
TO THANK YOU FOR PULLING
TOGETHER THIS HEARING, AND FOR
INITIATING BARGAINING WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILT.
I DON'T THINK IT IS ACCURATE TO
CHARACTERIZE THE SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS AS COLD KILLERS,
BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE NOT.
THEY ARE VERY HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE.
FROM EVERY GENDER AND RACE.
IT'S HARD TO LIVE IN A CITY
LIKE THIS WHEN HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE MOVING
TO KING COUNTY EVERY YEAR AND
INCOME INEQUALITY IS COMPLETE
THE OUT OF CONTROL.
SUFFERING, RAMPANT HOMELESSNESS.
POLICE FROM THE CITY ARE ON THE
FRONT LINES HANDLING SEATTLE'S
GROWING PAINS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
CITY EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING MORE
THAN THEY EVER HAVE, NO NEW
HIRES, INADEQUATE PAY RAISES.
AND, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
CONTRACT FOR THESE WORKERS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS HEARING
IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND TAKE TO HEART THAT
EVERYTHING SAID IN OUR
COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT
OF THEM ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THAT I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR THEIR LEVEL ENGAGEMENT, AND
TO HOPE THAT WE CAN ENGAGE
TOGETHER INCLUDING THE SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS GUILT, AND ALL
LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO
LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN
THIS PROCESS I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE DESERVE
TO HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
>>> NEXT UP IS KENNY STEWART
FOLLOWED BY RICHARD HALL AND
THEN EVELYN CHOW.
MISTER STEWART?
>> HI, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCILMEMBER FOR HAVING THIS
HEARING TONIGHT AND ALL THE
MEMBERS WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
MY NAME IS KENNY STEWART.
I AM A CITIZEN OF SEATTLE, I AM
A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER, AND I AM
THE PRESIDENT OF FIREFIGHTERS
UNION LOCAL 27.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS UNION LOCAL 27 AND
WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
WE UNQUESTIONABLY SUPPORT
APPROPRIATE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE SUCCESSFUL
EFFORTS OF THE CITY, AND IS BOG
TO REACH A CONSENT DECREE FOR
THE DOJ.
HOWEVER I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE
WE WANT TO PROTECT WORKER
RIGHTS.
WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS
REGARDING THE WRITTEN
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
IN THIS LETTER DATED NOVEMBER
25, 2019, THE CDC RECOMMENDS
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE
CITY SHOULD ALLOW A THIRD-PARTY
TO DISSIPATE IN BARGAINING.
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD
NOT CONSIDER SUCH AN IMPROPER
INTRUSION INTO THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS.
A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT OF LABOR
RELATIONS IN THE PROGRESSIVE
MOVEMENT, AND IT WOULD BE
INTENTIONALLY UNDERMINING A
PROCESS THAT WORKERS LIKE
FIREFIGHTERS DEPEND ON FOR OUR
SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THIS LETTER ALSO CONTAINS
SEVERAL OTHER TROUBLESOME
RECOMMENDATIONS.
JUST CAUSE STANDARD FOR
DISCIPLINE, SUCH ASPECTS SHOULD
NOT NEED TO BE PROVEN AND THAT
DISCIPLINARY HEARING SHOULD BE
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
NOT RIGHT TO HAVE UNPROVEN
ALLEGATIONS OF PUBLIC SHOULD
NOT BE ALLOWED TO VIOLATE THOSE
RIGHTS.
VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW BY
DENYING RIGHTS TO EMPLOYEES.
FURTHER, TO DENY APPEALS OF
DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS.
THE LAST 80 YEARS OF LABOR
HISTORY, HAS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED
THE IMPORTANCE TO PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES OF HAVING THE RIGHT
TO APPEAL TO IMPARTIAL EXPERTS.
AS WORKERS, POLICE OFFICERS
HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO BE
PROVIDED WITH DUE PROCESS AND
BE DISCIPLINED ONLY FOR JUST
CAUSE AS IS THE CASE WITH
FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER CITY
EMPLOYEES.
APPROPRIATE DECISION-MAKERS
INCLUDE LABOR ARBITRATORS.
POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT LOSE
WORKER RIGHTS WHEN THEY ARE PUT
ON A MATCH.
FINALLY, EVEN THOUGH AT THIS
MOMENT, THESE CHANGES ARE ONLY
DIRECTED AT POLICE OFFICERS
LOCAL 27 CONSIDERS THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS, TO BE AN
INCURSION OF THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING RIGHTS OF LOCAL 27
MEMBERS AND INDEED, ALL CITY
EMPLOYEES.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
ARBITRATION, DUE PROCESS THE
RIGHT TO PRIVACY, RIGHTS AND
THE RIGHT TO APPEAL BAD
DECISIONS ARE CRUCIAL TO LABOR-
MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP AND THE
PROPER AND SUSTAINED FUNCTION
AND KREGEL SERVICES.
I AM HERE AS I WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
THESE ELEMENTS REMAIN A
PRIORITY OF OUR CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, AND I THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KENNY.
>> REALLY QUICKLY I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BEFORE WE
CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY,
THAT WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS FROM
THE SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
GUILT IN ATTENDANCE AND I WANT
TO THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE
AND LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY ABOUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP
AND AGREEMENT IN PARTICULAR.
IT'S NOT EASY TO BE IN A ROOM
WHERE YOUR HEARING CRITICISM
ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE REALLY
DEEPLY PERSONAL TO YOU, FOLKS
WHO WERE WITH THE COMMUNITY
POLICE OFFICER'S COMMISSION,
CHALLENGING THEMSELVES TO BE IN
A ROOM WHERE NOT EVERYBODY
AGREES AND I THINK THAT THAT IS
OFTENTIMES WHAT LEADS TO BETTER
AND MORE POSITIVE RESULTS.
SO, THANK YOU TO KEVIN STUCKEY
FOR BEING HERE AND FOR
ATTENDING, AND TO EVERYONE ELSE
WHO IS HERE TO LISTEN, AND TO
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND TO
ADVANCE WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE
A COMMON GOAL.
SO, NEXT UP IS RICHARD HALL
FOLLOWED BY EVELYN CHOW, AND
THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM LARRY
WYATT.
>> THANK YOU, I'M HERE VERY
RELUCTANTLY SEATTLE, CITY OF
SEATTLE POLICE RESPONDED WITH
IMMEDIATE POLICE NEIGHBORHOOD
THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 10
YEARS.
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
DELIVER THIS STORY IN THE TIME
BUT THE UPSHOT FROM MY PERSONA,
I JUST WANT TO RECITE THAT IN
1995, CITY OF SEATTLE GANG UNIT
ALAN SHAHEEN MACED ME FOR HIS
OWN AMUSEMENT IN THE BACK OF
THE CAR, AND TOLD ME I WAS
LUCKY THAT IT WASN'T 10 YEARS
AGO WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE USED
BATONS, DROVE TO A PARKING LOT,
WHERE HE CONSPIRED WITH THE
BOUNTY HUNTER HE HAD GONE TO
HIGH SCHOOL WITH TO TRY TO
INCITE A CONFLICT WITH MY
NEIGHBOR, FOR TWO HOURS, WHICH
HE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN DOING,
DROVE ME TO THE UNMARKED GANG
UNIT PLACE A FEW HUNDRED FEET
AWAY DOWN JAMES, AND APPLIED
ASSAULT WITHOUT TREATMENT FOR
45 MINUTES, LET ME OUT ALLOWED
ME TO WASH MY FACE AND TOOK ME
TO THE KING COUNTY JAIL FOR THE
NIGHT.
TOOK ME TO COURT, WHERE THEN
CITY ATTORNEY, BRAND-NEW CITY
ATTORNEY STEPHEN GONZALES
REVIEWED THE CASE THAT MORNING.
