After a 9-month investigation, the Justice Department has found that when Seattle Police Department officers use force in arrests it is excessive almost 20 percent of the time, according to a Civil Rights Division report released Friday.
The department’s lengthy report stated that from January 2009 to April 2011 there were about 1,230 reports of excessive force to the leadership of the 1,300-member police force, but only five of those cases were referred for further review. The report also noted that when making forcible arrests, officers unnecessarily used batons 57 percent of the time. Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the division, said in a news release that a breakdown in supervision and training led to these alleged abuses.
“Our investigation has revealed that inadequate systems of supervision and oversight have permitted systemic use of force violations to persist at the Seattle Police Department,” Perez said in the release. “Our findings should serve as a foundation to reform the police department and to help restore the community’s confidence in fair, just and effective law enforcement.”
This comes one day after the Civil Rights Division issued a scathing report on the alleged racial profiling abuses by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Perez also said Thursday that the division is investigating the largest number of law enforcement departments ever in its history. Currently 20 forces are under review, Perez said, including those in New Orleans, Portland andMiami.
Friday’s report on Seattle also noted that officers often escalated situations when making arrests for minor charges, and this is magnified when the individual has mental illness or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The report states that excessive force is used in an estimated 70 percent of these cases.
“The solution to the problems identified within the Seattle Police Department will require strong and consistent leadership along the chain of command, effective training and policies, and vigilant oversight,” Jenny A. Durkan, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, said in the release.
