The City of Seattle has escalated its battle against a recent arbitrator’s ruling that has been a focal point in the ongoing debate over police discipline and accountability. The arbitrator had ordered that the Seattle Police Department should compensate and reinstate an officer terminated for her role in a shooting incident involving a fleeing vehicle.
Per court documents filed in King County Superior Court and reported by the Seattle Times, the city is challenging the decision by Wisconsin arbitrator Stanley H. Michelstetter, who found that former Officer Tabitha Sexton violated the department’s use-of-force policies, yet acted in a “good faith” and in “the city’s best interest.” In contrast to then-interim Chief Carmen Best's 2018 decision to fire Sexton, the arbitrator imposed a mere 60-day suspension and ordered she receive nearly $600,000 in back pay.
The arbitrator's ruling also touched on the termination of another officer, Kenneth Martin, who had discharged over a dozen rounds from a high-powered rifle at the fleeing car. As laid out in a report by The Spokesman-Review, Martin's termination was upheld, his actions similarly deemed excessive but not rewarded with reinstatement.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell sharply criticized the arbitration decision, as quoted in ArcaMax, stating it is indicative of “a larger issue that impacts police accountability systems across the state." He went on to say, “When arbitrators can agree with the department on violations of policy – especially serious and deadly uses of force – but discount the decision of the police chief on discipline, our accountability system is undermined and public trust is eroded."
The appeals come at a time when the city is seeking remedy to a series of incidents that reflect on the deep-seated struggles within the Seattle Police Department. These challenges include conforming with a Department of Justice investigation, which had previously found officers routinely using excessive force — an issue that continues under the scrutiny of U.S. District Judge James Robart, reports Seattle Times.
The final outcome of the appeals could have significant consequences for police accountability and the negotiations for a new contract between the city and the Seattle Police Officers Guild. The matter highlights the complex intersection of law enforcement policy, labor rights, and public safety in the ongoing national discourse on police reform.
