>>> THE 2020 PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT'S A 9:30 A.M.
I'M LISA HERBOLD CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL?
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
COUNSEL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAVANT.
>> ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW APPROVE OUR AGENDA
FOR THE COMMITTEE
MEETING.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEAR NOTHING OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I ASK THAT FOLKS BE PATIENT.
I HAVE NOT BEEN RUNNING
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR QUITE
SOME TIME NOW.
I'M STILL WORKING TO OPERATE
AND LEARN THIS NEW
SYSTEM.
I'M GOING TO BE MODERATING THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'LL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME.
IN ORDER OF THEIR REGISTRATION
ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO
DO SO, YOU COULD STILL DO THAT
BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC HEARING OR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD BY GOING TO
THE COUNCIL COMMENT.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'LL CALL ON EACH BY NAME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN
USING PUBLIC COMMENT
BUT HAVEN'T SIGNED UP TO DO SO,
GO TO THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS LISTED ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
I'LL CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME.
YOU'LL NEED TO PRESS A STAR 6
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I REQUEST THAT YOU BEGIN
SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM WHICH YOUR
ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE THE SPEAKER HEARS THE
CHIME, WE ASK YOU BEGIN
TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
IF YOU DO NOT END YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS AT END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, WE'LL CALL ON
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
WHEN YOU COMPLETE, DISCONNECT
FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING, DO SO VIA THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR LISTENING
OPTIONS LISTED OPT
AGENDA.
PUBLIC HEAR AS GOOD NOW OPEN.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF YOU DO NOT END YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME.
>> SO EVERY TIME I SHARE MY
SCREEN, IT SEEMS TO
CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMER.
>> YOU'RE DOING IT, ALEX.
>> YES.
>> LET ME GO AHEAD AND RUN THE
TIMER ON MY END.
I'LL THINK ON THAT DUTY.
THANKS FOR FIGURING IT OUT.
THE FIRST SPEAKER ANGIE GERALD.
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WE CAN.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ANGIE GERALD.
I'M CALLING REGARDING COMMUNITY
POLICING.
I CALLED IN TODAY TO MAKE SURE
THAT CITY COUNCIL WAS
AWARE THAT AS OF THIS WEEK
SEATTLE POLICE HAS HAD TO
DISPANDEMIC IF ENTIRE POLICE
TEAM.
THIS WAS THE ONE AVENUE WE HAD
TO CONTACT A SPECIFIC
OFFICER ABOUT ONGOING ISSUES.
SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND PEOPLE
AND BUSINESSES IN IT.
I LIVE IN BALLARD SERVED BY THE
NORTH PRECINCT.
THIS IS 40% OF THE CITY'S
GEOGRAPHY WITH A CITY
LARGER THAN SPOKANE.
BALLARD IS A 911 SPOT BUT SLOW
RESPONSE TIMES
COMPARED TO CITY AVERAGES.
LAST WEEKEND I MET A DEPUTY
PATROLLING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ON BEHALF OF A
BUSINESS.
BALLARD HAS MANY LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THE PLETHORA
OF LESS PRACTICE LOW BARRIER
SERVICES CONCENTRATED
HERE.
WE HAVE NO LIST PICK LEADERSHIP
TO INSURE THE
OUTCOMES HAVE BEARINGS ON
ACTUAL NONES NONASPIRATIONAL.
IT WAS A TANGIBLE INFORMED
POINT OF CONTACT.
I CALLED TO ASK IF ANYONE WOULD
BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
SAFETY LEADERSHIPS SPECIFIC TO
CHALLENGES IN NORTH
SEATTLE.
WHICH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE
INVOLVED IN IMMINENT BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD GAIL
. HOWARD, YOU WITH US?
YOU'LL HAVE TO REMIND
COMMENTERS TO HIT STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE THEMSELVES.
>> FOR FOLKS DOING PUBLIC
COMMENT, REMIND TORE DO
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
HOWARD, ARE YOU WITH US?
IF SO, CAN YOU STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF?
HERE I GO.
THIS IS HOWARD DALE FROM
DISTRICT 7 SPEAKING ON
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
I JUST WANT TO BE SURE I HAVE
THIS RIGHT.
TODAY YOU'LL BE HEARING WHAT
ARE THE APPROPRIATE
MATERIALS FOR POLICE TO USE TO
CONTINUE TO HARM
FOLKS TO INFRINGE ON THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
FUTURE.
YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING TODAY THE
MEANS BY WHICH ABUSES
ARE TO CONTINUE, REALLY.
WHO ARE THESE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS YOUR TALKING
WITH TODAY?
OIG IN RESPONSE TO OVER 100
DAYS HOLDS A 90 DAY
LISTENING SESSION WHICH THEY
REFUSE TO MAKE PUBLIC
UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN AMY WAS
SIGNED IN PUBLIC STILL
NOT MAKING IT PUBLIC.
OPA APPROVED OR IGNORED ALL 27
POLICE KILLINGS SINCE
WILLIAMS HAS WITHIN POLICY.
THERE'S A LAST CPC SUPPOSED
VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY
WHICH LAST WEEK COMPLETELY SHUT
DOWN COMMUNITY BY
ENDING ANY FORM OF PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THE MEETINGS
THEN WENT TO A BLATANTLY
ILLEGAL SESSION.
THE CPC EXCLUDING COMMUNITY IS
NOT NEW.
FOR SIX YEAR, THEY FAILED TO
HOLD PUBLIC FORUM.
MAYBE ALL OF THIS IS MINOR
STUFF WHEN YOU CONSIDER.
TERRY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN
HAVING A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS MURDERED BY SPD
IN MAY.
TO THIS SHOCKING AVOIDABLE
MURDER, THESE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS HAVE
HAD NO RESPONSE AND NO
INVESTIGATION UNTIL IT'S
SUPPOSEDLY LOST COMPLAINT
WAS FOUND.
I BEG YOU REVISE YOUR AGENDA.
DO THE HARD WORK OF HOLDING
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND STOPPING THE DAILY ABUSE.
DO NOT ADVOCATE YOUR MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
IN DOING THAT, YOU MAY REALIZE
YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS HAVE BECOME
UNACCOUNTABLE THEMSELVES AND
LOST WHAT LITTLE MORAL
THANK YOU.
QUAN LOU?
ARE YOU WITH US?
IF YOU ARE, HIT STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
HELLO?
HELLO.
>> YES.
>> AM I READY TO SPEAK?
WE CAN HEAR YOU, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
SO GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS QUAN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7 IN PIONEER
SQUARE.
I'M CALLING TO REMAIN THAT THE
CURRENT SPD IS NOT
PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY TO
ANYONE.
THEY'RE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO
THEIR TAXPAYERS.
AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER,
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
PROTESTING OVER 100 DAYS.
WHATEVER THEY MUST BE DEFUNDED
BY AT LEAST 50% AND
RELOCATED TO LOCATION -
[ INAUDIBLE ] LET ME SAY LIKE,
ON THE LABOR DAY PROTESTS,
THERE
WERE ELDERLY, CHILDREN,
DISABLED PEOPLE IN
WHEELCHAIRS.
THE POLICE NOT ONLY RESPONDED
WITH NO DISPERSAL
ORDERS, THEY STARTED TO PEPPER
SPRAY AND PUSH
PROTESTORS VIOLENTLY,
TAUNTINGLY WITH SMIRK CING
FACES
TO RAINIER AVENUE.
SPD HAVE NO INTEREST IN PUBLIC
SAFETY.
IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE UNION
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I HAVE KNOWN SPD HAS ILLEGALLY
OBTAINED PROTESTORS
INFORMATION AND THREATENED TO
ARREST THEM AND
BELONGINGS AS WELL.
NEXT SPEAKER DANIEL CLARK.
DANIEL CLARK PLEASE.
IF YOU'RE WITH US, THANK YOU?
MY NAME IS DANIEL CLARK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YES.
>> I'M A PROTESTOR.
I'VE BEEN PROTESTING SINCE DAY
ONE WITH THE POLICE.
AS A PROTESTOR, I THINK THAT
THE POLICE EVER HAVE
CONSTRICTING RULES NOT
EXPANDING AND RESTRICTING
BUDGET ALSO.
WE'VE SEEN AS PROTESTORS, WE'VE
SEEN PROTESTORS HAVE
BROKEN ARMS BY THE 40-
MILLIMETER SPONGE.
WE'VE SEEN PROTESTORS AFTER THE
FACT HOURS LATER
HAVE THEIR HEADS HIT ON THE
GROUND, GET CONCUSSIONS
AND BLEEDING AND STITCHES.
JUST RECENTLY, WE'VE HAD
PROTESTORS WITH PERMANENT
HEARING DAMAGE.
WE'VE HAD PROTESTORS KILLED
RECENTLY BY A SHERIFF.
ANOTHER PROTESTOR IN THE EARLY
ON.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SPD
IS ACTUALLY CORRUPT.
THEY HAVE BEEN DEPLOYING
TACTICS.
THEY'VE GOT THE FEDERAL
OVERSIGHT PERSON TO RESIGN.
SO IN RESIGNING IN STATING THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN USING
UNNECESSARY FORCE AND CREATED
BAD WILL WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
IN ORDER TO RESTORE COMMUNITY
FAITH IN CIVIL
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS, WE HAVE
CONTINUED TO RESTRICT
SPD USE OF FORCE.
ON LABOR DAY THEY PLAYED SAVE A
HORSE, RIDE A COWBOY
ON LOUD SPEAKERS ON A BOARDED
UP HEADQUARTERS FLYING
A BLUE LIVES MATTER FLAG AND
ATTACKED PROTESTORS
WHEN THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTED
VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENED
ON THE SMOG BUILDING.
INDISCRIMINATELY PUSHING THEM
BACK FOR MILES WITH.
THANK YOU DANIEL.
NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS
VALERIE.
>> HI.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SEATTLE
POLICING SINCE 2010.
THIS MORNING THEY'RE HEAR FROM
THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES, CPC, OAI
REGARDING THE LEAST
LETHAL METHODS OF CROWD
CONTROL.
HOWEVER THEY'LL STILL HAVE
PEPPER SPRAY, BIKES TO
USE AS WEAPONS, PHYSICAL
RESTRAINTS, LONG BATONS AND
GUNS WITH METAL BULLETS.
GIVEN THE STATE OF THE POLICING
TAKEN AWAY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO
MAKE RADICAL
TRANSPORTATIONS IN HOW WE
MANAGE POLICE SAFETY.
WITHOUT THE REALITY.
I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO
BEGIN THE PROCESS TODAY
OF REIMAGINING ACCOUNTABILITY
THAT IS TRANSPARENT
AND ANSWERABLE TO THE PEOPLE
WHO PAY FOR IT.
THAT IS US, THE PEOPLE, THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE.
WE NEED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF
POLICE ABUSING PEOPLE,
WHATEVER WEAPONS THEY USE AND
WHETHER THOSE PEOPLE
ARE ALONE OR IN A CROWD.
THANK YOU.
IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, I WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
JUST IN CASE THAT COMES BACK,
DOESN'T SOUND AS IF HE
WILL.
WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND MOVE INTO
THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THERE'S A REQUIREMENT IN THE
BILL ITSELF THAT
IDENTIFIED THE COUNCIL'S DESIRE
TO HEAR THE ADVICE
OF EACH CPC, COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
AND THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
UNDER THEIR AUTHORITY, UNDER
THE ACCOUNTABILITY
LEGISLATION, AND POLICY MAKING
IN THESE AREAS.
IN THIS INSTANCE WITH THIS
PARTICULAR BILL, WE ASKED
FOR THEIR ADVICE.
WE DID NOT SEEK IT IN ADVANCE
OF THE DATES THAT THE
LEGISLATION WAS TO GO TO
EFFECT.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZED IN THE
LEGISLATION THAT THE
FEDERAL COURT UNDER JUDGE ROBAR
HAD AUTHORITY TO
REVIEW THE LEGISLATION UNDER
THE CONSENT DECREE.
THERE'S A PARTICULAR PROCESS
FOR REVIEW OF
LEGISLATION.
WE HAVE ASKED THE COURTS TO DO
SO.
THE COURT AGREES THAT THEY HAVE
AUTHORITY FOR A
CONSENT DECREE REVIEW OF
LEGISLATION.
I'M ALSO AGREEING THAT THE
ISSUES COVERED BY THE
DECENT DECREE.
WITH OPENING REMARKS, UNLESS
ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COUNCIL HAVE OPENING
REMARKS THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE AS WELL, AND I
RECOGNIZE THE COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA JOINED US AS
WELL.
GREETINGS.
I'D LIKE TO HAND OVER TO OUR
FIRST PRESENTER, THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
I WANT TO TAKE A QUICK PAUSE TO
SEE WHETHER OR NOT
ANYBODY, ANY COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE OPENING REMARKS
THEY NEED TO MAKE.
THE COMMUNITY AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER ONE.
OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ON CROWD CONTROL
DISPERSAL POLICY AND LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> SO AGAIN, OUR FIRST
PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE
FROM THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
DIRECTOR GRANT, ARE YOU GOING
TO KICK US OFF?
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE
HERE TODAY TO
PRESENT.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE MY
POLICY DIRECTOR GO
THROUGH OUR PRESENTATION AND
PROVIDE ANY RESPONSES
TO QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DR. GRANT.
>> I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR
THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
THANK YOU TO OUR FEARLESS
LEADER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
I'LL BE GOING THROUGH OUR
PRESENTATION POWER POINT
THAT GOES OVER THE POINTS
RECOMMENDATIONS WE MADE
WITHIN OUR REPORT.
AFTER WORDS, I'LL LEAVE TIME
FOR QUESTIONS I BELIEVE
THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE
FOR US TO DO.
I'LL HAVE SOMEONE ADVANCE.
OKAY.
IS EVERYONE ABLE TO SEE THIS
PRESENTLY?
WE ARE NOT.
>> WE NEED THE ZOOM PAGE.
>> YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE
PRESENTATION AT ALL?
NOT.
>> OKAY.
LET ME TRY SOMETHING
DIFFERENTLY.
EVERYONE BARE WITH ME.
ALWAYS BEST TO START WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF A HICCUP.
>> RIGHT.
THERE'S NO PRESSURE.
>> AGAIN.
I'LL START.
JAMIE MORRIS, POLICY DIRECTOR
FOR THE POLICE
COMMISSION.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE MADE
ON CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS BAN.
OIG, OPA, CPC TO SUBMIT
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THESE SHOULD INCLUDE POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
LASTLY WEAPONS AND PURPOSE OF
CROWD DISPERSE AND
WILL ALSO IDENTIFICATION OF
THOSE CROWD DISPERSAL
AUTHORIZATION PROCESS.
THAT DOES REQUIRE EXECUTIVE
APPROVAL AND REFLECTS
BEST PRACTICES.
THAT'S TO MINIMIZE HARM TO
PROTESTORS FROM POLICE.
>> COUPLE ITEMS WE WANT TO AS A
COMMUNITY REFLECT
ON.
THERE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCES
THAT HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY
PRESENTED WITH THE MEDIAN BUT
ALSO EXPERIENCES WE
HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE DOZENS OF
INJURIES.
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS REPORTED.
MANY PROTESTORS WERE BURNED OR
MAIMED.
THAT WAS REPORTED BY SEATTLE
TIMES OR OTHER MEDIA
OUTLETS.
HIT JOURNALISTS REPORTED ON THE
PROTEST.
WE HAD VIDEO CAMERA FOOTAGE OF
THAT.
THE WE HAVE HAD SOME WITH
EFFECTS OF TEAR GAS WHILE
THEY WERE SLEEPING IN THEIR
HOMES.
>> PRIOR TO THIS REPORT WE
RELEASED AUGUST 14th.
THE CPC HAD RAISED THIS ISSUE
REGARDING SPD USE OF
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS
REPEATEDLY.
THIS REFLECTED BACK TO 2015-
2016 ASKING SPD TO
DISREGARD OR ELIMINATE THE USE
OF BLAST BALLS AND
TEAR GAS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
THERE WERE NINE IN TOTAL.
I'LL DO THIS QUICKLY.
WE CAN LEAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS
AT THE END.
>> OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS
CPC SUPPORTS THE BAN
ON USE OF CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS
AS IT PERTAINS TO
ACTIVITY.
SPD IMPLEMENTS IT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
RECOMMENDATION 2. SPD SHOULD
IMMEDIATELY REVISE WITH INPUT
ON THE
PARTNERS AND FEDERAL COURT,
CROWD CONTROL POLICIES
TRAININGS TO COMPLY WITH THE
CITY'S ELIMINATION OF
CROWD COVER WEAPONS.
OVER THE COMING MONTHS, POLICY
AND TRAININGS ALONG
WITH TACTICS SHOULD GO THROUGH.
WE CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, A
COMMUNITY CENTERED
REVIEW PROCESS.
THAT ALSO INCORPORATES INPUT
FROM THE FEDERAL COURT.
RECOMMENDATION THREE.
THE CITY SHOULD INSURE THE
CROWD CONTROL BAN ALLOWS
FOR USE OF SOME APPROPRIATE
LESS LETHAL OPTIONS WITH
STRONG POLICIES AND
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
OUTSIDE OF CROWD CONTROL.
RECOMMENDATION FOUR.
THE CPC RECOMMENDS THE CITY
WORK WITH CPC, OPA AND
IG TO SET CLEAR STRONG, HIGH
STANDARDS FOR WHEN
POLICE AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE
AUTHORIZED TO DECLARE
UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLIES, RIOTS AND
ABLE TO ESTABLISH
CURFEWS.
RECOMMENDATION FIVE.
CPC RECOMMENDS IN THE EVENT SPD
ISSUES ORDERS TO
DISPERSE OR THEY DECLARE A
RIOT.
AUTHORIZING OFFICERS SHOULD
THOROUGHLY DOCUMENT AN
AGENCY OUTSIDE AND SHOULD
REVIEW ANY AND ALL ACTIONS
TAKEN.
ADDITIONALLY WE STRONGLY URGE
THIS DOCUMENTATION AND
THE AUTHORIZING RAIN IS MADE
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE INCIDENT
EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY.
RECOMMENDATION 6. WE RECOMMEND
THE CITY PROHIBIT THE SALE OF
CROWD
CONTROL.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE BAN, WE DO
NOT FEEL THEY WOULD
BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME TO THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.
RECOMMENDATION 7. THE CPC
RECOMMENDS SPD INVESTIGATE AND
MAKE PUBLIC
THE FULL INVENTORY OF THE
DEPARTMENT'S CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPS
OF DISPOSAL SIMILAR
TO RECOMMENDATION 6. IF WE ARE
TO GET RID OF THESE AND NO
LONGER SORE AND
HOUSE THEM OR SELL THEM, THE
CITY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT
DOES SPD HAVE IN THEIR ARSENAL?
