Office of the Community Police Commission

The 2010 shooting death of First Nations woodcarver John T. Williams by a Seattle police officer, and a series of other serious incidents involving police and people of color, crystallized public concern about bias and the use of excessive force in the Seattle Police Department (SPD). In response to a broad-based community request, and after a federal investigation, the City of Seattle signed a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to reform SPD's practices. The resulting Consent Decree outlined work to be done by the City of Seattle to meet the terms of the settlement agreement and memorandum of understanding with the DOJ. The Consent Decree is overseen by a federal judge and his specially-appointed police monitor. Initially established as a requirement of the Consent Decree, the City of Seattle established CPC to make policy recommendations during reform and to serve as a conduit between SPD, the City, and the community. However, in 2017 the Seattle City Council made the CPC permanent and broadened its scope and responsibilities.