SHAHEEN LIED ON THE STAND, AND
NOW SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
STEPHEN GONZALES WAS ABLE TO
CATCH UP WITH WHAT HE HAD BEEN
PRESENTED WITH WHO STOOD UP AND
MOVED THAT THE CASE BE
DISMISSED, AND THE JUDGE WHOSE
NAME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
REMEMBER TODAY SETS A VERY
MOVING WORDS ABOUT HAVING --
EVERYONE HAVING JUST SEEN HOW
JUSTICE DOES IN FACT WORK.
AND I JUST WANT TO SECOND THE
REVEREND, AND ASK THAT YOU HEAR
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND
BILL BARR, AND REQUIRE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE EVELYN,
FOLLOWED BY LARRY WYATT, AND
COREY.
>> HI.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, MY NAME
IS EVELYN CHOW I'M AN ORGANIZER
AT REAL CHANGE.
LAST YEAR WE CAME OUT IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS CONTRACT AND
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REITERATE
THAT TO THE COUNCIL, THAT THE
CONTRACT IN ITS CURRENT FORM
WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW POLICE
OFFICERS TO FILL OUT HARASS AND
BRUTALIZE THE COMMUNITY WITH
IMPUNITY.
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
CBC AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
AND COALITIONS THAT HAVE SPOKEN
OUT AGAINST THIS CONTRACT, SUCH
AS THE ACLU OF WASHINGTON,
PUBLIC DEFENDERS, COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, MOTHERS FOR POLICE
ACCOUNT ABILITY, KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS, AND
MORE, ALL OF WHOM HAVE POINTED
OUT THAT THE LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY, THAT THERE IS A
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE
CONTRACT.
WHILE WE SUPPORT CONTRACT WE
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FACILITATED CONTRACT
INVALIDATED BY THE JUDGE.
NOT BE ALLOWED TO OVERRIDE THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
VENDORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY
MEMBER?
SPEARING TIME AT THE HANDS OF
THE POLICE.
POLICING EMPOWERS THE STATE TO
ENFORCE LAW AND SOCIAL CONTROL
TO THE USE OF FORCE.
AS WITH OUR VENDORS AT REAL
CHANGE WE HAVE SEEN TOO OFTEN
THE WAYS IN WHICH FORCE IS
UNWARRANTED, AND AN ABUSE OF
POWER.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE NAVIGATION
TEAM WHICH CONDUCT INHUMANE
SWEEPS.
SIMILARLY, POLICE FORCES HAVE
BEEN USED TO KEEP BLACK BROWN
AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN A
STATE OF FEAR, AND TO KEEP POOR
WORKING-CLASS AND UNHOUSED
PEOPLE UNDER CONSTANT SCRUTINY.
WE NEED THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE
CBC'S RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE
CONTRACT SERIOUSLY.
TO UNDERSTAND SPD IS UNDER
LITIGATION FOR USE OF EXCESSIVE
FORCE AND EFFECT OF
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EVELYN.
>>> NEXT UP IS LARRY, FOLLOWED
BY COREY, AND THEN JESSICA
STELZER.
>> MY NAME IS LARRY WYATT, AND
THIS IS MY HOME, I'VE LIVED
HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
I WORKED 30 YEARS OUT OF LOCAL
242 IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, AND AT
THE TIME THAT I WAS WORKING
DOWN THERE, ONE OF MY BEST
FRIENDS MARK LEE LYNN
JURGENSON, A RETIRED DEPUTY
FEDERAL MARSHAL WORKED OUT OF
THE COURTHOUSE DOWNTOWN HERE,
IN SEATTLE.
AND, MAYBE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT
NAME, JURGENSON, HIS SON IAN
WAS JUST RELEASED FROM JAIL A
FEW WEEKS AGO.
HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE
FOUNDATION NIGHTCLUB, AND HE
WAS ARRESTED ON DRUG COUNTS
THERE.
I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO
WITH MY CASE.
I WAS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
ARRESTED THREE TIMES IN A WEEK
AND A HALF.
ONE OF THEM WAS RIGHT DOWNTOWN
HERE, IN SEATTLE, AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND I
WAS BEATEN DOWN BY SECURITY
GUARDS THERE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS IN A CATHOLIC
CHURCH AT BURIEN, THEN ON THE
THIRD LETTER SENT TO MILITARY
SWAT TEAM TO MY HOUSE.
THE CHARGES AGAINST ME WERE 15
COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT
AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS.
AND, THERE WAS ALSO A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE CHARGE THROWN IN, BUT
NONE OF IT WAS TRUE, I WAS
PROTECTING MYSELF FROM THEM,
BECAUSE THEY WERE COMING IN ON
ME AND NOT NEGOTIATING.
AND, I HAD TO OPEN FIRE WITH
HUNTING RIFLES I HAD IN MY
ROOM.
AND, I KNEW THAT THE ONLY WAY I
CAN SURVIVE IS, IF I COULD NOT
LET THEM GET A SHOT AT ME
BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE HERE
NOW.
I'M A SURVIVOR.
I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL THIS
STUFF THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
THEY FOUND ME INCOMPETENT TO
STAND TRIAL, AND THAT IS JUST A
TOOL THAT THEY USE, KING COUNTY
USES THIS TO TAKE CARE OF
PROBLEMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW
HOW TO SOLVE OTHERWISE, THEY
DON'T ALLOW YOU TO GO TO TRIAL.
THE CONSTITUTION DID NOT WORK
IN MY FAVOR, THEY SENT ME TO
WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL, FOR TWO
YEARS.
I DID NOT TAKE ANY MEDICATION,
I HAVE NO HISTORY OF CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY AND I HAVE NO HISTORY
OF MENTAL ILLNESS, AND I AM THE
SAME WAY AS I WAS WHEN I WENT
IN I AM IN IT INNOCENT PERSON
AND I CANNOT GET ANY LEGAL
HELP, NOBODY WILL GO AGAINST
THE POLICE.
>> NEXT UP IS COREY FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA AND THEN DAN.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS COREY GELMAN, I'M AN
ATTORNEY WITH THE PUBLIC
DEFENDERS ASSOCIATION.
AND, I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I
REPRESENT FAMILIES OF THOSE
KILLED BY THE POLICE INQUEST
PROCEEDINGS.
THE TOUGHEST PART ABOUT MY JOB,
IS THAT FIRST MEETING.
THE MEETING, WHEN I SIT DOWN
WITH PERHAPS A MOTHER WHO LOST
HER SON DAYS OR WEEKS AGO.
IN THOSE MEETINGS, THE FAMILIES
ASKED ME A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
AND, PERHAPS NO QUESTION IS
MORE IMPORTANT, THEN WHAT CAN
THEY EXPECT FROM SPD'S
DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO
TELL THEM, THAT SPD'S
DISCIPLINARY APPEAL SYSTEM HAS
SERIOUS FLAWS.
AND, THAT IS BECAUSE THE
CONTRACT DOES NOT INCORPORATE
2017 ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE.
SO, I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION, TO ASK THAT THE
NEW CONTRACT BEING NEGOTIATED
TO ENABLE FULL OF THE MENTATION
OF THE REFORM PROVISIONS
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED BY THIS
COUNCIL IN 2017.
HENCE, I AM HERE TODAY TO ALSO
ASK THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE IN
HIS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS TO
ICBC, OPA, AND OIG, AND WITH A
DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE POLICE
ACCOUNT ABILITY SYSTEM FACE
CONTRACT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I AM HERE TODAY, SO THAT WHEN I
SIT DOWN WITH THE FAMILY IN THE
FUTURE, AND THEY ASKED ME, CAN
WE TRUST SPD DISCIPLINARY
SYSTEM, I CAN GIVE THEM A
DIFFERENT ANSWER THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE JESSICA,
FOLLOWED BY DAN ROACH, AND
MARIA FROM LOW.
MY NAME IS JESSICA, AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS
TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE THE TO POLICE WHO
SHOWED UP TONIGHT.
I THINK THAT SHOWS THAT YOU
CAME ON YOUR OWN ACCORD, I
APPRECIATE THAT.
I DEFINITELY AM IN FAVOR OF A
THIRD INDEPENDENT BOARD OF
REVIEW WITH AN INDEPENDENT
PROSECUTOR.
