Office of Police Accountability | May Newsletter

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/27/2025 05:00 AM PDT
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Seattle skyline at sunset, with Mt. Rainier in the background. Text says OPA in the community.


OPA’s community engagement team is out and about connecting with neighbors, answering questions, and helping make Seattle’s police accountability system more accessible and easier to understand.  
 
📬 Want us to speak at your event? Reach out to Community Engagement Manager & Restorative Justice Specialist, Geneva Taylor, at geneva.taylor@seattle.gov to book a speaker or table for an event. Let’s keep the conversation going! 🔍💡

🎉Congratulations to the Winner of OPA’s Youth Art Contest!🎨

We’re excited to announce the winner of this year’s Youth Art Contest: E. Fernandez, a talented 17-year-old artist from Franklin High School whose piece beautifully captures the theme: “Police and Community: Working Together to Create a Better Seattle.” Thank you to the incredible young artists who shared their visions with us. OPA will be featuring the winning artwork and select submissions in its annual report, and on social media.  

Artwork of SPD officer placing his hat on a smiling young girl sitting beside him on a bench under a sign that reads “Support the Youth.”
Navy Blue banner that says "For SPD Officers" in white, bold font and the SPD logo on the right side of the banner.

How to prepare for your OPA Interview

OPA recommends that you prepare for your interview by reviewing relevant video, documentation, and policies. You are permitted to do so pursuant to Appendix A - Body Worn Video of the SPOG contract, except in instances of FIT investigations. If you don't have access to these files, please ask your assigned OPA investigator and they will arrange for you to review them at the OPA office prior to the interview. During your interview, you will likely be asked to describe your understanding of the policies alleged to have been violated in the Classification Report and the relevant training you have received. If you would like to consult with your guild representative, you may want to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled interview. 

What is Rapid Adjudication?

Rapid Adjudication (RA) is a collectively bargained alternative dispute resolution and program available to sworn SPD employees represented by SPOG and SPMA. It encourages SPD employees to take responsibility for conduct that is inconsistent with SPD policy. The employee accepts pre-determined discipline in lieu of undergoing a full OPA investigation. RA provides faster case resolution for the complainant, named employee, and OPA while upholding principles of accountability. Rapid Adjudication is not contemplated for allegations of serious misconduct. 
 
If you are interested in participating in Rapid Adjudication, please email opa@seattle.gov to see if your case is eligible.

A laptop with a blurred screen and a green plant in the background displays the text "CLOSED CASE SUMMARIES" in bold white letters.


After an investigation, OPA writes a report called the Director’s Certification Memorandum, which explains the director’s review of the case and recommended findings. When a case is closed, OPA posts a summary online that describes the investigation, the findings, and any discipline the chief of police decided on. 

OPA looks at SPD’s policies and training to decide if misconduct happened. A “sustained” finding usually means OPA determined it was more likely than not that an officer committed the alleged misconduct. 

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

Below are some recently posted Closed Case Summaries:

2024OPA-0385 – Partially Sustained
Named Employee #3 (NE#3) observed a stolen car occupied by juveniles, activated his patrol car’s lights and sirens, and followed the stolen car into a dead-end area within a park. The juveniles exited the stolen car and attempted to flee but were ultimately arrested. The Complainant alleged that NE#3 engaged in an unauthorized pursuit of the stolen car and that Named Employee #1 (NE#1), a sergeant, failed to classify the incident as an unauthorized pursuit. It was also alleged that Named Employee #2 (NE#2) failed to Mirandize two juveniles before questioning them.  

2024OPA-0370 – No Allegations Sustained
Multiple SPD officers, including the named employees (NE#1 and NE#2), searched an apartment building for a person who was reportedly shot (Victim #1). A blood trail directed them to the Complainant’s apartment unit. Officers breached the door but found the Complainant uninjured. The Complainant alleged that the officers, acting under the named employees’ direction, unlawfully entered his apartment and used prohibited force by aiming their guns at him.  

2024OPA-0245 – Partially Sustained
The Complainant—a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney—alleged Named Employee #1 (NE#1) asked a Sheriff’s Deputy (Deputy #1) to falsify a police report and refrain from making a mandatory arrest. 

New Closed Case Summaries are posted to OPA’s website every other Friday: seattle.gov/opa/news-and-reports/closed-case-summaries. 

A blurred background of a person writing in a notebook, the text "LINKS TO RESOURCES" is in bold white letters over top of it.
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In the News... 

Connecting local police accountability work to statewide and national efforts. 

Supreme Court Rejects ‘Moment of Threat’ Limit in Excessive Force Suits
“The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that police officers who use excessive force can be held liable even if the suspect is not physically injured” (Liptak, New York Times, May 15, 2025).


Read more here

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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: 

  • OPA In the Community: Highlights from our community engagement team plus upcoming events.  
  • For SPD Officers: Updates on the Seattle Police Department’s policies and training and information about OPA’s process, definitions, etc.  
  • Closed Case Summaries: Summaries covering OPA’s investigative steps, the OPA director's analysis and findings, and any recommended and imposed discipline. 
  • News and Information: Police accountability work happening in Seattle and across the nation. 

Other Places to get OPA News