>> THE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER AT 9:34 ON MAY 13 2025. I
AM CHAIR KETTLE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH .
GOT IT . TRAN 12, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON , CHAIR KETTLE , THERE
ARE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT .
>> OKAY. WE ARE REMOTE IN TWO
HERE. THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
EGYPTIAN -- OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. AND
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED. THIS MORNING FOR THE
CHAIR'S COMMENT, I WANTED TO
START ON A REGULAR BASIS THE
METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
SETTLED AS A SERVICE FOR SEATTLE
AND IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE
PARTICULARLY THE TRENDS WHICH
ARE VERY IMPORTANT CALLED THE
INDEX AND THE ONE I AM LOOKING
AT NOW INDEX EIGHT IS FROM THE
SPRING OF 2025 SO IT HAS JUST
COME OUT AND DONE BY EMC
RESEARCH ALONG WITH FULCRUM
STRATEGIC AND I MENTIONED THAT
THE SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER AS
WELL. I WANTED TO GO THROUGH A
FEW SLIDES BECAUSE I THINK THEY
ARE IMPORTANT. WE ARE
APPROACHING THE YEAR AND A HALF
POINT FOR THIS TERM IN THE
COUNCIL AND THIS COMMITTEE AND
FOR MY CHAIRMANSHIP OF THIS
COMMITTEE. LOOKING AT THE SLIDES
, STARTING WITH NUMBER NINE
CALLED THE OPTIMISM TREND AND IN
THE FALL OF 2023 WAS A 30% GAP
BETWEEN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND
WRONG TRACK . AND THE WRONG
TRACK WAS UP 30 POINTS
CONSIDERING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
NOW TODAY THE RIGHT DIRECTION IS
TO CLOSE THAT GAP AND IT HAS
GONE UP BY ONE POINT SIMILAR TO
THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS NET GAIN
WE HAD LAST YEAR. SO THAT IS
INTERESTING . IT IS POSITIVE.
AND IN SLIDE 11 THEY TALK ABOUT
TOP CONCERNS ABOUT SEATTLE.
FORMALLY NUMBER ONE WAS CRIME,
DRUGS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT
IS NOW NUMBER TWO. IT HAS
DROPPED NINE POINT SO NOW IT IS
NUMBER TWO AFTER HOMELESSNESS,
WHICH GOT AS YOU KNOW FROM
PREVIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS
IMPORTANT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
SEE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRIME
DRUGS PEACE HAS COME DOWN NINE
POINTS. AND ON SLIDE , I BELIEVE
THE NEXT FIGHT AND I DON'T SEE
A NUMBER BUT THE TOP THREE
CONCERNS TREND. WHEN IT COMES TO
PUBLIC SAFETY, IN THE FALL OF
2023, IT WAS AT 48%. WE HAVE HAD
A 17 POINT DROP IN THAT CONCERN
PIECE. THE OTHER CONCERNS ARE
HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABILITY.
PUBLIC SAFETY HAS DROPPED 17
POINTS FROM 48 TO 31%. IT'S IN
VERY IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE.
AND AND PRIORITIES FOR CITY
LEADERSHIP . 52% SAY IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WITH RESPECT
TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS HIGH
IN TERMS OF EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
AND ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE
TOO. IT DOES COME IN THIRD BUT
IN TERMS OF EXTREMELY AND VERY
IMPORTANT, YOU COULD ARGUE TOP.
AND NUMBER ONE WAS TAKING CARE
OF BUSINESS FOR THE CITY
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CARE OF
BUSINESS. I THINK THAT IS ITS
OWN TAKE AWAY. I BELIEVE THAT IS
THE MANTRA OF THIS COUNCIL WHICH
IS DEFINITELY ONE FOR ME AND
AGAIN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
AND WITH RESPECT TO THIS
COMMITTEE, IT IS ABOUT TAKING
CARE OF BUSINESS, RESPECT TO
PUBLIC SAFETY. THE LAST SLIDE I
HAD WAS RELATED TO VISITING
DOWNTOWN. AGAIN, COMPARED TO THE
FALL OF 2023 , TWO NOW, DAYTIME
IN TERMS OF VISITING, FEELING
SAFE AND VISITING IN THE DAYTIME
DOWNTOWN, IT IS UP 16 POINTS.
AND EVEN NIGHTTIME IS 13 POINTS
UP. I WILL NOTE THOUGH AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NIGHTTIME
IS 40 POINTS BELOW DAYTIME. WHAT
THAT SHOWS IS THERE IS STILL A
LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. THE KEY
THING HERE, AND I DO APPRECIATE
THE STUDY. I THINK IT IS VERY
HELPFUL. BUT TO THAT LAST POINT,
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO
BE DONE. PART OF THIS IS
EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT.
SOMETIMES WE WANT TO DECLARE
VICTORY . AND I THINK THAT IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 40 POINT
SPLIT BETWEEN DAYTIME AND
NIGHTTIME SHOWS THERE IS MORE
WORK TO BE DONE. I DO BELIEVE,
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THE ENTIRE TERM OF THIS COUNCIL
WILL BE NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES WE
FACE. I WANT TO NOTE ALSO
BECAUSE THIS COMES UP WITH
ABSOLUTE NUMBERS AND PROPERTY
CRIME BUT INFORMATIVE IN
RELATIVE TERMS AND WITH THIS
STUDY I LOOK AT THE RELATIVE
TERMS WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
I WILL NOTE ON DATA, VIOLENT
CRIME DATA IS MORE RELIABLE AND
NEEDS TO BE LEVERAGED
PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT THAT
DATA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES SUCH
AS GUN VIOLENCE. I STILL BELIEVE
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
WORK THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN AND ITS PILLARS. I BELIEVE
IT IS CRUCIAL. WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF
THAT ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE A
LOT OF PIECES TO THIS. WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING IT AND WE JUST DID
THE OFFICE HOURS ESTABLISHMENT
BILLS AND WE DID VACANT
BUILDINGS ABATEMENT AND OTHER
PIECES WHERE WE ARE WORKING THIS
WITH THE SODA BILL AND THESE ARE
HAVING AN IMPACT. PEOPLE DON'T
TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THEY'RE
HAVING AN IMPACT LIKE SODA ON
THE GROUND AND HAVING AN IMPACT
IN BELLTOWN FOR EXAMPLE. IT IS
NOT REALLY REPORTED, BUT IT IS
TRUE. BUT REALLY IMPORTANT, AT
THE END OF THE DAY THAT PILLAR 1
IS STAFFING. WE NEED TO CONTINUE
OUR WORK ON THAT . PREVIOUSLY,
WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD REPORTING.
BUT WE CAN'T TAKE IT FOR
GRANTED. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
WORK AND DEPRESSED. THIS GOES
BACK TO THE POINT REGARDING THE
SURVEY. THERE IS STILL MORE WORK
TO BE DONE. THAT IS THE BOTTOM
LINE IS THERE IS STILL MORE WORK
TO BE DONE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THE REALITY ON THE GROUND IS
BETTER BUT ALSO THE PERCEPTION
OF REALITY . I THINK THAT IS
ANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE WE HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND. AND WE NEED TO
WORK ON THAT . BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY, THAT WILL DRIVE A
LOT OF PIECES OF CREATING A TRUE
SAFER ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE IT
WILL HELP ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN OR
HELP ACTIVATE PARKS AND THE
LIKE. AND THAT IS WHEN WE
SOLIDIFY THE GAINS WE HAVE BEEN
DOING OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A
HALF. THAT IS MY CHAIR COMMENT.
I HOPE MS. SMITH DOESN'T MIND
ME USING HER BRIEFING AND ABOUT
FOUR OR FIVE SLIDES. WE WILL
MOVE TO THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND IT SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA OR WITHIN PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE . HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP FOR TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON SPEAKER AND FOUR REMOTE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> OKAY . GREAT. EACH SPEAKER
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. WE WILL
START WITH MR. GAIL AND THEN
SHIFT TO REMOTE. CLERK, CAN YOU
PLEASE READ THE CONSTRUCTIONS
AND INSTRUCTIONS.
>> IT WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. IT IS UP TO 60
MINUTES WITH SPEAKERS CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH A REGISTERED
. THEY WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10
SECONDS IS LEFT OF THEIR TIME.
AND IF THEY DON'T AND THERE
COMMENTS ON THE ALLOTTED TIME,
WE WILL CALL AND ASK HER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
HOWARD KEEL.
>> GOOD MORNING. LAST THE SIXTH
ANNIVERSARY OF RYAN SMITH MURDER
BY THE SPD AND IN SIX DAYS IT
WILL BE THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF
TERRY CAPERS MURDER . MURDERED
SIX DAYS BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD.
JUNE 18 WILL MARK THE EIGHTH
ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLENA LILES
MURDER AND JUST LIKE URBAN CE,
MURDER BY THE FPD , ALL OF THESE
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING A SEVERE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHILE
HOLDING A KNIFE AND ALL EXCEPT
ONE WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN. ALL
OF THESE WOULD BE ALIVE IF THEY
LIVED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND
JAPAN AND NONE RECEIVED ANY FORM
OF ACCOUNTABILITY OR JUSTICE.
ALL WERE OR IN THE CASE WILL BE
DEEMED LAWFUL AND PROPER
KILLINGS BY ALL PARTS OF THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
INCLUDING THE TWO OFFICERS HERE
TODAY. ON JUNE 27, 2017, NINE
DAYS AFTER THE MURDER OF
CHARLENA LILES, THE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER SAID WE WERE
ALREADY SHAMED AND WHAT I PLEDGE
TO YOU IS WORKING TO FIND A NEW
WAY OF DOING THINGS WE GET
DIFFERENT RESULTS. WE WILL
DEMAND A KIND ABILITY,
TRANSPARENCY OVERSIGHT AND NOT
ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. WE
CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER FOR THIS
TO BE CHANGED. HOW DID
DE-ESCALATION TRAINING FAIL .
AND ALSO TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO SHAKE THE TREES AND
MAKE THESE ISSUES STOP
HAPPENING? YET IT DID KEEP
HAPPENING, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO I
AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, DO YOU
NOT BELIEVE ME? IF SO, READ MY
ARTICLES IN THE SOUTH SEATTLE
PAPER THAT DOCUMENTS THE DETAILS
OF THESE AND READ ABOUT THE FIVE
OR SIX JURORS CUT INQUEST
JURORS, IN JANUARY THAT FOUND
FIVE OUT OF SIX JURORS WHO FOUND
THE SPD GUILTY IN POLICY OR
PROCEDURES FOR THE KILLING OF
ISAIAH. SO MY QUESTION IS, DO
YOU NOT CARE? IS YOUR MORAL
COMPASS GUIDED BY A BELIEF THAT
OTHERS DON'T CARE OR DO YOU
SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE
DESERVED OR HAD TO DIE?
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
BJ ROSS. PLEASE PRESS THE * AND
THE NUMBER 6 TO HEAR YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED.