AND, I ALSO AM MOSTLY HERE TO
LEARN BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW
MUCH ABOUT THE CONTRACT, SO I
CANNOT SPEAK TO THOSE.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED MUCH
MORE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR THAT ARE IMPACTED THE
MOST.
AND, I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE OF
COLOR THAT HAS SPOKEN TONIGHT,
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO MUCH
MORE OUTREACH, TO REALLY HEAR
WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN TOTALITY
ACTUALLY FEELS GOOD I CAN
UNDERSTAND THEY MIGHT BE
INTIMIDATED TO SEEK BECAUSE
EVEN FOR ME IN ALL MY PRIVILEGE
I FEEL INTIMIDATED TO SPEAK.
I AM NOT SURE IF THERE'S
ANYTHING ELSE I WANTED TO SAY I
THINK THAT'S IT SO I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP IS DAN,
FOLLOWED BY MARIANO, AND THEN
JEREMIAH BAINBRIDGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> OF COURSE.
SUCH SO, I AM FROM COLOR.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE THE
HIGHER MIKE.
THERE YOU GO.
>> I AM FROM THE COMMUNITY OF
COLOR, MY WHOLE LIFE.
THE ONLY THING THAT CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE A VIDEO, TO SEE
THE MISCONDUCT BY THE POLICE.
MY FATHER IS A POLICEMAN.
DOES HE HAVE MIXED CONDUCT?
ABSOLUTELY.
SO, I HEARD ALL THE STORIES.
I AM BASICALLY HERE TO SAY THAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS
CONTRACT WHICH MIGHT BE IN OR
OUT OF COMPLIANCE BUT EVEN WITH
THIS CONTRACT, POLICE WILL
STILL BEHAVE IN A MANNER THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN BEHAVING FOR
CENTURIES.
SO, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS A
GOOD THING.
AND I HAVE THREE IDEALS I WOULD
LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO HELP WITH POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
ONE IS, JUST LIKE THE POLICE
HAS NCIC, WE NEED A POLICE
DATABASE FOR THE POLICE WHO ARE
ACTUALLY ON THE JOB.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
IT, ANTHONY TOLD ME EARLIER
THIS EVENING, AND WE SHOULD
HAVE THE SAME ACCESS THAT YOU
FOLKS HAVE, TO THIS PARTICULAR
DATABASE.
SECONDLY, THERE IS A SERVANT
PROTECT PEACE THAT IS
NONEXISTENT ANYMORE.
SO, BEFORE YOU CAN POLICE THE
COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO SERVE
THAT COMMUNITY, THAT MEANS AS A
FIREMAN OR EMT OR SOCIAL WORKER
OR TEACHER SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
THEN TRANSITION TO POLICING.
THIRDLY, YOU MUST LIVE IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT YOU POLICE.
SOMEONE SUGGESTED TO ME,
EARLIER, BUT HOW WE OUGHT TO DO
THAT BECAUSE THE POLICE CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
CITY.
SO IT'S RUN FOR PROFIT AND
DEVELOPERS ARE GETTING RICH.
AND, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND
WE NEED TO FIX IT.
AND, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE
GOING TO FIX IT IS BEING HONEST
AND TAKING ACTION.
WORDS ARE WORDS AND WE HAVE
HEARD A LOT OF WORDS FOR A LONG
TIME BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE
DYING.
MORE PEOPLE DIE NOW, IT USED TO
BE A PHENOMENON FOR BLACK
MALES, TO BE KILLED BY GANG
VIOLENCE.
NOW, IT'S BEEN OVERTAKEN BY THE
POLICE THAT ARE THE PROBLEM.
AND THAT IS ALL I WANT TO SAY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DAN.
>>> NEXT UP IS MARIANO,
FOLLOWED BY JEREMIAH
BAINBRIDGE, AND THEN MIGUEL.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I AM MARI ANNA ROMOLO, FORMER
UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATOR.
COMPLAINT INSPECTOR, AND RECENT
SOCIAL JUSTICE CHANGE AGENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE EMAIL INVITE
TO SHARE MEANINGFUL
OPPORTUNITY, COMMENTS ON
BARGAINING PRIORITIES, AND
STAKEHOLDERS APPROACH,
CONSIDERATIONS IMPACTING
CONCERNS, IN PROTECTING PUBLIC
SAFETY, PUBLIC TRUST, POLICE
EMPLOYEE SAFETY, AND
STAKEHOLDERS CONFIDENCE.
I PRESENT THREE TOPICS TO
SHARE, PRIORITY OF CONCERNS,
STAKEHOLDERS ROLES, AND
BARGAINING PRIORITIES.
FIRST, PRIORITIES OF CONCERNS.
FOR A FEDERAL JUDGE TO ISSUE
STATEMENTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SPD CONTRACT,
UNDERMINES ACCOUNTABILITY
REFORMS.
PUTTING CITY AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT OUT OF COMPLIANCE,
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CONSENT DECREE.
TWO, STAKEHOLDERS RULES WHICH
INCLUDES ALL.
REVIEW DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ARTICLES, CAUSING REASONS, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS GUILD, AND SEATTLE
POLICE MANAGEMENT, ASSOCIATIONS
CONTRACT LANGUAGE IS OUT OF
COMPLIANCE.
AND, REQUEST FEDERAL JUDGE
ASSIGNED CONSENT DECREE
CONTRACT LANGUAGE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING COMPLIANCE DEGREE
REQUIREMENTS AND SHARE.
THIRD, STAKEHOLDERS BARGAINING
PRIORITIES.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO SECURE
COMPLIANCE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE CONSENT DECREE.
SCOPE REQUIREMENTS.
AND, STAKEHOLDERS CONFIDENCE,
WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE RIGHT
OF UNIONS TO COLLECTIVELY
BARGAIN, LEGITIMIZING CITY OF
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILD.
ENCLOSE, NEGOTIATION PRIORITIES
VALIDATE AND MEET REGULATORS
LEGAL OR SOCIAL REQUIREMENT
FACTORS, TO INFLUENCE AN
ORGANIZATION'S ONGOING
OPERATIONS AND VALIDATE
BUSINESS AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE
EFFECTIVENESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS JEREMIAH, FOLLOWED
BY MIGUEL MY ASKED US, AND THEN
SHANNA CHANG.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
JEREMIAH BAINBRIDGE, I AM THE
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR THE
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL
ILLNESS SEATTLE HERE SPEAKING
ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION
TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, POLICE HAVE BEEN
PUSHED TO THE FRONT LINE OF
MENTAL HEALTH CARE, BOTH IN OUR
CITY AND NATIONALLY.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN A LOT OF
TRAGEDIES, THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS.
PEOPLE LIVING WITH A MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION THAT IS
UNTREATED OR 16 TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO BE KILLED BY POLICE
GUN VIOLENCE, AND POLICE
VIOLENCE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE
LONG-TERM ADVERSE EFFECTS ON
THE MENTAL HEALTH OF AN
INDIVIDUAL, AND THOSE WHO HAVE
A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS ARE
ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE.
HELPLINE ROUTINELY RECEIVES
CALLS, EVERYTHING OKAY, EVERY
WEEK, FROM PARENTS OF ALL
BACKGROUNDS AND ALL MEANS,
LOOKING FOR ANY WAY TO HELP
THEIR CHILD IN CRISIS, WITHOUT
CALLING THE POLICE.
THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE
MODEL, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR POLICE FORCE IS HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, SO THAT PEOPLE NOW
THAT POLICE ARE A VIABLE OPTION
IF THERE IS NO OTHER TO HELP A
PERSON WITH SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS, EXPERIENCE CRISIS DID
I AM NOT HERE TO DECLARE I
NOTICED DECRY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE SOME AMAZING
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN A
SPEEDY, DOING VERY GOOD WORK.
AND WHO HAVE BECOME PARTNERS
WITH US.
