>>> THANK YOU FORKING WITH HERE
AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON
THE WEB.
IN A MOMENT THE CHIEFS AND I
WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
YESTERDAY'S DEMONSTRATIONS AND
CONVERSATIONS THE CITY HAS HAD
AND ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING.
WE WILL ALSO DESCRIBE WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO BE DOING ON THE
COVID FRONT WITH TESTING.
BUT AS LONG AS WE HAVE THESE
CITY UPDATES, I ALSO WANT TO
START BY REMEMBERING WHY WE ARE
HERE.
LAST WEEK GEORGE FLOYD WAS
MURDERED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN
MINNEAPOLIS.
THE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN
RIGHTFULLY CHARGED, BUT JUSTICE
HAS YET TO BE DONE.
GEORGE FLOYD WAS A SOUTHERN, A
FATHER, A PARTNER, A BROTHER,
AN UNCLE.
HE SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.
HIS MURDER IS THE LATEST
EXAMPLE OF THE RACISM THAT
PERMEATES EVERY INSTITUTION IN
OUR COUNTRY AND REMINDS US ALL
OF THE WORK THAT IS LEFT TO BE
DONE.
TODAY ALSO HAPPENS TO BE
BREONNA TAYLOR'S BIRTHDAY.
SHE WOULD HAVE TURNED 27.
SHE WAS SHOT EIGHT TIMES BY
POLICE IN HER HOME IN
LOUISVILLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN NEARLY THREE MONTHS
SINCE SHE HAS BEEN KILLED AND
THERE HAS BEEN NO JUSTICE.
YESTERDAY WE LEARNED EMMANUEL
ELLIS, A 33-YEAR-OLD BLACK MAN
IN TACOMA, WAS KILLED BY
POLICE.
TACOMA MAYOR VICTORIA WOODARDS
HAS DIRECTED THE POLICE
OFFICERS INVOLVED BE FIRED.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HER, SUPPORT
HER AND WHOLE HEARTEDLY SUPPORT
HER ACTIONS.
OVER THE LAST WEEK THOUSANDS
ACROSS SEATTLE HAVE COME
TOGETHER TO RAISE THEIR VOICES,
SHARE THEIR ANGER AND GRIEF,
AND TO DEMAND JUSTICE, NOT JUST
FOR GEORGE FLOYD OR BREONNA
TAYLOR, BUT FOR ALL OF THOSE
WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES
BEFORE THEM.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THESE
DEMOCRAT SPRAY DEMONSTRATORS
AND FOR SHARING THEIR VOICES
AND DEMANDING MORE FROM PEOPLE
IN POWER, INCLUDING MYSELF AND
THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
LAST NIGHT, YESTERDAY THOUSANDS
GATHERED, MARCHED AND PROTESTED
UNTIL THE VERY EARLY MORNING
HOURS.
THE CHIEF BEST AND SPD HAVE
TRIED TO MAKE OPERATIONAL
ADJUSTMENTS EVERY DAY TO ALLOW
THOSE PEACEFULLY GATHERED TO
MARCH ACROSS THE CITY AND TO
GATHER ON CAPITOL HILL.
I WANT TO EXPRESS AGAIN MY DEEP
THANKS TO THE PROTESTORS AND
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE
SHOWED AGAIN THE POWER OF
PEACEFUL COLLECTIVE ACTION.
THAT MUST REMAIN THE GOAL FOR
BOTH THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK
OUT BY COMING TOGETHER AND FOR
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT WE
CONTINUE ANOTHER NIGHT OF
PEACE, BUT WITH ROBUST PROTEST,
DEMONSTRATIONS, MARCHES AND A
RAISING OF THE VOICES OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
EVERY NIGHT CHIEF BEST HAS
WORKED WITH HER COMMANDERS AND
OFFICERS TO ADJUST THEIR
APPROACH.
LIKE MOVING THE BARRIERS SO
THERE IS MORE ROOM TO SPREAD
OUT CREATING MORE DISTANCE
BETWEEN OFFICERS AND
DEMONSTRATORS.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE CROWDS
AROUND RELYING THOSE WHO ARE
THERE PEACEFULLY TO STOPPING
SOME WHO MIGHT THROW ROCKS OR
TAKE ACTIONS THAT ARE NOT
PEACEFUL.
