The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has announced its support for the City of Seattle's motion to terminate a longstanding consent decree involving the Seattle Police Department. The decree, which was established under United States v. City of Seattle, mandated reforms in various police practices such as use of force and crisis intervention.
The Justice Department initiated this case under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. Investigations conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division alongside the Special Litigation Section revealed that the Seattle Police Department had engaged in unconstitutional practices, including unnecessary or excessive force.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, “We congratulate the Seattle Police Department on its achievement of sustained substantial compliance with this thirteen-year-old consent decree.” Dhillon emphasized ongoing efforts to collaborate with police departments nationwide for community safety.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller expressed confidence in Seattle's progress: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington, believes the district court should terminate the consent decree and monitorship, which have been in place for 13 years.” Miller acknowledged Seattle as an exemplar in police reform and expressed trust in its continued leadership on constitutional policing.
