In Community

Connecting with the community is critical to OPA’s work and we’ve had a busy fall! To book our engagement team, reach out to Geneva Taylor, OPA’s senior community engagement specialist & restorative justice coordinator at geneva.taylor@seattle.gov. To date, OPA has attended over 30 community events!

OPA’s community engagement team tabling at the U of W Daniel J.
Evans School of Public Policy and Governance Accountability Career Fair.

OPA’s staff supported El Centro de la Raza's vital community work at their annual “Building the Beloved Community” gala, which raised funds for 43 programs and
services that empower youth & support families.

2024 NACOLE

Each year the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) honors an individual, organization, or agency for their achievements in or contributions to the effective oversight of law enforcement, jails, or prisons. OPA was chosen to receive the 2024 NACOLE Achievement in Oversight Award for its prioritization of community engagement and transparency in 2023, including exemplary efforts including the Complainant Impact Statement Initiative, comprehensive community-focused surveys, and doubled community outreach efforts.

Click here for the 2023 Police Accountability Survey Report

From left to right: OPA Deputy Director, Bonnie Glenn, NACOLE President,
Anthony Finnell, and Sr. Community Engagement Specialist & Restorative Justice Coordinator, Geneva Taylor.

From left to right: NOBLE President Rodney Bryant and Ret. Atlanta Police Chief,
OPA Deputy Director, Bonnie Glenn, and NACOLE President, Anthony Finnell.

For SPD Officers

Management Action Recommendations

A MAR is a tool for correcting gaps, ambiguities, or concerns with SPD policies and/or training. In relation to an investigation, OPA can issue a Management Action Recommendation (MAR) in the form of a letter to the Chief of Police identifying specific issues and recommending changes. SPD is not required to implement OPA's recommendations, but they do actively collaborate and attempt to find solutions.

Recent Management Action Recommendations Provided to Seattle Police Department:

Employee Timekeeping – A named employee exceeded the 90-hour-per-week work limit by more than 20 hours. OPA recommended that SPD should consider developing an overtime tracking system that accurately monitors hours worked across SPD and enforce SPD Policy 4.020 POL-1 (3)’s requirement that “exceptions [to the 90-hour maximum] must be pre-approved.” OPA also recommends that SPD should consider including a supervisor counseling process to help monitor overtime.

Off-Duty Employment – A complainant alleged that SPD employees worked off-duty law enforcement jobs without approval. OPA recommended that SPD should guide employees’ determination whether their off-duty employment is “law enforcement related,” requiring compliance with SPD Policy 5.120-POL-4. SPD should provide a specific definition or a list of considerations for deciding whether the policy applies. Alternatively, SPD could modify Policy 5.120 to regulate all secondary employment regardless of its relation to law enforcement.

Pursuing Alternative Transportation – A complainant alleged that a named employee used unauthorized force by using their patrol vehicle to stop a subject fleeing on a bicycle. OPA recommended that SPD and its accountability partners continue researching and developing best practices for police pursuing alternative transportation and appropriate pursuit-ending tactics. And that SPD should continue to lead in this emerging area by incorporating best practices in its policies and training.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Complaints and Investigations – It was alleged that a named employee alerted a colleague about a potential harassment claim filed against that colleague. OPA recommended that SPD should consider extending the obligation not to disclose information about EEO complaints, investigations, and potential EEO complaints to nonsupervisory employees. Specifically, rather than referencing the EEOC, SPD should consider adding the following to SPD Policy 5.040: “Employers should strive to create an environment in which employees feel free to raise concerns and are confident that those concerns will be addressed.” Like the personnel rules, it should discourage behaviors that may negatively impact other employees’ confidence in reporting allegations.

To review these MARs, click here

Closed Case Summaries

Following an investigation, OPA creates a Director’s Certification Memorandum that includes the director's analysis and recommended findings. When an OPA case is closed, we post online a Closed Case Summary (CCS) outlining the investigative steps, recommended findings, and discipline imposed by the 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.

New Closed Case Summaries are posted to OPA’s website every other Friday: 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.

2023OPA-0012 – Partially Sustained: OPA found that the named employee violated multiple policies, including an out-of-policy pursuit, insubordination, and unsafe operation of a police vehicle. 

Click here for the full CCS

2023OPA-0014 – Partially Sustained: OPA found that a named employee was unprofessional when he jokingly asked another officer whether she wanted to search a nearly naked community member who was experiencing a mental health crisis. 

Click here for the full CCS

2024OPA-0022 – No Allegations Sustained: OPA found that multiple named employees engaged in a lawful and proper pursuit of a community member who allegedly threatened multiple victims with a firearm. The pursuit resulted in an arrest and recovery of a firearm.

Click here for the full CCS

In the News...

Connecting local police accountability work to statewide and national efforts.

End of Seattle Police Department’s federal oversight is close, judge says

SEATTLE – The federal judge overseeing the last vestiges of more than 12 years of reforms to the Seattle Police Department acknowledged Wednesday that the end of his role is in sight. U.S. District Judge James Robart had high praise for some of what has been accomplished and had deep concerns about the city’s ongoing struggles with a policy governing crowd control.

Read the full story