>> GOOD MORNING . I AM CALLING
ABOUT STARCHASE OR MEDICATION
TRACKERS. THIS IS BRAND-NEW AND
NOT A MATERIAL UPDATE AND IT
SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH THE FULL
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT PROCESS AND
HE RUSHED THROUGH AS A MATERIAL
UPDATE. LOOKING AT THAT WHOLE
THING REALLY [ INAUDIBLE ] DOWN
THE MATERIAL UP DATE HAS
MEDICATION TRACKERS LISTED
SEPARATELY FROM WHAT WAS
ORIGINALLY COVERED ON THE COVERT
TRACKERS AND EVERY SINGLE
QUESTION. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO
OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TWO. THIS
DEMONSTRATES THAT IT DOESN'T
INCLUDE NEW TECHNOLOGY WHICH
COULD BE GOING THROUGH THE FULL
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT PROCESS AND
NOT BE MUCH FASTER IN MATERIAL
IMPACT PROCESS. AN EXAMPLE OF
THIS IS IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE
MATERIAL IMPACT FOR AUTOMATED
LICENSE PLATE READERS LAST YEAR,
IT WAS A NATURAL MATERIAL UPDATE
AND IT WAS CHANGING WHAT IT
LOOKED LIKE FOR ALP ARE NOT
CHANGING THE UNDERLYING
TECHNOLOGY OR ADDING A NEW
TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS WHY ALL OF
THE UPDATES ON THAT WE AREN'T
DISCUSSING TWO DIFFERENT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR ONE WHICH IS
BRAND-NEW. SO THESE REALLY NEED
TO BE SPLIT OUT INTO AN ACTUAL
SEPARATE SEARCH SO THEY CAN GO
THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND
GIVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO
ACTUALLY GO AND COMMENT. BECAUSE
HAVING DONE THIS AS A MATERIAL
UPDATE HAS REALLY DONE A LOT TO
LOCK THE PUBLIC OUT OF THIS
PROCESS. I.T. WAS ONLY TAKING
COMMENTS ON THIS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AND IT WAS LESS THAN A
FEW WEEKS. THE PUBLIC IN LESS
THAN TWO WEEKS TO FIND OUT THAT
THEY WERE LOOKING TO ACQUIRE
THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WHICH THEY
HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE AND LEARN
ABOUT WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS OR
HOW IT WOULD BE USED AND THEN BE
ABLE TO GET THAT IN THE COMMENT
AND THAT IS REALLY NOT ENOUGH
TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO AND
FIND THAT OUT. THAT IS NOT GOOD
GOVERNMENTS AND NOT GOOD
TRANSPARENCY. IF THE COUNCIL
CARES ABOUT THOSE ITEMS WITH
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
TRANSPARENCY, IT NEEDS TO MOVE
IT TO A SEPARATE IMPACT REPORT
INSTEAD OF THIS ONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS
DAVID HAYNES .
>> STILL WITH PROPAGANDA,
COUNCIL, IT IS OFFENSIVE THAT
THE POLICE CHIEF ANNUAL WOULD
USE THE MEDIA TO FALSELY SHORT
COMMUNITIES THAT CRIME IS DOWN
ENOUGH THAT IT IS SAFE WHEN IN
FACT THE DATA CITED HAS BEEN
MANIPULATED BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT CLAIMING THAT 911
CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE DOWN IN
CERTAIN HOTSPOT AREAS AFTER THE
COPS WENT TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES
IN THIS AREA. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR
SOMEBODY WHO IS BEING CHASED BY
THE COPS TO JUST STOP THEIR CAR
WHEN THE COPS BACK UP AND GRAB
THE STARCH ACER? AND THEY STICK
IT ON ANOTHER PERSON'S CAR?
ALSO I AM WONDERING WHAT
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES ARE THE
POLICE USING WHEN THEY ARE USING
PREDATORY DRUG PUSHERS DOWNTOWN
FOR OPEN DRUG MARKETS ON THE
BICYCLE AND SCOOTER AND THEY
ROLL OFF. ARE THE COPS USING THE
DRONES TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY GO
BACK TO THEIR STASH HOUSE OR ARE
THEY USING THE DRONES AT LAW
ABIDING EVENTS BECAUSE THERE
SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF DEPLOYABLE
COPS DURING CRIME BUT WEEK BUT
IF THERE IS A LAW ABIDING EVENT,
ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A
MULTITUDE OF FULLY STAFFED
DEPLOYABLE COPS MAKING OVERTIME
GETTING RICH AND YET WE GET
PROPAGANDA OUTREACH FROM THE NEW
POLICE CHIEF ALWAYS FALSELY
ASSURING THE LAW-ABIDING
COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE SAFE WHILE
DISPERSING CRIMINALS AND THEY
SEEM TO THINK IT IS SAID IT IS
HIS OBLIGATION FOR PUSHING FOR
DRUG PUSHERS AND CRIMINALS WHO
ARE LOST IN THEIR WAYS AND
DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER AND HE
FEELS LIKE HE IS A HISTORY
TEACHER WHO FILLED HIS STUDENT
BECAME A POLICE CHIEF WHERE HE
COULD RUN INTERFERENCE FOR EVIL
CRIMINALS OF A CERTAIN SKIN
COLOR. NOW HE IS BRINGING HIS
RACIST FRIENDS FROM THE SOUTH TO
SPEW MORE OF THAT EXACERBATES
PUBLIC SAFETY AND LIED TO US
ABOUT FIGHTING CRIME AND THIS
COUNCIL IS PULLING PUNCHES AND
NOT MAKING THE LAWS FALSELY
ASSURING THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA
THE SUN .
>>
>> HELLO. I COME REGARDING
AGENDA ITEM 2 AND HIGHLIGHT TWO
THINGS ABOUT THE INFORMATION ON
THE TRACKING DEVICES. FIRST
THOSE RECENTLY APPROVED BY
COUNCIL ACROSS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS
REQUIRING THAT . THE NAMES OF
THE COMMITTEE TO CHANGE OVER THE
YEARS AND ALL THE OTHER PRIOR
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN
PROCESSED THROUGH WHICHEVER
COMMITTEE IS COVERING
TECHNOLOGIES. THIS PRESENTATION
IMPLIES THE SURVEILLANCE IS NOT
[ INAUDIBLE - LOW VOLUME ] MAY
BE HEARD HERE BUT ONE OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS FOR OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE IS NOT
THE COMMITTEE REVIEWING THIS. SO
WITH THE CHANGES DESCRIBED 2678,
WITH A MATERIAL UPDATE [
INAUDIBLE - LOW VOLUME ] AND
HERE THESE ARE FROM A DIFFERENT
VENDOR AND NOT INTEROPERABLE
WITH THE UNDERCOVER COVER
LOCATION TRACKERS. THERE
REQUIRING BOTH A NEW CONTRACT
AND NEW ANNUAL EXPENSE AND THERE
MANAGED BY A DIFFERENT TEAM AND
THEY DON'T HAVE A FORMAL
CHECK-IN AND CHECKOUT PROCESS
BUT A DIFFERENT [ INAUDIBLE ]
FROM WHEN THEY ARE USED AND
EXPECTED TO HAVE VASTLY
DIFFERENT DURATION OF DEPLOYMENT
AND SUCCESS. CITIES OWN
DOCUMENTS SHOW THEY REPLACED ALL
OF THESE ANSWERS TO EVERY
QUESTION WHICH MEANS IT JUST
ISN'T AN UPDATE BUT THE
FINANCIAL INFORMATION SECTION
SUCH AS ONLY REGARDING THE AND
THEY ARE NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN
THAT. AND ALSO THEY DO NOT FULLY
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN COVERT OR
PERCEIVED AND HERE IS BINDING
AND SHOULDN'T BE [ INAUDIBLE ].
THIS IS MORE EVIDENCE THAT THEY
BE SPLIT UP AND [ INAUDIBLE ]
COVERT TRACKERS THAT THEY ARE.
PLEASE REVIEW ALL TECHNOLOGY
THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
SEPARATE THESE INTO A STANDALONE
[ INAUDIBLE ]. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT LAST PUBLIC
COMMENT IS IN DEPTH AND I HOPE
YOU LISTEN TO ALL OF THOSE
POINTS MADE, CAPTAIN JAMES
BRITT. FIRST I WILL SAY THE
PUBLIC COMMENT HAS EXPIRED AND
WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SIGN
UP CARDS ON THE PODIUM OR EMAIL
THE COUNCIL. I WANTED TO NOTE
THAT THE VICE CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH HAVE
JOINED US FROM BEING REMOTE AND
I ALSO WELCOME NON-COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA JOINING US.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM ONE OF
THE RECORD.
>> CB 120977 AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO OVERSIGHT OF THE
POLICE; REVISING THE PROCESS FOR
INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS NAMING
THE CHIEF OF POLICE; ADDING NEW
SECTIONS 3.29.515 AND 3.29.590
TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE;
AND AMENDING SECTIONS 3.29.510,
3.29.520, 3.29.530, 3.29.560,
AND 3.29.570 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. HERE
WELCOME , EVERYONE. AND CAN WE
FIRST HAVE EVERYBODY INTRODUCED
THEMSELVES FOR THE RECORD? WE
WILL START AS AN INTRO FROM
CENTRAL STAFF AND I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO THE THREE OF YOU AS YOU
WISH TO PROCEED.
>>> GOOD MORNING. KARINA BULL
WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> MORNING, LISA JUDGE INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> I AM THE INVESTIGATIVE
SUPERVISOR.
>> MY NAME IS BONNIE GLENN CUT
INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR POLICE
ACCOUNT ABILITY.
>> THINK YOU AND WELCOME AGAIN.
MS. BULL?
>> GOOD MORNING. EXCUSE ME.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS GOING
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON CB
120977, IT IS GENERATED
LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. IT WILL INVOLVE SOME
BACKGROUND ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE AND THE CHIEF OF
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS AT A VERY
HIGH LEVEL AND ALSO INCLUDE THE
POLICY GOALS AND SUMMARY OF THE
BILL AND INCLUDE NEXT STEPS. TO
BEGIN ON THE BACKGROUND , IN
2017, THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED THE CITIES
THREE-PRONGED OVERSIGHT SYSTEM.
AND THERE WAS A VERY
COMPREHENSIVE DATE FROM THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS AT THE
LAST MEETING AT THE END OF
APRIL. AS IT RELATES TO
COMPLAINTS INVOLVING MISCONDUCT
OF SPD EMPLOYEES, THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS AN
INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN LED OFFICE
WITHIN SPD THAT INVESTIGATES
SUCH COMPLAINTS. THE OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY IS AN AND AND AND OFFICE
SEPARATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE THAT
REVIEWS AND AUDITS SPD AND OPA
INCLUDING REVIEWING THE INTAKE
AND FINDING OF THOSE COMPLAINTS.
AND THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION REVIEWS CLOSED OPA
INVESTIGATIONS. WHILE THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
INCLUDED A PROCESS FOR
INVESTIGATING THIS KIND OF
COMPLAINT NAMING SPD EMPLOYEES,
IT DIDN'T CONTEMPLATE OR
INCLUDE A PROCESS FOR SUCH
COMPLAINTS NAMING THE CHIEF OF
POLICE AND ENSURING THAT SUCH
COMPLAINTS WOULD BE HANDLED IN A
FAIR AND TRANSPARENT MANNER,
FREE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .
I GUESS THE PINPOINT OF THE
SITUATION IS THE CHIEF OF POLICE
IS THE FINAL ARBITER OF
DISCIPLINE FOR EMPLOYEES NAMED
IN SUCH COMPLAINTS AND MAKES THE
FINAL DETERMINATIONS ON THE
INVESTIGATIONS FOR THOSE
COMPLAINTS. THEREFORE, IN 2022,
THE CITY ESTABLISHED THROUGH
ORDINANCE A SPECIFIC PROCESS FOR
THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS BY
OPA NAMING THE CHIEF OF POLICE
THAT INCLUDING A CONSULTING
OVERSIGHT ROLE. SINCE THAT WENT
INTO EFFECT IN MID JULY OF 2022,
THE OPA HAS RECEIVED OVER 70
COMPLAINTS. IN THE YEARS OF
IMPLEMENTATION THAT OPA OIG HAVE
SIGNALED THAT SEVERAL ASPECTS OF
THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS ARE
LIMITING THEIR ABILITY TO
PROCESS THOSE COMPLAINTS IN A
TIMELY , EFFICIENT MANNER. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE PROCESS REQUIRES A
COMPREHENSIVE INTAKE FOR ALL
COMPLAINTS. AND AN INTAKE IS A
VERY TIME INTENSIVE THOROUGH
PROCESS INVOLVING A THOROUGH
EXAMINATION OF THOSE COMPLAINTS.
AND FOR CONTEXT, IN 2024, THE
OPA RECEIVED 29 COMPLAINTS
NAMING THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND
27 OF THOSE , ALL BUT TWO WERE
CLOSED WITHOUT AN INVESTIGATION
THROUGH A CLASSIFICATION THAT IS
TERMED A CONTACT LOG. THAT IS A
TERM DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE
SPECIFYING THE INVESTIGATIONS
PROCESS THAT IS IN THE MANUAL AS
WELL AND USED FOR SITUATIONS
WHEN THE COMPLAINT DOESN'T MERIT
FURTHER INVESTIGATION. FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD BE A
COMPLAINT THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE
A POTENTIAL POLICY VIOLATION.
