Op-Ed: Seattle Council Must Reject an Unaccountable SPOG Contract
The tentative labor contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild fails to strengthen accountability while offering huge retroactive pay increases. With a contract that is expired as soon as it's signed, it’s difficult to understand why the City is giving up leverage in these negotiations. Council will vote to ratify the deal Tuesday.
What a New Seattle Police Guild Contract Could Mean for Reform
With the dawning of the new year, will we finally be getting a new labor contract between the City of Seattle and the Seattle...
Legislature Contemplates Changes to Traffic Safety Laws In Face of Pedestrian Safety Crisis
Who should generally have the burden of proving liability in a crash between someone walking or rolling and someone driving a car: the person...
Op-Ed: Inquest into Faletogo Killing Highlights Seattle Police Accountability Failures
A 2018 traffic stop ended with a horrific Seattle police killing of Iosia Faletogo deemed "lawful and proper." Six years later a jury saw it differently, but the inquest also highlighted the need for stronger police accountability mechanisms.
Harrell Pledges Police Contract by Year End – Adding Election Wrinkle
Mayor Bruce Harrell has pledged to complete labor negotiations with the Seattle Police Officers Guild before the end of the year. But facing a tough reelection fight, he might not be around to sign the deal, which challenger Katie Wilson may want to renegotiate anyway.
Op-Ed: Seattle City Attorney Is Dropping the Ball on Drunk Driving Prosecution
Since Ann Davison took over as Seattle City Attorney, the office has been much slower in prosecuting drunk drivers. While her office blames the state toxicology lab, it appears her office is not making DUI cases a priority.
New Chief Barnes Pledges Seattle Police Department Will ‘Return to Normal’
New Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes outlined his strategy in a presentation to the Seattle City Council, pledging the department would put scandals behind it and forge ahead with new resolve.
OPA, Seattle Police Violated Medical Privacy of Protester, Unearthed Investigation Reveals
Important questions remain despite a newly unearthed report, including how police first obtained sensitive medical information, why the City’s inspector general continued to be directly involved, despite recusal due to conflict of interest, and why the Mayor’s Office opted to hire and accept the findings of another external consultant, following the original investigation’s sustained allegations.