WHEN INFORMATION IS ON THE
TABLE, THAT WAY PEOPLE
ARE ABLE I BELIEVE TO MAKE THE
BEST DECISION ON HOW
TO DISPOSE OF WEAPONS.
>> A COMMUNITY CENTERED REVIEW
OF USE OF FORCE
POLICIES IN COLLABORATION WITH
KEY COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS.
CPC, SPD AND FEDERAL COURT.
OUST LAST RECOMMENDATION,
STRATEGIC PLANS IN
DISPARITIES.
THIS IS ALONG WITH ALL OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS ANOTHER
KEY ASPECT OF HIGHLIGHTING THE
WAY THAT SPD DEPLOYS
OFFICERS AND HOW OFFICERS SHOW
UP.
IE RIOT GEAR TO THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS VERSUS THE
OTHER 300 DEMONSTRATIONS ON
AVERAGE THAT HAPPENED IN
SEATTLE ON A BASIS.
SHOW ALL NINE RECOMMENDATIONS
COLLECTED ON ONE SLIDE
ALL TOGETHER.
NOW IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO YEAH, I THINK IT'S
APPROPRIATE FOR US TO MOVE
INTO QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT MY OFFICE DID
COLLECT SOME QUESTIONS
FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ADVANCE
OF THIS MEETING AND
SENT THOSE ON.
WE WILL -- WHAT I'LL DO IN
INTEREST OF HEARING
FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MAY
NOT HAVE SUBMITTED
QUESTIONS BUT ARE WITH US TODAY
PERHAPS WILL JUST
START THERE AND IF I DON'T HEAR
ANY QUESTIONS I'LL
MOVE OVER TO THE QUESTIONS I
KNOW WERE SUBMITTED ON
BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'LL OFFER THOSE.
DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE A
QUESTION FOR SHALENE
OR DIRECTOR GRANT?
I HAVE A QUESTION IF I CAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO THE OTHERS FROM
CPC 4 PULLING
TOGETHER THIS REPORT AND HAVING
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THE AVAILABLE TO US.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE IS THERE'S A COUPLE
REFERENCES ARE TO A
COMMUNITY CENTERED PROCESS.
I WAS HOPING YOU'D BE ABLE TO
SPEAK A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FROM
CPC'S PERSPECTIVE.
THERE'S REFERENCES TO
RECOMMENDATION THREE WHERE THE
CITY GENERALLY AND I THINK
THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE
WHERE IT JUST REFERENCES THE
CITY GENERALLY.
SO I'D LIKE TO GET A LITTLE
MORE CLARITY AROUND WHO
CPC DEFINES AS BEING THE CITY
IN THE CONTEXT OF
RECOMMENDATION THREE AND FOUR
IN ORDER FOR US TO GET
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO
THE CPC BELIEVES
SHOULD BE LEADING THAT WORK OR
TRIGGERING THAT WORK
INTO ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
IN OTHER WORDS, DOES SPD HAVE
TO LEAVE THIS WORK?
IS THIS RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
MAYOR TO INITIATE THE
WORK ? RESPONSIBILITY IS IT
WHEN RECOMMENDATIONS
REFER TO THE CITY GENERALLY AS
OPPOSED TO SPECIFIC
AGENCY?
THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS
THERE'S ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGEST THAT
THERE SHOULD BE AN
INDEPENDENT AGENCY FOR EVALUATE.
IS THERE THOUGHTS ON WHO THE
INDEPENDENT AGENCY
SHOULD BE?
I APPRECIATE THOSE QUESTIONS.
IF I MAY AND I ALSO WANT TO
GIVE DIRECTOR GRANT IF
SHE WANTS TO CHIME IN.
YOUR FIRST AND SECOND QUESTION
REALLY GO HAND IN
HAND QUITE WELL.
I'LL SAY IT THIS WAY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRIGGERING A
RESPONSE OR LEADING
THE WORK, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT
ENDS UP HAPPENING IS
IT COMES FROM AN AGENCY LEVEL
FIRST.
THAT CPC, I'M SURE OUR DIRECTOR
WITH THE SAME THING,
THE TRIGGERING EVENTS ALREADY
HAPPENED.
WE'RE ALREADY IN IT.
COMMUNITY CENTER ALONG WITH THE
COMMUNITY IS ALREADY
DRIVING THE WORK.
THE COMMUNITY IS SCREAMING AND
SHOUTING AT US.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE
TABLE.
NOT JUST A SILENT PARTNER AT
THE TABLE WHERE WE SEE
THEM THROWING A CHAIR.
WE IMPLEMENT THE ACTIONS
THEY'RE TELLING US TO TAKE.
THE TRICKY WHO DRIVES AND WHO
LEADS.
WE WOULD LOVE THAT ON THE
AGENCY LEVEL TO BE A
COLLECTIVE ACTION WHICH IS WHY
WE TALK ABOUT THE
CITY.
THE CITY SHOULD INCLUDE SPD,
COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE BODY, ONE
AGENCY THAT NEEDS TO
DRIVE THIS WORK.
>>> IT IS THE CITY, INCLUDING
THE CPC AND
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS THAT
WORK IN CONJUNCTION
WITH EACH OTHER.
WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY CENTERED,
THAT MEANS THE
COMMUNITY IS AT THE CENTER OF
THE DECISION MAKING.
THEY ARE AT THE CENTER OF
DRIVING THE DISCUSSION,
DRIVING THE CONVERSATION,
LETTING US KNOW HEY, THESE
ARE THE ISSUES WE WANT YOU TO
TACKLE.
WE HEARD IN THE PUBLIC
STATEMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT
EARLIER.
WHAT PEOPLE FOCUS ON, WHAT THEY
FEAR FROM SPD, WHAT
THEY WANT FROM US.
WE LISTEN.
AT THE CPC, WE HAVE DONE A GOOD
JOB OF LISTENING.
NOW WE PUT THAT LANGUAGE IN
THERE AS CENTERED AS
THEY SHOULD BE WITH EVERY
PROCESS, EVERY STEP WE
TAKE TO POLICE REFORM AND
OVERHAUL EVERY TIME.
WE SAY THE CITY, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT EVERY CITY
AGENCY THAT HAS A HAND IN THIS
WAY AS WE SHOULD
ALONG SIDE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
YOUR FIRST TWO QUESTIONS REALLY
O HAND IN HAND.
AS FAR AS THE THIRD QUESTION,
INDEPENDENT AGENCY.
AGAIN, I'LL HAVE TO REFER TO
THE FIRST AND SECOND
QUESTION.
I'LL HAVE UNDERSTANDING,
EXPERTISE.
WE'RE HERE TO ADVISE THE
COMMITTEE TO LISTEN HERE'S
WHAT WE THINK.
HAVE ALL OF IT, HAVE A
TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
LET THEM TELL US.
HERE'S WHAT WE WANT AS FAR AS
AGENCY AND PROCESS.
INCLUDING THAT INDEPENDENT
AGENCY THAT YOU'RE
SPEAKING OF.
I THINK COLLABORATION COULD
LOOK DIFFERENT IN THESE
DAYS.
COMMUNITY CENTERED IN ALL THESE
QUESTIONS, LET THEM
DECIDE.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
ARE THERE RAISED HANDS?
ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
I APPRECIATE PRESENTATION
PREPARED FOR TODAY AND THE
ONGOING WORK.
I JUST -- FIRST OF ALL, I
COULD NOT AGREE MORE
THAT WE HAVE TO -- AS AN
ELECTED BODY, THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS OBLIGATION, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS OBLIGATION TO
LISTEN TO VOICES IN
THE COMMUNITY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN JUST OFFERING
THEM SPACE WHERE THEY
CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THE POLICE
VIOLENCE IS AFFECTING
THEM.
ACTUALLY ACTING ON THEM.
YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT
HAVE SHOWN SUCH COURAGE, I'M SO
PROUD OF THE BILL
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PASS.
THE BAN ON CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS ARE SO CALLED CROWD
CONTROL WEAPONS ITSELF WAS A
RESULT OF MY OFFICE
LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
IT WAS I BELIEVE PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY OR ALMOST
UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CITY
COUNCIL.
I CAN'T RECALL EXACTLY.
I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY
COUNCIL STOOD
STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.
IN MY VIEW, THAT IS A POSITIVE
APPROACH THAT CAN BE
TAKEN BY ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES.
IN YOUR REPORT, YOU SAY YOU'D
LIKE THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION IS REQUESTING
THE OFFICE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, OFFICE
INSPECTOR GENERAL AND CPC
THEMSELVES MADE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT SUGGEST POLICY
REVISIONS SPD MANUEL FOR USE OF
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS
FOR PURPOSE OF CROWD DISPERSAL.
I'M ASKING TO CLARIFY BECAUSE
YOU HAVEN'T SAID THAT
EXCLUSIVELY.
DO YOU MEAN IN WHICH WHAT IS
WHAT I WOULD FAVOR OF
COURSE.
DO YOU MEAN REVISIONS IN THE
POLICY MANUEL SHOULD BE
MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
ORDNANCE PASSED?
DO YOU MEAN JUST IN GENERAL?
THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF
THAT ORDINANCE IS TO
SERIOUSLY ADDRESS, NOT JUST
TALK ABOUT IT AND MAKE
MINIMAL CHANGES.
SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE
THAT WAS BEING
DIRECTED AT PROTESTORS.
I APPRECIATE IT IN CLOSING OUT.
I'LL ALSO SAY I REALLY LIKE
YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU FIRST STARTED NOTING THE
HARM DONE BY POLICE
VIOLENCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS WHY I NEVER SAY CROWD
CONTROL.
I SAY THE WHOLE PREMISE IS
MISTAKEN OR DISHONEST.
POLICE SAY WE HAD TO DEPLOY
BECAUSE WE WERE FACING
SITUATIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE
CONTROLLED.
THAT IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
SITUATIONS IS WHEN THEY ARE
INSTIGATING THE VIOLENC
AGAINST A PEACEFUL PROTEST
MOVEMENT.
THAT'S NOT JUST ME SAYING IT.
THOUSANDS WILL ATTEST TO THAT
BASED ON THEIR OWN
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> IN REVISION OF USE OF FORCE
POLICIES, THE
REVISION OF POLICIES IT SHOULD
ALWAYS FALL IN LINE
WITH ORDNANCES AND LEGISLATION
THAT HAS BEEN PASSED.
AS WE HAVE SEEN AND AS YOU HAVE
NOTED AND AS WE
úNOTED IN OUR PRESENTATION,
THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY
DIFFERENT, VIOLENT IN THE LAST
FEW NOES IN SEAT AND
NATIONWIDE.
LOCAL TO SEATTLE, VERY MUCH SO
AND FELT BY NERVE
SEATTLE AND SURROUNDING SEATTLE
AREA.
SO WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING IS ALSO
A DEEP DIVE, AN
OVERHAUL WITH PARTNERS AND
COMMUNITY CENTER AGAIN AT
THE TABLE.
REALLY LOOKING AT POLICIES AND
NOT JUST FROM AN
IVORY TOWER ACADEMIC STANCE OF
HERE WE PULLED FACTS
AND FIGURES AND WHAT WE THINK.
WE HAVE STATEMENTS FROM PEOPLE
ON HOW THE OPERATION
OF THOSE POLICIES HAVE FAILED
TEM.
SO WHAT YOUR SAY AS GOOD
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
LET'S TAKE THAT DIVE AND LOOK
THROUGH THE NEWER EYES
OF WHAT'S TRANSPIREDED IN THE
PAST FEW MONTHS SO YES
TO BOTH.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
YOUR HAND WAS UP BEFORE.
I'M ON MUTE.
I'M GOING TO WAIT.
I WANT TO HEAR ALL THE
PRESENTATIONS.
I WANT TO LIFT UP SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ONE QUESTION SHOWS THE OPA
REPORTS SITES THE NOISE
OR OTHERS KNOWN AS FLASH BANGS
MORE POWERFUL THAN
FLASH BALLS.
THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY SHOULD
BE USED.
JUST WONDERING, THE POSITION ON
FLASH BANGS VERSUS
BLAST BALLS AND JUST WANTING
MORE UNDERSTANDING
ABOUT THAT GIVEN THE PERCEPTION
THAT THE FLASH BANGS
ARE MORE POWERFUL.
WHETHER WE SHOULD CHANGE THE
TITLE OF THE ORDNANCE
ITSELF.
THE TITLE IS CROWD CONTROL
WEAPONS AND AS WE HAVE
HEARD FROM ALL THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY BODIES AS WELL
AS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, THESE
WEAPONS ARE USED IN
MULTIPLE CONTEXTS NOT ONLY
CROWD CONTROL.
IF WE'RE GOING TO REGULATE
THESE WEAPONS, I BELIEVE
WE MIGHT NEED TO CONSIDER
WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A
TITLE THAT BROADLY EXPLAINS
THAT WE ARE REGULATING
THOSE WAPONS BROADLY NOT JUST
IN ONE PARTICULAR
USE.
THE THIRD QUESTION THAT WAS
SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
POLICY OF DECLARING
UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLIES WHEN THE
COMMANDER CEASE THAT
THERE ARE ACTS OR CONDUCT IN
THE GROUP OF FOUR MORE
PERSONS OF SUBSTANTIAL RISK
CAUSING INJURY TO ANY
PERSON OR HARM TO PROPERTY.
WHAT ELEMENTS DOES THE CPC
THINK SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED WHEN DETERMINING
UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
QUESTIONS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
LET ME WORK IN A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT ORDER.
I'D LIKE TO GO QUESTION TWO,
ONE, THREE IN THAT
PARTICULAR ORDER.
SO THE QUESTION ABOUT DO WE
BELIEVE THAT THE TITLE
SHOULD BE CHANGED TO ONE THAT
REGULATES WEAPONS OF
LESS LETHAL FORCE.
JUST TO START OFF.
THE NAMING OF THIS ORDINANCE IS
UP TO YOUR
DISCRETION AS COUNCIL.
OUR STANCE IS THAT SOME
APPROPRIATE AND HEAVILY
REGULATED LESS LETHAL OPTIONS
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO
OFFICERS OUTSIDE PROTESTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS SUCH AS
PATROL OPERATIONS AND EXTREME
SITUATIONS AND HOSTAGE
SITUATIONS AS WELL.
FURTHER MORE, THOSE WEAPONS
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO
LESSEN THE OVER ALL AMOUNT OF
FORCE THAT OFFICERS
MUST USE WHEN FACING THOSE KIND
OF INCIDENTS.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST PART.
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FLASH
BANGS VERSUS BLAST
BALLS AND WHAT TOOLS WOULD WE
RECOMMEND AS A
COMMISSION FOR SPD TO USE FOR
LESS LETHAL OPTIONS IN
CONTROL OPERATIONS.
UNDER POLICY, IT'S 8.200.
THAT DESCRIBES THE USE OF FORCE
TOOLS.
IT'S CLEAR THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR
SPD HAVING BLAST
BALLS IN THEIR ARSENAL IS USE
THEM IN CROWD CONTROL
SITUATIONS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE DANGEROUS
RESULTS OF BLAST BALLS
INCLUDING NEAR DEATH OF A
PROTESTOR STRUCK BY ONE IN
THE CHEST.
THAT'S WHY WE CALLED FOR THEIR
BAN.
FLASH BANGS ON THE OTHER HAND
ARE NOT MENTIONED IN
ANY CROWD CONTROL OR DEPARTMENT
WIDE POLICY.
THEY'RE PART OF SWAT AND
GENERALLY NOT USED DURING
PROTESTS.
CPD HAVE NOT REVIEWED THEIR USE
IF THAT'S SOMETHING
YOU'RE REQUESTING.
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE NOT REVIEWED.
CPC FULLY SUPPORTS THE
COUNCIL'S BAN ON LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS, USED FOR PURPOSE OF
CROWD CONTROL OR
PROTEST INVESTIGATION.
HOWEVER, LIKE I SAID EARLIER,
WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE
OUTSIDE A PROTEST, FOR EXAMPLE,
DURING PATROL
OPERATIONS, LESS LETHAL OPTIONS
SUCH AS TASERS,
PEPPER SPRAY, SOME VERY
EXTRAORDINARY EXTREME
MEASURES 40-MILLIMETER LAWN
CHAIRS MAY BE NECESSARY.
THE KEY PART HERE IS THAT AS
LONG AS SPD HAS STRONG
POLICIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES IN PLACE,
SEATTLE HAS SEEN SITUATIONS IN
THE PAST WHERE AN
OFFICER DOES NOT BRING THEIR
MANDATED LESS LETHAL
DEVICE AND IT HAD DEADLY
RESULTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO HAVE
STRONG POLICIES AND
STRONG MECHANISMS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE USED.
THAT THE BEING SAID, SPD SHOULD
ELIMINATE TEAR GAS
AND BLAST BALLS IN LINE WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS GOING
BACK SEVERAL YEARS.
THEY'RE INDISCRIMINATE WEAPONS.
TEAR GAS IS BANNED IN WAR.
BLAST BALLS CAN BE DEADLY.
SPECIFICATIONLY USED DURING
PROEST THES.
FOR THE LAST QUESTION IF I I'M
ABLE.
TALKING ABOUT WHAT ELEMENT DOSS
S DO CPC SHE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED?
TO CPC, IT'S CLEAR FROM A
CURSORY READ THAT THE FOUR
OR MORE PERSON STANDARD IS FAR
TOO WELL.
EFFECTIVELY ENABLES POLICE TO
DECLARE
CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED
RIGHTS NO LONGER EXIST IF
ONE PERSON IN A CROWD OF
THOUSANDS DOES SOMETHING
WRONG.
THAT STANDARD IS WAY TOO LOW.
IN OUR REPORT, THE CPC
RECOMMENDS THE COUNCIL, CPC,
OIG AND OTHERS COME TOGETHER TO
SET CLEAR, STRONG,
HIGH STANDARDS FOR WHEN POLICE
AND OFFICIALS ARE
ABLE TO DECLARE UNLAWFUL
ASSEMBLIES, RIOTS,
INSTITUTE CURFEWS.
WE WANT THAT TO BE A
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO SET
THOSE STANDARDS.
WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THERE
NEEDS TO BE A PRESSING
REASON LIKELY INVOLVING THE
PRESERVATION OF LIFE.
IT NEEDS TO BE POSSIBLE TO
COMPLY WITH THAT ORDER.
AS WE SAW IN THE EARLY DAYS OF
THE PROTEST, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE INSTITUTED A
CURFEW THAT GAVE PEOPLE
MINUTES TO COMPLY.
EFFECTIVELY, TURNING MANY
PEACEFUL PROTESTORS ON THE
STREETS INTO CRIMINALS.
THEN THAT CURFEW WAS LEFT IN
PLACE FOR DAYS LONG
AFTERANY CLAIMS OF VIOLENCE
COULD BE MADE VOIDING
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THE
MASS MOVEMENT.