THERE IS INSUFFICIENT
INFORMATION TO PROCEED . IT HAS
ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED AND
ADJUDICATED, OR IT PRESENTS
PATTERNS THAT ARE CLEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE OR NO OTHER
INDICATIONS OF MISCONDUCT. THE
CURRENT PROCESS ALSO HAS SEVERAL
INSTANCES OF INCONSISTENT
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE INVESTIGATIVE
STANDARD AND PROCESS IS TIMELY,
THOROUGH, AND NEUTRAL. THIS IS
AS COMPARED TO THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE WHERE
IT IS TIMELY, THOROUGH, AND
OBJECTIVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL
INSTANCES WHERE THE OIG IS
SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
IN A PROMPT OR IMMEDIATE MANNER
TO CITY ENTITIES AND THE
COMPLAINANT. THERE ALSO WASN'T
A PROCESS FOR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
OIG IS MANAGING INVESTIGATION.
THAT COULD BE PERFORMED BY THE
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES WHEN THERE IS AN
ALLEGATION OF DISCRIMINATION
COMPLAINT OR A DIFFERENT SORT OF
OUTSIDE THIRD-PARTY ENTITY OR A
NON-SEATTLE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY IF THERE IS A COMPLAINT
THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRIMINAL
CHARGE. FOR THOSE SITUATIONS,
PROCESS DOESN'T LAY OUT WHAT IS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD
THOSE COMPLAINTS GO TO OPA OR
SHOULD OIG HANDLE THEM . AND
HERE THE ISSUES THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS HAVE
RAISED, THERE IS LIMITING
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THE OIG
IS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE
INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF
COMPLAINTS CLOSED BY A CONTACT
LOG IN THE REPORT BUT THAT IS
THE EXTENT OF THE ANNUAL
REPORTING. SO THE POLICY GOALS
OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE TO
STREAMLINE AND CLARIFY THE
INTAKE AND INVESTIGATION
PROCESS, PROVIDE STAFFING
FLEXIBILITY, SUPPORT PROCEDURAL
INEFFICIENCY AND INCREASED
TRANSPARENCY ON THE NUMBER AND
STATUS OF COMPLAINTS. THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION -- NOT DRAFT ANYMORE
BUT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN INTRODUCED
-- SEEKS TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS
IN SIX NOTABLE WAYS. THE FIRST
IS TO ALLOW THE OPA ONLY WITH
OIG'S AGREEMENT TO CLOSE
QUALIFYING COMPLAINTS OF THE
CONTACT LOG AFTER AN INITIAL
SCREENING, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE
THE FULL INTAKE AND FULL
EXAMINATION PROCESS. NEXT, IT
ALLOWS OPA TO ASSIGN
NONSUPERVISORY CIVILIAN STAFF TO
INTAKE AND I THINK I SKIPPED
THAT EARLIER BUT CURRENTLY THE
PROCESS ONLY ALLOWS SUPERVISORY
INVESTIGATORS TO PERFORM THOSE
INTAKES AND THAT IS A STAFF THAT
IS ALLOWED TO DO THAT WHEN THEY
ARE ACTUALLY FOUR CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATORS WHO COULD PERFORM
THAT WORK AND POTENTIALLY OTHER
QUALIFIED STAFF AS WELL. THE
LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO ALLOW OIG
TO HANDLE NEW INVESTIGATIONS --
I AM SORRY, NEW COMPLAINTS THAT
ARISE AND AN INVESTIGATION THEY
ARE MANAGING RATHER THAN SENDING
THEM BACK TO OPA. IT WOULD
CLARIFY THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS
MUST BE TIMELY, THOROUGH, AND
OBJECT AND ESTABLISH A
CONSISTENT REQUIREMENT THAT SOME
NOTIFICATIONS NEEDED TO BE
PROVIDED PROMPTLY TO CITY
ENTITIES AND THE COMPLAINT WOULD
CLEAR UP SOME OF THE TECHNICAL
REQUIREMENTS IF THEY ARE
INCONSISTENT AND LASTLY REQUIRE
THAT OIG INCLUDE INFORMATION ON
COMPLAINTS AND QUARTERLY REPORTS
TO THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND ALSO
IN THE ANNUAL REPORT. THAT
SPECIFIC INFORMATION, WHICH IS
RELATED TO THE NUMBER AND STATUS
OF COMPLAINTS , IS LISTED IN THE
COMPLAINT AND IT WOULD BE THE
NUMBER RECEIVED AND INITIATED
AND THE NUMBERS CLOSED IS A
CONTACT LOG WITH COMPLETED
INTAKES THAT REMAIN OPEN AND
THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AS
INVESTIGATIONS. AND THEN LASTLY
THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF
INTAKES AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT
LET OR MET THE STANDARD OR OIG
WASN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT
STANDARD. THAT IS A SUMMARY OF
THE BILL. FOR THE NEXT STEPS, IT
IS SCHEDULED FOR COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING . IF IT IS PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME, I
BELIEVE JUNE THREE WOULD BE THE
DATE FOR THE EARLIEST ACTION BY
COUNCIL.
>> THINK YOU AND I DO WANT TO
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOTE
THAT WE DO HAVE THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSIONER ALSO HERE IN
ATTENDANCE IN CHAMBERS AND MS.
DARLENE WHO IS THE POLICY
DIRECTOR . WELCOME TO YOU AS
WELL. I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE BRAND-NEW EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE COMMISSION . I
JUST WANTED TO SAY WELCOME.
OKAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAME
PRESIDENT, MEMBER OF THE
COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU.
ESSENTIALLY, WHEN THIS WAS
PASSED IN 2022, WE WERE GIVING
IT OUR BEST SHOT OF TRYING TO
ANTICIPATE HOW THESE CASES MIGHT
FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM IN THE
MOST EFFICIENT TRANSPARENT WAY
POSSIBLE. BUT NOW WITH 2 1/2
YEARS UNDER OUR BELT OF HANDLING
CHIEF OF POLICE CASES, IT BECAME
APPARENT THAT THERE WERE A
COUPLE OF GAPS AND IT WAS REALLY
ABOUT EFFICIENCY FOR US. AND I
THINK THAT MS. BULL DESCRIBE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OIG AND OPA
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHICH IS
HAVING A PROCESS RECOGNIZED FOR
RESOLVING CONTACT LOG ISSUES AND
IT WAS SOMETHING WE RECOGNIZE
FAIRLY EARLY ON. WE WORKED IT
OUT BETWEEN OUR OFFICES HOW WE
WOULD HANDLE THAT, BUT WE DO
PREFER IT WOULD BE RECOGNIZED IN
THE LEGISLATION, THAT PROCESS.
THE OTHER IS , AND I WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT OIG'S ROLE IN ALL OF
THESE INVESTIGATIONS IS
MANAGEMENT OF INVESTIGATION.
OIG, TO THE EXTENT WE ARE
INVOLVED IN THIS DOESN'T
CONDUCT THE ACTUAL INVESTIGATION
. IF IT IS HANDLED BY A
THIRD-PARTY INVESTIGATOR, OIG
MANAGES THAT INVESTIGATION AND
IS THE ARBITER OF
DECISION-MAKING AND HAS A
REPORTING REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS
ORDINANCE. WHEN WE ARE MANAGING
A CASE, IF OTHER ISSUES MAY
ARISE OUT OF THAT, WHERE WE
RECOGNIZE A POTENTIAL NEW
VIOLATION, THERE IS NO MECHANISM
CURRENTLY IN THE EXISTING
ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS A
STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR JUST
INITIATING THOSE NEW
INVESTIGATIONS. INSTEAD, IT
REQUIRES THAT IT GOES BACK
THROUGH THE OPA INTAKE PROCESS
AND HAS OPA INVOLVEMENT. IF WE
TALK ABOUT EFFICIENCY,
TIMELINESS, THOSE KIND OF
ISSUES, IT ADDS AN EXTRA STEP IN
THE PROCESS THAT IS UNNECESSARY.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART THERE
IS WE ARE COMMUNICATING AND
NOTIFYING OPA OF THOSE THINGS.
THOSE OTHER TWO BIG ISSUES. I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR
BONNIE GLENN . AND STAFFING.
>> GOOD MORNING . CHAIR OF THE
COUNCIL AND PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
AND COUNCIL , I AM GLAD WE ARE
HERE TODAY WITH RESPECT TO THIS
ORDINANCE. JUST LIKE I GUESS I
WOULD CHIME IN WITH REGARDS TO
LISA JUDGE WITH REGARDS TO GOING
IN AND WORKING WITH THE
ORGANIZATION ITSELF OR OPA,
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GAPS WE
HAVE SEEN. ALSO, ONE THING WE
SAW EARLY ON AND ESPECIALLY I
SAY MYSELF, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN
THIS ORIGINAL ORDINANCE CAME
ABOUT , IT WAS DRIVEN AS TO WHO
WOULD CONDUCT THE
INVESTIGATIONS. THE POSITION WAS
A CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR OR
SUPERVISOR , WHICH THERE ARE
ONLY TWO AT THE TIME TOWARD THE
END OF THE YEAR WHEN THE
ORDINANCE CAME OUT IN 2022,
SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND PROBABLY
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, WE ONLY HAD
ONE PERSON FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
AGAIN, TRYING TO FILL THE
POSITION ACCORDINGLY. SO GIVEN
THE FACT IT WAS FOR A POSITION
ONLY, IT DID NOT ALLOW ANYBODY
WITH THE REQUISITE SKILLS ,
INCLUDING EVEN MYSELF. WHEN I
CAME IN AS A DEPUTY, FORMER
JUDGE , FORMER ATTORNEY,
SOMEBODY FAMILIAR WITH POLICE
WORK AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR, NOT
TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE AND EVEN
TO HELP WITH A BACKLOG TO CATCH
UP. WHAT OUR OFFICE DID WAS THE
BEST WE COULD GIVEN TO GIVE YOU
AN IDEA WITH DIFFERENT
SUPERVISORS AT DIFFERENT TIMES
THAT WOULD TAKE THEM OFF A BUSY
SCHEDULE , WHICH IS FOR
CLASSIFYING ALL THE COMPLAINTS
WERE INVESTIGATIONS ON MONDAYS
AND FRIDAYS . WE DID DIFFERENT
TYPES OF THINGS. WE EVEN BROUGHT
IN THE SYSTEM DIRECTOR TO CARRY
SOME WORK FOR THEM AND OTHER
PEOPLE AS WELL TO DO THIS GIVEN
THE NUMBERS COMING IN. WHAT WAS
NICE IS WORKING WITH OIG,
UNDERSTANDING WE WERE TRYING TO
DO THAT AND DO IT ALONGSIDE AND
SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE WAS
VERY IMPORTANT. SO ONE OF THEM
WAS POSITION WHICH IS STAFFING.
IT IS VERY KEY. THIS ALLOWS
SOMEBODY WITH REC SKILLS AND
ABILITIES TO DO THAT, AND A
CIVILIAN. A CIVILIAN DIRECTOR
WITH THOSE SKILLS AND ABILITIES
SO IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO HELP
WITH THAT, SHOULD THERE BE AN
INCREASE OR UPTICK. ALSO WITH
REGARD TO CONTACT LOGS . AGAIN,
AS WAS SAID VERY APTLY ABOUT THE
INTAKE PROCESS, IT COULD BE VERY
INVOLVED AT TIMES EVEN WHEN YOU
HAVE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A
CONTACT LOG. THE CONTACT LOG
TALKS ABOUT , JUST AS AN
EXAMPLE, THESE ARE SOMETHING
BETTER CURRENTLY IMPLAUSIBLE AND
INCREDIBLE. SOME OF THOSE THINGS
WOULD NOT TAKE US LONG, BUT,
AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE WHOLE INTAKE PROCESS. THIS
WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTACT LOG
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OR
OFTENTIMES THERE IS OTHER
REASONS FOR THE CONTACT LOG AND
MAYBE IT WAS ALREADY REVIEWED
AND ADJUDICATED. IN FACT,
CLIENTS I TALKED ABOUT
IMPLAUSIBLE AND INCREDIBLE ALSO.
