AdobeStock
Seattle is one step closer to ending a federal consent decree after the city council approved updated guidelines for the police department’s crowd management policies.
The Seattle City Council approved Council Bill 120916 on Tuesday, which establishes restrictions on when crowd management tools can be used by the Seattle Police Department.
The city has worked to be in full compliance with a preliminary injunction regarding the department’s crowd control measures, the result of a 2012 court order that was sought by the U.S. Department of Justice following an investigation into the police department’s policies and practices at the time.
In 2023, a federal judge determined that SPD significantly complied with directives governing use-of-force, investigative stops, and crisis-intervention decisions by officers over the past decade, but did not completely resolve the court order, stating that SPD must still develop new crowd management policies that have to be approved by the court and an independent monitor.
The newly-approved bill establishes restrictions on when available crowd-control technologies can be used. This includes blast balls, which are rubber devices that create a loud sound and bright flash, and can also contain tear gas.
Amendments were added including requiring blast balls to only be used when crowd conditions are determined as a riot; requiring SPD to throw blast balls away from a crowd in an underhand motion, unless there are immediate threats to life safety; and requiring the mayor to issue a proclamation of civil emergency before blast balls can be used.
“The crowd management guidelines we passed today strike an important balance of giving our police officers flexibility to keep people in large gatherings safe, while also adding in clearly defined accountability measures,” Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle said in a statement.
Seattle City Councilmembers Alexis Mercedes-Rinck, Joy Hollingsworth and Cathy Moore voted against the bill, saying it was deeply flawed. They noted a recent protest in West Seattle where people voiced opposition to President Donald Trump. Moore said crowd management was not handled properly during the protest, with blast balls being misused.
Mercedes-Rinck said that protests in the city will continue throughout the duration of a second Trump presidency and that it is important for SPD to have accountability measures in place for future protests.
“This policy on less lethal weapons does not ensure accountability and advance it to the extent our neighbors deserve,” Mercedes-Rinck said during Tuesday's city council meeting.
The meeting was interrupted multiple times by some in attendance, who were against the council bill.
The new SPD crowd management policy will be submitted to the federal court overseeing the city’s consent decree. If it’s found to be consistent with best practices, the city will be able to file a motion to end the consent decree.