In the more than five and a half years since the Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) started its work, they have provided very few opportunities for the community at large to discuss and provide feedback on the issues central to police reform. Despite the requirement that the commission “convene an annual meeting to receive public comments and present to the community highlights of CPC’s annual report,” a forum has not been held in close to four years.
This disconnection from the community has only increased over the last few years as members of the CPC have moved to position the organization as the arbiter for community needs. Now they are also triangulating what positions to publicly advocate for in the context of what they think is achievable within the existing power structure.
Examples of the CPC’s separation from community and grassroots power were visible nearly a year ago when the Seattle Police Management Association (SPMA, the Seattle police union representing 74 captains and lieutenants) clawed back some of the critical police accountability measures that had been enacted into law just months earlier.
I was and remain concerned about this giveaway wherein the city appeared to abandon the legally-mandated method for officers to appeal discipline; instead of a public hearing with an accountable city employee, the city accepted a non-public hearing by private arbitrators who will often have no connection to the community.
What’s concerning about this is the fact that the mayor, the City Council and the CPC were all willing to rubber stamp these “compromises” seemingly without discussion and days after the contract was announced.
In this instance and others, the CPC seems to believe that only they have the wisdom to understand the necessary trade-offs and put their efforts into avoiding negative publicity.
That was nearly 10 months ago. Today, we face a far more critical juncture in police reform, as Seattle weighs the newly negotiated contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild (spog), which represents around 1,300 Seattle police officers and sergeants).
While Seattle politicians, bureaucrats and police have had months to consider what citizen’s rights get negotiated and how, the people of Seattle will, once more, have little or no time to consider the consequences of what our leaders have given away.
Despite the publicity given to a few important reforms accepted in the new contract, there are also warning signs; one Seattle Times article noted that “the city would be able to add two civilian investigators to the department’s Office of Police Accountability [OPA],” a clear contradiction to a 2017 law which gives the director of the OPA full authority to determine the best balance of civilian and police investigators.
A CPC spokesperson said to the Stranger “we have yet to receive a copy of the contract. When we do, we will conduct a thorough review to make sure it puts the Seattle Police Department on the right track to positive and sustained reforms.”
This demonstrates the need for transparency and accountability from all city entities claiming to be engaged in police reform.
The CPC must utilize all of its resources in informing and engaging the community about the choices that lie ahead. That means they must take a series of actions, including posting the full SPOG contract on the CPC website, along with a clear and objective analysis of which contract provisions contravene 2017’s police reform legislation a minimum of 10 days prior to a public forum. This public forum should present a critical analysis and allow for a full discussion of the proposed contract and should occur a minimum of 10 days prior to an evening public hearing held by the Seattle City Council. This council must happen at least ten days prior to any vote on the contract by the City Council.
Currently, by placing a majority of city council members on the negotiating committee for these contracts, the City Council vote becomes a fait accompli, i.e., SPOG could accuse the City of an unfair labor practice if the council votes the contract down, compelling all council members to vote in favor of any contract. The citizens of Seattle need the CPC to take a strong and public position rejecting behind-the-scenes giveaways.
With its newfound powers, money and staff, the CPC must work loudly and with urgency to advance the community’s voice in police accountability, as opposed to continuing preserve its own image as a voice for the community.
Howard J. Gale is a research psychologist and community activist living in Seattle.
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