IT DOESN'T INVOLVE THE POLICY
VIOLATION ONCE YOU GET INTO WHAT
THE ACTUAL COMPLAINT IS.
OFTENTIMES YOU ARE CONTACTING
PEOPLE TOO WHICH TAKES TIME ALSO
FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND AND ALSO
WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. SO, AS
INDICATED IN THE PRESENTATION,
BY STAFF AND ALSO BY LISA JUDGE,
THE GREEN ITEMS HELP DO A NUMBER
OF THINGS , STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS WITH REGARDS TO CONTACT
LOG , CLARIFY THE INTAKE PROCESS
, STAFFING FLEXIBILITY, WHICH I
TALKED ABOUT, ALSO TO SUPPORT
PROCEDURAL EFFICIENCY IN A SENSE
WHEN SOMETHING ARISES OUT OF AN
INVESTIGATION WITH OIG AND THERE
IS A NEXUS AND ALSO THE
TRANSPARENCY WITH QUARTERLY
REPORTS I THINK ARE ALL VERY
IMPORTANT. SO VERY VERY
SUPPORTIVE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> NO HE IS HERE IS MY PHONE A
FRIEND IN CASE I NEED DATA.
>> FOR $1 MILLION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I ALWAYS
GIVE MY ADVICE AT THE FIRST
OPPORTUNITY. WE WILL START WITH
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT .
>> CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT
IS CONTENT LOG AND YOU STARTED
USING IT AS A VERB AND IT WAS
FIRST USED AS A NOUN AND WHAT
DOES IT IMPLY?
>> CONTACT LOG IS AN INTAKE
CATEGORY. IF SOMEBODY MAKES A
COMPLAINT AGAINST A MEMBER OF
SPD IN THIS CASE THE CHIEF OF
POLICE, IT IS EVALUATED IN AN
INTAKE INVESTIGATION TO DECIDE
IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT MERITS
INVESTIGATION OR IF IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS EITHER NOT A
POLICY VIOLATION, IS IMPOSSIBLE
FOR VARIOUS REASONS. IT COULD BE
SUMMARILY DEALT WITH IF IT
ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WOULD RISE
TO THE LEVEL OF AN ISSUE THAT
WOULD NECESSITATE INVESTIGATION.
SO WE CONTACT LOG IS JUST THE
CATEGORY OF AN ALLEGATION THAT
DOESN'T MERIT INVESTIGATION.
DOES THAT HELP ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? AND I
AM LEAVING MY VICE CHAIR FOR
LAST.
>> JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE
CONTACT LOG. IS IT JUST AN
INITIAL REVIEW OF THE COMPLAINT
FOR MERITS AND [ INAUDIBLE ],
AND IF NOT, IT GETS DISMISSED?
>> YES. SO IT GETS RECORDED.
THERE IS A RECORD OF THE
COMPLAINT. THERE IS A RECORD OF
ANY INVESTIGATION DONE FOR THAT
COMPLAINT. IT IS A VETTING. IF
THERE IS ANYTHING THERE , THAT
REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION
IT WOULD BE AN EXPEDITED
INVESTIGATION OR A FULL
INVESTIGATION. AND THEN IT MOVES
ON IN THE PROCESS. IT IS SIMPLY
THINGS THAT ARE NOT, EVEN IF
THEY WERE COMPLETELY TRUE, A
VIOLATION POLICY OR THINGS THAT
ARE IMPOSSIBLE, GENERALLY.
>> IT IS FOR EVERYTHING?
EVERYTHING FIRST GETS THE
CONTACT LOG?
>> NO. IT IS A BUCKET. SO A
COMPLAINT COMES IN. IF THERE IS
NOTHING THAT IS POSSIBLE TO
INVESTIGATE OR POSSIBLE TO
INVESTIGATE, IT GOES INTO THAT
CONTACT LOG BUCKET.
>> IT IS A WAY TO DRAG AND
EVERYTHING COMING IN CUT EVEN
THINGS THAT WON'T MOVE FORWARD
AS AN INVESTIGATION?
>> YES.
>> PERFECT. GOT IT . THANK YOU
CATCH HERE.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE TWO CDs ON THE
TABLE AND TWO ON THE DAIS. I
WILL GO TO THE SECOND ONE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAVE IS YOU TALKED
ABOUT IF THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS
NAMED IN A COMPLAINT THEY WILL
NOTIFY OIG AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.
I AM JUST WONDERING WHY THAT
LANGUAGE IS THERE RATHER THAN
RECOGNIZING IT IS A 30 DAY
WINDOW, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT
WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES
PROMPT OR IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION
THAT AT LEAST A COMPLAINT HAS
BEEN RECEIVED.
>> YES. I THINK WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE
THERE ARE PRACTICAL REALITIES
AROUND WHEN COMPLAINTS COME IN,
HOW THEY ARE VETTED , THAT KIND
OF NECESSITATE A LITTLE BIT OF
FLEXIBILITY IN DETERMINING WHEN
IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE NOTIFICATION .
THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY
ISSUES THAT COULD IMPACT THE
INTAKE INVESTIGATION. I THINK
THE TWO OFFICES TRY TO GIVE EACH
OTHER A BIT OF FLEXIBILITY
MAKING THAT DECISION. I WOULD
SAY 2 1/2 YEARS, THERE HASN'T
BEEN AN ISSUE WITH EITHER OFFICE
NOT COMMUNICATING IN A WAY THAT
WAS APPROPRIATE OR A PROMPT THAT
CREATED AN ISSUE AND THEY HAVE
VERY CLOSE COMMUNICATION ABOUT
THESE ISSUES. SO I DON'T HAVE
CONCERNS THAT OPA IS HOLDING
ISSUES AND NOT BRINGING OIG IN.
I WOULD HOPE THAT MY COUNTERPART
ALSO HAS THE SAME SENSIBILITY
THAT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD
COMMUNICATION LOOP WITH REGARD
TO THESE COMPLAINT . I THINK THE
FLEXIBILITY THERE IS JUST
BECAUSE OF THE REALITIES OF THE
INVESTIGATIONS.
>> IF I COULD ADD. I WOULD ADD
THAT WE DO MEET TWICE A MONTH
WITH REGARDS TO CHIEF OF POLICE
CASES, WHICH IS VERY GOOD. SO IT
HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE
WHATSOEVER. A VERY GOOD
QUESTION, BUT WE DO HAVE
TIMELINESS WITH RESPECT TO THAT
AND THE FLEXIBILITY THAT MAY BE
NEEDED BUT WE DO MEET TWICE A
MONTH IN MOST CASES.
>> I AM ASSUMING THEN THAT THAT
EXPLAINS THE CHANGE FROM
IMMEDIATELY TO PROMPTLY? FOR
CLARIFICATION?
>> YES. IMMEDIATELY IS ODDLY
VERY SPECIFIC BUT ALSO VERY
NEBULOUS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
IMMEDIATELY MEANS ? DOESN'T
MEAN I HAVE TO PICK UP THE PHONE
THE INSTANCE I HAVE AN INKLING ?
OR IS IT THE SAME DAY? OR THE
SAME WEEK? IT IS IN A VERY
DEFINED TIME. ALSO, THERE ARE
THINGS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD
NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU REALLY
KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
THERE AND TO REPORT. SO WHEN THE
CLOCK STARTS IS ALSO NOT
ENTIRELY KNOWN OR PRACTICAL . WE
THOUGHT HAVING SOME FLEXIBILITY
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITIES OF
THAT WAS HELPFUL.
>> IF I MAY ASK A FEW MORE
QUESTIONS . I DON'T SEE
ANYWHERE IN HERE, AND PERHAPS IT
ALREADY EXISTS, THAT THERE WOULD
BE NOTIFICATION TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT OR CHAIR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WHEN A
COMPLAINT HAS COME IN BUT HAS
BEEN RESOLVED THROUGH THE
CONTACT LOG CLOSURE?
>> YES. REPORTING IS DONE. IT IS
REQUIRED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT
FOR OIG. I BELIEVE -- AND YOU
MAY BE BETTER THAN THIS, KARINA
THERE COULD BE A CHANGE OF
QUARTERLY REPORTING?
>> CORRECT. RIGHT NOW THE
CURRENT STANDARD IS THERE IS NOT
NOTICE WHEN ANY PARTICULAR
COMPLAINT HAS BEEN CLOSED AS A
CONTACT LOG BUT THERE IS A
NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS CLOSED IN
THAT MANNER IN THE ANNUAL
REPORT. NOW, THERE WILL BE
QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE MAYOR,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC
SAFETY CHAIR OF THE NUMBER OF
COMPLAINTS CLOSED AS A CONTACT
LOG. BUT NOT ANY SPECIFIC
COMPLAINT.
>> OKAY. SO THERE IS NO
PROVISION LOG TO EVEN NOTIFY
THOSE PARTIES THAT THERE WAS A
COMPLAINT AND CONTACT LOG
RESOLUTION AGAINST THE CHIEF?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH
YOU AT SOME POINT AND PERHAPS
CUT THIS IS MAY BE BETTER
HANDLED BY THE DIRECTOR TO GIVE
YOU A SENSE OF WHAT A CONTACT
LOG LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T THINK
THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE IN
MAKING NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT THOSE
PARTICULAR CASES. THESE ARE
SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE
DETERMINED THERE IS NO MERIT TO
THE COMPLAINT.
>> AND , COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU
IN FURTHER DETAIL IF YOU WOULD
LIKE . IN ADDITION, JUST AS FAR
AS HOW IT WORKS. WE DO RECOMMEND
A CONTACT LOG AND WE TALKED OIG.
IT ISN'T LIKE WE CAN JUST DO
THIS ON HER OWN AND IT IS AN
AGREEMENT WITH OIG AFTER BOTH
REVIEWING.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE
OFFER. I KNOW RECOGNIZING ANY
MERITLESS CLAIMS THAT ARE MADE
BUT I THINK DUMPING IT INTO A
BUCKET IS NOT NECESSARILY
HELPFUL SINCE WE ARE PURSUING A
SEPARATE PROCESS FOR [ INAUDIBLE
- LOW VOLUME ] . I JUST THINK IT
HELPS US BE INFORMED ABOUT HOW
MANY COMPLAINTS ARE COMING IN .
BECAUSE IT ALSO HELPS US ASSESS
TO SOME EXTENT, WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT
IS THE VIEW OF THE CHIEF OF
POLICE, AND THERE IS OTHER VALUE
TO THAT . AND MY LAST POINT, AND
I WILL BE DONE AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INDULGENCE IS ONE CHALLENGE
IN REVIEWING THIS LEGISLATION IS
IT REFERS TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE
SECTION 329, WHICH I KNOW
DOESN'T -- ISN'T CODIFIED ON
THE WEBSITE. SO WE CAN'T FIND
IT ANYWHERE. THE ONLY PLACE TO
FIND IT IS IN THE 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE OR THE
2022 BILL WHERE IT WAS
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHING THE
PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING
COMPLAINTS, NAMELY, THE CHIEF OF
POLICE. SO WE HAVE HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I
THINK THERE WAS A DECISION MADE
NOT TO INCORPORATE THE
ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE CODE AS
NUMEROUS ELEMENTS NEEDED TO BE
BARGAINED . BUT SINCE THEN, A
NUMBER OF THOSE HAS BEEN. I
THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
FOR THE ONLINE CODE TO BE UP
DATED TO INCLUDE THOSE ELEMENTS
THAT NOW EXIST. AND PARTICULARLY
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING
AWAY FROM THE CONSENT DECREE. WE
NEED TO HAVE INFORMATION THAT IS
EASILY AVAILABLE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. BY THE WAY, WHEN I
MENTIONED HOW MANY JDS WERE UP
ON THE DAIS AND I WAS LOOKING ON
THE SCREEN AND I ONLY SAW TWO,
WHERE, IN FACT, WE HAVE THREE
BUT WE HAVE OUR GUEST AND OUR
VICE CHAIR WHO IS A JD HERE IN
COUNCIL. VICE CHAIR, OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU COME AFTER CHAIR ,
AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES. THIS
CONVERSATION IS ONE THAT I WANT
TO POTENTIALLY PULL ALL THIS
TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY IN A
SUCCINCT MANNER. I APPRECIATE
YOUR HELP WITH THAT IN
EXPLAINING TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC. A LOT OF IMPORTANT
DETAIL ORIENTED -- DETAILS
MATTER, IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
SO FAR ON THINGS LIKE CONTACT
LOGS AND DUTIES TO PROMPTLY
NOTIFY VERSUS IMMEDIATELY
NOTIFY, AND IS A FORMER
TECHNOLOGY LAWYER , I NEGOTIATED
MANY COUNTLESS MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS .
