In Community

OPA’s outreach team members, Troy Chen and Geneva Taylor (left), with Seattle University School of Law students Zulen Pantoja-Ortega and Tiana Pereira (right), at the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center for a “Know-Your-Rights” presentation.

Seattle University School of Law Students Share Experience Visiting Youth Detention Facilities

Seattle University School of Law students Zulen Pantoja-Ortega and Tiana Pereira recently penned a guest piece about their experience visiting youth detention facilities as part of the university’s Youth Education & Advocacy Project. Our outreach team joined Zulen and Tiana last year to give a “Know-Your-Rights” presentation at King County’s Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle’s Squire Park neighborhood.

You can read Zulen and Tiana’s piece, “A Day in the Life of Youth Education and Advocacy Project Interns and Volunteers,” here: https://law.seattleu.edu/about/newscenter/all-current-stories/guest-piece-a-day-in-the-life-of-youth-education-and-advocacy-project-interns-and-volunteers.html.

OPA’s senior community engagement specialist and restorative justice coordinator, Geneva Taylor, visits with community leaders during the African American Community Advisory Council to SPD’s Black History Month celebration in February.

OPA Joins African American Community Advisory Council for Black History Month Celebration

Geneva Taylor, our senior community engagement specialist and restorative justice coordinator, attended the African American Community Advisory Council to SPD’s Black History Month celebration. The event honored Black leaders in Seattle’s police and fire departments.

For SPD Officers

Management Action Recommendation (MAR) – Taser Use

Summary: An SPD employee inadvertently discharged a Taser X2 while attempting an ARC warning, causing a prong to penetrate a subject’s shoulder. (Read the Closed Case Summary that led to this MAR.)

Recommendation(s):

• Since the rollout of the newest Taser model will take time, SPD should address potential mishaps stemming from the Taser X2’s design by reinforcing the need to test the ARC button before each shift per SPD policy 8.300-POL-2 and stabilizing it with their non-dominant hand before a deployment, as pictured in the device’s manual. These practices may reduce accidental discharges by building muscle memory and encouraging familiarity with the device.
• SPD should consider more frequent Taser training, which is currently annual.

Status: Partially implemented

View MARs on OPA’s Website

Read About MARs in OPA’s Manual (See Page 36)

Closed Case Summaries

About Closed Case Summaries

OPA creates Closed Case Summaries for every completed investigation. These summaries outline OPA’s investigation, the director's analysis and findings, recommended discipline, and any discipline imposed by the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) chief of police.

OPA references SPD’s policies and training to determine whether misconduct occurred. Generally, a sustained finding means OPA concluded that an officer more likely than not committed the alleged misconduct.

OPA posts new Closed Case Summaries every other Friday to its website: seattle.gov/opa/news-and-reports/closed-case-summaries.

CONTENT WARNING: To promote transparency, these summaries sometimes include photos and other evidence that some may find disturbing.

Below are some of our recently posted Closed Case Summaries.

View All Closed Case Summaries

2021OPA-0366 – All Allegations Sustained: It was alleged that an SPD officer stalked his former romantic partner, causing his partner to seek orders of protection and other law enforcement agencies to investigate him criminally.

It was alleged that the officer violated the law, misused criminal justice databases, and was unprofessional.

Click Here for the CCS

2023OPA-0394 – No Allegations Sustained: An SPD officer detained the Complainant for allegedly possessing a stolen wallet. Another officer — a backing officer — arrested the Complainant for an extraditable warrant. The Complainant alleged that the officers were racist and unlawfully detained him and searched his wallet.

Click Here for the CCS

2023OPA-0406 – No Allegations Sustained: An SPD officer responded to a domestic violence (DV) call involving the Complainant and his girlfriend. The officer arrested the Complainant after determining he was the primary aggressor. The Complainant alleged that the officer lacked probable cause to arrest him for DV.

Click Here for the CCS

News and Information

Do You Know What’s Required of SPD Officers During an Interaction?

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OPA's newsletter is a great way to stay up to date on the latest Seattle police accountability news. As a subscriber, you'll receive the following content each month:

1. In Community: Highlights from our community engagement team plus upcoming events. 

2. For SPD Officers: Updates on the Seattle Police Department’s policies and training and information about OPA’s process, definitions, etc. 

3. Closed Case Summaries: Summaries covering OPA’s investigative steps, the OPA director's analysis and findings, and any recommended and imposed discipline.

4. News and Information: Police accountability work happening in Seattle and across the nation.

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