BUT, FOR THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO
HAVE MEANING, AND TO HAVE
INTEGRITY, HIGH STANDARDS OF
ACCOUNT ABILITY AND OVERSIGHT
ARE ESSENTIAL.
WE CANNOT GO BACK TO HAVING TO
CONSOLE ANOTHER PARENT.
I DO NOT WANT TO PROCESS
ANOTHER DONATION THAT COMES IN
IN MEMORIAM FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS
DIED IN POLICE VIOLENCE.
IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
PROMOTE STRONG COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS, WE REQUIRE
TRANSPARENCY, OBJECTIVITY, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, FOR THOSE FEW
BAD ACTORS WHO MAY STAIN AND
FURTHER DRIVE THE FISSURE THAT
HAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN PARENTS
PEERS AND POLICE AND FURTHER
ADDRESSING THE CRISIS OF MENTAL
HEALTH WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
WE STRONGLY ADVOCATE STRONG
OVERSIGHTS AS WE CONTINUE IN
THIS CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO HEAL THE FISSURES
THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED
BETWEEN THE MENTAL HEALTH
COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE, SO
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO OUR
WORK, COOPERATIVELY, WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, UNDER A
STRONG ETHICAL GUIDELINE, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JEREMIAH.
>>> OKAY, NEXT UP IS MIGUEL,
FOLLOWED BY SHANNON CHANG, AND
RYAN PAUL.
>> HONORABLE COUNCIL NUMBERS MY
NAME IS MIGUEL MY ASKED AS I AM
WITH CENTRAL DELAROSA WHICH WE
TRANSLATE AS THE CENTER FOR
PEOPLE OF ALL RACES.
ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR LAURA ORTEGA AND OUR
ORGANIZATION, I AM HERE TODAY
TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FULL
IMITATION OF THE ROOF WORMS IN
THE LANDMARK 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION, AND
THAT THESE REFORMS BE BUT BE
BARGAINED FOR AS PART OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS OF THE UPCOMING
POLICE CONTRACTS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE CPC AND DOZENS
OF COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE BEEN
PUSHING FOR THIS CITY TO FULLY
IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS FOR MANY
YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
EFFORTS SO FAR JUST FOR THE
CHANGES THAT THE CPC HAS
RECOMMENDED.
MANY YEARS AGO I WAS
PRIVILEGED, TO SEE MEMBERS OF
THE MINORITY EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS COALITION COME
TOGETHER TO BEGIN THE PROCESS
THAT HAS LED TO THE LEGISLATION
BEING PROPOSED BY THE CPC.
AS YOU KNOW, THE CPC PREVIOUSLY
ENGAGED LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FROM ALL
RACIAL GROUPS, AND IN 18
LANGUAGE AND DIALECTS, TO HEAR
THE CONCERNS OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND FROM COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE HAD ADDITIONAL
BARRIERS TO POLICE SERVICES AND
ACCOUNT ABILITY, AND HAVE
DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCED
BIAS POLICING AND EXCESSIVE USE
OF FORCE.
OUR CITY STILL HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE
LEADING FOREFRONT OF OUR
NATION, IN ENACTING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION,
ROOTED IN YEARS OF HARD WORK,
ANALYSIS ON COMMUNITY INPUT,
AND VOICE.
POLICE CONTRACTS SHOULD SUPPORT
LEGISLATION THAT
RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED BY THE
CPC.
THIS WILL NOT ONLY REPRESENT
THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST, IT
WILL PROVIDE ONE OF THE
STRONGEST BLUEPRINTS FOR CITIES
ACROSS THE NATION AND TRUE
COMMITTEE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
ON POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY.
THIS IS AN INDISPENSABLE PART
OF BUILDING AND RESTORING TRUST
OF POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF A
KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVISOR, WITH
EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE
CITY'S POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY
SYSTEM, TO BE APPOINTED WITH
THE JOINT RECOMMENDATION OF THE
CPC, OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THIS SHOULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, TO HELP SET UP THE
BARGAINING AGENDA, AND TO BE AT
THE TABLE WITH THE CITY
NEGOTIATING TEAM, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE SHANNON
CHANG, FOLLOWED BY RYAN PAUL,
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM EMMA
DIETZ.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SHANNON
CHANG, I AM A RESIDENT OF THE
COUNCIL TO SEVEN, AND PEOPLE
POWER GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
THE COMMUNITY IS ARE VISITED BY
THE POLICE COMMISSION AND
UPCOMING NEGOTIATION OF HIS
CONTRACT AND THEY WORKING TO
GET SEATTLE BACK INTO
COMPLIANCE WITH ITS CONSENT
DECREE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I ATTENDED THE MAY 27 MEETING
WHERE LANDMARK ADULATION WAS
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND
CELEBRATED BY ALL.
THAT IS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
FOR ONE OF THE VOICES OF THE
COMMUNITY.
THEN, ONLY 18 MONTHS LATER, I
ATTENDED THE NOVEMBER 2018 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING, WHERE THE MOST
RECENT CONTRACT WAS APPROVED BY
THE COUNCIL AGAINST THE WISHES
OF THE COMMUNITY.
IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE 2017
MEETING, THIS ONE FELT HUGELY
DISAPPOINTING TO ME.
OVER AND OVER I HEARD COMMUNITY
MEMBERS COME FORWARD TO SPEAK,
AND PLEAD FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF THE HARD-WON ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, THAT THE NEW CONTRACT
WOULD OVERTURN.
NO COMMITTEE MEMBERS STRESSED
THAT HE RECOGNIZED AND THE
RIGHT IS THE GUILD TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN OPPONENTS
MADE THE ARGUMENT OF THIS RITE
OUTWEIGHED THE COMMUNITY'S
DESIRE FOR A ROBUST ACCOUNT
ABILITY SYSTEM.
MANY CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TESTIFIED AND MADE SIMILAR
STATEMENTS, IGNORING THE FACT
THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND
POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY ARE NOT
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> IN SHORT, HE FELT THAT WHAT
THE COMMUNITY WAS SAYING WAS
BEING PURPOSEFULLY IGNORED.
NOW THERE'S ANOTHER VITAL
OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD
COMMUNITY TRUST.
THE WEARY FROM THIS DRAMA
PROCESS, THE COMMUNITY IS STILL
HERE, AND WILLING TO ENGAGE TO
BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR
EVERYONE.
PLEASE LISTEN IN GOOD FAITH TO
THE SUGGESTIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION AND
NO LONGER IGNORE THE PUBLIC'S
WISHES, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SHANNON, NEXT UP
IS RYAN, AND THEN WE WILL HEAR
FROM EMMA, AND THEN, BETH.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR THE
PRIVILEGE IN ALLOWING ME TO ADD
MY COMMENT TO THIS, MY NAME IS
RYAN PAUL, I MINISTER KEVIN
RESIDENT, I JUST WANTED TO
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
CALLS FOR GREATER POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY REFORMS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL
TO ENSURE THAT SPD IS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT
DECREE AND TO SEND HIS CONTRACT
BACK TO THE MAYOR TO SECURE
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE, FOLLOWED
BY BETH, AND THEN HOWARD GALE.
>> DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND ALL ATTENDEES
>> COULD YOU GET CLOSER TO THE
MY FLEECE?
I'M HAVING HEART
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> I'M DEBT BETH FROM CHINATOWN
COMMITTEE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICERS.
OUR POLICE ARE WORKING HARD TO
KEEP US SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR
EVERYONE.
SAFETY IS ALWAYS THE TOP
PRIORITY IN OUR LIFE.
OUR BUSINESS OWNER AND
RESIDENTS, SOME OF US SUFFERED
FROM CRIMINALS.
THERE ARE THREE INCIDENTS IN MY
MIND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE, ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO,
THERE WAS A MENTAL ILLNESS
WOMAN, SHOOTING INJUNCTIONS ON
10th AVENUE SOUTH NEXT TO A
SUPERMARKET.