THERE IS ACTUALLY A FAIR AMOUNT
OF CASE LAW THAT GOVERNS WHAT
CONSTITUTES PROMPT NOTIFICATION
VERSUS IMMEDIATE, ET CETERA. BUT
TO QUERY WHETHER THOSE
DISTINCTIONS MATTER IN THIS
CONTEXT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE
ISN'T A LOT TO GO ON. BUT, IN
ANY EVENT, CIRCLING BACK TO --
FIRST OFF, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT
I DID READ THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION , THE HELPFUL
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO FROM MS. BULL
AND LISTENED ATTENTIVELY TO THIS
PRESENTATION TODAY. AND A LOT
GOING ON. BUT I WILL JUST SAY AT
A VERY HIGH LEVEL, THIS STRIKES
ME AS A VERY COMMON SENSE NEEDED
REFORM OR TWEAK TO HELP US
BETTER AND MORE EFFECTIVELY
CARRY OUT OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
MISSION . IT IS ALSO ONE , NO
OFFENSE, THAT IS FAIRLY BORING
AND DULL AND NOT SEXY. BUT I DO
LOVE THE BORING AND NOT SEXY,
WHICH IS GOOD NEWS. ON THE
POLICY GOALS SIDE , SLIDE 4, IT
SAYS ONE OF THE BILLS IS TO
STREAMLINE AND CLARIFY THE
INTAKE PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS
NAMING THE CHIEF OF POLICE
PROVIDING STEPPING THE ABILITY
AND SUPPORT EFFICIENT THE AND
INCREASE TRANSPARENCY. I AM OPEN
AND -- HOPING THE FOLKS HERE AT
THE TABLE TODAY -- THERE IS A
LOT GOING ON. THERE IS A LOT OF
HYPER SPECIFIC TECHNICAL DETAILS
UNDERLYING THIS VERY STRATEGIC
EFFORT AT A HIGHER LEVEL TO HELP
US CARRY OUT MORE EFFECTIVELY
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY MISSION AS A
CITY. SO AMONG ALL OF THESE
POLICIES THERE IS AN UNSTATED
GOAL THAT SHOULD PREVAIL AND
GOVERN REGARDLESS , IN MY VIEW,
OF HOW WE OPERATE, AND THAT IS
WE NEED TO PRESERVE , AND IF
ANYTHING EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO
MORE EFFICIENTLY PURSUE ,
INVESTIGATE THOSE MERITORIOUS
COMPLAINTS. IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO
IT IS AGAINST . OBVIOUSLY THE
SUBJECT HERE WITH THIS PROPOSED
ORDINANCE IS THE CHIEF OF POLICE
AND CAN YOU HELP JUST EXPLAIN
SUCCINCTLY, BETTER THAN I JUST
DID FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HOW
THIS PROPOSED BILL WOULD ALLOW
US STILL IS A CITY TO
EFFECTIVELY INVESTIGATE AND
PURSUE THOSE MERITORIOUS CLAIMS?
OF IMPROPRIETY AND MISCONDUCT?
THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
CHANGES THEMSELVES AND HOW IT
WILL INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF
THESE INVESTIGATIONS?
>> ALL THE CHANGES TAKEN
TOGETHER AT A HIGH LEVEL . YOU
ARE TALKING TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC HERE. CALLED -- HOW THE
CHANGES AT A HIGH LEVEL WILL
HELP ENSURE, REMEMBER THAT
UNSTATED IMPLICIT GOAL THAT I
THINK WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE MERITORIOUS CLAIMS ARE
INVESTIGATED AND PURSUED TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT OF OUR COLLECT
ABILITY AND HOW DOES IT ALLOW US
TO DO THAT?
>> THIS RECOGNIZES THE REALITY
OF STAFFING SO IT DOES ALLOW
THEM TO THAT COMPLAINTS USING
EXISTING STAFF AND USING
CIVILIAN STAFF BUT NOT HAVING A
HIGHER LEVEL OF SUPERVISORY
RESPONSIBILITY THERE BECAUSE THE
ONLY HALF -- HAVE TO HAVE THIS.
IT SAVES TIME IF WE HAVE TO
WASTE A LOT OF TIME WITH EACH
OTHER ON TRYING TO RESOLVE
CONTACT LOG ISSUES VERSUS A
STREAMLINED PROCESS. IF THEY
HAVE TO PUT OTHER WORK ON HOLD
OR CREATE TIME LAGS SO THE
PERSON THAT IS SPECIFIED IN THE
CURRENT ORDINANCE CAN DO THE
INTAKE RATHER THAN HAVING A
QUALIFIED CIVILIAN WHO IS
OVERSEEN BY ANOTHER CIVILIAN
SUPERVISOR. IT IS EFFICIENCY OF
RESOURCES AND A RECOGNITION OF
THE CURRENT CIVILIAN STAFFING
WHICH IS AUTHORIZED AT OPA AND
IT IS ALSO HELPING US TO MANAGE
EFFICIENTLY ADDITIONAL
ALLEGATIONS AND CASES THAT COULD
COME UP IN CASEWORK COMING UP BY
OIG AND IT STREAMLINES THE
PROCESS AND TAKES INTO BETTER
ACCOUNT STAFFING AND RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL ADD ON TO THAT THAT IT
ALLOWS US EVEN MORE TIME TO DO
THIS ABOUT THE CASES AND THE
INVESTIGATIONS THAT NEED TO BE
LOOKED INTO AND THE TIME DEVOTED
SO IT DOESN'T HELP WITH THAT IN
THE STREAMLINING TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE THOROUGH AND DONE
OBJECTIVELY AND TIMELY AS WE
WORK THROUGH THIS AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
INVESTIGATED AT THEIR FULLEST.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> SO I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED .
ONE QUESTION IS WHEN WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT CONTACT LOG, I HAD
THE IMPRESSION THAT THOSE WERE
COMPLAINTS THAT DIDN'T MERIT AN
INVESTIGATION OR COULDN'T BE
INVESTIGATED. BUT THEN ON THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO, IT INDICATES
THAT OPA MUST CONDUCT A
COMPREHENSIVE INTAKE FOR EVERY
COMPLAINT REGARDLESS OF THE
CONTEXT OR ALLEGATIONS. THAT IS
ONE THING I AM CONFUSED ABOUT.
THE OTHER THING IS I AM HEARING
A LOT OF WORDS LIKE EFFICIENCY
AND STREAMLINE. THAT IS MAKING
ME A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. BECAUSE
WE REALLY WANT TO DO A DEEP DIV
BROKEN PROBLEM WITH OUR CURRENT
SYSTEM THAT THIS WILL FIX? IS IT
BOTTLENECKS ? IS THAT IT? WHY DO
THOSE WORDS KEEP COMING UP?
>> YES. I THINK THE BOTTLENECK
IS A GOOD CHARACTERIZATION FOR
THE MAIN PROBLEM, I WOULD SAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IT IS A
PROBLEM. LIKE I SAID, WHEN THIS
ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, WE WERE
TRYING TO GUESS HOW THIS WOULD
RUN MOST EFFICIENTLY NOT HAVING
DONE IT IN A FEW YEARS. AND
EXPERIENCING THE REALITIES OF
IT, IT IS TIME TO TWEAK IT A
BIT. ONE OF THEM IS THE
BOTTLENECK REQUIRING CIVILIAN
SUPERVISORS TO DO THAT THOROUGH
INTAKE. YOU ARE RIGHT . EVERY
COMPLAINT THAT COMES AND GETS A
THOROUGH INTAKE INVESTIGATION.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT IS
WHEN A DECISION IS MADE,
DOESN'T GO TO INVESTIGATION? OR
IF NOT , DOES IT GO INTO THE
CONTACT LOG BUCKET . THERE IS AN
INTAKE EVALUATION WHERE IT IS
MADE ABOUT INVESTIGATING OR NO
MERIT.
>> AND THAT IS PERFORMED BY
HOME?
>> CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IT
REQUIRES A CIVILIAN SUPERVISOR
AT OPA TO CONDUCT THAT. THE ONLY
HAVE TWO. THEY HAVE A PRETTY
HEAVY WORKLOAD. SO WHAT THIS
DOES IS ALLOW OTHER CIVILIANS,
WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED TO
DO THAT INTAKE INVESTIGATION. IT
WOULD THEN INCREASE THEIR
ABILITY TO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE DO
THESE INTAKES RATHER THAN TWO.
IT DOES CLEAR UP THAT BOTTLENECK
A BIT IN THE INITIAL EVALUATION
OF THE COMPLAINT. SO, HOPEFULLY,
THAT IS HELPFUL.
>> THEREFORE, THEY ARE CIVILIANS
AND TWO OUR SUPERVISOR SO THE
OTHER TWO TO DO THAT .
>> THEORETICALLY YOU COULD HAVE
FOUR IF YOU HAD SOME SORT OF
LARGE INFLUX OF COMPLAINTS
AGAINST THE CHIEF CAN ALMOST
DOUBLE THE STAFFING THAT WOULD
BE CAPABLE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO
THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.
>> SO BASICALLY THE PROBLEM IS
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE
DOING THE INITIAL INTAKE AND
THIS SOLVES ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS
? THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE
QUESTIONS THAT THE INTAKE OR IS
USING TO VETS THE COMPLAINANT OR
ANY KIND OF
>> NO. WE DO HAVE EVALUATION
PROCESS AND CRITERIA PRETTY WELL
WORKED OUT . BUT IT WOULD REMOVE
THE IMPEDIMENT OF ONLY HAVING A
CERTAIN STRATUS OF OPA CIVILIANS
AUTHORIZED TO DO THOSE INTAKE
INVESTIGATIONS.
>> IT WAS AN ORIENTED POSITION
AND ORIENTED WHEN THAT NURSE
CAME OUT TO THAT ONE POSITION.
THIS WOULD EXPAND THAT. IT ALSO
WITH THE REQUISITE SKILLS AND
ABILITIES. SO ABSOLUTELY. WE
HAVE FOUR WHO COULD ACTUALLY DO
THAT AT THIS TIME.
>> IF I MAY TO CLARIFY BECAUSE
YOU DID REFERENCE THE MEMO IN
THE PRESENTATION. THE CURRENT
PROCESS REQUIRES THE
COMPREHENSIVE INTAKE FOR ALL
COMPLAINTS. AND THE AMENDMENT IN
THE LEGISLATION ALLOWS THE OPA
ONLY WITH THE AGREEMENT OF OIG
AND CONSULTATION TO CLOSE
CERTAIN COMPLAINTS IS A CONTACT
LOG AFTER AN INITIAL SCREENING .
THERE WOULD BE AN INITIAL
SCREENING AND WHAT IS THE
SUBSTANCE OF THIS COMPLAINT?
EVALUATING IT . BUT IT COULD BE
CLOSED AS A CONTACT LOG WITHOUT
A FULL INTAKE. AND SO THE
INTENTION OF THAT TO MY
UNDERSTANDING IS TO FREE UP MORE
STAFF CAPACITY.
>> ONE LAST THING. I AM ASSUMING
THIS PROCESS WAS VETTED BY THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION? DO THEY HAVE TO PUT
ICE ON THIS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. THERE
ISN'T A CIVIL SERVICE COMPONENT
.
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPERVISORS.