THE PREVIOUSLY INSTITUTED
CURFEW NOT ONLY INFRINGED
ON ABOUT FOR PROTEST S TO
ASSEMBLE, IT EXACERBATED
PROTESTORS. WE NODE DO A BETTER
JOB IN POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA,
PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TOO
PARTICIPATE KNOWING
I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THIS
COMMITTEE BUT APPRECIATE
THE OPTION TO WEIGH IN AFTER
OTHERS HAVE COMMENTED.
REALLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE
FOR A MINUTE TO HEAR
THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
I HAVE TWO QUESTION.
THE FIRST IS CLARIFICATION ON
THE LAST RESPONSE YOU
GAVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
YOU SAID THE STRONG
RECOMMENDATIONS REMAINS.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ALL OF
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
HERE, YOU'RE UNEQUIVOCALLY
SAYING WE SHOULD
ELIMINATE TEAR GAS AND BLAST
BALLS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE
RECOMMENDED IN THE PAST AND
STAND BY.
YES.
>> OKAY.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AS WE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS
OF CONTINUING TO PULL
INDIVIDUALS TOGETHER, PULLING
TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF
ORGANIZATIONS AND BRINGING IN
MORE INDIVIDUALS INTO
THE CONVERSATION, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO
HEAR AND LIFT UP THAT
RECOMMENDATION THAT
IMMEDIATELY WE SHOULD BE
ELIMINATING THE USE OF TEAR
GAS AND BLAST BALLS.
IT'S CAUSING PHYSICAL HARM TO
PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN
BANNED IN WAR AND
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC.
TEAR GAS IS DEPLOYED.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION YOU
MADE IN THE PAST THAT YOU'RE
MAKING AGAIN.
RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF FOUR
IN TERMS OF A QUOTE
RIOT IS DECLARED.
I'M CONCERNED AS THE SEATTLE
TIMES IS REPORTED FOUR
DAYS AGO THAT THE TERM RIOT
CONTINUES TO BE USED.
RIOTS ARE USED AS JUSTIFICATION
TO DEPLOY TEAR GAS
AND BLAST BALLS CONTINUOUSLY.
DO YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATION FOR
WHEN NOT ONLY ALL OF
THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU
LISTED ON THE SLIDE
SHOULD BE DEPLOYED BUT
RECOMMENDATION SPECIFIC TO
ENDING THE USE OF DECLARED
RIOTS UNTIL WE CAN GET
THAT AGREED UPON TERM.
WHAT ISN'T AGREED UPON IS
MISCHIEF INCLUDING FIRES
AND BROKEN WINDOWS.
YOU MENTIONED EXTREME US
SITUATIONS LIKE HOSTAGES.
I UNDERSTAND SOME WEAPONS MAY
BE NECESSARY.
TALKING ABOUT CROWD CONTROL AND
THE TERM RIOT BEING
USED ON A FREE BASIS, DO YOU
HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS
THE, FOR WHAT 20 DO IN THE
INTERIM AND HOW FAST WE
SHOULD STOP THE USE OF TEAR GAS
AND BLAST BALLS?
I'M GOING TO ANSWER A LITTLE
BIT AND CONFER WITH
COCHAIRS.
SOME WE DISCUSSED.
ALSO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET
THIS RIGHT AND WE'RE
HAPPY TO RESPOND PUBLICLY.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USE
OF LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS AND SAYING SOME CAN BE
USED, THAT IS
DISTRICTLY OUTSIDE OF
DEMONSTRATIONS, PROTECTIVE
BEHAVIOR IN PATROL OPERATIONS.
WE SAY OFFICERS MIGHT NEED SOME
AT THEIR DISPOSAL SO
THEY'RE NOT LEFT WITH A
FIREARM.
THE I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
AS FAR AS TIMING, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE USE OF
TEAR GAS AND BLAST BALLS.
WHEN WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION
IN 2016-2017 THAT
WAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
WE SAID RIGHT NOW, EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY.
THOSE ARE HARMFUL AND
DANGEROUS.
WITH TEAR GAS, WE'RE IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC
THAT'S LARGELY RESPIRATORY.
THAT USE IS COMPLETELY
INAPPROPRIATE.
LOVING FORWARD ON THE INTERIM
THAT TIMING IS ONE OF
THOSE THINGS THAT IF WE WERE TO
HAVE TO GIVE A TIME
FRAME, THAT IS SOMETHING I'D
LOVE TO COME FROM OUR
COCHAIRS OR DIRECTOR.
WHAT I WILL SAY AND WHAT WE
HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY
OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THAT
WEAPONS DURING A
CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED
BEHAVIOR OR ASSEMBLY
DEMONSTRATION PROTEST, WHATEVER
LANGUAGE YOU'D LIKE
TO USE, ALL OF THIS IS THE
SAME.
THESE ARE OUR RIGHTS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE.
UNLESS THERE'S THE THREAT OF
IMMINENT HARM TO
PERSONS, THEN THEY SHOULD NOT
BE USED.
THIS IS FAR TOO LOW.
WE'VE SEEN OUR PROTEST.
THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE.
HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DISEARN.
WE HAVE COUNTED AND POLICE
OFFICERS THAT SHOW UP.
WE MET THE BAR OF FOUR PEOPLE.
THEY'RE CAUSING WHAT WE
CONSIDER MAYHAM.
NOW WE ARE USING TEAR GAS,
BLAST BALLS, LAUNCHERS.
THE OFFICERS ARE SKIDDING BIKES
INTO PROTESTORS AS
WE SAW MONDAY.
THESE VIOLENT ACTS OF BEHAVIOR
ERODE COMMUNITY
TRUST.
IS THERE COMMUNITY TRUST.
AS FAR AS TIMING, IT SHOULD BE
TODAY.
CPC IS HERE AND READY WANTING
TO LIFT UP THE
COMMUNITY.
HERE'S THE COMMUNITY.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP WITH
CONVERSATIONS.
LET THEM SPEAK AND RESPOND TO
THEM.
THE TIME IS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK GIVING THE TIME FRAME
OF TWO OR FOUR DAYS,
SIX WEEKS, I THINK TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT SEEM
ARBITRARY.
I CAN REFER TO THE WHOLE.
I'M HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I WANTED TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL
CLEAR THAT IN YOUR
OPINION, TEAR GAS AND BLAST
BALLS SHOULD BE BANNED
PERIOD.
APPRECIATE THE EVIDENCE CITED
AND WHY THEY SHOULD BE
SO DEADLY.
YOU TOUCHED A VERY IMPORTANT
POINT THAT WE RECOGNIZE
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN FACT
WANT THE POLICE.
THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THEY
HAVEN'T USED HAVEN'T
DONE THIS WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT
TO SAY WHICH IS WHEN
THEY ARE CARRYING OUT PAROLE
OPERATIONS, WE WANT
THEM TO PRIORITIZE LIFE AND
MAKE SURE THEY'RE
WARRANTING THE USE OF SOME SORT
OF FORCE.
SO IN THAT SENSE, WE WANT THE
CITY'S POLICIES AND MY
OFFICE ABSOLUTELY WANT THE
POLICIES TO BE DETERMINED
IN SUCH A WAY IT ACTUALLY MAKES
REASONABLE AND WHEN
MAYOR DURKAN AND OTHER
POLITICIANS AROUND THE NATION
MAKE THIS -- THEY MAKE IT
SEEM LIKE YOU CAN'T
ACHIEVE BOTH.
THEY MAKE SURE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS AT DISPOSAL
AND INSISTS ON USING AND HAS
POLICY MANUEL THAT
DICTATE THIS IS POLICY OF USING
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS
WHEN THIS FORCE IS CALLED FOR.
THERE'S A WHOLE THING TO BE
DISCUSSED THERE AS WELL.
I WON'T GET INTO THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THAT OUR
DEMOCRACIES AND CITIES
SHOULD ALLOW THE
CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTESTED
RIGHT TO
PROTEST, GATHER ON THE STREETS,
ALL OF THAT TO BE
ENABLED AS WELL.
I WANT TO NOTE IN THAT CONTEXT
THAT IS WHY HUNDREDS
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS PUSHED
BACK AGAINST AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE
RATHER THAN GRATIFYING
ISSUES, ACTUALLY MAKE -- WE
DON'T WANT THE POLICY
TO BE CRAFTED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IS VERY OPEN TO
QUESTION.
THE POLICE CAN SAY I FELT OR
NEEDED TO DO THIS.
I WASN'T AGAINST THE
CONSTITUTION OF PROTECTIVE
RIGHTS.
WE ARE TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR
ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND
POLICY SHOULD BE DETERMINED IN
SUCH A WAY THAT FOR
THE MOST PART, IT IS IRONCLAD.
THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE ARE
PROTECTED AND AT THE SAME
TIME, WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY
ABOUT TO ACTUALLY MAKE
SURE THAT LIFE IS NOT LOST BUT
SITUATIONS ARE
BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL.
THE CASES IN WHICH THE POLICE
SAY THAT, THERE'S
NOTHING TO BE BROUGHT UNDER
CONTROL.
MY EXPERIENCE HAS ALMOST ALWAYS
BEEN THE MAY HAM WAS
STARTED BY THE POLICE NOT THAT
THEY WERE RESPONDING
TO SOME HAYHAM OR RIOTS.
I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.
NOTING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
FUTURE POLICY MAKING
AND HOW THIS SHOULD BE
IMPLEMENTED GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
LET'S TURN OVER TO DIRECTOR
MIREBURG IF WE COULD.
>> I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHARE MY
SCREEN.
.
>> IS THAT WORKING FOR
EVERYONE?
YES.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
I APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY GETTING
THE TIME TO PRESENT
ON THIS REPORT TO COUNCIL AND
BEING ALLOWED TO BE
PART OF THE PROCESS AND
REDEVELOPING THIS POLICY.
AS YOU'VE SEEN FROM THE CP CPC
PRESENTATION, THERE'S
PRESENTATION ON WHETHER LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS SHOULD
BE UTILIZED.
WHERE WE CAN JOIN IS THAT
WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING
úRIGHT NOW IS NOT WORKING AND
THERE HAS TO BE CHANGES
WITH POLICIES.
I THINK WE'RE WILLING LIKE THE
CDC SAID TO
PARTICIPATE IN MOVING THAT
FORWARD.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND MUCH
TIME ON THE
BACKGROUND BECAUSE IT WAS
PRETTY WELL COVERED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THIS
PROCESS.
DURING THE ANALYSIS OF THESE
ISSUES AND RESPONSE TO
THE COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WE
INTERVIEWED THOSE INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS, PEOPLE AT SPC.
WE TALKED TO OPA STAFF ABOUT
WHAT THEY WERE SEEING
IN THE INVESTIGATION THEY WERE
SEEING.
WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY TRENDS
WE WERE SEEING IN
CASES.
WE LOOKED AT STUDIES ON THE USE
OF IMPACT WEAPONS,
THE VARIOUS POLICIES, SWAT
MANUEL, INTERNET ACTION
PLANS CREATED FOR THE EARLY
DAYS OF THE PROTESTS.
WE LOOKED AT USE OF FORCE DATA
GENERATED BY OFFICERS
IN RESPONSE TO PROTESTS AS WELL
AS BOTH COMMUNITY
MEMBER AND BODY WORN VIDEO THAT
SHOWED WHAT WAS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUNDS.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT PAST USES OF
FORCE AND NOW
NONCROWD CONTROL CONTENT TO
INFORM OUR DECISION ON
WHETHER THESE THINGS SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR
CONTROL OPERATIONS.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR
RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT
ALL LESS LETHAL TOOLS BE
THORACICKED FOR NONCROWD
CONTROL SITUATIONS.
WHAT I MEAN IS EITHER PATROL OR
SWAT OPERATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WITHIN
THE FIRST
RECOMMENDATION THAT FOR TEAR
GAS, WE ARE NOT SAYING
IT SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
PATROL IN OUR MIND.
PATROLS SHOULD NEVER BE USING
CS GAS.
THE TIMES THE IT IS USED SHOULD
BE INCREDIBLY
LIMITED.
THERE ARE TIMES THAT SWAT MAY
USE CS GAS.
THAT IS USED IN A VERY TARGETED
MANNER OFTEN FOR
BARRICADED SUBJECTS AND ALSO
FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF
AVOIDING THE NEEDS TO USE A
HIGHER LEVEL OF DEADLY
FORCE.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
WHAT WE'RE NOT SAYING IS CS GAS
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE
TO PATROL.
IT SHOULD NEVER BE AVAILABLE.
THE SECOND POINT WAS
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF NEW
RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN OUR
MEMO OF LESS LETHAL
TOOLS EXCEPT FOR CROWD CONTROL
SITUATIONS.
WITHIN THAT, WE CAME UP WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THESE ARE FAIRLY PRELIMINARY.
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE COMING UP
AS WE SEE THEM.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH CASES AND
CONTINUALLY EVALUATING
WHAT WENT RIGHT AND WRONGS TO
BUILD ON
RECOMMENDATIONS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF WE DO
REAUTHORIZE THESE TOOLS
AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE BE UP TO
THE COUNCIL.
IT WOULD BE TO PREVENT OFFICERS
FROM USING LESS
LETHAL TOOLS.
THAT GOES TO THE POINT FOR
TOOLS TO BE USED, THERE
NEEDS TO BE AN IMMINENT THREAT
OF HARM TO PERSONS.
THERE'S THE COST OF BREAKING OF
WINDOWS AND
OBSTRUCTION TO PROPERTY.
WHEN YOU BALANCE RISK OF HARM
FROM LESS LETHAL
TOOLS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOCUS
ON HARM TO PEOPLE
BEFORE THEY'RE UTILIZED.
ONE GAP WE SAW PRELIMINARILY,
PLANS GENERATED BY
COMMANDERS WERE NOT
PARTICULARLY DETAILED.
WE THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.
IT PREVENTS HAVING OFFICERS
HAVING GUIDANCE TO KNOW
WHEN THEY SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T
BE USING TOOLS.
WE WOULD URGE THE DEPARTMENT TO
CREATE MORE DETAILED
PLANNING.
THAT PLANNING WOULD BE
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
THROUGH PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND
HOPEFULLY VOLTAIRE
DISCLOSURE BY THE DEPARTMENT.
>> WE ALSO SAW THESE PROTESTS
WERE DIFFERENT THAN
OTHER PROTESTS SO FAR AS THEY
WERE FOCUSED TOWARDS
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REAL ANGER
TOWARDS LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THAT SPD
NEEDS TO CONSIDER
WHETHER THIS IS THE CASE
MINIMIZING THEIR PRESENCE
AND INTERACTION WITH
PROTESTORS.
THAT MAY MEAN STAYING TO THE
SIDE.
IT MAY MEAN NOT BEING FRONT AND
CENTER IN PROTESTS.
JUST BEING THERE MAY EXACERBATE
THE PROCESS.
ANOTHER THING WE'VE SEEN THE
LACK OF COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS, POLICE
AND VICE VERSA.
WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS TO
HAVE MORE ROBUST
COMMUNICATION, PORTABLE ADDRESS
SYSTEM TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE
CROWDS.
I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY UNFAIR
TO EXPECT THAT IF YOU
HAVE A CROWD OF 2000 THAT
EVERYONE IN THAT CROWD MAY
HEAR IN ORDER TO DISPERSE.
INSURING THAT IS DONE
EFFECTIVELY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO
HEAR THE ORDER AND LEAVE.
WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING, THIS IS
NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON.
SPD WORKING WITH EXPERTS AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS IS
EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY TO
ALLOW THEM TO ARREST
PEOPLE WITHIN CROWDS WHO ENGAGE
IN CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SAW WITH
SOME OF THE EARLY
DAYS FOR THE PROTESTS WHERE YOU
HAVE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AND PERHAPS 25 TO 30
PEOPLE IN THOSE CROWDS
ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
THE RESULT WAS DISPERSE THE
CROWD INSTEAD OF
EXTRACTING THE CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY.
THIS IS DIFFICULT.
I DON'T KNOW OF DEPARTMENT THAT
KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS
OR DONE THIS IN A GOOD WAY.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO THINK
OUTSIDE THE BOX AND
EXPLORE TACTICS THAT ALLOW.
AGAIN TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE
PEACEFUL TO DEMONSTRATE AND
OBSERVE THEIR PERSON
RIGHTS.
WILL THE LAST POINT WAS
EXECUTIVE APPROVAL PROCESS.
WE DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD
IDEA FOR A COUPLE
REASONS.
FIRST, IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER
WHAT WAS ASKED FOR BY
THE COUNCIL WAS A PROCESS THAT
THE MAYOR WOULD
APPROVE THE LESS LETHAL TOOLS
OR WHAT THE COMMAND
APPROVAL WAS.
IF IT'S THE MAYOR, WE DON'T
THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA
TO HAVE A POLITICAL ENTITY TO
MAKE DECISIONS AS TO
WHEN LESS LETHAL TOOLS ARE YOU
USED USED.
THEY MAY REQUIRE EXPERTISE OR
KNOWLEDGE NOT
AVAILABLE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.
WE THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA.
WE THINK THERE COULD BE
CONFLICTS WITH THE CITY
CHART THEIR HAVE TO BE FIXED
BEFORE THAT COULD BE
DONE.
THAT'S OUR PRESENTATION IN A
NUTSHELL.
I'M HAPPEN BY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS INCLUDING
QUESTIONS POSED TO US EARLIER
BY THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S START LIKE WE DID WITH
THE LAST PRESENTATION
WITH INVITING QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT
ARE PRESENT.
AFTER THAT, I'LL REFER TO THE
QUESTIONS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE.
LOOKING FOR RAISED HANDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
I GUESS I'M NOT SURPRISED BY
WHAT THE DIRECTOR SAID.
IT'S NOT NEW WHAT WE'VE HEARD
BUT I STILL FIND IT
STUNNING AND ALARMING AT THE
SAME TIME.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD NOTE THIS
PRESENTATION BY
DIRECTOR MARBURG DID NOT START
WITH THE IMPORTANT
POINT, THE PREMISE THAT A LOT
OF HARM HAS BEEN DONE
TO PEACEFUL PROTESTORS
INCLUDING ALL THE WAY UP
UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO.
THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THAT
WHATSOEVER.
MY MAIN POINT HERE WOULD BE THE
OFFICE OF PERSONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY MANDATE TO
EVALUATE POLICE
MISCONDUCT.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW IS IT THAT
OPS ACTUALLY DONE
THEIR JOB BEFORE THEY START
ADVOCATING FOR COPS TO
HAVE MORE WEAPONS.
HOW MANY OFFICERS HAS THE OPA
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THE VIOLENCE AND LIES AGAINST
THE PROTESTOR THAT
RESULTED IN 18,000 COMPLAINTS?