AND AFTER CALLING 911, POLICE
SHOW UP WITHIN FIVE OR 10
MINUTES, AND STOP HER WHILE
SHOOTING AND SAVE PEOPLE'S
LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED AT
THE BUILDING, WHILE THE
BUILDING MANAGER OBJECT
ARRIVAL, 911, POLICE SHOW UP IN
MINUTES.
THE POLICE OFFICER CHECKED ALL
THE SURROUNDING AREA FOR THE
SUSPECT TO MAKE SURE NO ROBERT
IS HIDING AROUND.
LAST NIGHT AT AROUND 5:00 P.M.,
THERE WAS A REPORT FOR TWIN
GIRLS MISSING, POLICE SHOW UP
WITHIN FIVE OR SIX POLICE CARS
AND CHECK THE COMMUNITY DOOR BY
DOOR, ALMOST 2 HOURS, AND HELP
TO FIND THE GIRLS, FINALLY.
IT WAS LUCKY.
ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE
WORKING HARD, AND THEY ALL
DESERVE HONOR.
REAL SUPPORT TO HIRE MORE
POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE NEED
MORE POLICE ON THE STREET, MORE
PATROLS IN SEATTLE AND
CHINATOWN COMMITTEE AND KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE, AND MINIMIZE
CRIMINAL ISSUE, AND CRIMINAL
RETURNS.
NO ONE WANTS TO BE A VICTIM IF
OUR POLICE DO NOT GET ENOUGH
POWER TO STOP THE CRIME ISSUE
AND MORE CRIME VICTIM.
MORE FAMILIES WILL SUFFER.
THANK YOU ALL, WORKING HARD FOR
A SAFE CITY FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT UP, IS BETH Q, FOLLOWED
BY HOWARD GALE, AND THEN NORA
CHAN.
>> BETH, WAS THAT YOU?
OKAY.
SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE EMMA.
IT WAS THEIR ENEMA?
IS THERE AN EMMA DIETZ?
NO EMMA.
OKAY.
I WAS OFF BY ONE.
OKAY, HOWARD GALE IS UP NEXT,
THEN NORA CHAN, AND THEN JOSEPH
LUCKMAN.
>> HEY,.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE CAN HEAR
ME.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE, THINGS
THAT THEY ARE GIVING
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PEOPLE
WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE SITTING AT
THE NEGOTIATING TABLE?
>> SITTING WHERE?
>> AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.
>> IF YOU CAN ADDRESS YOUR
COMMENTS TO US I WOULD
APPRECIATE IT.
>> ARE NOT, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
SITTING UP HERE ARE NOT TO BE
PLEASED AT THE NEGOTIATING
TABLE.
THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE THAT YOU
DO NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT, WHO ARE
NOT ELECTED, BUREAUCRATS,
THROUGH THE LAST TWO CONTRACTS,
IAN WARNER, AN ATTORNEY FOR THE
CITY, FOR THE MAYOR, AND A FOR
HIRE A LAWYER.
SO, WE ARE GIVING FEEDBACK TO
THE CITY, AND YES, THE PROCESS
WHEN IT COMES TO SITTING AT THE
NEGOTIATION TABLE, IS TOTALLY
HIDDEN.
THAT IS HOW WE HAVE GONE TO A
POINT, WHERE, DOES ANYONE KNOW
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
KILLED SINCE JOHN C WILLIAMS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE?
26 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED.
AT A TIME IN WHICH WE THOUGHT
WE HAD ACTUAL ACCOUNT ABILITY.
AND LET ME JUST, 58 SECONDS,
BUT, HERE IS THE ISSUE.
RECENTLY, JUST IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S BEEN
CHARLENA LYLE, ATAGO, DENNY
RODRIGUEZ AND RYAN SMITH.
KILLED WITH A 2 1/2 INCH KNIFE,
ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I
LIVE IN QUEEN ANNE.
A PERSON WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
SO, AGAIN, THERE IS A HUGE
DISCONNECT HERE.
IN A LOT OF WAYS, THERE IS NO
MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT
POLICE REFORM HAS BROUGHT, AND
YET, WE ARE ASKED FOR OUR
FEEDBACK TO GIVE TO PEOPLE AND
I WOULD LOVE FOR COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES OR HARRELL, TO TELL
US, HOW MANY NEGOTIATION
MEETINGS THEY WERE ACTUALLY AT
FOR THE SPM A CONTRACT.
I THINK THE ANSWER IS CLOSE TO
ZERO.
SO, AGAIN, NOT ONLY IS THERE A
QUESTION OF WHERE OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS AND UP.
EVEN IF THEY DO END UP BEING
CONSIDERED BY MEMBERS ON THE
COUNCIL.
THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY TAKEN TO
THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.
SO, THIS REQUIRES A LEVEL OF
TRANSPARENCY, AND REALLY, A
CHANGE IN PRACTICE, THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP IS NORA
CHAN, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH, AND
THEN, JORGE.
>> 14 HOURS TO COME TO THIS
MEETING.
SO, IF I START TALKING IN
CHINESE OR FALL ASLEEP PLEASE
EXCUSE ME.
>> HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM NORA CHAN, FOUNDING
PRESIDENT OF ACTION IN
CHINATOWN, SENIOR INACTION HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR MANY YEARS.
WE ARE LONGTIME RESIDENTS.
BUSINESS AND COMPANY OWNERS, WE
HAVE THREE PRIORITY CONCERNS.
ONE, CITY FUNDED AGENCY IN
CHINATOWN, DO NOT REPRESENT US,
AND DO NOT LET US KNOW.
WHAT IS GOING ON UNTIL IT IS
TOO LATE.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE
THINKING, AND WANT US TO BE
ENGAGED, DO IT IN A LANGUAGE
THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND.
CONTACT THE ASSOCIATION, TO
REACH US.
THANK YOU, FOR FINDING A PUBLIC
SAFETY COORDINATOR POSITIO FOR
THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT.
NOW, AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS,
THIS POSITION NEEDS UPDATING
FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SCOPE
OF WORK.
NUMBER THREE, FINALLY, WE ARE
DOING WHAT THE POLICE HAVE
ASKED, TO DO SOMETHING
OURSELVES, TO IMPROVE OUR
SAFETY, SO THAT THE
RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT ONLY ON
THEM.
ONLY ON THEM.
10 YEARS AGO, THE CHINESE
SPEAKING SENIORS RESIDENCE AND
BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS
DECIDED THAT WE NEED A SECURITY
CAMERA SYSTEM.
FOR CRIME PREVENTION AND TO
HELP POLICE CATCH SUSPECTS.
THE SENIORS ASKED ME TO
ORGANIZE THE PROJECT.
OUR FIRST CAMERA PROJECT THAT
WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING
PEOPLE FEEL SAFER, AND HELPING
THE POLICE GET EVIDENCE.
WE HAVE ALREADY RAISED
$175,000, TO REPLACE THE
CURRENT OUT OF DATE CAMERAS,
BUT WE NEED HELP FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL, FROM THE MAYOR, WE
NEED HELP TO FIND A SPONSOR TO
HOUSE THE SERVER, THE CITY
FUNDED AGENCIES ARE HELPING US
ON THESE.
WANT HELP US, AND SOME EVEN
OPPOSE US.
PLEASE HELP US FIND A HOST FOR
THE SERVER.
WE NEED RESPONSIBLE POLICE AND
ALSO CAMERAS TO PROTECT US.
I THINK THE POLICE ARE DOING A
GREAT JOB IN CHINATOWN, AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND, THESE PEOPLE, YOU LOOK AT
THEM, THEY DO NOT SPEAK ANY
ENGLISH AND YET THEY ARE HERE
TO SUPPORT THE POLICE, AND
SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY IN
CHINATOWN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JOSEPH FOLLOWED
BY JORGE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES.
THIS EVENING I'M HERE TO SPEAK
ON BEHALF OF ASIAN COUNSELING
AND REFERRAL SERVICE, TO
EXPRESS OUR RELIEF AND STRONG
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT IS KEY TO RACIAL JUSTICE,
AND ESPECIALLY FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE, FOR BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES INCLUDING
SOUTHEAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS
TOMMY LEE AND JOSE VALADAO GO,
WHO ARE BOTH VICTIMS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE.