THEY CAME TO MIND BECAUSE THERE
WAS CONCERN THAT THE LEGISLATION
TO IMPROVE THE HIRING PROCESSES
AND THE EXAM PROCESS AND
EVERYTHING COULD HAVE LED TO A
LOWERING OF STANDARDS IN THE
OFFICERS. SO THAT IS WHY THEY
WERE BROUGHT TO MIND. I DO
COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED
FOR REMOVING BOTTLENECKS AND
BARRIERS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
INVESTIGATING THE CHIEF, OR
ANYBODY ACTUALLY, IN SPD, BUT
ESPECIALLY IN SUPERVISORY
POSITIONS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IN THE INTEREST OF
EXPEDIENCY AND ALLOWING FOR FOUR
PEOPLE INSTEAD OF TWO PEOPLE TO
DO THAT INITIAL VETTING THAT
EVERYBODY THAT IS DOING THAT
VETTING IS WELL-QUALIFIED AND WE
AREN'T LOWERING -- COMPROMISING
OUR JUDGMENT.
>> I DO COMPLETELY SHARE THAT
SENTIMENT. THERE IS NO
COMPROMISING OF THE EXPERIENCE
AND QUALITY OF ANALYSIS THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
ASK ANOTHER QUESTION. JUST A
FOLLOW-UP . WHAT I HEAR CENTRAL
STAFF SAYING THAT IS CREATING
CONFUSION. I WANT TO BE REALLY
CLEAR. BECAUSE IT ALMOST SOUNDS
LIKE THERE IS A QUALITY PIECE
HERE THAT IS GETTING
COMPROMISED. THAT IS WHAT I AM
HEARING , MS. BULL. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE
THINGS ARE TRUE AND WHAT I'M
GOING TO SAY IS THAT CURRENTLY,
WHEN THIS LAW WAS PASSED IN
2022, YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY
COMPLAINTS WOULD COME IN, RIGHT?
OKAY . SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW HOW
MANY HAVE COME IN, YOU HAVE
IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO HAVE MORE
PEOPLE REVIEW. IN THE INTERIM,
BETWEEN 2022 AND NOW WHEN YOU
MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION, ALL
COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE COME IN
AGAINST THE POLICE CHIEF HAVE
BEEN THOROUGHLY REVIEWED. SO YOU
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CUT OPA AND
OIG, REVIEW ALL OF THOSE CASES
AND MAKE DETERMINATIONS OR MAKE
AN INVESTIGATION AND ALL OF THAT
HAS HAPPENED DILIGENTLY . AND
YOU HAVE REALIZED WITH A NUMBER
OF CASES THAT IT WOULD BE VERY
HELPFUL TO HAVE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT AS YOU REVIEW THESE. SO
AT NO POINT HAS ANYTHING BEEN
COMPROMISED, NOR WOULD IT BE
COMPROMISED BY ADDING TWO
CIVILIANS THAT ARE
NON-SUPERVISORS?
>> CORRECT. WE WILL NOT CHANGE
ANYTHING ABOUT THE VETTING
PROCESS. IT SIMPLY EXPANDS THE
PERSONNEL WHO CAN DO THAT . AND
ALSO ALL OF THE INVESTIGATORS AT
OPA ARE PERFECTLY WELL-QUALIFIED
TO DO THIS. WE READ ABOUT THESE
THINGS. WE TALK THROUGH
COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN ,
INTAKES. WE APPROVE ALL OF THE
DESIGNATIONS AS CONTACT LOGS.
THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION,
VETTING, AND EVALUATION THAT
GOES INTO THAT CONTEMPLATING A
CHANGE TO THE UNDERLYING
PROCESS. AND JUSTIN REMOVING THE
STAFFING DRAG ON HAVING US WAIT
FOR ONE OF TWO PEOPLE TO BE ABLE
TO DO INTAKE BECAUSE THAT DOES
ADD TIME.
>> UNDERSTOOD. RIGHT NOW , IS IT
UP TO THE COMPLAINTS INVOLVING
THE POLICE CHIEF GET PRIORITY
OVER OTHER COMPLAINTS ? NOT
INVESTIGATIONS. SORRY.
>> WE HAVE PEOPLE DESIGNATED
SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM , RIGHT?
SO THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
TAKING A PRIORITY WITH RESPECT
TO THOSE. AND THEN WE HAVE
INVESTIGATORS WHO DO OTHER TYPES
OF WORK. WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE
THOSE INVESTIGATORS TO BE
PRIORITIZED FOR CHIEF OF POLICE
CASES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THINK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I
DON'T SEE ANY. AS CHAIR, I
WANTED TO NOTE , FIRST, IN TERMS
OF A BIGGER CONTEXT, OBVIOUSLY,
WE CAME IN THIS TERM LAST YEAR
WORKING THE MISSION AND VISION,
OUR PLAN AND VARIOUS PIECES ON
THE PUBLIC SAFETY FRONT AND ALL
OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WHICH
GOES TO OUR COMMENTS. BUT FOR ME
AS CHAIR IN YEAR TWO, I HAVE HAD
THREE PRIORITIES. ONE IS
BASICALLY VACCINE OR REVISING
CUT UPDATING ORDINANCES . THE
SECOND IS FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IT COMES OUT
IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I
WAS VERY INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND HOW IT FITS INTO THE
BROADER EFFORT PARTICULARLY THE
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES WITH THE
NEXT LAYER AND THE ELEMENTS OF
SPD THAT DO THAT PIECE. THIS
ONE, REALLY, KIND OF GOES TO A
FEW PIECES. NUMBER ONE IS THE
ORDINANCE PIECE , FIXING,
UPDATING REVISING. LESS LETHAL
WEAPONS. THAT WAS A MAJOR, VICE
CHAIR AND I WORKING WITH OTHERS
, THAT WAS A MAJOR REDO FOR A
LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS. THIS
ONE , AS MENTIONED EARLIER BY MY
COLLEAGUES, IT IS ABOUT TWEAKING
, MAKING MORE EFFICIENT. I THINK
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TOO. I
WILL SAY, FOR THE PREVIOUS TERM
OF THIS COUNCIL, YES, I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY WOULD HAVE
EXPECTED AS MANY CHIEF OF POLICE
INVESTIGATIONS AS THEY WERE. YOU
HAVE THE INITIALS AND THE NEXUS
INVESTIGATIONS . YOU HAVE ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT PIECES WITH A
VOLUME OF SUCH THAT EVEN WITH
PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND
PARTICULARLY NOW IN A HIRING
FREEZE, IF YOU HAVE TWO AND ONE
IS GONE, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE AND
IT CASCADES. AS I LIKE TO SAY IT
IS A SECOND OR THIRD EFFECT AND
IT IMPACTS OPA OVERALL WHICH
IMPACTS THE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, IMPACTS PEOPLE'S FAITH
IN IT BECAUSE TIMELINES HAVE
BEEN PUSHED OUT. IT IS IMPORTANT
AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE TO
WORK WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS AND LOOK TO IMPROVE. SO
AS IT COMES TO BOTTLENECKS,
BRING YOU KNOW A LITTLE SIX
SIGMA TO THE SYSTEMS. THAT IS
GOOD. I DO APPRECIATE THE TALK
OF TIMELINES. CAN YOU BRIEFLY
SAY, OKAY, THE INVESTIGATION IS
COMPLETE AND WE HAVE THESE
REPORTS AND A NOTIFICATION IN
THE TIMELINE OF THAT PROCESS BUT
BASICALLY THAT LAST MILE AND
WHEN DOES THE PUBLIC FIND OUT
BECAUSE I DO THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IT IS
GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT
AND TAKES TIME AS YOU NOTED AND
IT IS CONTRACTED OUT AND YOU
HAVE THE OVERSIGHT
RESPONSIBILITIES. OKAY. IT IS
DONE. NOW WHAT ? JUST SO PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF THE
PROCESS.
>> SURE. ONCE IT IS COMPLETED,
IF IT IS COMPLETED BY OPA, IT IS
VETTED AND WE DO THIS STANDARD
EVALUATION OF THE INVESTIGATION
TO MAKE SURE IT IS A THOROUGH
AND OBJECTIVE AND FAIR. ONCE WE
HAVE DONE THAT, OPA IS IN CHARGE
OF TRANSMITTING THAT TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR IS
THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY FOR THE
CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE ULTIMATE
ARBITER IN THE COMPLAINTS
AGAINST THE CHIEF AND ANY
DECISIONS THAT MAY FLOW FROM
THAT. IF THE INVESTIGATION HAS
BEEN HANDLED BY SD HR, THAT
INVESTIGATION COMES TO OIG AND
WE DO THAT SAME INVESTIGATION
AND THEY TRANSMIT IT TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. IF IT IS A
THIRD-PARTY INVESTIGATION
MANAGED BY OIG, WE TRANSMIT
MAKING SURE ALL OF THOSE THINGS
ARE REPLACED AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HAS 30 DAYS TO EVALUATE
THOSE COMPLAINTS AND ISSUE A
RESPONSE IN FINDINGS. ONCE THAT
HAPPENS, AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO
ALL THE VARIOUS OTHER LEGAL
PROCESSES THAT PLAY OUT WE DO
HAVE RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS AND
PROPERTY RIGHTS BUT THERE MAY BE
OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THAT
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
CITY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
THAT EXTENDS THAT TIMELINE BUT
ESSENTIALLY UNDER THE ORDINANCE
THERE IS A 30 DAY TIMEFRAME FOR
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ISSUE
FINDINGS.
>> OKAY . THANK YOU. I THINK
THAT IS HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE TO BE
REMINDED.
>> MR. CHAIR I WANTED AT A
FISCAL NOTE. I WANTED TO SAY
THAT HAVING THESE INVESTIGATIONS
HANDLED BY A THIRD-PARTY
INVESTIGATOR ADDS A LEVEL OF
OBJECTIVITY . AND IT REMOVES
SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT ,
MAYBE, BIAS OR THINGS WITH CITY
EMPLOYEES DOING THIS, BUT IT
DOES COME WITH A PRICE TAG. SO I
DO WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE
THAT JUST FOR THE CONSIDERATION
OF THE COUNCIL, WE ARE IN VERY
TIGHT BUDGET TIMES, BUT JUST A
NOTE THAT FOR CONSIDERATION IN
THE FUTURE FOR BUDGET , FOR
THESE INVESTIGATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> OF COURSE THE EASY FIX IS
BASICALLY INVESTIGATIONS THAT
NEED A FULL PROCESS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I DO HAVE TO SAY
GOING BACK TO THE WHOLE COMMENTS
WE ARE DOWN TO TWO WITH THE
COMMUNITY SINCE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS LEFT. I AM PICKING UP
ON WHAT MY VICE CHAIR SAID QUERY
WHETHER WHICH IS THIS THAT OR
THE OTHER BUT FOR THE LEGAL
MINDS OUT THERE IT IS A TELL .
SO THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR COVER
HIGHLIGHTING THAT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AGAIN WE WILL BE BACK AT THE
NEXT MEETING. CAN I SAY ANOTHER
THING FOR MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN
THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE
COUNCIL IS THAT YOU ARE INVITED
TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET
THE ACCOUNTABILITY ALL THREE
PARTNERS ON YOUR SCHEDULE AND
HAVE THEM IN YOUR OFFICE OR GO
TO THEIR OFFICE AND KIND OF GET
A SENSE OF THESE THINGS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT . YOU DO HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. I DO WELCOME THAT.
I DO THAT AND HAVE REGULAR
MEETINGS WITH THE THREE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS AND FOUR
IF YOU COUNT SPD. SO I DO JUST
ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY ON THE
COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY THE
COMMITTEE, TO DO THAT. OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK READ
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> STARCHASER TECHNOLOGY
BRIEFING.
>> TODAY WE HAVE CAPTAIN BRITT.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW,
CAPTAIN BRITT IS MR. TECHNOLOGY
AS I CALL HIM FOR SPD . SO FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO
WELCOME, CAPTAIN BRITT. PLEASE
WORK WITH THE CLERK TO GET YOUR
PRESENTATION UP AND RUNNING,
WHICH IT IS. AND PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD. AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
CAPTAIN JAMES BRITT WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MY
CURRENT ROLE IS TO OVERSEE
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT GIVES
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT
IS AVAILABLE AND WHAT IS OUT
THERE AND WHAT OTHER AGENCIES
ARE DOING AND WHAT WORKS AND
DOES NOT AND WHAT WE CAN TRY OUT
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE
COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY.