WHAT DID OPA DO ABOUT THE
OFFICER WHO MACED A 17
YEAR-OLD IN THE FACE.
YOU'RE HOLDING FOR OFFICERS TO
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HOLD
OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
18,000 COMPLAINTS?
HOW IS IT THAT NOT HAVING DONE
ANY OF THAT WORK, YOU
ARE BASICALLY SAYING THAT ANY
KIND OF RESTRICTIONS
ON THE POLICE DESPITE THIS
MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE,
EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM THEM IS
PROBLEMATIC.
YOU'RE ALSO RAISING -- YOUR
SAYING I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THIS MEANS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO IMPLEMENT.
I DON'T TAKE THIS AT FACE
VALUE.
IT'S PROBLEMATIC AND REALLY
DEEPLY TROUBLING DEVIN
WHERE WE ARE.
THIS IS NOT TEN YEARS AGO.
THIS IS TODAY AFTER EVERYTHING
THAT'S HAPPENED.
I WOULD LIKE HONEST ANSWERS
HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU ASKED ME A LOT OF
QUESTIONS.
>> BEFORE YOU START, I WANT TO
SAY -- I WANT YOU
TO HEAR DIRECTOR MIREBURG.
I HEARD YOU PREFACE COMMENT
WITH THE FACT YOU
REVIEWED COMPLAINTS YOU'VE BEEN
RECEIVING AND THAT
THOSE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLOWED
YOU TO IDENTIFY
PARTICULAR PATTERNS AND TRENDS.
I JUST WANT TO -- YOU MAY NOT
HAVE USED THE EXACT
WORDS COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
WANTED YOU TO USE.
I FEEL YOU CONVEYED THE MESSAGE
THAT THE COMPLAINTS
YOUR RECEIVING FROM THE PUBLIC
ARE INFORMING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'RE MAKING.
I WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT
THAT.
>> SO WHAT I'LL SAY -- THANK
YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS.
WE'VE RECEIVED 87 CASES FOR
NOW.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ISSUING
FINDINGS.
WE EXPECT THE FIRST ROUND OF
FINDINGS WILL COME OUT
NEXT FRIDAY.
THOSE WILL BE MADE PUBLIC TO
EVERYONE INCLUDING THE
CITY COUNCIL.
THERE WILL BE CASES IN WHICH
OFFICERS ARE FOUND TO
HAVE VIOLATED POLICY.
THERE'S CASES IN WHICH THEY'LL
BE FOUND TO NOT HAVE
VIOLATED POLICY.
THERE ARE CASES IN WHICH
PROTESTORS HAVE BEEN
INJURED.
THAT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE
HAPPY ABOUT OR SOMETHING
WE'RE WANTING TO CONTINUE AND
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR
BEST OBVIOUSLY.
WE'RE ONLY ONE PART OF THE
SYSTEM.
THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T LOOK
AT IT AS A BUY THEIR
CONVERSATION LIKE YOU'RE TRYING
TO MAKE NOW.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE
PROTESTS WHERE ON
SOME OCCASIONS LIKE MAY 30th
AND MAY 31st, THEY
MAY TURN INTO SCENES OF
VIOLENCE.
YOU MAY HAVE CARS BURNED IN THE
STREET.
THERE MAY BE TIMES THAT SPD
WILL BE REQUIRED TO
DISPERSE PROTESTS.
I'M SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE
TOOLS THAT ALLOW SPD
TO DO SO.
I'M NOT SAYING THE USAGE OF
TOOLS IN EVERY SITUATION
IS OKAY.
IT'S NOT.
TO TAKE ALL TOOLS AWAY AND
EXPECT THAT THE CITY IN A
DIRE SITUATION COULD BE KEPT
SAFE, I THINK THAT'S
UNREASONABLE.
THE ORDNANCE PASSED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL IS
INCREDIBLY BROAD.
IT REMOVED TOOLS FROM PATROL
OPERATIONS.
YOU SAID IN RESPONSE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT YOU WANTED
ABOUT FOR PATROL OFFICERS TO
USE LESS THAN DEADLY
FORCE IN SITUATIONS WHERE
SOMEONE PRESENTED A
THREAT.
WITHOUT THE LETHAL TOOLS, IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT TO DO
SO.
IF SOMEONE HAD A KNIFE ON THE
STREET AND WERE 25 TO
100 FEET FROM A PATROL OFFICER.
IF THEY WERE TRAINED, THEY
WOULD USE THE DEVICE TO
DISARM THE PERSON.
IT'S A PURPOSE TO PREVENT
HIGHER LEVELS OF FORCE.
I DON'T AGREE WITH YOUR
CHARACTERIZATION OF OUR
PRESENTATION.
I THINK FROM OPA'S PERSPECTIVE,
WE'RE CONCERNED WITH
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LEVEL OF
FORCE USED, AMOUNT
OF FORCE USED.
WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED WITH
DAMAGE AND VIOLENCE ON
BOTH SIDES.
OUR JOB IS LOOK AT THE CASES,
VIDEO AND MACON
COLLUSIONS.
I CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE.
FRANKLY, WE ARE SWAMPED WITH
COMPLAINTS.
AS YOU MENTIONED, WE RECEIVED
18,000 INDIVIDUAL
COMPLAINTS WE HAD TO GO THROUGH
ONE BY ONE.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE FOLLOW
UP QUESTIONS TO ASK
ME.
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY
ON THIS COUNCILMEMBER
HERHOLD IF THAT'S OKAY?
YES, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
THAT'S OKAY.
>> I FIND YOUR RESPONSE
UNACCEPTABLE DIRECTOR
MARBURG.
YOU SAY I'M TRYING TO CREATE A
BINARY PICTURE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
EVERYTHING I SAID IS BASED ON
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE.
THIS IS A QUESTION OF
STATISTICS.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHERE DOES
THE OVERWHELMING
EVIDENCE POINT TOWARD?
THAT'S THE POINT.
YOU'RE IN FACT PORTRAYING A
PICTURE THAT NOT
EXISTING AND HYPOTHETICAL THAT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND MANY POLITICIANS USE.
IT DOES NOT CONFORM WITH
REALITY.
REALITY SHOWS THIS IS NOT A
BOTH SIDE SITUATION.
THAT IS COMPLETELY IN DENIAL OF
THE OVERWHELMING
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE FROM
SEATTLE AND EVERY OTHER
CITY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT
PROTEST MOVEMENTS,
OVERWHELMINGLY VIOLENCE AND
FORCE COMES FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THEY
HAVE THE WEAPONS ON
THEIR SIDE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD NOT
CONSIDER SOMEONE THREW A
WATER BOTTLE AT A POLICE
OFFICER.
I'LL ADVOCATE FOR NOT DOING
THAT.
THE POINT IS WHERE DOES THE
OVERWHELMING VIOLENCE
COME FROM?
ORDINARY PEOPLE DON'T GO AROUND
WITH TEAR GAS
CANISTERS AND BLAST BALLS AND
RUBBER BULLETS AND ALL
THAT SORT OF THING.
THEY'RE JUST THERE PROTESTING.
AS I SAID, IT'S A QUESTION OF
STATISTICS.
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE
SITUATION, WHAT HAPPENS
AS PEACEFUL PROTESTORS ARE
TARGETED?
MOVEMENTS ARE TARGETED?
IT'S NOT INDIVIDUAL PROTESTORS.
IT'S A MOVEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES
A THREAT TO THE
STATE.
THE SAME SORT OF DISHONEST CITY
IS USED WITH THE
LESS LETHAL.
I STAND BY WHAT I SAID.
WE NEED A REASONABLE AND HUMANE
POLICY MAKING
APPROACH.
LOOK AT ALL THE DEATHS THAT
HAPPENED AT THE HANDS OF
POLICE TO PATROL SITUATIONS.
THERE ISN'T A LAW TO SAY LESS
THAN LETHAL APPROACH
TO MAKE SURE THE SITUATION IS
BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL
WITHOUT LOSS OF LIFE.
WHY ARE LIVES LOST?
THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY THERE
AS WELL.
WHILE I OBVIOUSLY HAVE
AGREEMENT ON THE GENERAL
PREMISE, I THINK THAT THERE'S A
BIG DISTANCE IN WHAT
IS WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE
DONE AND I'M SURE
YOU'RE REFLECTING MAJOR DURKAN
POSITION ALSO.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU.
IT'S POLITICAL OFFICIALS.
THE BUCK STOPS WITH ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
MY POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY'S
POSITION AND MOVEMENT
POSITION IS COMING FROM A
REVIEW OF ACTUAL EVIDENCE
WHICH DOES NOT SUPPORT THE WAY
YOU'RE PORTRAYING
THIS SITUATION.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM HEARING WHAT YOUR
SAYING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING
ABOUT AS FAR AS
STATISTICS GO.
THERE MAY BE PEOPLE THAT ARE
LOOKING AT THES CASES
ON THEIR OWN.
WE'RE EVALUATINGS CASES IN THE
MEDIA.
WE'RE EVALUATING AND NOT JUST
LOOKING AT ONE PIECE
OF VIDEO.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL VIDEO.
I UNDERSTAND.
YOU KEEP SAYING STATISTICS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING
ABOUT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME
EVIDENCE.
IF AFTER THE FACT YOU THINK THE
FINDINGS ARE WRONG,
I WELCOME YOU TO CALL THEM OUT.
WE HAVEN'T YET REACHED
FINDINGS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU REACH
DETERMINATION ON THESE
THINGS.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE
CASES.
>> OKAY.
YOU LOOK AT THE CASES AND TELL
US YOUR FINDINGS.
>> WILL DO.
>> I THINK IT COULD BE FOR ANY
OF US TO PRETEND ALL
SIDES ARE BACK KIND OF
SITUATION.
WE HAVE SEEN OVERWHELMING
EVIDENCE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
ACCOUNTS FROM ORDINARY PEOPLE,
PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T
PART OF MOVEMENTS THAT
TESTIFIED IN THE HUNDREDS IN
PUBLIC COMMENT.
SOMETHING THIS YEAR THAT I
HAVEN'T SEEN HAPPEN
BEFORE.
PEOPLE HAVE PERSONALLY SAID I'M
NOT PART OF.
I'M NOT PART OF A POLITICAL
MOVEMENT.
I'M HERE BECAUSE MY BABY
COULDN'T BREATHE BECAUSE OF
THE TEAR GAS USED.
I LOOKED OUT FROM MY FLAT ON
CAPITOL HILL AND I SAW
THE POLICE STARTING THE
VIOLENCE.
IT'S NOT ONE PERSON.
IT'S OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SEE
HAPPENING IN EVERY CITY.
THE POLICE ARE TARTING PROTEST
MOVEMENTS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN FOR
DECADES.
WHILE I AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD
REVIEW CASES AND I'M
HAPPY TO COME BACK TO THE
DISCUSSION, I ALSO THINK
IT WOULD BE FOR YOU TO SAY WE
DON'T FLOW WHAT
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS ON AT A DAY-TO-DAY
BASIS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
HAVE QUESTIONS NOW?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PERHAPS REFOCUS ON A
ISSUE AT HAND HERE.
I'LL JUST SAY I FOUND THAT LINE
OF QUESTIONING NOT
NECESSARILY PRODUCTIVE AND
HELPFUL TO MOVING US
FORWARD AND IDENTIFYING CLEAR
SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES
WE'RE ASKED TO CONSIDER WHICH
IS IN THE INSTANCE OF
CROWD CONTROL ISSUES, WHAT KIND
OF LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS SHOULD BE USED IF ANY
AT ALL?
I APPRECIATE DIRECTOR MIREBURG
THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE SPENT -- YOU AND YOUR
STAFF HAVE SPENT MANY,
MANY HOURS AS AN INDEPENDENT
AGENCY THAT IS CIVILIAN
LED LOOKING AT THE EVIDENCE AND
MATERIALS AVAILABLE
TO YOU.
MATERIALS AND ITEMS NOT
AVAILABLE TO ME AS A COUNCIL
MEMBER.
TO MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE BENEFIT OF
REVIEWING 18,000
INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS AND
ASSOCIATED SUPPORTING
INFORMATION TO EACH OF THOSE
COMPLAINTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AS A
COUNCIL MEMBER PREEND
TENDING I KNOW MORE THAN YOU
BECAUSE I DON'T AS IT
RELATES TO 18,000 CIVILIAN
COMPLAINTS FILED WITH YOU
AS A RESULT OF WHAT I THINK WE
ALL AGREE WERE
INSTANCES OF ATROCIOUS
INCIDENTS IN THE FIELD THAT
WERE RIGHTLY REFERRED TO YOUR
OFFICE AND ARE
INTENDED TO BE REVIEWED BY YOUR
OFFICE.
I CONTINUE TO STAND BY YOUR
INDEPENDENCE. I DISAGREE WITH
THE ONGOING ATTEMPT TO
UNDERMINE OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR
POLITICAL PURPOSES.
I'M JUST -- I REALLY REJECT
THAT ATTEMPT.
I APOLOGIZE AND FEEL REGRETFUL
THAT IT'S OCCURRING.
IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR POLICY
MAKERS TO ASK YOU ALL
TOUGH QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE
YOU STAY ACCOUNTABLE
AND MAKE SURE YOU STAY
INDEPENDENT, BUT I ALSO WANT
TO SAY ON THE RECORD, I HAVE A
HIGH LEVEL OF
CONFIDENCE IN THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
I HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF
CONFIDENCE IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE COMMISSION TO DO WHAT WE
ASKED YOU ALL TO DO
WHEN WE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDNANCE IN 2017.
I WANT TO FOCUS MORE ON ONE OF
THE BIG STATEMENTS I
HEARD YOU BACK AT THE TOP OF
YOUR PRESENTATION.
EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MICRO
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
THREE REPORTS FROM THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES, AT
THE END OF THE DAY, YOU LIKE
THE OTHERS BELIEVE THAT
THE STATUS QUO OF HOW SPD IS
MANAGING CROWDS IS NOT
WORKING.
THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGE.
DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?
YES.
AGREED.
>> ONE THING I'D LIKE TO HEAR
MORE FROM YOU ABOUT IS
THIS ISSUE OF RELATED TO THE
STANDARD OF WHEN CROWD
CONTROL WEAPONS SHOULD BE USED.
ONE THING YOU SAID ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IS WE
SHOULDN'T BE USING THESE KINDS
OF INDISCRIMINATE
WEAPONS WHEN THERE IS ONLY
PROPERTY DAMAGE
OCCURRING.
THIS IS A SUBJECT OF GREAT
DEBATE AMONGST THE CITY.
ONE SPECTRUM SAYS PROPERTY
SHOULD BE PROTECTED AT
ALL COSTS.
THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE OF THAT
SPECTRUM THAT SAYS
PROPERTY DAMAGE SHOULD BE
TOLERATED BECAUSE WE DON'T
WANT TO PUT PROPERTY DAMAGE
ABOVE LIFE AND SERIOUS
BODILY HARM.
>> I JUST WANT FROM YOUR SEAT
AS AN EXPERT IN THIS
AREA, I WANT YOU TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO
US IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT
YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY
THAT THESE WEAPONS SHOULDN'T BE
USED UNLESS THERE'S
IMMINENT HARM TO PEOPLE.
PERHAPS YOU CAN GIVE US
EXAMPLES AND MORE TEXTURE
REASONABLE DOUBT THAT NUANCED
ANALYSIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
FROM RIGHT NOW, THE POLICY SAYS
THAT A COMMAND STAFF
MEMBER HAVE GIVE AN ORDER TO
DISPERSE AND UTILIZE
LESS LETHAL TOOLS.
IT ALLOWS INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS
TO MAKE A
DISCRETIONARY DECISION TO USE
LESS LETHAL TOOLS
INCLUDING BLAST BALLS AND
PEPPER SPRAY.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO DO SO NOT
JUST A THREAT TO SAFETY
OR A PERSON'S SAFETY OR
IMMINENT THREAT OF DANGER
BUT ALSO PROPERTY DAMAGE.
REMOVE THE DISCRETION FROM
OFFICERS IN THAT REGARD.
ALL THAT'S GOING TO DO IN OUR
MINDS IS CREATE MORE
WIGGLE ROOM AND CONFUSION FOR
OFFICERS AS TO WHEN
THEY CAN UTILIZE BLAST BALLS.
WE'RE NOT MINIMIZING THE RISK
OF HARM FROM BLAST
BALLS.
THERE'S A RISK OF HARM.
THAT IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE RISK.
WE DON'T LIKE THAT RISK.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BALANCING
THAT RISK AGAINST
OTHER RISKS OF HARM TO PEOPLE.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE TWO
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
STRUGGLING WITH IN OUR REPORT
AND EVALUATION OF THIS
POLICY.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS REMOVE THE
INDIVIDUAL
DISCRETION FROM OFFICERS TO USE
LIES BLAST BALLS OR
TOOLS SOLELY TO STOP A WINDOW
FROM BEING BROKEN OR A
ROCK BEING THROWN AT A STORE
FRONT OR A DUMPSTER
BEING MOVED IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE STREET.
STOP DOING THAT.
IF THERE'S FOR EXAMPLE -- IF
OFFICERS FOR EXAMPLE
ARE GETTING HIT IN THE FACE BY
ROCKS OR IN THE BODY
WITH ROCKS AND NEED TO MOVE THE
CROWD BACK, WE DON'T
THINK THEY SHOULD BE PROHIBITED
TO MOVE THE CROWD
BACK.
YOU CANNOT USE BLAST BALLS IN A
MATTER NOT CHAINED
AND APPROPRIATE.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM CASES IS
YOUR SEEING THE USE OF
BLAST BALLS IN POTENTIALLY
INAPPROPRIATE MANNERS.
THOSE CASES RESULT IN
DISCIPLINE.
THOSE CASES THEN RESULT IN
OTHER POLICY CHANGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SHOULD NOT
THROW A BLAST BALL AT
ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
THOSE ARE NOT TO TARGET PEOPLE.
TO ROLL THEM ON THE GROWN TO
PREVENT SPACE AND
PREVENT YOU FROM BEING HIT WITH
AN OBJECT.
RHYME TALKING ROCKS, BRICKS,
OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE
OCCURRED DURING PROTEST.
THAT COULD BE THE PLACE TO USE
THOSE TOOLS.
IF COUNCIL IS GOING IN
DIRECTION TOOLS ARE BANNED,
LET'S WORK ON A WAY TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN CONSISTENT
WITH BEST PRACTICES, CONSISTENT
WITH THE PROCESS
APPROVED TO ALL PARTIES THAT
NEED TO APPROVE IT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE PART OF THAT
PROCESS.
WE AGREE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO
BE INVOLVED TOO.
WE CANNOT DO THIS AT A
GOVERNMENT POLICY LEVEL.
THAT DIDN'T WORK IN THE PAST.
