The ACLU and 34 civil rights and community organizations are asking Mayor Mike McGinn to give up his defensive posture and cooperate with the US Department of Justice's demands to eradicate a pattern of excessive force in the Seattle Police Department.
"We are concerned that some of your public comments give the impression of a reluctance to embrace the recommendations of the report," their letter says. The letter apparently responds to Seattle Police Chief Diaz telling reporters hours after receiving the DOJ's 66-page report that he wanted to "see evidence" that his officers used excessive force in one out of five cases. "Let us see the numbers," Diaz defiantly said last Friday. Likewise, police labor union president Rich O'Neill issued a statement that afternoon that said changes to working conditions for officers must be hammered out "at the bargaining table."
The social justice groups, many of which joined the original request last December to begin the investigation, write: "Instead of focusing on re-evaluating the data, the City?s leadership should focus on finding solutions to well-documented problems that have developed over the years at the Seattle Police Department."
Mayor McGinn, for his part, said on Monday, "It is natural for people to see this as SPD vs. DOJ. But as mayor I don't have the luxury of looking at it that way. It is my responsibility to ensure public safety and a police force that addresses issues of excessive force and bias in policing."
He adds, "We're going to have to dig in to the DOJ's analysis."
As I write in this week's paper, some officials at city hall fear that the SPD and police union's resistance could result in an expensive federal lawsuit.
The ACLU's letter is after the jump.
December 21, 2011
Mayor Mike McGinn
City of Seattle
P.O. Box 94749
Seattle, WA 98124-4749Dear Mayor McGinn,
The ACLU of Washington and the community organizations listed below request you make a strong public statement outlining your plans for addressing the very serious issues raised in the report by the United States Department of Justice stemming from its investigation of the Seattle Police Department, including implementation of the recommendations included in the report.
We agree with U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan that most Seattle police officers are good, dedicated public servants. However, the issues pinpointed by the DOJ?including excessive use of force, insufficient skills in de-escalating conflict, and lack of internal accountability?are longstanding problems. Organizations in the community have voiced concern about them for years.
The City?s leadership needs to set a tone indicating that it accepts the DOJ report?s recommendations. These were based on intensive discussions with police, City officials, and community members, and detailed analysis of records provided by the Seattle Police Department itself. We are concerned that some of your public comments give the impression of a reluctance to embrace the recommendations of the report. Instead of focusing on re-evaluating the data, the City?s leadership should focus on finding solutions to well-documented problems that have developed over the years at the Seattle Police Department.
Further, community stakeholders must be included in discussions about any solution to the problems identified by DOJ, including the conditions of a consent decree. The impact of any intended solution will be felt by all community members in Seattle, and it is critical that SPD and City leadership regain the trust of those community members. Only with them at the table can we create lasting and sustainable change where public safety and civil rights are both protected. The City of Seattle deserves no less.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Taylor, Executive DirectorACLU of Washington
Estela Ortega, Executive Director
El Centro de la RazaMerril Cousin, Executive Director
King County Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceRobert Chang, Director, Fred T. Korematsu
Center for Law and EqualityNicole Gaines, President
Loren Miller Bar AssociationFe Lopez, President-Elect
Latina/o Bar Association of WashingtonRev. Paul Benz, Policy Director
Faith Action NetworkRev. Harriett Walden, Executive Director
Mothers for Police AccountabilityDorry Elias-Garcia, Executive Director
Minority Executive Directors CoalitionMary Nguyen, Co-Chair
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum ? SeattleAndy Sachs, President
QLaw: GLBT Bar Association of WashingtonTim Harris, Executive Director
Real ChangeAlison Eisinger, Executive Director
Seattle/King County Coalition on HomelessnessJesus Rodriguez, Co-Chair
Trusted Advocates AssociationCindi Beech LaMar, Chair
Ndns for JusticeFloris Mikkelsen, Director
The Defender AssociationDeborah Sioux Cano-Lee, Board President
Washington Indian Civil Rights CommissionChris Stearns, Chairman
The Seattle Human Rights CommissionJenine Grey, Executive Director
Chief Seattle ClubMagdaleno Rose-Avila, Executive Director
Community Health and Safety CommitteeSusan Segall, Regional Director
American Friends Service Committee/Pacific NorthwestMillie A. Kennedy, President
Northwest Indian Bar AssociationDiane Narasaki, Executive Director
Asian Counseling and Referral ServiceJorge L. Bar?n, Executive Director
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, MEDC Multiracial Task Force on Police AccountabilityPamela Masterman-Stearns, President
CANOES (City Native American Employees Association)Cecile Hansen, Tribal Chairperson/DTS President
Duwamish Tribe on behalf of Duwamish Tribal ServicesDan Ford, Attorney
Columbia Legal ServicesJay "Westwind Wolf" Hollingsworth
John T. Williams Organizing CommitteeS. Arsalan Bukhari, Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations of Washington StatePramila Jayapal, Executive Director
OneAmericaKerem Levitas, President
Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington
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