This past year has brought unprecedented demonstrations to our nation and our region, posing new challenges for our community and the Seattle Police Department. Our department has been the focus of many of the ongoing protests about inequities in criminal justice, violence in law enforcement, and SPD’s own response to demonstrations. Over the past… [ Keep reading ]
A message from Chief Adrian Diaz: “An internal email was shared this week informing SPD employees of a free appreciation dinner hosted by the Rev. Franklin Graham. Based on Graham’s history and affiliations, the email has raised concerns that the SPD may not be committed to the equity of our… [ Keep reading ]
The latest report on SPD’s Hostage Negotiations Team(HNT) and crisis responses shows arrests and use of force continues to be a rare occurrence when officers are dealing with persons in crisis. With 98 HNT responses reported last year, more than half of those calls were resolved either prior to their arrival… [ Keep reading ]
Today, the Seattle Police Department has signed on to the 30×30 Pledge – a series of low- and no-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. The activities help policing agencies assess the current state of a department with regard to… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and Chief of Police Adrian Diaz responded to rising hate crimes towards Asian Americans and the mass shooting in Atlanta that killed multiple Asian American women with the following statement: “The violence in Atlanta was an act of hate. We grieve with Atlanta and for… [ Keep reading ]
It has been brought to our attention through social media that an officer was seen not wearing a mask. All our officers and civilian employees have previously been directed to follow CDC and City of Seattle mask guidelines for their safety and the safety of our community. The behavior outlined… [ Keep reading ]
As part of the Seattle Police Department’s ongoing commitment to transparency, SPD is publishing data about our public disclosure process to give additional insight into high volume and complexity of requests filed with the department every year. For the past few years, SPD has received approximately 8,000 public records requests annually,… [ Keep reading ]
The following information is accurate May 18, 2020 at 7:00 AM Seattle Police Department (SPD) employees in either Quarantine or Isolation: 18 SPD employees who have returned to work based on Public Health guidelines: 324 SPD employees who have tested positive for COVID-19: 7 SPD employees who have been tested… [ Keep reading ]
SEATTLE (May 7, 2020) – After meeting the comprehensive reform and improvements in Seattle Police Department operations set forth in the Consent Decree Sustainment Plan, the City of Seattle and the Department of Justice filed a motionand corresponding memorandum to terminate that plan. In 2011, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released findings of… [ Keep reading ]
Today, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) is releasing video of a canine team taking a robbery suspect into custody. This video was released to a media outlet in fulfillment of a public disclosure request, and due to public interest in police accountability, we are also releasing the video publicly, as… [ Keep reading ]