I WOULD TAKE CPC LEAD ON HOW TO
INTEGRATE LEAD ON
THIS PROCESS.
THE THAT'S NOT MY EXPERTISE.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
PERHAPS THAT WILL COME OUT IN
THE OIG WILL PUT ON.
ALL THESE I THINK THIS WILL
COME TO LIGHT AND
RECOMMENDATION WILL FLOW FROM
THAT.
IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY WHERE MOST
OF US ARE ON THE SAME
PAGE.
WE SHOULD NOT USE THESE TYPES
OF TOOLS THAT HAVE
RISK OF HARM SOLELY TO PREVENT
BREAKING OF WINDOWS.
YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEED TO
PROTECT THE POSSIBLE
HARM THAT CAN FLOW.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND
CLARIFICATION.
AS IT RELATES TO RIOTS AND THE
DECLARATION OF RIOTS,
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID IS
YOU DO NOT AGREE.
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I COULD BE WRONG.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THERE WAS SOME STATUTORY
LANGUAGE THAT AT LEAST
SEEMS TO CREATE AN INFERENCE
THAT THERE ALREADY IS
AN EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE APPROVAL
PROCESS FOR WHEN A
RIOT IS DECLARED.
I WANTED TO HEAR A LITTLE MORE
FROM YOU ABOUT HOW DO
YOU RECONCILE YOUR OPINION WITH
THAT AND SORT OF HOW
DO YOU -- HELP US THREAD THE
NEEDLE AROUND ALL OF
THESE MOVING PIECES AS IT
RELATES TO WHAT I THINK IS
THE GOAL HERE.
HOW DO WE MAKE THE PROCESS AND
THE STANDARDS FOR
DECLARING A RIOT WHICH SORT OF
DOES CREATE A MASSIVE
EXCEPTION FOR WHEN THESE TOOLS
CAN BE USED?
HOW DO WE CREATE AN INCREASED
LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND
STANDARDIZATION IN THOSE
CONTEXTS IN ORDER TO FEEL
CONFIDENT AND GIVE THE
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN THE
POLICE DOES DECLARE
A RIOT THAT IT, THAT THERE HAS
BEEN SOME DUE PROCESS
AND DILIGENCE EXECUTED BEFORE
GETTING TO THAT
OPPONENT.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS WHEN YOU
FRAME IT IN THAT
RESPECT, I UNDERSTAND MORE WHAT
THE ASK IS.
PART OF THE CONFUSION I HAVE IS
IT WASN'T CLEAR
WHETHER THE COUNCIL WAS ASKING
FOR.
>> WHEN WE DISCUSS THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES,
THERE WAS CONFUSION ON WHAT WAS
ASKED FOR.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A BAD
IDEA TO HAVE SOME
SORT OF EXECUTIVE APPROVAL FOR
THE RIOT DECLARATION
IN SO FAR AS YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT COULD BE CURFEWS OR
RESTRICTION OF FIREARMS.
YOU COULD DO THAT.
THE CONCERN OPA HAD WAS ARE YOU
HAVING MAYORAL STAFF
TAKE A PHONE CALL AND MAKE A
TACTICAL DECISION AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO
USE LEAST LETHAL
TOOLS.
THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE
DID NOT THINK THAT WAS
A GOOD IDEA.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS VOLATILE OF
THE CITY CHARTER.
I DON'T HAVE HAVE IF SAME
CONCERNS ON A RIOT
DECLARATION, PARTICULARLY GIVEN
THE CPC CRITICISM OF
HOW BROAD THAT IS.
IT WAS NARROWED TO A SITUATION
THERE WAS A TRUE
RIOT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD
IDEA TO HAVE SOME SORT
OF PROCESS REVIEW BY THE
EXECUTIVE.
SO, PERHAPS I MISUNDERSTOOD THE
ASK.
APOLOGIES FOR THAT.
I'M NOT SURE YOU MISUNDERSTOOD
THE ASK.
I THINK WHAT I WAS TRYING TO
GET WAS AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHETHER THAT
WAS AN APPROVAL
PROCESS OR JUST LIMITED TO THE
TACTICAL QUESTIONS
THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THOSE THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF
CHARTER.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE CHARTER, BUT
I WORRY THERE'S
CONFLICT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO TURN TO QUESTIONS
THAT WERE SUBMITTED
IN ADVANCE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THE FIRST IS THAT BOTH OPA AND
OIG REPORTS RECOMMEND
THAT THE COUNCIL REAUTHORIZE
ALL LESS LETHAL WEAPONS
FOR NONCROWD CONTROL
SITUATIONS.
JUST WONDERING WHAT LEVEL OF
DEFINITION DO YOU
RECOMMEND THAT WE USE FOR
DEFINING NONCROWD CONTROL
SITUATIONS.
DO YOU RECOMMEND WE DEFINE THEM
AND IF SO, DO YOU
RECOMMEND WE DO SO AS A WAY OF
DESCRIBING THE
SITUATIONS AS YOU HAVE A
HOSTAGE SCENARIO, ARMED
BARRICADE SUSPECT, SUICIDE BY
COP OR DO YOU
RECOMMEND THAT WE DEFINE THEM
AS TO THE WHO?
I JUST WANT ALL THREE QUESTIONS
OUT AT ONCE IF I
COULD.
THANKS.
THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT
RECOMMENDATIONS DO OPA
HAVE FOR TARGETED ARRESTS
DURING DEMONSTRATIONS IN
RESPONSE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT?
THE LAST RELATES BACK TO THE
QUESTION OF BLAST
BALLS.
WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHY
GIVEN THAT OIG UNDERSTANDS
BLAST BALLS HAVE THE
INDISCRIMINATE INFLICTING PAIN
ON PEACEFUL
PROTESTORS.
CPC HAS A LONG STANDING
OCCURRENCE OF THIS OPINION.
I THINK THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS
ON BLAST BALLS GO BACK
TO 2017.
BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE BANNED
FOR NONCROWD AND CROWD
SITUATIONS.
JUST ASKING THAT YOU GET MORE
INTO THE DETAILS ABOUT
WHY YOU REINSTATED FOR CROWD
CONTROL.
>> YOU COULD USE CATEGORIES FOR
WHEN THE LESS LETHAL
TOOLS WERE USED.
I THINK THE QUESTIONS WERE
NARROW.
FOR EXAMPLE, ARMED AND
BARRICADED SUBJECT, THAT
WOULD NOT INCLUDE SOMEONE WITH
A KNIFE ON A CITY
STREET CONFRONTED BY PATROL.
PATROL OFFICERS ARE TRAINED.
THERE ARE CERTAIN OFFICERS
TRAINED TO USE THAT 40
MILL MEET EVERY LAUNCHER.
IN MY MIND, I THINK ABOUT THE
LESS LETHAL TOOLS.
THAT FOR ME ISLESS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE OF
SOMEONE SHOT AND KILLED
VERSUS SHOT WITH A FOAM BULLET.
IF YOU WERE TO INCLUDE
CATEGORIES OR THE PEOPLE THAT
UTILIZE THEM, THAT'S FINE.
I WANT TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL
AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS IN WHAT CATEGORIES
ARE.
THE REASON I ASK -
>>> YOU'RE MUTED COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THE REASON I ASK IS THIS IS
A CONCEPT THAT I
INTRODUCED IN THE ORIGINAL PASS
ONLY OF THE
LEGISLATION, THE RECOGNITION
USE OF THESE WEAPONS
AND NONCROWD CONTROL SITUATIONS
MIGHT BE WARRANTED
WHEREAS IN MY BELIEF THEY WERE
NOT AND USED IN THE
INSTANCE OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND
WHEN I TRIED TO
INTRODUCE THAT CONCEPT INTO THE
ORDNANCE ITSELF, YOU
RECALL AS COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT, AGAIN MENTIONED
TODAY THERE'S CONCERN THAT JUST
SIMPLY SAYING
NONCROWD CONTROL SITUATIONS
BECOMES THIS HUGE
LOOPHOLE.
I AGREE IT'S IMPORTANT TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DEFINE
IT AND IT'S THE NONCROWD
CONTROL SITUATION IS NOT
ABUSED.
>> IT'S DEFINABLE AND CERTAINLY
WE CAN WORK WITH
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
ANECDOTALLY, WE LOOKED AT 11
INCIDENTS IT WAS USED.
IT'S NOT USED OFTEN.
IN MOST SITUATIONS, SOMEONE WAS
ARMED WITH A KNIFE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO DISARM THE
PERSON WITHOUT ANY
OTHER FORCE BEING USED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TOOL
AND I'M HAPPY TO
PROVIDE YOU WITH CASES.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO
UTILIZE TO INSURE THAT
LESS HARM IS USED.
HOWEVER YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT
IN THE ORDNANCE.
TAT'S WITHIN THE COUNCIL'S
DISCRETION.
THAT WOULD LEAD TO UTILIZE IT
IN SITUATIONS SOMEONE
IS ARMED WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
AND SOLE ALTERNATIVE
IS HIGHER LEVEL OF FORCE.
THAT'S WHAT I STRONGLY SUGGEST.
>> THE OTHER QUESTIONS, THERE
WAS A QUESTION WE
RECEIVED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
RECOMMEND COMMENDATIONS
MADE BY OPA AND OTHER
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES.
WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO CREATE A
NEW POLICY?
ABSOLUTELY.
YOU COULD IMPLEMENT THE
EXISTING POLICY.
REGARDLESS, WE WOULD VERY MUCH
WANT -- WE WOULD
CERTAINLY WANT RECOMMENDATIONS
TO BE CONSIDERED IF
NOT IMPLEMENTED.
FOR BLAST BALLS, I AGREE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S DISPUTABLE
BLAST BALLS CAN AND DO
CAUSE INJURIES.
THAT IS A FACT.
ALL LESS LETHAL TOOLS CAN CAUSE
INJURIES.
WE'VE SEEN INJURIES CAUSED FROM
PEPPER SPRAY AND
REACTIONS TO PEPPER SPRAY.
THE FOAM TIP ED FROM THE
LAUNCHER CAN CAUSE BRUISES
ON PEOPLE'S LEGS.
THEY DO CAUSE INJURIES.
WE UNDERSTAND THEY DO.
IF A CROWD IS VIOLENT AND I'M
NOT SAYING ALL CROWDS
DO.
HOW IS SPD GOING TO DISPERSE
THAT CROWD IF THEY HAVE
TO?
PUTTING IN NEW RESTRICTIONS.
LESS NEED FOR CROWDS TO BE
DISPERSED.
ELIMINATING LINE OFFICERS.
EVEN IF ALL THINGS WERE PUT IN
PLACE, THERE'S TIMES
THAT A CROWD MAY HAVE TO BE
DISPERSED.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE
OFFICER DOSS THAT?
IF THERE'S A RISK OF HARM TO
PEOPLE, HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE IT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT
DOESN'T INVOLVE
OFFICERS GOING IN THE CROWD AND
GOING HANDS ON WITH
PEOPLE.
THAT THE IS NOT A GOOD
SITUATION.
THE THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO
TROUBLE IN THE FIRST
PLACE IN 2011 WHEN DOJ CAME IN
TO BE CRITICIZED USE
FOR IMPACT WEAPONS AND BATONS.
WE DON'T WANT TO USE BATONS.
THAT'S THE UGH HAVELE WE'RE
HAVING.
I DON'T LIKE BLAST BALLS.
I DON'T KNOW OF OTHER TOOLS AND
TACTICS THAT CAN
REPLACE THOSE IN WORKING
TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH
TACTICS.
? I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
DIRECTOR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE NEED TO DISPERSE A
CROWD WITHOUT LEAST LETHAL
WEAPONS.
THIS MARKS APPROPRIATE ANY WAY.
SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS HOW DO
YOU RECONCILE THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS I KNOW
WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT
THIS FROM AN SYSTEM'S
PERSPECTIVE AND HOW THIS
OPERATES.
I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT
INFORMATION WE HAVE OVER
THE LAST FEW MONTHS ABOUT THE
RECORD I GUESS I'M
IMAGINING A MATRIX OR TABLE OF
SOMETHING TALKING
ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES RIOTS WERE
DECLARED.
HOW OFTEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF
WEAPONS WERE USED.
HOW MANY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES OF
VIOLENCE WE HAD.
I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW
OFTEN THAT HAPPENED WITH
PARTICULAR INCIDENT COMMANDERS.
HOW DO WE TIE THESE PATTERNS
TOGETHER SO WE START TO
SEE WAS IT PARTICULAR OFFICERS,
WAS IT MORE LIKELY
TO HAPPEN AT A PARTICULAR TIME
OF DAY?
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
ECOSYSTEM OF THINGS
THAT LED TO THESE OUTCOMES.
I THINK SO.
YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS REALLY
GOOD.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE DO SEE
TWO TYPES OF PROTESTS
GENERALLY WHEN WE'RE EVALUATING
THE CASES.
YOU SEE THE MORE STATIC
STATIONARY PROTESTS LIKE YOU
MENTIONED COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES VERSUS A MORE
POSSIBLY PROTEST.
I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WE
HAD COME UP WITH OUR
RECOMMENDATION FOR EXTRACTION
FROM CROWDS WAS
BECAUSE WE AGREE THAT THE WAY
THAT PROTESTS ARE DONE
HISTORICALLY WERE THE WAY SPC
POLICE PROTESTS DOES
NOT WORK IN THOSE STATIC
SITUATIONS.
HOW CAN YOU BETTER POLICE
PROTESTS TO ELIMINATE
PEOPLE ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY ALLOWING THE
PROTESTS TO REMAIN?
IN RARE SITUATIONS, I AGREE
WITH YOU.
THOSE TYPES OF TOOLS ARE NOT
USEFUL FOR SITUATIONS.
CAN YOU DEVELOP TACTICS BETTER
PURPOSED FOR THOSE
SITUATIONS?
BOTH OIG HAD RECOMMENDATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE TACTICS
ARE.
I'M HOPEFUL SEATTLE CAN
INNOVATE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
THAT IS.
I GUESS I COULD SEE WHAT YOUR
SAYING IN THEY'RE
CONTRADICTORY IN A WAY.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS
THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU
MAY HAVE TO DISPERSE A CROWD
THROUGH THOSE MEANS
THROUGH LESS LETHAL TOOL.
THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE.
OTHER TIME YOU MAY WANT TO
DISPERSE A CROWD WHERE
LESS LETHAL TOOLS ARE NOT
AVAILABLE.
TO HAVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO
YOU THAT OPD DIDN'T
HAVE IN FIRST ROUNDS OF
PROTESTS WOULD BE A HUGE
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> THEY DO HAVE TOOLS TO
DEESCALATE WHETHER THAN
FORM A LINE IN RIOT GEAR AND
RESPOND IN A QUICK WAY
BECAUSE SOMEONE OPENED AN
UMBRELLA.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT.
>> AGREED.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT, IN
SITUATIONS WHERE YOU KNOW
YOU'RE THE TARGET OF THE
PROTEST, DO NOT GO OUT THERE
AND FACE THE
PROTESTORS.
PULL BACK, REMAIN IN THE
BACKGROUND.
LET PEOPLE PROTEST.
I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING WHEN
WE LOOK AT PROTESTS,
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY
WENT WRONG.
TO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO PROTEST
AND MARCH CAUSED
ARTIFICIAL BLOCKAGES THAT
CREATED THESE FRICTION
POINTS WHICH DID NOT RESULT IN
A MANNER THAT ANYONE
WAS HAPPY WITH IN THE CITY.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING IS
TRUE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE THINGS THAT
SPD COULD HAVE DONE
BETTER DURING PROTESTS.
WE'RE STILL EVALUATING THEM.
THESE ARE THINGS WE'VE
DETERMINED IN INITIAL ROUND
OF CASES BEING EVALUATED.
>> THIS MAY BE OFF POINT, BUT
IS THERE A TIME
PARTICULARLY WITH EXPERIENCES
WE'RE HAVING NOW WHERE
WE'VE HAD OVER 10 0 DAYS OF
PROTESTS.
IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS
OUTSIDE OF A FORMAL
INVESTIGATION TO SAY HEY, WE'VE
BEEN WATCHING THIS FOR MONTHS
NOW.
WE KEEP SEEING THE SAME ISSUE
AND MAKING A PUBLIC
STATEMENT.
FOR INSTANCE, LABOR DAY.
THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE
POLICE OFFICERS WERE
THE POLITICAL TARGET OF
PROTESTS.
BY COMING OUT, AND FOR NO
PARENT REASON I COULD SEE
CONFRONTING THE PROTESTORS.
THEN CHASING THEM THROUGH THE
CITY.
I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT AGAIN.
WE'RE IN THIS CYCLE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS
REPEATED IN THE CYCLE. TO
DISCUSS CHANGES IN POLICY. IF
THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO TO
DISRUPT WHAT WE'RE
SEEING HAPPENING, CONTINUING TO
HAPPEN IN REAL TIME.
>> I THINK IT'S A VALID POINT
AND SOMETHING WE MEET
REGULARLY AND DISCUSS THINGS
ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
TO DO NOW REGULARLY
IN COMMUNICATION WITH SPD
COMMAND STAFF AND OTHERS
EXPRESSING CONCERNS AND WHAT
I'M SEEING.
OUR QUESTIONS WILL COME OUT ON
A ROLLING BASIS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO INFORM TACTICS
AND ACTIVITIES
ENGAGED BY SPD.
IT MAY VERY BE THERE'S A TIME
AND PLACE FOR THAT
OCCURRING AND IT'S NOW.
IT'S SOMETHING I'LL DISCUSS
WITH LISA, IG JUDGE AND
BRANDY GRANT.
ONE THING YOU MENTIONED THAT I
WANTED TO GET TO
QUICKLY IS OFFICERS UTILIZING
THE FORCE AND THE
COMMANDERS THAT ARE
SUPERVISING.
IT TENDS TO BE SOME
SIMILARITIES BECAUSE OF
STAFFING
LIKE OFF WITH BICYCLE OFFICERS
AND OTHER OFFICERS
THAT TEND TO HAVE THE SAME
COMMANDERS GIVEN WHERE
IT'S OCCURRING IN PRECINCTS.
WE'LL IDENTIFY THAT.
OIG WILL LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF
THE AMOUNT OF FORCE
THAT WAS USED AND WHEN IT WAS
USED.
THEY'RE CREATING MY
UNDERSTANDING IG JUDGE AND MARY
CAN ADDRESS THIS.
THEY'RE CREATING A TIME LINE
FOR APPLICATION OF USE
OF FORCE AND PROTEST INCIDENTS
THAT OCCURRED.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAN THAT OUT
TO IDENTIFY TRENDS IN
PERSONNEL AS WELL.
GREAT.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE CHAIR
SAID.
IT'S BEEN CLEAR TO BE A CHANGE
IN TACTICS, INCREASED
ESCALATION OVER THE LAST 100
DAYS.
FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT IS REALLY
NOT SATISFIED WITH
BEING TOLD FILE A REPORT.
THAT DOESN'T DISRUPT THE
BEHAVIOR THAT IS HAPPENING.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING INJURED FOR
OVER AND OVER AGAIN
AND THE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR
CONTINUES.
I'M ALSO REALLY INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING IF
THERE'S A WAY FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
STEP IN AND DISRUPT SOMETHING
LIKE THAT WHEN THERE
IS MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
THAN FOR THE PUBLIC TO
WAIT FOR A REPORT AND A PROCESS
TO HAPPEN SO WE CAN
PREVENT INJURY.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION.
THAT IS FROM INSPECTOR GENERAL
JUDGE.
I'D LIKE TO HAND OVER TO THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
>> GOOD MORNING MADAME CHAIR.
MADAME PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO
YOU THIS MORNING.
OUR REPORT WAS GIVEN.
I HAVE MORE SLIDE THAN MY
PARTNERS THAT PROCEEDED
ME.
I'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH AS
QUICKLY AS I CAN.
I TRIED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN
ADVANCE OF THE
SLIDES.
HOPEFULLY MANY QUESTIONS WILL
BE ADDRESSED IN THE
PRESENTATION.
I'LL LEAVE OPEN ROOM AT THE
END.
IF I COULD START BY COMMENTING
ON COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES QUESTION, I APPRECIATE
HER RAISING THAT
ISSUE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE
URGENCY OF THE SITUATION
AND WATCHING THE SAME DYNAMICS
HAPPENING OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
I'D LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT
DIRECTOR MIREBURG SAID.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OUT
THERE.
IT'S NOT A SECRET.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED ISSUES THAT
COULD BE ACTIONABLE
ODAY.
THEY'RE WRITTEN IN REPORTS
SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR AND MADE PUBLIC.
THOSE PROVIDE A FRAME WORK FOR
A CONSIDERATION THAT
COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME.
WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL A NEW
MONITOR WAS APPOINTED.
THE COURT HAS WEIGHED IN ON
THIS ISSUE.
I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF A
CONVERSATION SOON ABOUT THESE
ISSUES INVOLVING THE MONITOR
AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
TO TRY TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE
FEEDBACK ABOUT POTENTIAL
CHANGES TO APPROACHES.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE
FIRST SLIDE, I'LL SPEAK
TO OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
WE'RE ALL HERE.
WE AGREE THE RIGHT TO
PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE IS
CRITICAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND
SOCIETY.
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS AND ALL
OF YOU ARE HERE
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE COMING HERE ARE
HERE TO EXPRESS OUTRAGE, GRIEF,
OTHER FEELINGS ACT
RACIAL INJUSTICE.
IT'S THEIR RIGHT PROOF TEXTED
TO COME OUT AND DO
THAT.
I'LL SAY THERE'S A LOT OF
AGREEMENT WITH MY PARTNER
AND OTHERS THE USE OF LEAST
LETHAL WEAPONS SHOULD BE
USED ON PROTESTORS.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS MADE
ALREADY ABOUT THE
NEED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC ACTS
OF VIOLENCE OR
DISPERSE A DECLARE RIOT.
WE CAN FOCUS ON HAVING
MEANINGFUL CRITERIA ABOUT
WHEN IT'S DECLARED.
WHEN THERE ARE ACTS OF VIOLENCE
THAT ARE SPECIFIED
AND IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS ARE
COMMITTING THOSE ACTS
OF VIOLENCE, POLICE NEED TOOLS
TO ADDRESS THIS.
I ECHO THE SENTIMENT'S EXPRESS
THAT SPD SHOULD WORK
ON TACTICS TO TARGET THOSE
PARTICULAR ACTS AND MOVE
THEM OUT OF AN OTHERWISE
PEACEFUL CROWD.
THE CROWDS RIGHTS CAN BE
FACILITATED.
ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE
HIGHLIGHTED IN POLICY
DEVELOPMENT IS APPROACH NEEDS
TO BE ONE OF
FACILITATION OF FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS AND NOT OF
CONTROL OF CROWDS AND CONTROL
OF MESSAGING.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE
THE BEACON FOR
WHATEVER FRAME WORK WE COME UP
WITH HERE.
WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE LEAST
LETHAL TOOLS ARE
IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS HIGH RISK
CALLS OUTSIDE THE
CONTEXT.
I'LL WEIGH IN SINCE THE
QUESTION HAS COME UP ALREADY
WITH BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES.
IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER REQUEST
FOR COUNCIL TO
BROADLY DEFINE WHAT CROWD
MANAGEMENT AND CROWD
CONTROL MEANS AND HAVE
RESTRICTIONS ON LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS TIED TO THAT RATHER
THAN TRYING TOO FIGURE
OUT THE UNIVERSE WHERE HAVE
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS ARE
APPROPRIATE.
IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION
TO FOCUS ON DEFINING
WHAT PROTECTED FIRST AMENDMENT
ACTIVITY MEANS AND
WHATEVER RESTRICTIONS ARE PUT
IN PLACE ON LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS IN FIRST
AMENDMENT CONTEXT.
JUST TO KIND OF WRAP IT UP, WE
SUPPORT RETAINING
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS FOR SPD.
WITH STRICT CRITERIA WITHIN A
CROWD CONTROL CONTEXT
AND SQUAD CONTEXT, MAKING SURE
FOLKS ARE PROPERLY
TRAINED AND POLICIES ARE
ADEQUATE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE
HEARD DISCUSSED AND I
THINK IS A CRITICAL ISSUE IS
STRONG NEEDS FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE BACK END
OF THOSE.
WE HAVE ALREADY PROCESSES FOR
INDIVIDUAL OFFICER
POLICY VIOLATIONS AND
MISCONDUCT.
WE DEFINITELY SAW A GAP IN
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
COMMAND LEVEL DECISION MAKING
AND DECLARING RIOTS,
AUTHORIZING LARGE SCALE USES OF
FORCE AND HAVING
SOME WAY TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT
DECISIONS.
I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, YOUR QUESTIONS
GOT TO ISSUES.
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT
FURTHER AND MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOPEFULLY
ASSISTING WITH POLICY
DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU COULD MOVE THE SLIDE.
IN TERMS OF THE AUTHORIZATION
OF LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS, THE ORDNANCE SHOULD BE
RETRACTED TO
DISTINGUISH TO CONTROL
FUNCTIONS AND CROWD
MANAGEMENT USES OF LESS LETHAL
FORCE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS NEXT
BULLET.
I WON'T SPEND TIME ON THAT.
>> THE DIRECTOR TALKED ABOUT
HAVING WEAPONS
AVAILABLE WHEN HIGHER LEVELS OF
FORCE MIGHT BE
INAPPROPRIATE OR UNDESIRABLE.
MY NOTES PAGES JUST TURNED OFF.
LET ME GET MY COMPUTER BACK ON.
OKAY.
I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT
IF YOU BAN CERTAIN
WEAPONS WITHOUT PROVIDING SOME
ALTERNATIVES TO USING
HIGHER FORCE, ESPECIALLY
WITHOUT PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHAT
REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES
WILL BE IN PLACE, IT MAY END UP
RESULTING IN
VIOLENCE.
WE'RE HOPEFUL ANY SOLUTIONS WE
ARRIVE AT WILL AVOID
THAT.
IF YOU COULD MOVE THE SLIDE
PLEASE.
IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC TOOLS THAT
WE WANT TO TALK
ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL WITH REGARD
TO BLAST BALLS.
ANY DECISION ABOUT WHETHER THEY
SHOULD BE
REAUTHORIZED SHOULD COME WITH A
STRONG
RECOMMENDATION THAT SPD FOLLOW
UP ON ALL THE
PREVIOUS EXTERNAL
RECOMMENDATIONS THEY'VE
RECEIVED
CONCERNING BLAST BALLS, CPC.
I BELIEVE THIS DATES BACK TO
2016 AND OTHER EXTERNAL
SOURCES MADE A LOT OF
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT BLAST
BALLS AND THEIR USE AND PROPER
USE IN TRAINING.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS NEED TO
BE REVISITED.
WE SHOULD INSURE SPD ACTED ON
THOSE PREVIOUS
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S A STARTING POINT FOR ANY
SORT OF
REAUTHORIZATION OF BLAST BALLS.
I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT OIG IS
CONCERNED ABOUT THEM.
THEY'RE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.
IF NOT USED STRICTLY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS OR TRAINING,
THEY CAN CAUSE A LOT OF
INJURY, POTENTIALLY DEAF.
I THINK ANY REAUTHORIZATION OF
THOSE NEEDS TO BE
DONE WITH GREAT CARE AND
PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> MOVING ONTO TEAR GAS.
OIG SUPPORTS A BAN ON THOSE IN
ANY GENERAL PROTEST
SETTING.
IF THERE WAS ANY
REAUTHORIZATION OF TEAR GAS, IT
SHOULD BE IF A RIOT HAS BEEN
DECLARED AND I
COMPLETELY AGREE THERE NEED TO
BE SPECIFIC CRITERIA
ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF A
RIOT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY WHO ARE IS
THE COMMANDER THAT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES MEET CRITERIA
AND THERE NEEDS TO BE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DECISION
MAKING.
IN CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT WOULD BE
THE ONLY POTENTIAL
WHETHER SOMETHING LIKE TEAR GAS
WHILE EFFECTIVE,
THEY'RE TO BE CONSIDERED --
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER
THINGS THAT ARGUE AGAINST ITS
USE.
IF IT WAS A TOOL OF LAST
RESORT, REWOULD NEVER
SUPPORT FOR USE IN RESIDENTIAL
AREAS.
THE MINUTE PARTICULAR NATURE OF
THE GAS DIFFERENT
FROM OC SPRAY ALLOWS IT TO SEEP
INTO THINGS AND
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT SECONDARY
IMPACTS TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE COMPLETELY INNOCENT.
WE SAW THAT WITH COMPLAINTS OF
CS GAS SEEPING INTO
RESIDENTS IN CAPITOL HILL.
OF I THINK THE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR MY COLLEAGUES IT
NOT BE REAUTHORIZED ARE SOUND.
WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
OFFICERS HAVE TO RECEIVE
ADEQUATE USE ON GAS AND HOW
TO CONTAMINATE.
OTHER THINGS WE FOUND IN OUR
WORK LEADING UP TO THIS
IS SPD PERSONNEL FREQUENTLY
RECEIVED SOME TRAINING
SO THAT IT MAKES THEM QUALIFIED
FOR USING LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS.
THEY FREQUENTLY DON'T HAVE
ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO
PRACTICE WITH SOME OF THESE
TOOLS.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT
LATER IF I'VE GOT
TIME.
ALSO, THEY NEED TO AVOID USING
EXPIRED MUNITIONS AND
THEY SHOULD BE ADDITION POSING
OF UNSAFE STOCK THEY
HAVE WHICH WE DETECTED WAS
GOING ON.
MARY, IF YOU COULD MOVE THE
SLIDE.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE.
THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS.
WHAT WE DID WAS LIKE OPA, WE
CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS
AND DID A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO
SPD CROWD MANAGEMENT
POLICY AND OTHER AGENCIES TO
PROVIDE CONTEXT AROUND
THE FORCE USED AND PERHAPS WHY
CERTAIN THINGS WASN'T
RYE AND THERE WERE IMPROPER
USES OF FORCE.
JUST TO MENTION SPD'S CROWD
MANAGEMENT POLICY IS IN
LINE WITH MOST MAJOR CITIES.
IT WASN'T AN OUTLIER IN ANY
WAY.
NOT TO SAY IT'S THE ONE WE WANT
HERE.
THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ON IT THAT
DIVERGES FROM MOST
MAJOR CITIES.
MARY?
WE FOUND THAT -- I THINK THIS
REALLY GETS TO THE
SSUE OF COMMUNICATION AND
MAKING SURE THAT OFFICERS
AND INCIDENT COMMANDERS HAVE
CLEAR CRITERIA WHEN
FORCE IS APPROPRIATE AND MAKING
SURE THEY
COMMUNICATE WITH INDIVIDUALS
AND WITH THE CROWD TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT OFFICERS
WERE PERHAPS
PERCEIVING RISKS AND DIEING
THEY NEEDED TO USE FORCE
OR INCIDENT COMMANDER WAS
AUTHORIZING OR DIRECTING
FORCE.
IT RESULTED IN THE CROWD NOT
UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS
GOING ON AND VIEWING THAT
ACTION AS ILLEGITIMATE.
THAT SERVING TO ESCALATE THE
CROWD AND INCREASE
TENSIONS AND VIOLENT ACTS
CREATING THIS VICIOUS
CYCLE OF ESCALATION WITH THE
CROWDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE IDENTIFIED
AS A CRITICAL
FATURE OF DEVELOPMENT IS
BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH
THE CROWD.
>> SO THIS IS ALLUDED TO IN THE
NUMBER OF WAYS.
TALKING ACT CROWD DYNAMICS, AT
WHAT STAGE CERTAIN
LEVELS OF FORCE MAY OR MAY NOT
BE APPROPRIATE.
WE FEEL LIKE PERHAPS A MATRIX
THAT BREAKS DOWN CROWD
DYNAMICS AND CERTAIN LEVELS AND
MAKES IT VERY CLEAR
WHAT FORCE MAY OR MAY NOT BE
APPROPRIATE OR PERHAPS
JUST A MUCH MORE DETAILED
POLICY WOULD BE ASSIST ING
TO OFFICERS SO THEY KNOW WHAT
CRITERIA IS IN PLACE
FOR USING FORCE.
IT REDUCES THE DISCRETION ME
NAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO
MAKE FORCE DECISIONS IN UNCLEAR
AMBIGUOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO, THE OTHER THING AND I WILL
HARP ON THIS A LOT IS
REQUIRING COMMUNICATION WITH
THE CROWD IS CRITICAL.
ONE THING IS REQUIRING WARNINGS
TO CROWDS BEFORE
THERE'S ANY ATTEMPT TO DISPERSE
OR BEFORE THERE'S
ANY USE OF LESS LETHAL WEAPONS.
IT'S ONE WAY TO MINIMIZE
ESCALATION.
POLICIES HAVE EXEMPTIONS FOR
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR
WHATEVER.
THOSE EXEMPTIONS, IF THEY ARE
PRESENT IN THE
SITUATION NEED TO BE
DOCUMENTED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE BASIS FOR NOT
PROVIDING A WARNING.
ALONG WITH GIVING WARNINGS,
THIS BOILS DOWN TO DUE
PROCESS.
IT'S THE GIVING PEOPLE OF
NOTICE OF WHAT'S ABOUT TO
HAPPEN TO THEM AND GIVING THEM
MEANINGFUL
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THAT
NOTICE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO ISSUE AN
ORDER TO DISPERSE A
CROWD, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
MAKE SURE THE CROWD
HEARS IT, UNDERSTAND IT.
YOU HAVE TO DO IN A VARIETY OF
WAYS TO LET AS MANY
PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AS
POSSIBLE.
GIVE THEM A MEANINGFUL AMOUNT
OF TIME TO DISPERSE.
GIVE THEM MEANINGFUL AVENUES TO
DISPERSE.
DON'T ENGAGE IN KETTLING OR
DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.
DON'T SHUT DOWN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SO THEY HAVE
TO WAY TO GET OUT AND GET HOME.
THERE'S A VARIETY OF THINGS
THAT GO INTO THIS BULLET
THAT ARE CRITICAL IN GIVING
PEOPLE AN UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND GIVING
THEM THE OPPORTUNITY
TO RESPOND BEFORE FORCE IS USED
ON THEM AND POLICE
ACTION IS TAKEN.
MARY, IF YOU COULD MOVE THE
SLIDE.
AGAIN COMMUNICATION,
COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION.
WHAT WE HAVE SORT OF PROPOSED
IS TRADITIONAL DECASE
HAITIAN TACTICS DON'T WORK WITH
LARGE CROWDS.
REALLY THE WAY YOU WOULD
DEESCALATE A CROWD IS TO
REDUCE PRESENCE TO REDUCE LINES
AND OFFICERRERS
STANDING OUT IN HARD GEAR AND
FIND WAYS TO
MEANINGFULLY COMMUNICATE WITH
THE CROWD, BEFORE
CRISIS OCCURS AND ONGOING
DURING ANY MASS
DEMONSTRATION.
WITH REGARD TO COMMUNICATING
BEFORE A CRISIS, WE
SUGGESTED AND FOUND A COUPLE
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
DONE.
IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING HAPPENING
OR MAY BRING PEOPLE
OUT IN MASSES TO DEMONSTRATE,
RUNNING PUBLIC SAFETY
ANNOUNCEMENTS OR DOING
SOMETHING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
ABOUT THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS AND WHAT MAY
HAPPEN IF RIOTS ARE DECLARED.
WE FOUND IN MINNEAPOLIS IN 2016
THEY DID THAT WITH A
SITUATION THEY WERE ABOUT TO
ANNOUNCE PROSECUTION
DECISIONS REGARDING THE POLICE
SHOOTING OF CLARK.
THEY DID PSAs TO TRY TO MANAGE
FOLKS.
I THINK WHAT COMES OUT OF SOME
EXPERIENCES THAT WE
READ ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT
YOU'RE ANSWERING
QUESTIONS THAT COMMUNITY MIGHT
HAVE AND NOT JUST
WHAT OFFICERS OR GOVERNMENT
WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW.
FOR PUSHING OUT INFORMATION TO
ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR
AND GIVE THEM PRIOR
NOTICE OF THINGS THAT MAY
POTENTIALLY HAPPEN.
SO IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING
DURING A MASS
DEMONSTRATION, WE SUGGEST USING
A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT METHODS.
SOUND AMPLIFICATION IS
CRITICAL.
THERE'S SOMETIMES SOUND IS
INEFFECTIVE MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION.
THERE MAY BE FOLKS THAT CAN'T
HEAR.
THERE MAY BE NOISES IN THE
CROWD THAT MAKE IT
INEFFECTIVE.
ALSO USING VISUAL
COMMUNICATION, PUSHING OUT
INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR
OTHER THINGS ARE A
WAY TO DO THAT.
IF YOU'LL MOVE ALONG.
THERE ARE VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS
THAT USE THINGS
LIKE.
THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF OAKLAND
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
VISUAL COMMUNICATION BOARDS IN
A RECENT PROTEST
WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS THEY'RE
LOW AND SMALL.
UNLESS YOU'VE GOT THEM UP HIGH
OR GOT A BUNCH OF
THEM, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE
SUPER EFFECTIVE.
THERE ARE PROBABLY DECENT
TARGETS FOR FOLKS THAT
WANT TO CAUSE DAMAGE.
YOU COULD PRINT LARGE BANNERS
THAT COULD BE HOISTED
OR BROUGHT DOWN.