THIS FIRST LIGHT IS HOW WE GOT
HERE. THE ORIGINAL REPORT WAS
PASSED IN 2023. THAT
LEGISLATION, WHICH WE WILL GET
INTO A LITTLE MORE DEPTH
AUTHORIZE THE USE OF COVERT
TRACKING DEVICES WITH THE
CONSENT OF THE PARTY AND WE
CURRENTLY RECEIVED A $250,000
GRANT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE THAT IS MEANT TO BE
USED FOR PURSUIT MITIGATION
CAPABILITIES. SO OUR GOAL IS TO
PURSUE TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES IT
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PURSUE . WE
ARE TRYING TO GET AUTHORIZATION
TO PURCHASE THE STARCHASER
TECHNOLOGY. BECAUSE IT IS A
TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD FALL UNDER
SURVEILLANCE , IT REQUIRES
APPROVAL AND WE WORKED WITH THE
SEATTLE I.T. OFFICE OF PRIVACY
TO PROCEED AND IT WAS DETERMINED
THAT THIS QUALIFIES AS A
MATERIAL UPDATE TO THE EXISTING
GPS TRACKING SIR AND DIDN'T
NEED THE FULL PROCESS SO THAT IS
WHAT IS LAID OUT HERE AND IF WE
CAN GO TO THE NEXT. A REAL QUICK
ON THE ORIGINAL SIR WHICH
ALLOWED FOR CELLULAR GEO
TRACKING DEVICES THAT WE USED AS
A TOOL TO LOCATE AND TRACK
MOVEMENTS OF THOSE INVOLVED IN
INVESTIGATION AND REPORT DEVICE
INFORMATION SUCH AS TEMPERATURE
ALERTS AND WHETHER IT IS REMOVED
OR POWERED ON OR OFF. WE USE
THIS AS A MEANS OF GATHERING
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT
INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS . IT IS
ONLY DONE WITH A WARRANT . IF WE
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THAT IS
WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE DATA
COLLECTION. IT'S ONLY USED WITH
THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE
WARRANT AND THEY REPORT
COORDINATES AND SET TO THE
REQUESTING DETECTIVE WHO IS
INVOLVED AS PART OF THE
INVESTIGATIVE FILES. IT IS
DOCUMENTED BY THE TECHNOLOGICAL
AND ELECTRONIC SUPPORT UNIT AND
INTEL UNIT AND AUDITED BY THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL AND FEDERAL
MONITOR AT ANY TIME. THIS IS
KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE
EXISTING TECHNOLOGY. ONE THING
WORTH NOTING AND WE WILL TALK
ABOUT IT IS NONE OF THIS IS
CHANGING. WE ARE LOOKING TO
CHANGE ANYTHING WITH WHAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. THE NEXT
SLIDE CONTINUES WITH THE DETAILS
OF THE UPDATE . WE ARE SEEKING
THIS BECAUSE OF THE UPDATES OF
THE STATE LAW. IT REQUIRES
AGENCIES TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO
AND THE PURSUIT THROUGH THE USE
OF AVAILABLE PURSUIT
INTERVENTION OPTIONS. THIS
TECHNOLOGY FULFILLS THE
APPLICATIONS TO MEET THAT
REQUIREMENT. THIS TRACKER ALLOWS
US TO DETERMINE THE PRECISE
LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE FOR
WHICH PROBABLE CAUSE OR
REASONABLE SUSPICION OF
INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED
AND ACCOMPLISH AND MANAGED TO
FOLLOW THE VEHICLE WITHOUT
HAVING TO CHASE IT AND THE
DANGEROUS PURSUIT AND CONTINUE
THOSE EFFORTS WITHOUT
ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC IN THE
PROCESS. THE $250,000 GRANT WE
HAVE BEEN GIVEN WILL ALLOW US TO
WHIP 25 SPD VEHICLE WITH THE
LAUNCHERS AND A TWO YEAR
SUBSCRIPTION TO THE TRACKING
SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS US TO DO
SO. WELL 25 VEHICLES WILL BE
EQUIPPED, OUR GOAL WILL BE TO
TRAIN ALL PATROL OFFICERS . SO
REGARDLESS OF WHO IS SITTING IN
THE CAR, THEY CAN OPERATE THE
EQUIPMENT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT WHO TAKES WHAT CAR .
IT WILL BE MONITORED PRIMARILY
BY THE REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER
WHICH COMES ONLINE HERE VERY
SOON. PRIMARILY. AND IN HOURS
WHEN IT ISN'T AVAILABLE,
OFFICERS WOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK
THAT. ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT ALLOWS
AN OFFICER TO DO IS PULL IN
BEHIND A VEHICLE FOR WHICH THEY
ESTABLISHED A REASON TO STOP THE
CAR. THEY CAN LAUNCH THE TAG
ONTO THE VEHICLE AND TURN ON
THEIR LIGHTS. IF THE VEHICLE
PULLS OVER, THEY REMOVE THE TAG
IN THE COMPANY WILL REPLACE IT
AT NO COST. IF THE VEHICLE FLEES
FROM THEM, THEY CAN TRACK IT
USING THE RTC SEAT OR PULLING
OVER AND MONITORING IT ON THE
COMPUTER IN THE CAR AND TRAVEL
TO THE LOCATION WHERE IT STOPPED
AND CONDUCT WHATEVER
INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS CAN BE
DONE FROM THERE, WHICH CAN
INCLUDE PEOPLE FLEEING FROM THE
VEHICLE ARE GATHERING EVIDENCE
FROM THE CAR WHICH INCLUDES
FINGERPRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND
CONTINUING INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS
THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN
DENIED TO US WITHOUT THE ABILITY
TO PURSUE THE CAR OR MAYBE IF WE
DID PURSUE IT COULD HAVE BEEN
ENDANGERED WITH THAT ACTIVITY.
TO REITERATE, NOTHING IS
CHANGING ABOUT THE ORIGINATING
TECHNOLOGY. COVERT TRACKING
DEVICES WILL BE USED IN THE
REQUIRED -- REQUIREMENTS OF A
WARRANT OR CONSENT.
>> THE FISCAL IMPACT IS A HOT
TOPIC THESE DAYS. WE RECEIVED
$250,000. IF WE DETERMINE THIS
IS USEFUL TECHNOLOGY TO US, TO
CONTINUE PAST THE TWO-YEAR
PERIOD, IT CAN'T $37,500 A YEAR
TO CONTINUE AT THAT DEPLOYMENT
LEVEL . THERE ARE A LOT OF COST
SAVINGS REALIZED WITH THIS
INCLUDING PRODUCING THE NUMBER
OF PURSUITS AND LIABILITY AND
ADDITIONALLY DAMAGE TO PATROL
VEHICLES AND OTHER CIVILIAN
VEHICLES INVOLVED OFTENTIMES
THEY CAN DO FAR WORSE. AND THERE
AND REALIZED COST SAVINGS THAT
WE WOULD NEVER KNOW WHAT
ADDITIONAL GRANTS COULD BE
AVAILABLE TO EXPAND THE USE
CASES OR ABILITY AND DEPLOYMENT
IN THE FUTURE. THE LAST SLIDE
HERE IS OTHER AGENCIES IN THE
AREA USING IT WITH THE NEIGHBORS
AT THE KING COUNTY AND
DEPLOYMENT IN THE SAME FASHION
AND LYNWOOD , TACOMA, EVERETT
AND THURSTON HAVE BEEN PLAYING
AROUND WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY AS
WELL. THE REASON I SAY PLAYING
AROUND, AS POINTED OUT IN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT, IT IS RELATIVELY
NEW. THE IDEA OF THE PILOT IS TO
TRY SOMETHING TO SEE IF WE CAN
GET A BENEFIT FROM TO HELP US DO
OUR JOBS BETTER AND SAFER AND
BETTER INVESTIGATIVE RESULTS
WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC.
AS ALWAYS, I AM OPEN TO ANY
QUESTIONS THE CHAIR OR COMMITTEE
WOULD HAVE.
>> THINK YOU CUT CAPTAIN BRITT.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT
PRESENTATION, WHICH I SPOKE TO A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES TO
INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE THAT CAME
THROUGH IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
VICE CHAIR, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES . THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION HERE, CAPTAIN
BRITT. WE DO NOTE THAT THE
PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY WOULD STILL MAINTAIN
THE PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN
PRIOR APPROVALS INCLUDING THE
WARRANT REQUIREMENT . THIS
TECHNOLOGY, AS CURRENTLY
PROPOSED, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE
WOULD BE A QUALIFYING OR
EXCEPTION TO THAT WARRANT
REQUIREMENT. CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- I THINK I
UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS INTENDED
TO WORK, BUT IT IS SITTING
SINGLY LAID OUT. SO, OFFICER ,
IT HAS PROBABLE CAUSE AND I
DON'T KNOW IF REASONABLE
SUSPICION IS APPROPRIATE AND IF
THEY HAVE BAD REASON TO PULL
SOMEBODY OVER AND INITIATE A
TRAFFIC STOP AND THEY DEPLOY
THIS TECHNOLOGY, LAUNCH IT, AND
IF THE PULLED OVER INDIVIDUAL
STATES, THEY RETRIEVE IT OR
CARRY OUT THERE STOP OR
WHATEVER, THEY GO. IF THEY
LEAVE, AND FLEE, WOULD THEN THE
PURSUIT BE OVER? PURSUITS ARE
VERY DANGEROUS AS WE KNOW AND I
THINK THIS STRIKES ME AS A
COMMONSENSE THING TO MINIMIZE
THE HARM ASSOCIATED WITH
PURSUITS. AND IT STILL ALLOWS US
TO CARRY OUT THE VALID LAW
ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS AND PUBLIC
SAFETY FUNCTIONS. BUT HELP JUST
WALK ME THROUGH THIS DEPLOYMENT.
>> SURE. WELL, YOU HIT THE NAIL
ON THE HEAD WITH YOUR
DESCRIPTION AS DESCRIBED IN THE
TESTIMONY. IF THE VEHICLE FLEES,
WE TRACKED WHERE IT GOES AND ONE
OF THE THINGS YOU ASK IS HOW IS
THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE COVERT
TECHNOLOGY AND WHY WE CAN DEPLOY
THIS WITH A WARRANT WITHOUT THE
OTHERS. THE PURPOSE OF THE
COVERT TRACKING DEVICES IS TO
ESTABLISH INVESTIGATIVE LEADS
WHICH INCLUDES LOCATIONS OF
PERSONNEL OVER A PERIOD OF TIME
OR EVEN PATTERNS OF MOVEMENT. IT
IS WORTHY TO NOTE AND I
APOLOGIZE NOT INCLUDING IN THE
SLIDE, BUT I BELIEVE IN THE
DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED THAT THE
BATTERY LIFE OF THESE THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO USE IS EIGHT
HOURS. THIS ISN'T MEANT TO
PROVIDE PERSISTENT SURVEILLANCE
CAPABILITIES ARE MEANT TO
REPLACE INVESTIGATIVE COVERT
SURVEILLANCE THAT IS USED WITH
GPS TAGS AUTHORIZED CURRENTLY.
THIS IS MEANT TO HELP US LOCATE
A VEHICLE THAT FLEES AND NEEDS
TO BE REPLACED IN PURSUIT AND
NOT MEANT TO CHANGE THE PURSUIT
POLICY IF IT WENT BEHIND A
VIOLENT PERSON FOR WHICH THE
CURRENT PURSUIT POLICY
AUTHORIZES A PURSUIT. IT COULD
STILL BE AUTHORIZED. BUT, IF WE
CAN DEPLOY THIS TAG AND BACK OFF
THAT PURSUIT, WE COULD TRY AND
ENGAGE IN THE INVESTIGATIVE WORK
BEING DONE WITHOUT ENGAGING IN A
FURTHER DANGEROUS PURSUIT AS
REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. I AM NOT
SURE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. I
HOPE I DID.
