June Newsletter

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 06/28/2024 09:55 AM PDT
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News and Information 

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OPA Publishes Community Survey Results About Police Accountability

You talked, and we listened! 📣 

Last summer, OPA conducted a community survey to gather feedback about OPA and Seattle’s police accountability system. While the survey was open to everyone, we especially wanted to hear from communities with disproportionately high police contacts. 

Here are some highlights: 

  • Results showed strong public support for police oversight in Seattle. Almost everyone surveyed (98%) said it’s important for the city to have police accountability, with 93% giving it a “very important” rating.   
  • 96% of respondents said it’s important for Seattle to have a department that holds SPD officers accountable, with this rating being very high across demographics and audiences. 
  • 67% of respondents said they’d heard of OPA before this survey.    

The results from this survey will shape our community outreach work and ensure that those most likely to need our services have access to them.  

Read OPA's Community Survey Report 

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OPA’s 2023 Annual Report Highlights Trends in Reporting, Findings, and More 

Our 2023 annual report is here! It details our police accountability work and data trends while serving as a guide to understanding OPA and Seattle’s police accountability system. 

Here are some highlights: 

  • Ninety-four percent (94%) of OPA investigations bound by a 180-day timeline were timely.  
  • The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that over 92% of OPA investigations were thorough, objective, and timely. 
  • OPA classified 550 cases – a 17.45% increase from 2022. Of these cases, 370 were filed by community members. 
  • OPA issued 999 findings for 290 investigations. Sixteen percent (16%) of these investigations contained one or more sustained findings, a 3% increase from 2022. 
  • OPA doubled its community outreach efforts in 2023, presenting, attending, and tabling at 69 events. 

In Community 

June has been a busy month for OPA’s engagement team! Check out some of what we’ve been up to below.  

Interested in having OPA speak at your event? Email our senior community engagement specialist and restorative justice coordinator, Geneva Taylor: geneva.taylor@seattle.gov 

OPA Director Gino Betts Jr. and Seattle Department of Transportation Director Greg Spotts at Seattle City Hall’s 2024 annual Pride flag raising.

Celebrating Pride with our City 

OPA Director Gino Betts Jr. attended the 2024 annual Pride flag-raising event at Seattle City Hall. 

See more on OPA’s Instagram. 

Presenting “Know-Your-Rights" at Hope Place 

Geneva Taylor, OPA's senior community engagement specialist and restorative justice coordinator, hosted a “Know-Your-Rights" training at Hope Place, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission’s Women and Children's Shelter.

See more on OPA’s Instagram. 

 OPA's Geneva Taylor hosted a “Know-Your-Rights" training at Hope Place, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission’s Women and Children's Shelter.
OPA engagement team at the “Fire Day” event hosted by the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and the Seattle Fire Department.

Raising awareness during “Fire Day” at MOHAI 

Our engagement team shared information about OPA at the “Fire Day” event hosted by the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and the Seattle Fire Department. It marked the 135th anniversary of the Great Seattle Fire.  

For SPD Officers

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Summary: It was alleged that a named employee used a pillow to shield against a subject who repeatedly removed a spit sock and spat at officers. 

Analysis: 

  • During transport to Harborview Medical Center, the subject removed a spit sock three times.  
  • An SPD employee held a pillow close to the spitting subject’s face to shield himself while the spit sock was reapplied. However, the optics of holding the pillow near the subject’s face may be problematic for onlooking community members. For the same reason, the department trains officers against reaching across someone’s neck to check their pulse — to avoid the appearance of an officer choking someone. 
  • OPA found no policy, training, or guidance concerning how officers should respond to failed or ineffective spit sock applications. 

Recommendation(s): 

  • OPA recommends SPD consider providing policy, training, or guidance to officers for responding to failed or ineffective spit sock applications. Training should encourage critical thinking and problem-solving and identify acceptable improvised shields. 

Status: Active 

Closed Case Summaries

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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

 

2023OPA-0486 – No Allegations Sustained:  It was alleged that three SPD employees failed to use de-escalation tactics while detaining the complainant, even though it was safe and feasible to do so. 

  

2023OPA-0413 – Partially Sustained: It was alleged that an SPD officer directed threats, profanity, and a racial epithet at two community members.  

  

2023OPA-0230 – All Allegations Sustained: It was alleged that an SPD employee failed to meet the department’s evidence processing methodology, control, and handling standards. Specifically, the employee allegedly mispackaged evidence, failed to document packages properly, and used incorrect testing chemicals. It was further alleged that the employee falsified several reports by noting that he completed steps that were never completed. 

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Was this Newsletter Shared with You? 

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.

Subscribe to OPA's Newsletter!

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Is there Something You Want to See in OPA’s Newsletter?

Please email your ideas to Communications Manager Jessica Schreindl at jessica.schreindl@seattle.gov. 

Thanks for reading!