WE NEED MORE DIALOGUE BETWEEN
OFFICERS AND PROTESTORS.
WE NEED MORE COMMUNICATION ON
THE FRONT LINES SO CHIEF BEST
IS MAKING CONTINUED ADJUSTMENTS
AND WE ARE EVALUATING HOW WE
CAN FORMALIZE MORE DEESCALATION
TEAMS ON BOTH SIDES TO CREATE
BETTER COMMUNICATION.
IN THE EARLY MORNING THERE WAS
ONE SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE
ESCALATED QUICKLY WHEN A SMALL
INCENDIARY DEVICE OF SOME SORT
WAS SET OFF IN THE CROWD.
I'LL LET THE CHIEF DISCUSS THIS
INCIDENT MORE, BUT ULTIMATELY
IT DID NOT LEAD TO THE
ESCALATION.
I BELIEVE SEATTLE CAN CONTINUE
TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS
RAISED ABOUT BOTH INDIVIDUAL
USE OF FORCES AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CROWD
CONTROL POLICIES, PROCEDURES
AND ACTIONS.
I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS.
AS I FOLD YOU EARLIER THIS WEEK
AFTER VIEWING THE EVENTS OF
SUNDAY NIGHT AND THE PINK
UMBRELLA VIDEO, I REQUESTED AND
WAS ABLE TO MEET TUESDAY
MORNING WITH THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THESE TWO INSPECTED OFFICES ARE
CRITICAL TO OUR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITIES.
I ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THE
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS OF OFFICERS
AND THE OVERALL CROWD
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS AND PROVIDE
ME AND THE CHIEF WITH ANY
IMMEDIATE CHANGES WE COULD MAKE
AND ANY SYSTEMIC
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAD.
I ALSO SPOKE TO PATTY HASTE AND
THE DOCTOR ON TUESDAY TO ASK
FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON
STEPS SPD COULD TAKE GIVEN THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS OF COVID-
19 AND ENSURE THE CITY HAD
CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
IMPACTS OF COVID-19.
BECAUSE OF SPD'S ADJUSTMENTS
AND BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH
DEMONSTRATORS AND BECAUSE
DEMONSTRATORS HAVE COME BY THE
THOUSANDS, RAISED THEIR VOICES,
AND BUT HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL,
BECAUSE OF SPD'S ACTIONS, TEAR
GAS HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE
EARLIER THIS WEEK, BUT IT IS
CRITICAL THAT THIS IS ADDRESSED
BY POLICY AND THE CHIEF'S
DIRECTION.
I APPRECIATE THE URGENCY FOR A
QUICK RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS AND OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS.
WHILE WE GET THEIR REVIEW,
CHIEF BEST HAS ORDERED, AND I
AGREE, SHE WILL IMMEDIATELY
ISSUE A DIRECTIVE TO HER
OFFICERS BANNING THE USE OF
TEAR GAS FOR 30 DAYS IN ANY OF
THESE PROTESTS.
I WILL LET CHIEF BEST DISCUSS
THE POLICY CHANGE WITH YOU.
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CHIEF, I KNOW SHE AGREES THAT
SPD OFFICERS DO NOT NEED TO BE
USING TEAR GAS AT PROTESTS AS A
CROWD MANAGEMENT TOOL.
IN201 THE CITY OF SEATTLE
SUBMITTED A PLAN TO COURT AS
PART OF THE PROCESS.
THIS WAS AFTER MY TIME AS U.S.
ATTORNEY AND BEFORE MY TIME
HERE AS MAYOR.
IT WAS REVIEWED AT THAT TIME BY
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS,
THE COURT MONITOR, THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND WAS
APPROVED BY THE COURT.
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE SEEN
CONTINUED ACTS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE AND A FAILURE TO
DEESCALATE BOTH AT HOME AND
NATIONWIDE, I WILL BE ASKING
THE CITY TO WORK WITH THE
OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL, THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND THE FEDERAL
COURT MONITOR, TO IMMEDIATELY
REVIEW OUR CROWD MANAGEMENT
PLAN, AND IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS
RETURN RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS REVIEW SHOULD BETTERRISM
FA SIZE DEESCALATION TACTICS
AND SHOULD INCORPORATE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS ON THE
USE OF ANY CROWD CONTROL
TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING THE USE
OF TEAR GAS AND FLASH BANGS.