>> YES. THAT WAS HELPFUL. CAN
YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND LIKE THE
REPUTATION OF THE VENDOR ? I
DON'T CARE WHO THE VENDOR IS
BUT IS THIS A STARTUP? OR IS
THIS SOMEBODY WHO GOVERNMENTS
AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE
AND THE COUNTRY RELY ON FOR
OTHER KIND OF TECHNOLOGIES? OR
IS IT A NEW COMPANY , NEW
SERVICE THAT IS BEING OFFERED?
>> THEY ARE RELATIVELY NEW. THEY
ARE PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY GAME IN
TOWN RIGHT NOW DOING THIS. I
WOULDN'T CALL THEM A STARTUP .
THAT WOULD IMPLY THE ONLY HAVE A
FEW CUSTOMERS THAT ARE STILL
TRYING IT OUT. THIS IS A
WIDESPREAD TECHNOLOGY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AT THIS TIME TO THE
POINT WHERE LOCALLY WE ARE
LINKED AND GETTING ON BOARD WITH
IT .
>> HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN
DEPLOYED? WHEN WERE -- WHEN DID
IT FIRST HIT THE MARKET?
>> I COULDN'T TELL YOU THAT,
BUT I WOULD LOOK IT UP.
>> I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU. AND
ALSO, OFF-LINE, AND
INTENTIONALLY SO, JUST CURIOUS
TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFICACY RATE
OF THIS AND HOW OFTEN DOES IT
ACTUALLY HIT AND STICK TO THE
INTENDED TARGET?
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
WE HAVE AS WELL. THERE IS
CONCERNS ABOUT THE WEATHER WHICH
WE HAVE AROUND HERE AND CONCERNS
ABOUT THE COLD WEATHER AND ONE
OF THE CALLERS SAID WHAT ABOUT
THEM GETTING OUT AND REMOVING IT
FROM THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE NOT
WRONG. WHAT IF WE CAN REDUCE
PURSUITS BY 50% OR 40%, AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS
ARE AND IT DEPENDS. BUT I AM
GUESSING IT WORKS BETTER IN
PHOENIX THAN IT DOES IN
MINNEAPOLIS JUST BASED ON
WHETHER BUT IF WE CAN REDUCE
EVEN ONE PURSUIT THAT WOULD HAVE
TAKEN A LIFE POTENTIALLY, THIS
IS WELL WORTH THE TIME TO GIVE
IT A TRY. THAT IS WHY IT WAS
MEANT TO BE A TWO-YEAR PILOT AND
THE BEAUTY OF FUNDING IT LIKE
THAT WE COULD DO ONE WITHOUT
COSTING THE CITY MONEY.
>> INCLEMENT WEATHER OR ANY
NUMBER OF FACTORS , A DIRTY CAR,
I DON'T KNOW. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COULD
IMPACT IT IF YOU COULD PLEASE
FOLLOW UP WITH MY OFFICE ON
THOSE THINGS, I WOULD APPRECIATE
IT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR .
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> DID SENATE BILL 2113 HAVE A
DUE DATE BY WHEN YOU WERE
SUPPOSED TO TEST ALTERNATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES?
>> I AM AFRAID I DON'T KNOW THE
ANSWER TO THAT, MA'AM.
>> YOU REFERENCED LEGISLATION IN
OLYMPIA PASSED IN 2024 AND YOUR
SLIDE SET A MARCH FOUR IT PASSED
THE SENATE OF 2024. I WAS
WONDERING IF WE ARE LATE . I
MEAN, IF WE HAD GONE PAST LIMIT
OF TIME ESTABLISHED IN THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION. I WAS JUST
WONDERING. BECAUSE THAT IS
DRIVING A LITTLE BIT THE
SCHEDULE THAT IS BEFORE US RIGHT
NOW.
>> THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY PURSUIT
MITIGATION TECHNOLOGY EVALUATED.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO
REEMPLOY -- REDEPLOYED THAT IT
DOESN'T FALL UNDER THAT
TECHNOLOGY UMBRELLA SO IT WAS
ANOTHER PURSUIT MITIGATION
TECHNOLOGY BUT AS AN AGENCY JUST
TO OURSELVES SO PAINFULLY
DEMONSTRATED, THESE HAVE AN
INHERENT DANGER TO THE DEPLOYING
OFFICER AS WELL WITH TRAGIC
OUTCOMES . SOME OF THE TASKS I
WAS GIVEN IS TO DETERMINE WHAT
OTHER OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE. SO
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PATH WE
HAVE GONE DOWN TO COMPLY.
>> RIGHT. THE WIRE MEANT IS TO
COME UP WITH A PLAN AND NOT JUST
PICK ONE OF A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
THE SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE 37,500
COPIES THAT ANNUAL OR MONTHLY ?
>> THAT WOULD BE ANNUAL
FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THIS
PILOT.
>> UNDERSTOOD. JUST TO CLARIFY,
NO ADDED COST TO THE CITY. THIS
IS A GRANT COVERING THE TWO
YEARS, THAT 250,000, IF IT WERE
TO CONTINUE, IT WOULD COST THE
CITY 37,500 A YEAR?
>> CORRECT. IF WE CONTINUED WITH
THE DEPLOYMENT OF 25 LAUNCHERS.
>> GOT IT . IF THERE WAS MORE
WITH THE SUBSCRIPTION. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU .
>> VICE CHAIR?
>> ONE MORE QUESTION . SO A
TWO-YEAR TRIAL PROGRAM . WHAT
DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOUR
DEPARTMENT, AND WHICH SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVE CRITERIA DO YOU
ANTICIPATE YOU WILL USE TO
MEASURE SUCCESS IN THIS CONTEXT?
>> I HOPE TO WORK WITH OUR
PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS AND
RESEARCH UNIT TO DETERMINE WHAT
METRICS WOULD BE A PROBE FOR
THIS. THE NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS
AND APPREHENSIONS AND HOW MANY
DEPLOYMENTS LEAD TO CAPTURES
IDENTIFICATION, CASES WHERE WE
LET A CARGO BECAUSE WE COULD NOT
PURSUE IT , BUT WE WERE ABLE TO
PURSUE LEADS BASED ON THE
TRACKING OF THE VEHICLE AND
GATHERING OF EVIDENCE. I WOULD
LIKE TO WORK WITH PERFORMANCE
ANALYTICS AND RESEARCH UNIT TO
COME UP WITH METRICS TO
DETERMINE SUCCESS. IN THE END IT
WILL COME DOWN TO IS THE JUICE
WORTH THE SQUEEZE. IS THE MONEY
SPENT THE $37,500 WE NEED TO
SPEND ONGOING WORTH WHAT WE
WOULD HAVE TO SPEND IN MATERIAL
POTENTIALLY, OR IS IT WORTH THE
GAIN THAT COMES FROM THE
INVESTIGATIVE LEADS FOLLOWED BY
THAT OR THE REDUCTION OF
LIABILITY FROM NOT HAVING TO
PURSUE? AND I WILL FOLLOW UP
WITH YOUR OFFICE ON THAT AS
WELL, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR . ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU
, CAPTAIN BRITT COVER COMING. I
DO FIND IT INTERESTING.
OBVIOUSLY, TECHNOLOGY IS PART OF
THE EFFORT WE ARE DOING HERE IN
SUPPORT OF ACHIEVING OUR GOALS
WITH OUR PLAN. IT IS THE ABILITY
TO GET MORE WITH LESS AND THE
ABILITY TO DO THINGS SAFER IN
THIS EXAMPLE. I DO FIND IT VERY
INTERESTING. OBVIOUSLY, OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR AND A HALF
WITH THE CRIME CENTER AND THE
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER,
BUT IN A SENSE CUT THIS KIND OF
JOINS THE OTHER TECHNOLOGY
PIECES THE THROW PHONES AND CALL
YOU. THIS WOULD BE A NEW PIECE.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE , LIKE,
IS THERE ONE OR A DEMO YOU HAVE
?
>> I DO HAVE A VIDEO THAT I
COULD SHARE. I DON'T HAVE A
SPECIFIC DEVICE BUT I COULD
CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THE
VENDOR AND SEE IF THEY COULD
SHARE ONE WITH US IF YOU WANT TO
HAVE A PHYSICAL TRACKER FOR THE
NEXT MEETING.
>> IT WOULD BE INTERESTING. IT
WOULD BE NICE, BUT OTHERWISE
MAYBE SET IT UP AS PART OF A
SEPARATE MEETING. ACTUALLY, I
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING A
MEETING IN TERMS OF TRACKING TO
INCLUDE THE COVERT PIECES. SO TO
SEE HOW THIS FITS IN WITH A
BROADER UMBRELLA AND WE COULD
SCHEDULE THAT SEPARATELY. FOR
THE NEXT MEETING, I THINK IT
WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO
UNDERSTAND TO THE QUESTION OF
THE VICE CHAIR IN TERMS OF THIS
IS NOT A STARTUP BUT ALREADY
DEPLOYED AT THE DATA IN TERMS OF
WHERE IT IS DEPLOYED, HOW LONG
IT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED, ON ONE
HAND AND THEN SEPARATELY, MORE
SPECIFICALLY, THE WASHINGTON
STATE EXAMPLES. TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE KING COUNTY IS IT DOESN'T
SOUND LIKE THEY ARE DEPLOYED YET
WITH YOUR POINT MADE BUT THE
OTHER JURISDICTIONS. HOW IS IT
PLAYING OUT HERE IN WASHINGTON
STATE? CLEARLY, IT IS IN KEEPING
WITH STATE LAW IN TERMS OF BY
THE LETTER, BUT ALSO THE INTENT.
I DO REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON THE
COMMITTEE DOING PUBLIC SAFETY IN
QUEEN AND AND I MET WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE
COVERING THE VARIOUS REFORMS
FROM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND A
NUMBER OF SESSIONS AGO. AND
PURSUIT WAS A BIG PIECE OF THAT
. THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED TO DO
BETTER. THIS MAY GIVE US THE
ABILITY TO DO THAT . AND FOR ALL
THE POINTS YOU RAISED IN TERMS
OF LOSS OF LIVES OR DAMAGE AND
ALL THE REST. IT IS DEFINITELY
WORTH DOING. SO VERY HELPFUL
NEXT TIME TO HAVE THAT CONTEXT.
THE GREAT THING AS NOTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, IT
IS A PILOT FOR TWO YEARS PAID
FOR BY THE STATE THROUGH THE
GRANT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AT
NO COST TO REALLY DEMO AND SEE
AND IN KEEPING OF WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO HERE IN OUR CITY
AND NEVERMIND THE RCW AND STATE
LAW BUT WHAT WE ARE
ACCOMPLISHING HERE IN SEATTLE AS
WELL. I WAS GOING TO CLOSE, BUT
THE COUNCIL RESIDENT THINGS TO
INDICATE SHE WANTS A QUICK
FOLLOW-UP.
>> I WANTED A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON
SLIDE SEVEN . HOW DOES IT ATTACH
TO THE CAR IT IS AIMED AT? IS IT
JUST STICKY?
>> IT IS STICKY AND HAS MAGNETS.
THE COMPANY IS CONSTANTLY
WORKING TO TRY TO IMPROVE BOTH.
>> GOT IT. AND DECREASING THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND
ON ANY KIND OF DAMAGE TO OTHER
VEHICLES AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR
EXPLAINING THAT. THANK YOU.
>> YES. I FIND IT VERY
INTERESTING AND REMEMBERING BACK
TO MY ASSIGNMENTS OF NAVAL
INTELLIGENCE AND THE DEFENSE
AGENCY WHICH IS ANOTHER STORY
FOR ANOTHER DAY. ANY LAST
QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANY.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, CAPTAIN BRITT.
WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THOSE
POINTS AND TAKE QUESTIONS IN
TERMS OF THE NEXT MEETING ON
THIS TOPIC. WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF THE AGENDA IN AN HOUR AND
A HALF FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. TRYING TO IMPROVE. IS
THERE ANY BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? HEARING AND SEEING NONE
NO BUSINESS BEFORE THE
COMMITTE