40% Of Seattle Police Officers Received Complaints Last Year: OPA

Seattle WA

15 April, 2021

6:31 PM

Description

SEATTLE — Seattle's police watchdog office released its annual report Thursday, detailing a year that saw a mass influx of misconduct allegations against officers in its latter half, amid ongoing protests over police brutality and systemic racism. The report spans 2020, and many protest-related cases are still under investigation or concluded in early 2021. Among the 369 cases closed last year, 64 resulted in misconduct findings, including 10 related to officers' actions at protests. According to the Seattle Office of Police Accountability, 602 police officers received complaints last year, equaling about 40 percent of the police department's sworn employees. The OPA said 131 officers received at least two complaints, and 71 were named in at least three. Five officers were named in seven or more complaints. (Seattle Office of Police Accountability) About a third of encounters resulting in complaints originated in the East Precinct, which became ground zero for standoffs between officers and protesters early last June, and the frequent use of "crowd control weapons," like tear gas and blast balls, by police against large crowds. SPD later abandoned the precinct, leading to the formation of the area known first as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, before returning in early July. Several more complaints were filed in the wake of officers' use of force during a large protest near the precinct on July 25, 2020. Through the end of 2020, the OPA said roughly 19,000 complaints alleged misconduct at protests, with the bulk occurring between May 29 and June 12. Many complaints were overlapping, and more than 13,000 concerned a video showing an officer pepper-spraying a child, which the OPA ruled last September did not violate department policy. The thousands of protest complaints ultimately resulted in 143 investigations. 2020 OPA stats at a glance: 773 cases opened1,800 allegations of various policy violations recorded (a 58% increase from 2019).432 of the cases resulted in investigations (31% increase from 2019)162 cases were expedited, and 270 slated for a full investigation.602 police officers (40%) were named in at least one complaint.143 investigations related to police conduct at protests.64 completed investigations (~18%) contained sustained findings of misconduct.22% of OPA findings in 2020 resulted in discipline or training referrals.The most common discipline issued was a written reprimand. According to the OPA, 2020 saw a sharp increase in complaints alleging violations of professionalism and use of force standards. The watchdog also logged a notable spike in allegations against SPD supervisors, due in part to their role in authorizing the use of "crowd control weapons" at protests. (Seattle Office of Police Accountability) The OPA's closed case summaries, authored by director Andrew Myerberg, serve as recommendations to the police chief, who ultimately decides what disciplinary actions are taken. The police watchdog office said 18 percent of its completed investigations had at least one sustained finding of misconduct, and a combined 22 percent resulted in disciplinary action or training referrals. The most common discipline in 2020 was a written reprimand, followed by suspension, and oral reprimands. The length of suspensions can range from one to 30 days. (Seattle Office of Police Accountability) Just three officers were fired for misconduct in 2020, and none of the terminations resulted from protest investigations. One of the officers was fired after his colleagues reported racist remarks. Another crashed into a car and left the scene, then later returned and attempted to convince the victim not to file a report, the OPA found. The third officer fired was accused of lying to investigators and abusing her position to monitor the whereabouts of her ex, who was a fellow officer. Read the full 36-page report on the Office of Police Accountability website.