TOMMY LEE WAS SHOT MULTIPLE
TIMES IN THE BACK, AND IN MY
PERSONAL CAPACITY, I WILL BE
TESTIFYING IN HIS CASE.
WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO HERE
THOUGH, IS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT THE CITY MUST NOT ROLLBACK
THE PROVISIONS OF THE 2017
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
AND NOT USE THEM AS BARGAINING
CHIPS IN THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO THINK
CAREFULLY, ABOUT HIS WORDS WERE
HE SAID THAT THE COURT FINDS
THAT THE CITY IS OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT
DECREE, WITH RESPECT TO THE
ACCOUNT ABILITY SYSTEM, AND
ALSO REMIND EVERYONE, BUT THE
GOAL SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE TO
MEET THE BARE MINIMUM OF
CONSENT DECREE AND GET OUT FROM
UNDERNEATH THAT.
TO ACTUALLY LIVE UP TO THE 2017
IDEALS ARE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE LANDMARK POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION.
AND, I FELT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE
LAST TIME, THAT COMMUNITY
MEMBERS LISTED IN SEVERAL WAYS
IS NOT LIFTING UP WHICH IS
LIVING UP TO THAT BUT HE DID
NOT FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL HEARD
THOSE CONCERNS.
REGARDING THINGS SUCH AS
SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT, 180 DAY
INVESTIGATION LIMITS.
APPLYING EQUALLY TO PERSONS OF
ALL RANKS.
THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR
DISHONESTY, AND FOR TYPE III
USE OF FORCE, EVEN JUST THE
IDEA OF USING YOUR VACATION
DAYS, DURING A SUSPENSION.
ALL OF THESE THINGS CONTRIBUTE
TO COMMUNITY'S LACK OF TRUST IN
THE POLICE, AND WE HOPE THAT
MOVING FORWARD, YOU WILL LIVE
UP TO THE 2017 HIGHLIGHTING
ORDINANCE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOSEPH.
>>> OKAY, NEXT UP, WE HAVE
JORGE, FOLLOWED BY ELI, AND
THEN STEPHANIE COOPER.
>>> COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M THE
RIGHTS PROJECT, I'M OFFICIATING
THE TIME YOU'RE TAKING TO HAVE
HIS HEARING, AND BEFORE THE
PROCESS GETS STARTED.
FOR THE PAST DECADE OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS JOINED ME IN
COMMITTEE PARTNERS ARE HERE
CALLING FOR REFORMS TO ENSURE
THAT POLICING IS CONDUCTED IN A
CONSTITUTIONAL MATTER.
OUR ORGANIZATION WAS AN
ORIGINAL SIGNATORY TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHICH LED
TO ITS INVESTIGATION OF SPA,
AND CONSENT DECREE AND OUR
INVOLVEMENT BEGAN WHEN ONE OF
OUR OWN CLIENTS WAS SUBJECTED
TO EXCESSIVE FORCE AND WAS
SERIOUSLY INJURED BY AN SPD
OFFICER NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO.
I AM HERE, ON BEHALF OF OUR
ORGANIZATION TO ASK THE CITY
FOR TWO THINGS.
FIRST, THERE ARE THINGS YOU
HAVE HEARD ALREADY TODAY BUT I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE, TO ENSURE
THAT THE UPCOMING NEGOTIATION
WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS GUILT BE CONDUCTED TO
ENSURE THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE REFORM CITY COUNCIL
ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY UNANIMOUS
VOTE IN 2017, AND SECOND, FOR
THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES
WITH AN ADVISOR WHO HAS DEEP
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM AND
ORDINANCE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
AND THE COMMUNITY.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ADVICE
SHOULD BE JOINTLY ADMITTED BY
THE THREE OVERSIGHT BODIES, THE
OPA AND OIG, AND THAT THE
ADVISORS SHOULD BE APPOINTED AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY
CAN ASSIST THE CITY IN THE
FORMATION OF ITS AGENDA, AND BE
AT THE TABLE FOR THE ENTIRE
PROCESS.
WE BELIEVE BOTH OF THESE
ELEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO
ENSURE THE REFORMS THE CITY
HAVE UNDERTAKEN CAN TAKE ROOT
SO THAT WE AS A CITY CAN
CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS
TOWARDS THE GOAL OF POLICING
BEING CONDUCTED IN A MANNER
BEING ADDED WITH CONSTITUTIONAL
NORMS.
WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE
RIGHTS OF UNION WORKERS ON
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE
INTERESTS OF UNIONIZED WORKERS
ARE OR SHOULD BE IN CONFLICT
WITH THE INTEREST OF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND HAVING THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BE
RESPECTED, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT
THAT IF THE RIGHT ELEMENTS ARE
IN PLACE, AN AGREEMENT THAT
RESPECTS BOTH SETS OF INTEREST
CAN BE ACHIEVED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ELI, AND
THEN FOLLOWING THAT, WILL BE
STEPHANIE COOPER, AND THEN,
HIRAM SIMPSON.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU MADAM
CHAIR.
MY NAME IS ELI GOSS, AND THE
SENIOR POLICY MANAGER AT ONE
AMERICA WE ARE A IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS ORGANIZATION HERE IN
WASHINGTON STATE WORKING ON
ADVOCACY, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING AND CITIZENSHIP
SERVICES AND WE ARE HERE ALONG
WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF
INCLUDING THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PROVISIONS IN THE UPCOMING
CONTRACT, ALONG WITH A THIRD-
PARTY ADVISOR JOINTLY
RECOMMENDED, BY THE CPC, AND
OIG.
ONE AMERICA SUPPORTS THE 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS,
UNEQUIVOCABLY.
AND, THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY,
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THROUGH IN
THE UPCOMING CONTRACT, BECAUSE
IT RELIES ON YEARS OF
NEGOTIATION, DISCUSSION, AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND, THAT TRUST NEEDS TO
CONTINUE TO BE BUILT.
AND, WE ALSO WANT TO ASK THAT
IS A CITY THAT HAS WORKED
REALLY HARD TO BE A WELCOMING
PLACE FOR IMMIGRANTS,
ESPECIALLY AS THE CITY COUNCIL
IS INVOLVED IN MANY PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES TO REFLECT THAT,
INCLUDING THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PROVISIONS AS WELL AS A THIRD-
PARTY ADVISOR, WILL BE ANOTHER
STEP TOWARDS CONCRETE BUILDING
TRUST IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ELI.
>>> NEXT UP IS STEPHANIE.
AND AFTER THAT, WE HAVE HIRAM
SIMPSON, AND THEN JEREMY.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR
THESE MEETINGS ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND ONE BUT
THEY ARE USUALLY QUITE
COLORFUL.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY.
CLEARLY THERE IS A LOT TO
UNPACK HERE AND I LEARNED MORE
TONIGHT THAN I KNEW BEFORE, BUT
I CAME HERE AS A RESIDENT,
REALLY OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED
HERE FOR 15 YEARS, SOMEHOW.
FIRST IS APARTMENT DWELLERS AND
NOW AS CONDO HOMEOWNERS WHICH
WE HOPE TO HANG ONTO.
WE HAVE SEEN A CHANGE QUITE A
BIT.
LIVING DOWNTOWN NECESSARILY
MEANS THAT WHEN I GO OUT MY
DOOR, I DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC,
WHATEVER THAT FLAVOR IS OF THE
DAY AND I'VE BEEN YELLED AT MY
FACE, I HAVE HAD VERY PLEASANT
CONVERSATIONS.
IT IS ALWAYS VERY INTERESTING.
PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT EVERY DAY,
THEY ARE ANGRY OR
CONFRONTATIONAL OR HAPPY OR
BLISSFULLY DRUGGED UP.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS I'VE
SEEN IT MANY CHANGES AND IT IS
NOT LOST ON ME THAT THIS IS
WHAT THE POLICE DEAL WITH EVERY
DAY.