YOU CAN -- THERE ARE MANY
WAYS TO IMAGINE DOING
VISUAL COMMUNICATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE PEOPLE
OPTIONS TO KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON IN MANAGING A CROWD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THIS
ABOUT OFFICERS HAVING
FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE.
WE THINK IF SPD CAN RETAIN
WEAPONS, HAVING THEM
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OFFICERRERS TO PRACTICE
THEM MIGHT REDUCE THE RISK OF
HIGH STRESS
SITUATIONS.
MARY, GO AHEAD.
WE FOUND THEY ALREADY
UNDERSTAND A LOT ABOUT CROWD
MANAGEMENT, TACTICS, AND THAT
USING FIXED RIOT LINES
SERVED TO ESCALATE CROWDS.
THEY LIMIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DEESCALATION.
THEY KNOW.
SPD LIKE MOST AGENCIES IN HAVE
NOT COME UP WITH A
SOLUTION FOR DEALING WITH LARGE
STATIC CROWDS
GATHERED IN ONE PLACE AND CAN'T
BE MADE MOBILE OR
MOVING.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE HAPPENED
THIS SUMMER.
NOW THEY'RE LEFT WITH GUIDANCE
ON HOW TO DEAL WITH
CROWDS IN FIXED LOCATIONS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE
DIRECTOR MENTIONED.
WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH
WAYS TO APPROACH.
ONE IS THAT YOU APPROACH IT
WITH, LIKE I SAID, THE
FACILITATION THAT YOU DO IT IN
STAGES OR IN GRADED
WAYS WHERE IF YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE OFFICER PRESENCE,
YOU CAN HAVE OFFICERS IN SOFT
UNIFORMS WHO COME OUT.
IF OFFICER PRESENCE IS
NECESSARY.
VIOLENCE TO OTHERWISE LEFT THE
CROWD CONTINUE WITH
GATHERING AND EXPRESSING FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS OR
IF IT DEINVOLVES INTO A
SITUATION WHERE AN ACTUAL
RIOT IS DECLARED, YOU'VE GOT
OTHER PERSONNEL SAMED
TO MOVE IN AND HANDLE THAT THAT
AREN'T STANDING
AROUND SERVING TO ESCALATE THE
CROWD ALL THROUGHOUT.
FOR HAVING TARGETED ENFORCEMENT
CAPABILITY FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING
ISOLATED VIOLENT INCIDENTS
IN A CROWD TO OTHERWISE ALLOW
THE PEACEFUL CROWD TO
REMAIN.
TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH
CROWDS.
MARY?
THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A ISSUE
THAT'S SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW WAS
THAT WITH NOT BEING
ABLE TO HAVE APPROPRIATE LEVELS
OF STAFFING FOR SOME
OF THESE EVENTS, OFFICERS SEEM
TO THEN RESORT TO
RELIANCE ON LESS LETHAL TOOLS
WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH FOLKS.
SPD DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT
STAFFING TO MANAGE THE
PROTEST THIS IS SUMMER.
OBVIOUSLY THIS CREATES A RISK
THE PUBLIC IS
SUBJECTED TO A FORCE OUTSIDE
THE NORMS AND
STANDARDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HIGHLIGHTED AS A POTENTIAL
SOLUTION IF MUTUAL AID IS USED
IN THE FUTURE IS
THERE'S SOME SORT OF REGIONAL
SOLUTION TO AT THE AT
LEAST INSURE PROMPT.
>> IF WE COULD PICK UP THE
PACE, THAT WOULD BE
FANTASTIC.
>> WE CAN SKIP THIS SLIDE.
WE CAN ACTUALLY PROBABLY --
LET'S SEE IF THERE'S
ANYTHING ELSE I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT HERE.
NOPE, YOU CAN SKIP THIS ONE
MARY.
WE SUGGESTED SPD TRY TO DO
OUTREACH AFTER THINGS AND
PROVIDE INFORMATION VERY SOON
AFTER THE FACT WHEN
THERE HAS BEEN PROTEST RESPONSE
THAT RESULTED IN
IMPACTS ON PUBLIC TRUSTS.
WE SUGGEST THEY TRY TO USE LESS
TECHNICAL LANGUAGE
AND NOT OVERBLOW SITUATIONS
THAT FEND TO
DELEGITIMIZE WHAT THEY'RE
DOING.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IN
COMMUNICATIONS DON'T
INGENDER PUBLIC TRUSTS.
WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THAT THAT
KIND OF COMMUNICATION.
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, MARY.
WITH REGARD TO EXTERNAL
AUTHORIZATION, WE'RE NOT
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
WE WERE CONFUSED WHAT
WAS BEING ASKED.
REALLY, THE BIGGER ISSUE FOR US
IS IF YOU'RE
CONTACTING SOMEBODY EXTERNALLY
TO GET AUTHORIZATION,
THEY'RE ALREADY RELYING ON
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY
POLICE.
IF THE CONCERN IS YOU DON'T
TRUST INFORMATION FROM
POLICE, DON'T TRUST DECISIONS
MADE BY POLICE, THE
INFORMATION WILL THEN BE BIASED
IF COMMUNICATED TO A
THIRD PARTY WHO'S NOT THERE.
THERE'S A RISK IN THAT.
THERE MAY BE TIME CONSTRAINTS
WHERE IF IT'S A LIFE
SAFETY EMERGENCY, YOU DON'T
HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.
AS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED ALREADY.
THIS IS A SLIDE ABOUT REVIEW.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A
LATER TIME.
THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.
HOPEFULLY I CAUGHT MUCH OF THE
INFORMATION FROM THE
COUNCIL QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED IN THE
PRESENTATION.
>> YOU DEFINITELY DID.
THANK YOU.
I WILL NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
TO OFFER.
I DO ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
COMMITTEE WHETHER OR
NOT THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS
TIME.
ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M ALSO
HAPPY TO DEFER TO OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
I ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION IF
THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH DIRECTOR
FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY
THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR
MIREBURG BACK ON AS WELL.
I WANTED TO ASK A QUICK
QUESTION THAT RELATES TO
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOTH
BODIES.
DIRECTOR MIREBURG MENTIONED ONE
MECHANIC
COMMENDATION, THE NATURE OF THE
RECENT PROTEST WAS
DIRECTED TO EXCESSIVE USE OF
FORCE FROM POLICE
OFFICER ACROSS THE COUNTRY
RESULTED IN ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO STOP HAVING
POLICE OFFICERS SORT
OF PRESENT A HARD LINE AND STOP
EXACERBATING THE
PROTESTS OR ESCALATING THE
PROTESTS.
YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE THINGS
TO DO WAS CLEAR
COMMUNICATION, PSAs, SIGNS.
MY CONCERN BASED ON THE DATA
AND REPORTS I'M SEEING
NATIONALLY AND THIS IS NOT JUST
SEATTLE.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ANY
INDICATION YOU HAVE FOR SEATTLE
IS THAT THE RESPONSE
TO THE PROTESTS WAS ESCALATED
BECAUSE POLICE USE OF
FORCE WAS BEING QUESTIONED.
YOU SAW EXCESSIVE POLICE USE OF
FORCE.
I'M WONDERING -- I'VE SEEN
REPORTS ACROSS THE
NATION TALKING ABOUT THIS, CAN
YOU COMMENT ON THEM
AS INDICATION YOU HAVE THAT
THERE WAS EXCESSIVE USE
OF FORCE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE
OF CONCERNS AROUND
POLICE USE OF FORCE BEING THE
TARGET OF THE PROTEST.
I WANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THE USE OF
FORCE VERSUS OFFICERS WHAT
PEOPLE ARE PROTEST AS
GOOD EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT RESPOND AND
IF IT WAS EXCESSIVE EXCESS
THERE WERE INSTANCES.
IT'S CLEAR OFFICERS CAME OUT
WITH A STRONG PRESENCE.
ONE THING WE OBSERVED AND NOTED
IN OUR REPORT WAS
THAT THE MISSION OF SPD SEEPED
TO CHANGE
DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE PROTESTS
BECAME -- I DON'T
THINK THEY WERE EXPECTING ANKER
AND OUTRAGE
EXPRESSED AT POLICE.
IN MOST PREVIOUS PROTESTS, IT'S
BEEN A DIFFERENT
ISSUE.
POLICE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
LARGELY AVOID BECOMING THE
ISSUE AS LONG AS THEY WERE
USING APPROPRIATE TACTICS
AND NOT INDIVIDUAL -- IN
OTHER WAYS INFLAMING THE
CROWD.
I DON'T THINK THEY WERE
PREPARED TO BE THE SUBJECT
OF OUTRAGE AND EXPRESSION.
WE DID SEE ACTUAL CHANGES IN
THEIR PLANS AND
APPROACHES WHEN IT GAME
APPARENT THE ANGER WAS
DIRECTED AT THEM SPECIFICALLY.
TO STAND OUT THERE AND TAKE
PRETTY HARD STUFF THAT'S
DIRECTED AT INSTITUTION OF
POLICING BUT STILL REMAIN
PROFESSIONAL AND STILL APPROACH
IT WITH THE BELIEF
THIS PERSON HAS THE ABSOLUTE
RIGHT TO EXPRESS THAT
AND BE PROTECTED AND EXPRESSING
THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
FOR THAT PRESENTATION, I HAVE
SEVERAL QUESTIONS I'LL
GO OVER AND ASK ALL AT ONCE.
I WOULD ALSO IN ADDITION TO
YOUR VERBAL RESPONSES IF
YOU HAVE ANY, THAT'S ALSO FINE.
I WANT TO FIRST CLARIFY FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ SAYS SHE
HAS CONFIDENCE IN
THE STRUCTURE THAT HAVE BEEN
SET UP.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I
DO NOT SHARE HER
CONFIDENCE.
THE OFFICE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL ARE PART OF
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE SEEN MAYOR DURKAN'S
APPROACH AND HER
POLITICAL POSITIONS MANY OF
THESE CRUCIAL ISSUES.
THESE ARE NOT MINOR ISSUES.
THESE ARE QUESTIONS OF
INDISCRIMINATE VIOLENCE
TARGETED AT PEACEFUL PROTESTORS
AND AT PROTESTS
ACTIONS BY CHILDREN, ELDERLY,
WOMEN ARE PRESENT.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE
ONGOING POLICE VIOLENCE
THAT IS ESPECIALLY RACIALLY
BIASED.
SO THESE ARE FOOT SMALL ISSUES
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S CORRECT THAT ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE
ASKING HARD QUESTIONS.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU AS
INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS OF
THESE DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE ARE
PROTESTING AGAINST THE
SYSTEM ITSELF.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT ULTIMATELY
THE ROCK IS AT THE
CORE OF THE SYSTEM OF
CAPITALISM, STATE IT NEEDS TO
KEEP PROTEST MOVEMENTS INIC.
THAT'S THE CONTEXT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S ALSO NOT AN ACADEMIC
POINT.
IT'S ALSO AN OBSERVED --
OBSERVATION OF PEOPLE
THAT THE REASON THESE AGENCIES
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
ACTUALLY BRING ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY IS BECAUSE THEY
ARE CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
THEIR PURPOSE IS ACTUALLY NOT
TO BRING ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE THE
RECORD.
I ASKED WHAT STEPS HAVE THE
ORGANIZATIONS TAKEN TO
INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT
TALK ABOUT IT WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE.
THE ASSESSMENT IS NOT HAS BEEN
DONE.
I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING.
I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY YOU'RE
NOT IN FAVOR OF STEPS
SUCH AS SHUTTING DOWN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
I ABSOLUTELY SHUT DOWN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION IS A
TERRIBLE THING TO DO.
IT'S NOT JUST THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
THE LIGHT RAIL SHUT DOWN FOR
EXAMPLE.
ON THE DAY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
COURAGEOUSLY AT THE
AIRPORT PROTESTING AGAINST
TRUMP'S MUSLIM BAN.
KETTLING SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGED
IN.
THEY ARE VIOLENT PRACTICES.
I CLAIRE FIRE YOUR POSITION ON
THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS I'M QUITE
SURPRISED TO SAY THE AT
LEAST TO SAY THAT YOU'RE SAYING
THE POLICE WERE NOT
PREPARED TO BE THE SUBJECT OF
PROTESTS.
A LOT OF THINGS YOU SAID WERE
AS PROTESTS DEVELOPED,
IT BECAME SHARP AGAINST THE
POLICE, THEY HAD TO
RESPOND.
RIGHT OF WRONG, THAT WAS THE
CONTEXT.
THAT WASNOT THE CONTEXT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE 7-YEAR-OLD
MACED BY THE POLICE
HAPPENED ON THE FIRST DAY OF
PROTESTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE FIRST FEW
HOURS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY
EXAMPLES.
I WAS THERE ON THAT FIRST DAY
OF PROTESTS.
A LOT OF VIOLENT ACTIONS WERE
TAKEN BY POLICE.
>>> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO
CLARIFY IS YOU SAID
THAT SPD DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH
PERSONNEL.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THERE WERE 400 ON THE FIRST DAY
OF THE GEORGE FLOYD
PROTEST.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE
SENTENCE SAID.
ONLY 400?
THAT'S A QUESTION OF WHAT IS
YOUR ANALYSIS PREMISED
ON.
IF THE POLICE WANT TO POLICE A
LARGELY PEACEFUL
PROTEST, WHY ISN'T THAT NUMBER
ENOUGH?
ALSO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, I'M
NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW
DO YOU SQUARE THE CLAIM THAT IT
WASN'T SUFFICIENT
PERSONNEL WITH THE FACT THERE
WAS $6.3 MILLION OF
OVERTIME IN THE FIRST 12 DAYS
OF THE PROTEST.
EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE
INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS IN YOUR
VIEW, NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS
CLEARLY A LOT OF PUBLIC
MONIES WERE SPENT ON OVERTIME.
IF YOU COULD JUST PROVIDE
CLARIFICATION ON HOW YOU
SQUARE TWO THINGS.
A CLEAR GUIDELINE FROM POLICE
ON WHAT IS GOING WRONG
OR MIGHT GO WRONG SO PEOPLE IN
THE MOVEMENT
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING WRONG.
I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT.
I DON'T ACCEPT THAT IS SOME
SORT OF MAIN OR ONE OF
THE IMPORTANT REASONS THE
POLICE FAILED IN DOING THE
RIGHT THING.
THERE'S MANY EXAMPLES.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE
OF THE ONE OF THE
PROTESTS NIGHTS AT THE 11th
PROTEST MOVEMENT.
THIS HAPPENED EVERY NIGHT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE WHERE
NOBODY CAN SAY THIS
WAS SECOND HAND EVIDENCE.
I WAS THERE.
I'M GIVING YOU FIRST HAND
ACCOUNT.
THE COMMUNICATION WAS AUDIBLE,
VERY LOUD.
WE COULD HEAR EVERY WORD
CLEARLY.
I NEVER SAW WHO THE INCIDENT
COMMANDER WAS.
WRONG THE POLICE MAKES THAT
CLEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MY
INTENTION OR NOT.
THAT'S THE SITUATION I SAW.
I COULDN'T SEE WHO WAS IN
CHARGE.
I HEARD THE DISEMBODIED VOICE
CLEARLY.
THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE
COMMUNICATION.
YES, THERE WERE WARNINGS AND
ALL OF THAT.
I AGREE THAT THIS COMMUNICATION
AND THESE WARNINGS
SHOULD BE USED TO WHATEVER
EXTENT POSSIBLE TO
MINIMIZE ESCALATION.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT ALL THAT
THE MOVEMENT WAS DOING
WAS MARCHING FORWARD STEP BY
STEP.
THEY WEREN'T ENGAGING IN ANY
VIOLENCE.
THE ACT OF MARCHING FORWARD ON
A PUBLIC STREET WAS
CONSIDERED ESCALATION BY
POLICE.
THE PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCLEAR
COMMUNICATION.
THE SITUATION, THERE WAS A
BREAKDOWN BECAUSE OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE
WANTED A MARCH
FORWARD.
POLICE WERE NOT GOING TO LET
THEM.
THAT'S WHEN VIOLENCE HAPPENED.
I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO ADDRESS
HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT
THAT SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN,
COULD HAVE GONE
DIFFERENTLY?
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MINUTES
AFTER THAT, THERE WAS
TEAR GAS, CS GAS, WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO CALL IT,
BLAST BALLS, ABSOLUTE LOOKED
LIKE A WAR ZONE MINUTES
AFTER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
QUESTIONS COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
I WOULD INVITE INSPECTOR
GENERAL JUDGE TO FOLLOW UP
AFTER THIS MEETING IN ANSWERING
COUNCIL MEMBER'S
SAWANT'S QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO WRAP UP AND TALK
ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND MOVE
ON TO OUR LAST ITEM ON THE
AGENDA BEFORE WE START
LOSING PEOPLE.
JUST IN CLOSING, THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE YOU MAY RECALL OBTAINED
A TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
ORDINANCE PER THE 2012 CONSENT
DECREE.
THAT CASE IS ONGOING.
U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ROBAR
REQUESTED THE BODIES
TO SUBMIT RECOMMENDATION TO HIM
AS WELL AS OUR OWN
REQUESTS IN THE ORDNANCE ITSELF
TO RECEIVE THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF OUR APPROACH
MOVING FORWARD, THERE'S BEEN A
REQUEST FOR A SHORT
EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT
DEADLINE SET BY THE COURT.
THE COURT HAD PREVIOUSLY
ORDERED THAT THE PARTIES
SUBMIT BY SEPTEMBER 12th
ANALYSIS OF THE
INTERACTION WITH ORDNANCE OF
THE DECENT DECREE AS
WELL AS POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICIES THAT THE CONSENT
DEDEGREE GOVERNS.
THE COURT GOVERNED THAT THE
PARTIES RESPOND TO
REPORTS SUBMITTED BY THE OPA
AND IG.
IN LIGHT OF THIS WORK TO BE
DONE, WE RECOGNIZE MORE
TIME WILL BE NEEDED.
AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT THE CURRENT
RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF
CROWD CONTROL WEAPONS
THAT CAME FROM ANOTHER
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
ADOPTED BY U.S. DISTRICT COURT
SOUGHT BY BLACK LIVES
MATTER AND ALCU IS IN PLACE.
THE INJUNCTION LIMITING THE USE
OF CROWD CONTROLLED
DEVICES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th.
AND ON AUGUST 10th IN RESPONSE
TO A MOTION OF
CONTEMPT BY BLACK LIVES MATTER
AND ALCU THE CITY
AGREED TO EXPANSION OF THE
INJUNCTION TO FURTHER
LIMIT THE USE OF CHEMICAL
ARROGANTS OR IRRIGATIONS.
SPECIFIED THAT DECLARING A RIOT
DOES NOT EXEMPT THE
CITY FROM OBLIGATIONS UNDER
THIS ORDER.
