Accountability Process Begins for Cal Anderson Protest

When significant incidents happen in our city involving Seattle Police Department interactions with the public, it is critical that we take a hard look at what happened, and what we can learn to improve future responses. That is the purpose of the community-inclusive Sentinel Event Review, led by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to help strengthen public safety and rebuild trust. A Sentinel Event Review is a tool used to engage community experiences, perspectives, and concerns, to examine serious incidents. The goal is to uncover system-wide issues and make meaningful, lasting improvements.  The Community Police Commission is partnering with the Office of Inspector General to lift up community concern, feedback, and experiences regarding the event about police tactics, use of force, and broader impacts on free speech and safety for vulnerable communities to provide community perspectives and recommendations for the Sentinel Event Review. The Community Police Commission is proud to partner with the Office of Inspector General to ensure that community voices and perspectives are incorporated in this review. We know that real accountability starts with centering those most impacted. We encourage individuals who participated at Cal Anderson Park, or who know someone who did, to reach out to us. Your experiences and perspectives are critical to this process, and we want to hear from you. You can email us directly at OCPC@Seattle.gov. Learn more about the upcoming Sentinel Event Review

Policy in Action

Over the past few months, the CPC Policy Team has been hard at work advancing community-informed public safety policies.

Highlights of our work include:

• Proposing changes to the Chief of Police Investigation legislation, leading to amendments that clarify the CPC’s role, we clarified the statutory language on investigations, and ensuring the CPC Executive Director receives key complaint reports. Our recommendations were adopted and became law on June 3, 2025.
• Reviewing and recommending updates to the Seattle Police Department’s Crowd Management and Intervention policies to better reflect community concerns.
• Tracking Office of Police Accountability (OPA) Mandatory Action Requirement reports to help identify systemic issues.
• Creating public materials like “Your Voice Matters” and “Legislative Review Steps” to make our policy work more accessible to the community.

Throughout this work, the Policy Team has continued to collaborate with partners, including the OPA, Office of Inspector General, SPD, the Mayor’s Office, and City Council, to strengthen accountability and transparency.

Community Spotlight

For over two decades, Horn of Africa Services (HOAS) has been a trusted part of Seattle’s East African community. Founded by immigrants, refugees, and volunteers, HOAS provides culturally rooted support to help families build stable, healthy lives while holding on to the traditions that matter most.

HOAS works alongside East African immigrants and refugees, offering advocacy, education, and resources to help navigate life in a new country. Their programs support families in overcoming challenges like language barriers, trauma, and economic uncertainty, while uplifting community strength and resilience.

Public safety is also central to their work. Through their Gun Violence and Gang Awareness initiative, HOAS creates space for youth and families to talk openly about the real impacts of gun violence. By providing workshops on conflict resolution and fostering positive relationships with law enforcement, HOAS has reached more than 650 young people with tools to stay safe and build a brighter future.

Learn More about HOAS

Watch the Last CPC Meeting

Watch the June 4th CPC Meeting

Connecting with Community

Over the past few months, the CPC Community Engagement team has been working actively to strengthen trust with communities, raise awareness about the CPC’s role, and gather meaningful community feedback. 

To achieve this, the Community Engagement team has focused on the following efforts:

• Attending community events to connect with residents directly and collect feedback on public safety concerns.
• Collaborating with community-based organizations to shape public safety priorities based on the needs and experiences of the communities they serve.
• Engaging with communities is most impacted by policing to listen to their concerns and ensure their voices are represented in CPC’s policy discussions.
• Supporting the Sentinel Event Review process by gathering insights and perspectives from community members to provide a more transparent and accountable public safety system.

• Sharing presentations on Seattle’s police accountability system to inform community members about the roles of the Community Police Commission and other accountability partners.

Here’s a look at our Community Engagement team in action across Seattle:

Community Engagement team members Mario & Mergitu joined Larry Wilmore Founder/Executive Director and his wife Cathie Willmore Co-Director of Fathers And Sons Together (FAST)
Juneteenth Festival at Jimi Hendrix Park | June 19, 2025

Mario presenting on Seattle’s police accountability system with the Yesler Terrace Community Council.
Yesler Terrace Community Council | May 21, 2025

Mergitu connecting with community members at the Filipino Community Pride Celebration.
Filipino Community Pride Celebration | June 20, 2025

Mergitu and Dani sharing resources and connecting with neighbors at the SE Seattle PEACE Coalition Key Leaders Event.
SE Seattle PEACE Coalition - Key Leader Event | May 21, 2025

Join Our Next Meeting

Join our next CPC Monthly Meeting tomorrow, July 2, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Seattle City Hall, Room 370, or join virtually via Webex.

Learn More About Our Next CPC Meeting