Seattle Police Department Oversight Ends After Over a Decade

A federal judge concluded the oversight of the Seattle Police Department on Wednesday. This decision came over a decade after the U.S. Department of Justice identified a pattern of excessive force and potentially discriminatory practices within the department.

Following the implementation of a federal consent decree thirteen years ago, the Seattle Police Department implemented significant changes. These included the adoption of new use-of-force policies, the introduction of body cameras, revisions to officer accountability protocols, and a review of crowd management strategies.

The city and the federal government initially initiated the process of ending federal oversight in 2023, during the Biden administration. However, the process was delayed due to some remaining issues that needed to be addressed.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Robart declared that the city had fulfilled its obligations and subsequently lifted the consent decree, which was a court-approved agreement.

Mayor Bruce Harrell, in a prepared statement to the court, emphasized the transformation of the department. He noted the changes since 2012 and 2020, and expressed a commitment to ongoing improvement in the years ahead.