SO THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT WE'RE ACTING IN ACCORDANCE
OF THIS INJUNCTION
BUT EXISTENCE.
I BELIEVE IT DOES GIVE US THE
ABOUT TO CONTINUE ALSO
DISCUSSING WHAT OUR LEGAL
APPROACH IS GOING TO BE
MOVING FORWARD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE.
>> COMMITTEE ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THIS IS THE COUNSEL BILL.
BUT THAT OPERATION.
THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
AUTHORIZED FOR THE TECHNOLOGIES.
FOR THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT EXECUTED ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE PER THE
LOCAL AGREEMENT.
IT IS OFFERED WITH THE FEDERAL
WAYS.
THIS IS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.
THEY ARE OPERATING THAT SYSTEM
AS WELL.
FOR THE AGREEMENT AND THE
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO KICK THIS OFF.
WE HAVE A BRIEF BACKGROUND FROM
LISA K.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAME
CHAIR.
>> I HAVE THIS IN MY OFFICE K
THAT HOME.
THIS IS THE PUGET SOUND RADIO
NETWORK FROM THE COOPERATION TO
CLEAR A NEW NONPROFIT TO GOVERN
THE EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEM.
OPERATIONS OF WHAT ARE CALLED
THOSE SYSTEMS AND ON APRIL 2015
THAT WILL INCLUDE PROPERTY TAX
LEGISLATION.
THE CURRENT EMERGENCY SYSTEM IS
JUMPING OFF BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS
AS WELL.
THIS IS OVER MOSTLY SUPPORTING
AS WELL.
THE NEW SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT OVER 100 AGENCIES THIS
IS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
WITH THOSE EMERGENCY USERS.
OWNERS AND USERS OF THOSE BUT
THEIR PLACEMENT SYSTEM THIS IS
THE 2015 MEMO.
THIS IS BETWEEN THE CURRENT
SYSTEM AND ANTICIPATING THE
CREATION OF A NONPROFIT
CORPORATION.
MY STAFF REPORT IS INCLUDED AND
THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
WERE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE
BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE GROUP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
THINK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I ASSUME THAT YOU WILL BE
LEAVING THE PRESENTATION?
>> YES.
GOOD MORNING.
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US JUST
A FEW MINUTES TO GIVE A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF THAT SYSTEM.
BUT BEFORE I START, I DO WANT
TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE TODAY'S THE 19th
ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.
OUR COUNTRY FACED A VERY
DIFFICULT TIMES ON THE DAY WE
LOST OVER 2900 PEOPLE, 71 OF
THOSE POLICE OFFICERS AND 343
FIREFIGHTERS.
ON THAT DAY THE FIRE SERVICE
MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL
NEVER FORGET.
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
THIS MORNING HAS HAD EVENTS
HONORING THEM.
WE READ THE NAMES OF ALL 343
FIREFIGHTERS.
WE ARE HONORING THOSE
FIREFIGHTERS WHO PASSED AWAY ON
THAT DAY.
SO, I WILL START A PRESENTATION
FROM THERE.
LET'S SEE RIGHT HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
I THINK I'M SHARING MY SCREEN
RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY, GOOD.
>> IT'S JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW
OF THE SYSTEM.
I COULD ADVANCE TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
I WILL JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT
WHAT THE ILA DOES.
I WILL GIVE A FEW PROJECT
UPDATES AND THEN KAI WILL OPEN
IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AT THE END.
LISA DID A GREAT JOB GIVING ME
OVERVIEW.
SHE COVERED SOME OF THOSE
POINTS THAT I WILL COVER.
WHAT THIS DOES IS AUTHORIZES THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO ENTER AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY AND
10 OTHER AGENCIES TO ACTUALLY
STAND UP THE NONPROFIT AND CARD
THAT IS CRITICAL FOR US.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
PROJECT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW.
WE ARE COMING TO SOME CRITICAL
POINTS.
THEY HAVE THOSE IN THE GOVERNOR
FOR OPERATIONS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT
FOR US ALSO.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WILL HAVE
ONE OF FOUR SEATS.
IN THIS INSTANCE THE PROJECT
HAS STOOD UP A NUMBER OF YEARS
AGO.
ALL PARTIES ARE WORKING TO HAVE
SIGNED INNER LOCAL AGREEMENTS I
THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
THAT HAS BEEN OUR GOAL.
WE ARE ABOUT 50% COMPLETE.
OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS AN ANALOG
RADIO SYSTEM THAT WAS STOOD UP
IN 1995 AS THEY MENTIONED.
IT HAS REACHED, AND THE LIFE IT
IS 25 YEARS OLD.
IT IS NO LONGER BEING SUPPORTED
BY OUR VENDORS.
THE PARTNERS, YOU CAN SEE ON
THE SLIDE, WE HAVE EASTSIDE
AGENCIES OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE HAVE OUR COMMUNICATION
CENTER AGENCIES WHICH IS IN
ANOTHER COUNTY.
IN SEATTLE THE SYSTEM IS
PRIMARILY USED BY THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS
PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER ENTITIES
IN THE CITY.
ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW IT IS
94% ON THE STREET COVERAGE THIS
WILL PROVIDE SOME IMPROVEMENTS
THIS IS A DIGITAL SYSTEM
OPERATED BY A SINGLE OWNER.
AND, THAT IS ON 97% WITH A
PORTABLE RADIO.
THAT IS A PRAYER AND
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR CURRENT
SYSTEM.
THAT IS PENETRATING THAT
COVERAGE.
THIS IS PROVIDING THAT COVERAGE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE WE HAVE
ABOUT 240 BUILDINGS TO IMPROVE
OUR COVERAGE.
YOU KNOW, EACH DAY WE ARE
WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT JUST A
BIT MORE.
AS LISA MENTIONED, THIS WAS
PASSED IN 2015.
IT WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS
HERE IN KING COUNTY THAT SET
ASIDE FUNDING TO SET UP THE
SYSTEM.
THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE 57 RADIO
TRANSMITTER SITE ROUTE KING
COUNTY.
TODAY WE HAVE 26 TO 57.
ALSO ON TOP OF THAT WE MADE
ADJUSTMENTS AVIDLY HAVE BEEN
MOVING ALONG AT FOUR MORE
COVERED SITES THAT WILL BE
STOOD UP FOR THE ADDITIONAL
COVERAGE HERE.
THIS IS IN BELLEVUE.
SO, IT IS QUITE THE EXPANSIVE
SENSOR.
ALL OF THOSE END-USERS THAT
WILL BE USING THE SYSTEM, AND
OVER 5000 OF THOSE USERS WILL
BE HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE VOTER APPROVED MEASURES
HAVE APPROVED ABOUT $290 MILLION
TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON TRACK WITH
COMING IN ON BUDGET FOR THE
PROJECT.
THIS MAP PROVIDES A GENERAL
OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM AND THE
DIFFERENT TOWERS.
ALL OF THE GREEN DOTS ON THE
SCREEN ARE SHOWING THE HARD WORK
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND
BUILDING OUT ALL THESE TOWERS.
THEY HAVE THOSE SITES UNDER
CONSTRUCTION.
THE ONLY ONE IN RED, WHICH IS A
VERY GOOD SIGN FOR US RIGHT NOW,
IT IS STILL BEING WORKED
THROUGH IN THE ESCALATION.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TOWERS
WILL BE THROUGH THE EASTERN
PART OF THE COUNTY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GOOD
COVERAGE HERE WHEN THE SYSTEM
COMES ONLINE.
WHAT WILL THEY PROVIDE?
ADVANCED DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.
IT WILL IMPROVE CAPACITY,
CAPABILITY, AND CONNECTIVITY.
PEOPLE MAY SAY THAT YOU GET A
CLEAR RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM A
DIGITAL SYSTEM.
IT REMOVES THE BACKGROUND NOISE.
THAT'S THE SIMPLE WAY I'D LIKE
TO SAY IT IS IT IS A AND VERSUS
FM RADIO.
ANY TIME YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT
SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT CLEANER.
THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT.
A 20 YEAR CONTRACT WITH OUR
VENDOR IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
THEY HAVE THE UNIFORM
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO HAVE
IMPROVED COVERAGE THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTY ON HIGHWAYS TWO,
FOUR, 10 AND 90.
AS THEY TRANSITION WITH OUR
DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS, WE WILL
NOT LOSE ANY COVERAGE.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS, WE SENT
RESOURCES DOWN SOUTH TO HELP
DOWN IN SUMNER.
THEY WON'T LOSE ANY OF THEIR
CONNECTIVITY.
THESE UPGRADES AND REPAIRS OF
BOTH SYSTEMS.
THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT
FOR US.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, OVER
17,000 NEW RADIOS.
THAT WILL BE BE DEPLOYED
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
ALL OF THOSE AGENCIES WILL BE
ON THE SAME RADIOS.
INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT IS 24
SEVEN.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE
WORKS FOR AS YOU CAN SEE EIGHT
YEARS NOW THAT STARTED IN
AUGUST OF 2012.
YOU CAN IDENTIFY A NUMBER OF
THOSE MILESTONES FROM THE
SLIDES ON THE SCREEN.
BUT WE HAVE SOME MORE
SIGNIFICANT ONES AHEAD OF US.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN
STANDING UP.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY STAND UP THE
OPERATR.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE
ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME LARGE
STEPS FORWARD.
THIS WILL REACH FULL SYSTEM
ACCEPTANCE.
ALL OF THOSE WILL BE VERY
SIGNIFICANT STEP.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE,
98% OF OUR LEGAL AGREEMENTS ARE
DONE.
93% OF THE SITES ARE
CONSTRUCTED OR ARE UNDER
CONSTRUCTED OF OUR MOTOROLA LAND
EQUIPMENT IS NOW INSTALLED.
THAT INCLUDES THE LINK WHICH
TRANSMITS THE RADIO SIGNALS.
SO, WE ARE REALLY ON A GOOD
PLACE RIGHT NOW.
>> THE OPERATOR SO FAR IS 50%
OF THE AGENCIES THEY HAVE
SIGNED.
SO SIX OF THE 12 HOUR GOAL IS
BY THE END OF THE MONTH TO GET
ALL 12 APPROVED SO THAT WE CAN
START TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
STANDING UP.
SO, THAT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO
RIGHT THERE.
THE TRANSFER OF ALL ASSETS OR
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE THE
NEW AGENCY WILL OCCUR AS WE
START TO CLOSE OUT THE PROJECT.
AND, THIS WILL ACTUALLY HIT THE
IT BUDGET IN 23 AND 24.
IT WILL BE A TRANSFER OF THESE
THAT ALREADY PAID FOR THE
EXISTING RADIO MAINTENANCE AND
OUR EXISTING RADIOS.
SO, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CITY
OF SEATTLE WILL HAVE ONE VOTE.
CURRENTLY I AM THE
REPRESENTATIVE.
THAT POSITION THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WILL STILL HAVE A
VOTING MEMBER.
THERE WILL BE TWO OF THEM
AROUND THE COUNTY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE
AGENCIES ARE THE MAJOR USERS ON
THE SYSTEM.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL RUN
THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THAT NO
LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR
MAINTAINING THE 800 MEGAHERTZ
RADIO TOWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT WILL TRANSFER TO THE
OPERATOR.
THE OPERATOR WILL MANAGE THE
DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS BUT, THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT
PORTABLE RADIO FOR ALL THOSE
DEPARTMENTS.
THEY ALSO ALLOW THE OPTION TO
TRANSFER SEATTLE TECHNICAL STAFF
TO THE OPERATOR TO HELP WITH
THE MAINTENANCE AND THEY HAD A
FUTURE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS THAT
WILL BE REQUIRED.
AS I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS
SIDE.
THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> YES.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
THAT I WANTED TO ASK.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS RELATED TO
SLIDE FIVE.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 97%
COVERAGE AT THE STREET LEVEL
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA?
IS AT THE CITY, KING COUNTY?
AND THEN, AS IT RELATES TO THE
FACT THAT THEY PROVIDE IN
BUILDING REPEATERS WITH THAT
CODE, IS THERE A POINT AT WHICH
BUILDING DENSITY OR HEIGHT
MAKES GETTING A RADIO SIGNAL
DIFFICULT?
AND IF SO, I'M JUST WONDERING
WHY IT'S ONLY REQUIRED BY CODE
IF THERE IS A MAJOR ACTIONS
PARTICIPATING.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR
NOT THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
CREATING THAT CONSISTENCY.
LASTLY, ACTUALLY, IT'S TWO MORE.
FOR SLIDE NINE I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE DATES ARE
ACCURATE GIVEN THE CURRENT
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
AS IT RELATES TO THE DECISION-
MAKING BODY, THOSE VOTING
MEMBERS COULD YOU SPEAK TO WHAT
HAPPENS?
>> OKAY.
THAT WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
BUT THE TESTING IN THE COVERAGE,
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY
FROM SEATTLE TO BELLEVUE, AND
IT WILL BE I BELIEVE IT IS 2/10
OF A MILE INCREMENTS.
WHETHER IT IS IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE OR BELLEVILLE, IT WILL
ALL BE THE SAME TESTING
COVERAGE.
THAT IS A 97% RELIABILITY FROM
A PORTABLE RADIO.
I HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE FROM A
PORTABLE RADIO IF YOU ARE ON
THE STREET.
SO, THAT IS THE RELIABILITY.
THE SAME STANDARDS WILL BE
DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
COUNTY.
THE SECOND QUESTION, MAYBE YOU
CAN REFRESH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT RELATES TO THE POINT OF WHICH
BUILDING HEIGHT OR DENSITY
MIGHT MAKE RADIO SIGNAL
RECEPTIONS CALLED AND WHY IS IT
THAT WE ARE RELYING ON BUILDING
CODES WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS?
JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT
THE AGREEMENT ITSELF MAY CREATE
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT
CONSISTENCY.
>> WHILE THE AUTHORITY HAVING
JURISDICTION ADOPTED ON FIRE
CODES HERE IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE
ADOPTED THE ADJUSTMENTS OF OUR
FIRE CODE.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROBBLY
FURTHER DOWNFIELD THAN SOME OF
THE OTHER AGENCIES BECAUSE WE
HAVE ADOPTED IT.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 240 BUILDINGS
THAT ALREADY HAVE THOSE EAS
SYSTEMS.
IT IS BASICALLY ON THE ROOF
WHICH A SYSTEM RUNS THROUGH THE
BUILDING THAT CONNECTS TO ALLOW
ADDITIONALCOVERAGE INSIDE OF
THE BUILDING.
THE HEIGHT, DENSITY, AND
MATERIALS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
OUR FIRE CODE LAYS THAT OUT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS YOU CAN
SEE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
BUILDINGS HERE.
THEY ARE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD
WITH ADDING THE SYSTEMS.
OUR FIRE MARSHALS ARE WORKING
WITH THE OTHER FILE MARSHALED
IN THE COUNTY SO HOPEFULLY WE
CAN GET A UNIFORM STANDARD
ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU.
THEN THE LAST TWO QUESTIONS,
SLIDE NINE HAS A TIMELINE
WONDERING WHEN THOSE DATES ARE
ACCURATE.
AND, GIVEN THE GOVERNING BODY
THAT HAS THOSE MEMBERS OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE EVENT OF TIME?
>> SO, THE TIMELINE IS STILL
ACCURATE.
IF THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED,
WE WILL MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THE
CORONAVIRUS HEALTH CRISIS
SLOWED SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE AND IT
CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT MAY NOT JUST BE THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS, CONSTRUCTION HAS
SLOWED BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE
WILDFIRES TAKING PLACE.
SO THE TEAMS CAN'T GET TO THE
TOWERS TO FINISH THE
CONSTRUCTION.
THEY COULD BE A VARIETY OF
THINGS.
GENERALLY THE TEAM ADJUST AND
THAT WORKS ITSELF OUT.
THEN, THE LAST ONE WAS YOU HAD
ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> THE COMPOSITION OF THE
GOVERNING BOARD.
THE NUMBER OF BOARDS.
>> GENERALLY, MOST DECISIONS
HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS VOTING
DECISIONS.
SO, WITHIN MY THREE YEARS OF
SERVING THERE, WE ACTUALLY
HAVEN'T HAD A TIE.
THE BOARD WORKS PRETTY HARD TO
EDUCATE IN THE BOARD MEMBERS
WERE REALLY HARD TO ACCOMMODATE.
BECAUSE, WE ARE JUST NOT
WORRIED ABOUT SEATTLE.
WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE
EASTSIDE.
AND, KING COUNTY IS WORRIED
ABOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
IT WORKED REALLY HARD TO TRY TO
BRING CONSENSUS TOGETHER AND WE
ACTUALLY HAVE AN EXPERIENCE.
THE MAC UNDERSTOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?
AND THE COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> WELL, THIS IS GIVING AN
OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WELL, THERE IS AN IMPASSE
RESOLUTION.
SORRY.
LET'S FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT ONE.
THIS IS A DECISION THAT
REQUIRES THAT.
THERE IS A PROVISION FOR THE
MEDIATION.
FOR THE ESCALATION OF THAT AS
WELL.
THESE ARE MORE PEOPLE TO GET
INVOLVED IN TRYING TO RESOLVE
THE ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MANY
YEARS OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN
REQUIRED IN THE COLLABORATION
WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
AND, BOTH AS IT RELATES TO
ACTUALLY GETTING THE SITES OFF
AS WELL AS FUNDING THE PROJECT
AND YOU KNOW, MOVING TOWARD THE
THEN, ALL OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY TO GET
US THIS FAR WITH THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT.
I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A
CHALLENGE AND A VERY LARGE AND
IMPORTANT PROJECT.
IT'S REALLY BEEN APPRECIATIVE
AND GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT
THEY HAVE DONE TO GET US TO
THIS POINT.
>> WITH THAT, I THINK THAT I
WILL, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS I WILL MOVE TO COUNTS
UPON THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL 9879 POLICE
SAY AYE.
>> YOU HAVE TO CALL THE ROLL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ALL DIFFERENT.
JUST A NOTE FOR THE FUTURE,
INDICATE THIS.
I'M LEARNING THIS ALL OVER
AGAIN.
>> IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ON THE PASSAGE OF COUNSEL BILL
1198 OF THE NINE PICS YOU.
>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> I THINK THAT THEY MIGHT OF
HAD TO LEAVE ACTUALLY.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COUNSEL BILL 1198 HAS BEEN
RECOMMENDED BY THE PASSAGE BY
THIS COMMITTEE.
IT WILL BE HEARD AT FULL
COUNSEL ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER
14th.
THAT IS THE LAST ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE STAYING
WITH US SO THAT WE COULD GET TO
THIS ITEM.
IF THERE IS NOTHING MORE, FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, IT IS
12:17 P.M.
AND, I AM CALLING THIS MEETING
TO A CLOSE.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.