In an attempt to tighten the reins on the Seattle Police Department's (SPD) crowd control measures, Councilmember Cathy Moore has put forward a proposal that suggests significant reforms. These reforms are primarily aimed at limiting the use of blast balls – rubber devices that are explosive and bright, but also carry the harmful potential of tear gas.
The proposal, which is being taken under consideration by the Public Safety Committee, outlines stringent rules for the use of blast balls, including the requirement that they must be thrown underhanded, and directed away from people, launched from a minimum distance of 10 yards. The legislation put forth by Moore would also necessitate a civil emergency declaration by the Mayor before authorizing the use of blast balls. Moreover, this authorization would then have to be confirmed daily for continued use, according to the Seattle City Council's website.
Councilmember Moore's resolution is a response to both the hazards presented by blast balls and the city's legal history with crowd control practices. The City of Seattle had to settle a $10 million lawsuit over injuries sustained during the George Floyd protests due to the use of these less-lethal weapons. "The deployment of blast balls presents significant risks, including potential fatalities, and should not occur without oversight from the city’s highest office," Moore stated. Her reforms come as an effort to mitigate these risks and add a much-needed layer of oversight.
The amendments are poised to align with the recommendations set forth by the Community Police Commission. Police officers from other jurisdictions who assist during crowd control events in Seattle would be obliged to adhere to these new guidelines or alternatively, be reassigned to non-crowd management roles. The steps towards precise and coherent policy-making reflect an attempt to rectify a regulatory gap; as, Currently, Seattle lacks exact guidelines governing the use of less-lethal weapons in crowd control within the Municipal Code. In a twisted progression, an ordinance from June 2020 that banned such weapons was rejected by the federal court presiding over the consent decree the city is under, resulting in an interim policy that is at odds with a 2021 ordinance passed by the Council. This lack of consistency in policy has prolonged the duration of the consent decree over Seattle.
The discussion on the proposed amendments will take place during the Public Safety Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 14. Meeting agendas and relevant materials are said to be made available online in anticipation of the session, allowing the public to stay informed on the potential changes coming to the SPD's crowd management approach.