WE'LL ALSO ASK THEM TO ENGAGE A
RANGE OF COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL
EXPERTS TO FIND INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO DEESCALATING LARGE
CROWD EVENTS.
SIMPLE THING CANS HELP.
I SAID YESTERDAY THAT IT WAS
SUGGESTED TO THE CHIEF THEY PUT
IN A BETTER SOUND SYSTEM SO
THAT THE CROWDS COULD CLEARLY
HEAR FROM THE POLICE.
WE PUT THAT IN YESTERDAY AT THE
DIRECTION OF CHIEF BEST AND SHE
AND HER OFFICERS HEARD BACK
FROM PEOPLE THAT IT MADE THINGS
BETTER BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT I
HAVE MET WITH HAVE SUGGESTED
THAT WE CREATE DEESCALATION
TEAMS FOR COMMUNITY
DEMONSTRATIONS.
THESE WOULD INVOLVE PEOPLE
TAKEN FROM THE COMMUNITY,
TRAINED IN DEESCALATION, AND
HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE THAT COMMUNICATION AND
DEESCALATION BETWEEN POLICE AND
THE PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING.
I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE ONE OF
THE IDEAS THAT THE CPC AND OUR
OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS
REVIEW DURING THIS REVIEW.
WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER WE
STILL ARE IN A NATIONWIDE
PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT COVID-
19 IS STILL A VERY REAL THREAT
TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO EVERY
DEMONSTRATOR WHO IS OUT THERE,
IT PROVIDES AN ACTUAL THREAT TO
THEIR HEALTH.
YESTERDAY I ANNOUNCED THAT THE
CITY'S NUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
MEDICINE WILL PROVIDE FREE
CITYWIDE TESTING.
WE NOW HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
TEST 1,600 INDIVIDUALS EACH DAY
WITH SITES IN NORTH AND SOUTH
SEATTLE.
CURRENTLY THE KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES AROUND
TESTING WOULD USUALLY ONLY TEST
SOMEONE WHO IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS
OR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE
CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO IS
COVID-19 POSITIVE.
BUT I HAVE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS
FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN
ATTENDING THESE DEMONSTRATIONS
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE
TESTED.
I WILL HAVE MORE TO SHARE WITH
YOU LATER TODAY, BUT WE WILL BE
UPDATING OUR M.O.
U. WITH KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH TO ALLOW EVERYONE WHO IS
PARTICIPATING IN THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE TESTED AT
OUR CITY SITES REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THEY ARE EXHIBITING
SYMPTOMS OR NOT.
AGAIN, THIS WILL BE FREE.
WE'VE ALSO ASKED KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT
ANYONE WHO IS DEMONSTRATING WHO
GETS TESTED KNOWS AND WE HAVE
MECHANISMS IN PLACE IN THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM THAT THAT
INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL.
AGAIN, PLEASE GO TO
WWW.SEATTLE.GOV/COVID-19-
TESTING , AND YOU CAN SIGN UP
FOR A TEST.
WE ARE RAPIDLY TRYING TO RAMP
UP OUR TESTING CAPACITY HERE IN
SEATTLE, AND WE NEED TO ENSURE
THAT ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE
DEMONSTRATING ARE ELIGIBLE TO
IMMEDIATELY GET TESTED FOR
COVID-19.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE
TURNING THIS OVER TO CHIEF BEST
TO EXPRESS MY CONTINUED
ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE FOR
THE WORK THAT SHE IS DOING.
SHE HAS LED THIS DEPARTMENT
THROUGH THIS UNPRECEDENTED
MOMENT WITH A LEVEL OF GRACE,
RESTRAINT AND RESOLVE THAT I
THINK IS UNMATCHED.
SHE CAME UP THROUGH THIS
DEPARTMENT AND CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT IT, BUT SHE IS ALSO FROM
THIS COMMUNITY AND FEELS THE
PAIN THAT SO MANY OF US FEEL.
SHE'S NOT JUST A MODEL FOR HER
OFFICERS.
SHE IS A MODEL FOR POLICE
CHIEFS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
SEATTLE IS REALLY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE HER LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE ALSO VERY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF
COG INNS SCROGGINS WHO HAS LED
IN SO MANY WAYS ALSO IN
RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
THREAT.