I GO OUT TO RUN MY ERRANDS,
CATCH A BUS, WALKED TO A
DESTINATION ET CETERA.
WHEN I COME HOME, I CAN JUST GO
BACK TO MY HOME, AND HIDE FROM
ALL OF THAT BUT THEY DEAL WITH
THIS EVERY DAY AND I'M VERY
CLOSE MYSELF WITH THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE POLICE OFFICERS.
SO, I AM NOT HERE TO SAY THAT
THE POLICE ARE THE BAD GUYS AT
ALL.
THEY ARE OUT THERE DOING THE
BEST THAT THEY CAN BUT I THINK
THAT THEY DEAL WITH A LOT AND
THAT HAS GOTTEN LARGER AND
LARGER, AS HAS BEEN POINTED
OUT.
I THINK THEY WORK VERY LONG
SHIFTS, DEALING WITH THINGS I
HAVE DEALT WITH FOR TWO HOURS
AND BEEN DONE WITH.
AND, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT
HERE, THERE IS CONTENTION
BECAUSE SINCE 2011, THIS HAS
BEEN AN ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT
THE FACT THAT IT HAS COME DOWN
TO THIS ROADBLOCK AND ABILITY,
IS WHAT DRAWS ME HERE AND
SCARES ME THE MOST, IS THAT
THERE IS NOT FANCY.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PUBLIC
INFORMATION ON WHAT IS GOING
ON, WHY IS ACCOUNTABILITY THE
ROADBLOCK HERE?
BECAUSE WITH WHAT OFFICERS GO
THROUGH EVERY DAY, AS CITIZENS,
AND WE ALL HAVE TO STAY UNDER
THE RULE OF LAW WE HAVE TO
ABIDE BY THE LAW AND I THINK
THAT EQUIPPED POLICE OFFICERS
SHOULD AS WELL.
I REALLY WONDER IF THE SOLUTION
TO ALL THESE PROBLEMS IS TAKING
AWAY THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS
TO DO, AND TO TAKE AWAY OUR
TRUST AND WHAT KEEPS US SAFE
HERE IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU STEPHANIE, NEXT UP
IS BYRON, FOLLOWED BY JEREMY
KISCO, AND THEN DIRECTOR
CURRENTLY.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS BYRON SIMPSON,
EXCUSE ME.
AS COCHAIR ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH COMMUNITY COALITIONS WHO
FOR YEARS HAVE BEEN LEADING THE
FIGHT FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
IN SEATTLE.
AS OTHERS HAVE SHARED THIS
EVENING, THE URGENCY OF THIS
MATTER IS ITS DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT.
POLICE MISCONDUCT AND LACK OF
ACCOUNT ABILITY HAS ALREADY
OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES
ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH BLACK AND
BROWN NEIGHBORS, STRUGGLING
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND YES,
OUR CLEAR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR
THOSE WHO HOLD TWO OR MORE OF
THESE IDENTITIES AT ONE TIME.
WE BELIEVE THE POLICE ACCOUNT
ABILITY ORDINANCE PASSED IN
2017 IS THE BLUEPRINT FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN OUR CITY, AND
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL
CONSENT DECREE REQUIRES
REOPENING PORTIONS OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILD
CONTRACT, THAT BLATANTLY
UNDERMINED IT BY NAMING THE
CONTRACT AS PROPELLING WHEN
THERE IS CONFLICT WITH THE
ORDINANCE.
ROBUST ACCOUNTABILITY HELPS
POLICE OFFICERS.
WE URGE COUNSEL TO RESPECT THE
OFFICERS BY HOLDING THEM TO
HIGH STANDARDS OF
PROFESSIONALISM, JUST AS
ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT UP IS JEREMY, AND
THEN, WE HAVE ANDRA.
>> THANKS EVERYONE FOR BEING
HERE AND STICKING AROUND TO
LISTEN, I WILL TRY TO BE QUICK.
MY NAME IS JEREMY, I'M A MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPIST, I SPECIALIZE
IN WORKING WITH THE SEVERELY
MENTALLY ILL FOR THE LAST SIX
YEARS, AND BOTH KING AND
SNOHOMISH COUNTIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SEEN THAT
A LOT OF TIMES, POLICE GET USED
AS LANDSCAPERS FOR LANDLORDS
AND HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY FOR
MY CLIENTS.
THE THINGS I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
THAT REALLY BROKE MY HEART,
SUCH AS A CLIENT OF MINE
ARRESTED FOR NOT RETURNING
THEIR LIBRARY NECESSARY, NOT
RETURNING A LAPTOP TO THE
LIBRARY ON TIME.
IT IS A COMPLETELY THIS
PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I
HAVE WORKED WITH EVERYBODY YOU
THINK IS SCARY ON PAPER.
SEX OFFENDERS, PEOPLE WITH
SCHIZOPHRENIA, PEOPLE WHO HAVE
LITERALLY BEEN CONVICTED OF
ATTEMPTED TERRORIST ACTS,
PEOPLE ASK ME IF I'M AFRAID TO
GO WORK WITH THEM, AND NO.
BECAUSE THEY ARE HAPPY TO SEE
ME BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY PERSON
IN THEIR LIFE WHO SHOWS UP AND
ASKS HOW I CAN HELP.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE OFFICER TRAINING,
SUCH AS THE QUOTE UNQUOTE
WARRIOR TRAININGS OR OTHER
OFFENSE FIRST TRAINING PROGRAMS
IN THE NEWS LATELY WE NEED TO
BAN THOSE COMPLETELY FOR
OFFICERS.
WE SHOULD DEFINITELY UTILIZE
ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN
SEATTLE, THERE IS AN AMAZING
TRAINING COMMUNITY HERE, FOR
ANY KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES THAT OFFICERS WANT TO
CONNECT WITH.
AND.
THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY
REALLY QUICKLY, BECAUSE I HEARD
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED POLICE
MOONLIGHTING AS AN ISSUE.
I'M A THERAPIST.
I AM LIABLE FOR MEETING A
CERTAIN STANDARD OF CARE WITH
MY CLIENTS.
AND, THE THINGS I DO IN MY TIME
AWAY FROM WORK EFFECT MY TIME
AT WORK.
SO IF A POLICE OFFICER IS
MOONLIGHTING, THEY ARE ALREADY
WORKING REALLY LONG HOURS.
REALLY DIFFICULT JOBS I HAVE
SEVERAL OFFICERS I SYMPATHIZE
WITH I WANT YOU GUYS TO HAVE A
GOOD UNION AND GET YOUR RAISES.
AND WITH THAT, DON'T BE DOING
WORK ON THE SIDE, YOU SHOULDN'T
NEED IT.
CIRCUMNAVIGATE FOR YOURSELF,
BUT ALSO MONITOR YOURSELF.
THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
>> THANK YOU, IT IS MY HONOR TO
BE HERE TONIGHT, AND SPEAK TO
THE COUNCIL.
WITH YOU ALL.
AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK
THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
I AM ALSO HERE AS A CONCERNED
CITIZEN, AND ON BEHALF OF THE
LAURA MILLER BAR ASSOCIATION.
FIRST, I DON'T THINK ANY
REASONABLE PERSON EXPECTS THE
POLICE TO SHOW UP, NOT READY OR
WILLING OR ABLE TO HOLD HIMSELF
ACCOUNTABLE.
AND, TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY
DO NOT COMMIT LEASE BRUTALITY.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE CALL THE
POLICE HOPING THAT THEY WILL DE-
ESCALATE AN ISSUE, NOT ESCALATE
AN ISSUE.
THE CURRENT CONTRACT DOES NOT
HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE, AND
DOES NOT ENCOURAGE THE POLICE
TO DE-ESCALATE ISSUES AND IT
DOES NOT INCENTIVIZE THEM TO BE
ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR, WHILE
ENFORCING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF
OUR CITY.