BEFORE I PASS IT TO CHIEF BEST,
I WANT TO IMPLORE EVERYONE
AGAIN CONTINUE, CONTINUE MAKING
YOUR VOICES HEARD AND PLEASE DO
SO IN A SAFE AND PEACEFUL WAY.
AS I HAVE REITERATED WE'RE
LOOKING AT THIS PANDEMIC, WE
ALL MUST LOOK OUT FOR EACH
OTHER'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME
WHEN YOUR VOICES HAVE BEEN MORE
IMPORTANT TO YOUR COUNTRY, TO
YOUR CITY, AND TO YOUR
COMMUNITY.
WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER,
SPEAK UP, BUT PLEASE BE SAFE.
CHIEF BEST?
>>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD
AFTERNOON.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN AS WE DO
EVERY DAY BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND
REMEMBERING WHY WE ARE HERE
TODAY, THE TRAGIC MURDER OF
GEORGE FLOYD.
PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION AND
WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY
CONTINUE TO COME TOGETHER TO
PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE AND
EXPRESS THEIR GRIEF AND THEIR
ANGER AND THEIR FRUSTRATION.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON CAPITOL HILL
I MET WITH MANY OF THE
DEMONSTRATORS.
WE SHARED PEACEFUL DIALOGUE.
WE TALKED ABOUT HEALING, REFORM
AND MOVING FORWARD.
TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY LAST NIGHT, THAT
PEACE DID NOT CONTINUE FOR THE
WHOLE EVENING.
IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE
MORNING, THERE WAS ABISSUE
WHERE THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO
WERE THROWING BOTTLES AND ROCKS
AND PROJECTILES AT OFFICERS,
AND WE HAD TWO OFFICERS
INJURED, AND ONE REQUIRED
TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL.
AS I HAVE SAID THROUGHOUT THE
WEEK, AND REALLY FOR MY ENTIRE
LIFE, BUT CERTAINLY THROUGHOUT
THE LAST WEEK, WE HAVE TO MEET
PEACE WITH PEACE.
AND LAST NIGHT IN THE FACE OF
THE ROCKS AND BOTTLES AND
PROJECTILES, YOUR POLICE
OFFICERS DEMONSTRATED RESTRAINT
AND THEY DIDN'T USE ANY FORCE.
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW
THAT AS YOUR POLICE CHIEF, I
WILL SPEAK OUT AND I WILL
CONDEMN OFFICERS WHO ABUSE
THEIR POWER, AND I WILL HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT I WILL ALSO SPEAK UP AND
SUPPORT THE OFFICERS WHO ARE
DOING THE RIGHT THING.
OFFICERS HAVE BEEN WORKING
TIRELESSY FOR THE LAST SEVEN
DAYS, AND NOT JUST AT THE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
IN FACT, THE FEDERAL TASK FORCE
THAT WE'RE A PART OF MADE THE
FIRST ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH
THE RIOT LAST SATURDAY.
TASK FORCES CONTINUE TO
INVESTIGATE ALL OF THE CRIMINAL
INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED THAT
DAY.
WE'RE SIFTING THROUGH A LOT OF
THE INFORMATION AND THE TIPS
THAT PEOPLE ARE SENDING IN AND
THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE
GATHERING TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE WHO WERE LIGHTING
CARS ON FIRE AND LOOTING AND
COMMITTING PROPERTY DESTRUCTION
AND DAMAGE.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS TRUE.
WE'RE STILL ANSWERING 911 CALLS
EVERY DAY TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT
1,200 TO 1,300 CALL AS DAY
HELPING VICTIMS AND PROVIDING A
HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY
THAT OUR COMMUNITY NOT ONLY
EXPECTS BUT DESERVES.
ADDITIONALLY, AS THE MAYOR HAS
ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED, TODAY I
SLEW THE ORDER TO SUSPEND THE
USE OF C. S. OR WHAT OTHER
PEOPLE MAY CALL TEAR GAS FOR
CROWD MANAGEMENT PURPOSES.
AFTER HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT
THE USE OF C. S. GAS FOR CROWD
CONTROL PURPOSES EARLIER THIS
WEEK, I MET WITH MY COMMAND
TEAM.
WE DISCUSSED AND TALKED ABOUT
FUTURE USES, AND WE DECIDED
THAT WE WERE GOING TO SUSPEND,
TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE USE OF
C. S. GAS FOR 30 DAYS.
AND DURING THAT 30-DAY TIME
PERIOD, WE'VE ASKED THE
ACCOUNTED ABILITIES PARTNERS,
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, THE DIRECTOR,
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL, AHIS I ALYSSA JUNK,
ALONG WITH O'OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO
REVIEW AND UPDATE THE
DEPARTMENT'S CROWD CONTROL
POLICIES.
AND DURING THAT TIME THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
S.W.A.T.
TEAM WILL MAINTAIN THEIR
TRAINED ABILITY TO USE C. S. TO
PROTECT LIFE AND TO END STAND-
OFF SITUATIONS.
ANY DEPLOYMENT MUST BE APPROVED
BY THE CHIEF OR DESIGNATED BY
THE DEPUTY CHIEF OR WHOEVER I
HAVE DESIGNATED.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THERE IS NO INCIDENT OH RECORD
SINCE THE PROTEST IN 1999 WHEN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
DEPLOYED GAS FOR CROWD
MANAGEMENT CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WE
HAD TO DO ON MAY 30th.
OTHER OPTIONS ON THAT DAY FOR
CROWD CONTROL SUCH AS BLAST
BALLS AND O.C.
SPRAY SIMPLY WERE NOT PROVING
EFFECTIVE AT THAT TIME.
AND BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF
THE EVENT, WE EXPERIENCED A
NEAR DEPLETION OF ITS SUPPLY OF
THOSE TOOLS.
ACCORDINGLY, SPD TEMPORARILY
AUTHORIZED THE USE OF C. S. IN
ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER
DESTRUCTION.
MANY OF YOU SAW THE PICTURES
AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE
NEWS COVERAGE OF THE
DESTRUCTION THAT OCCURRED
DOWNTOWN THAT DAY.
THE CONDITIONS HAVE NOW BEEN
MET AND WE HAVE OUR RESOURCES
BACK IN PLACE, AND THAT
AUTHORRATION HAS BEEN
RESCINDED.
SPD REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE
MISSION OF MANAGING
DEMONSTRATIONS, AND MANAGING
EVENTS WHEN CROWD CONTROL TOOLS
NEED TO BE USED, BUT WE ALSO
MUST PROTECT THE LIFE AND THE
PROPERTY OF THIS GREAT CITY.
THANK YOU.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF
SCROGGINS.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS HAROLD SCROGGINS,
CHIEF OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
REMEMBERING GEORGE FLOYD, THAT
IS WHY WE'RE HERE.
BUT I'M GLAD OUR MAYOR REMINDED
US THAT IT IS BREONNA TAYLOR'S
BIRTHDAY.
IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, SHE WAS ARN
EMT SERVING HER COMMUNITY, SO
SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE
FRONT LINES DURING THE COURSE
OF THIS PANDEMIC, RESPONDING TO
PATIENTS IN NEED.
SO SHE ALSO HAS A SPECIAL PLACE
IN MY HEART AS A FIRST
RESPONDER.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 24
HOURS, THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 12
EMERGENCIES RELATED TO THE
PROTEST THAT WAS NAVIGATING ITS
WAY AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
EIGHT WERE MEDICAL AND FOUR
WERE FIRE RELATED.
ONE OF THE FIRE-RELATED
RESPONSES WERE PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS A
GROUP TRYING TO START A SMALL
BONFIRE AT ANDERSON PARK SO
ONCE AGAIN, I DO WANT TO REMIND
THE PROTESTORS THAT IF THESE
THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU SEE
PEOPLE DOING THESE THINGS,
PLEASE CALL 911.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET
THERE AND WE KEEP SMALL FIRES
SMALL.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ALSO, WHILE YOU'RE PROTESTING,
IF YOU SEE YOUR NEIGHBORS
HAVING A HARD TIME, MAYBE THEY
ARE DEHYDRATED, MAYBE THEY
HAVEN'T EATEN.
MAYBE THEY HAVE AN UNDERLYING
MEDICAL CONDITION AND THEY GO
DOWN AND NEED ASSISTANCE.
PLEASE CALL 911.