>> TONIGHT, WE ARE ASKING YOU
TO UPHOLD YOUR COMMITMENT TO
HOLD THE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE
WHEN THEY FAIL IN THEIR DUTY TO
PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS
CITY.
THE NEW CONTRACT MUST BE
NEGOTIATED TO ENABLE FULL OF
THE MENTATION OF THE ROBUST
REFORM PROVISIONS UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPTED IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2017.
CONTACTED AROUND THE ACCOUNT
ABILITY ORDINANCE WHICH IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE, TO NOT NEGOTIATE IN
GOOD FAITH.
SPAGO KNEW WHAT THEY NEEDED TO
DO.
THEY NEED A LANGUAGE THAT
NEEDED TO BE IN THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT, AND THEY
KNEW THAT IT WAS PERTINENT THAT
THE ORDINANCE BE REFLECTED IN
THAT BARGAINING AGREEMENT, AND
BREACHED THEIR DUTY.
UNACCEPTABLE?
THIS IS NOT NOBLE.
YOU SHOULD LOOK UP THE
DEFINITION OF NOBILITY.
AND YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
IF YOU ARE NOBLE, THEN YOU WILL
WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND TODAY, WE CAN WRITE THAT
WRONG.
WE ASKED THE CITY TO USE THIS
EXTERNAL ADVISOR IN THE
NEGOTIATIONS HE HAS DEEP
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ACCOUNT
ABILITY SYSTEM AND THE
ORDINANCE, POLICE CONTRACTS AND
NEGOTIATION, THAT THEY GO OFF
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
THREE OVERSIGHT BODIES, OFFICE
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
AND, THE ADVISOR SHOULD BE
BROUGHT IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS GOOD FOR THE
POLICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE CITY.
THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT STEERED
YOU WRONG EVEN WHEN THEY TOLD
YOU THE THINGS YOU DID NOT WANT
TO HEAR.
PLEASE HERE ARE ASKED TONIGHT,
BECAUSE THE POLICE NEED TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE, SO THAT THEY
CAN ACTUALLY DO THEIR JOB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OKAY, SO,
>> I'M THE LAST PERSON WHO
FORMALLY SIGNED UP ON THE SIGN
IN SHEETS.
BUT, I WANT TO DO ONE LAST
CALL, IF YOU ARE HERE WITH US
THIS EVENING AND DID NOT GET A
CHANCE, TO SIGN UP AT WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER A PUBLIC COMMENT,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME
FORWARD, THE ONLY THING THAT WE
WOULD ASK IS THAT YOU MAKE SURE
TO PUT YOUR NAME DOWN ON THAT
SIGN-UP SHEET, AFTER YOU GIVE
YOUR TESTIMONY, SO THAT WE HAVE
IT FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.
I SEE ONE PERSON, COMING UP TO
THE FRONT.
PLEASE.
>> CARLA BOYER, I WOULD LIKE TO
JUST MAKE NOTICE, FOR EVERYONE,
THAT THIS YEAR, SO FAR.
37 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY
POLICE IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND
LAST YEAR, THE TOTAL WAS 30.
AND, I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY
THAT I AM A RELATIVE NEWCOMER
TO ACTIVISM.
AND, POWERFUL ACTIVISM IS BASED
IN INFORMATION AND
UNDERSTANDING, AND SO I AM
BUILDING MYSELF UP IN THAT WAY.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, I
DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHEN
COMMUNITY.
WHEN COMMUNITY VERY CLEARLY
WISHED FOR THIS CONTRACT TO BE
IN HARMONY WITH THE CONSENT
DECREE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED A
CONTRACT THAT WAS OUT OF
COMPLIANCE.
WERE YOU NOT LISTENING TO
COMMUNITY?
I THINK YOU WERE, BUT WHO ELSE
WERE YOU LISTENING TO?
SO, I AM ASKING, THOSE
COMMUNITY VOICE HAVE POWER?
>> THANK YOU, CARLA.
OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS
TO OFFER PUBLIC TESTIMONY
BEFORE WE CLOSE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY?
SEEING NO ONE, ALL RIGHT.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING
PORTION OF THIS COMMITTEE
HEARING.
IT IS NOW CLOSED.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT, WE
HAD A VERY FULL ROOM, AND WE
STILL HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO
ARE HERE, AND WHO ARE WILLING
TO LISTEN THROUGHOUT THE
EVENING, I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING ME THIS
EVENING.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
SECURITY GUARDS WHO WERE
HELPING US OUT TODAY, AND
STAYED LATE THANK YOU ALL.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THINK MY
STAFF, CODY WRITER, BRENNA
THOMAS, LEELAND, AND ALL OF THE
OTHER CITY COUNCIL STAFF WHO
VOLUNTEERED TONIGHT, AND I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES, THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE OFFICE
OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR BEING
WITH US, THE DIRECTORS WERE
HERE BUT SO WERE COMMISSIONERS,
AND SOBER STAFF.
FROM THOSE OFFICES.
SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD
WORK THAT YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY
AS PUBLIC SERVANTS ON BEHALF OF
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, TWO MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET THESE THINGS
RIGHT.
SO, AGAIN THIS IS A FIRST
CONVERSATION, IT IS THE FIRST
PUBLIC HEARING, WE REALLY LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS
CONVERSATION IN THE NEW YEAR.
OF COURSE WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE
OF WEEKS LEFT OF THIS
LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THIS
YEAR FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT,
REST ASSURED, THAT WE ARE HAPPY
TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU IN THE
NEW YEAR, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK IN EARNEST AND IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US, AS
AT LEAST THE THREE OF US WILL
BE HERE NEXT YEAR.
TO OVERSEE THE NEGOTIATION
PROCESS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HARRELL, THIS WILL
LIKELY BE HIS LAST MEETING, AS
THE CHAIR OF THE LABOR
COMMITTEE AND AS A
REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE WE
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARRELL FOR HIS WORK, IN THE
COMMITTEE AND ON THESE ISSUES I
THINK YOU ARE A TWO-TIME PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR AS WELL.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK HIM
FOR ALL THE GUIDANCE AND FOR
ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE
DONE, IN THE SPACE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS AND ON THIS ISSUE IN
PARTICULAR.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL
JOIN ME IN GIVING HIM A ROUND
AND HIS TIME WITH YEARS OF ON,
SERVICE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL?
>> ONE THING, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I MARVEL AT YOU FROM THE
SIDELINES, SOMETIMES.
THE LAST WOMAN THAT SPOKE, I
THINK SHE LEFT.
THE LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN
BULLIED ENOUGH TO DRESSER.
IF YOU KNOW IT DOES MATTER, SHE
ASKED THE QUESTION DOESN'T
REALLY MATTER?
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU.
WHEN WE SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO
ALL OF YOU, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE LEFT.
WE PONDER.
WE TRY TO MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISIONS.
WE ARE HUMANS, WE MAKE
MISTAKES.
BUT, IT DOES MATTER.
IF YOU TAKE THE TIME OUT OF
YOUR SCHEDULE, WHETHER YOU ARE,
A CEO OR HOMELESS, IT MAKES NO
DIFFERENCE.
YOU ARE SPEAKING FROM YOUR
HEART AND YOU ARE HUMAN BEINGS
WHO MATTER TO US AND I DON'T
SEE THAT IN A PATRONIZING WAY.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE TOLD HER
THAT.
HER PARTICULAR TESTIMONY REALLY
RESONATED WITH ME, BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, I WAS BORN IN THE CITY,
AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE I WENT TO
KINDERGARTEN WITH TESTIFY HERE.
SO, IT DOES MATTER, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORDS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARRELL.
DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO
MAKE ANY CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE
WE CLOSE OUT AND ADJOURN?
>> I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, ON THIS
ISSUE, I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH ALL PARTIES.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES THIS
EVENING'S HEARING, THIS
CONCLUDES MY FORTHCOMING
HEARING OF THE DAY AT EIGHT
MONTHS PREGNANT, I WILL ADD.
>> YOU DESERVE A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
>> MY WORD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE
NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.