AND PLEASE STAY THERE WITH THEM
TO HELP US GET TO WHERE THEY
ARE.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED THIS
MORNING WE OPENED OUR COMMUNITY
TESTING CLINIC, OUR SOTO
LOCATION, AND YOU CAN SIGN UP
FOR TESTING AT
SEATTLE.GOV/COVID-19 TESTING.
IT IS OPEN AND I CAN TESTIFY TO
THAT BECAUSE I WAS CUSTOMER
NUMBER ONE THIS MORNING.
SO WE'RE READY FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TRAVELING
AROUND THE COMMUNITY WITH LARGE
CROWDS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU
PROBABLY DON'T KNOW.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU
RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE YOU
DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE COMING
INTO CONTACT WITH, AND THEY
DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE COMING
INTO CONTACT WITH.
AND WHEN YOU LEAVE THE PROTEST,
YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING BACK HOME
TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AROUND
YOU'RE PROBABLY TAKING SOME
THINGS WITH YOU THAT YOU DIDN'T
START THE DAY OFF WITH.
SO MY ADVICE TO ALL OF YOU IS
TO GO GET TESTED.
MY ADVICE TO ALL OF OUR HEALTH
CARE WORKERS TO GO GET TESTED.
AS OUR COMMUNITY STARTS TO
REOPEN AND YOU WANT TO HAVE
THAT CONFIDENCE LEVEL, WE'RE
ASKING YOU TO GO GET TESTED SO
ONCE AGAIN, SEATTLE.GOV/COVID-
19 TESTING.
THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
TWO THINGS I WANT THE ADDRESS
AND THEN OPEN UP FOR Q. AND A.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHIEF FOR
ALL OF THE WORK HE HAS DONE IN
TESTING IN THIS PANDEMIC.
REMIND PEOPLE THAT HE WAS --
THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WERE
THE FIRST TO SET UP A TESTING
FACILITY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
BY FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THEY
HAVE NOW TESTED HUNDREDS OF
FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY THEN USED THAT MOBILE TEAM
TO ALSO TEST IN OUR SENIOR
CENTERS, SO I TRULY DO WANT TO
URGE PEOPLE, GET TESTED AT OUR
SITES.
YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT THE STAY FUSS OF STATUS
OF YOUR HEALTH IS.
SECOND, RELATED TO THE KILLING
IN TACOMA, MAYOR WOODARDS AND I
BOTH SUPPORT AND WILL BE ASKING
FOR A NEW STATE AUTHORITY THAT
THERE BE AN INDEPENDENT SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR OFFERS CREATED
SOLELY TO INVESTIGATE AND
PROSECUTOR ON THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT CASES OR PEOPLE WHO
ARE IN OTHER COLOR OF LAW THEY
CALL IT, SO JAIL GUARD OR THE
LIKE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE TOO MANY
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WHEN
THOSE CASES ARE INVESTIGATED
AND PROSECUTED BY THE LOCAL
AUTHORITY WHOSE RELY ON THOSE
SAME POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
SO SHE AND I AND SOME OTHERS
WILL BE SENDING A LET TORE THE
GOVERNOR ASKING FOR IN THE NEXT
SESSION, AND PARTICULARLY IF
THERE IS A SPECIAL SESSION, THE
CREATION OF AN OFFICE OF A
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION FORCE
SUCH CASES.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE ANY
QUESTIONING FOR MYSELF ORB FOR
EITHER OF THE CHIEFS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU CHIEF BEST AND THANK
YOU CHIEF SCROGGINS.
AS A QUICK REMINDER I WILL READ
IN THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
TWO AT A TIME.
OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL BE
CHRIS DANIELS, KING 5, FOLLOWED
BY CAPITOL HILL.
CHRIS DANIELS, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> MY QUESTION IS FOR CHIEF
BEST.
CHIEF, THE QUESTION HAS COME UP
IMMEDIATELY, WHY JUST A BAN FOR
30 DAYS AND, SECONDARILY, THE
MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL HAS
JUST APPROVED A BAN ON CHOKE
HOLDS AND NECK RESTRAINTS BY
POLICE OFFICERS.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SUPPORT
HERE?
>> HI, CHRIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
WE WANTED TO HAVE THE TIME TO
MAKE SURE WE REVIEW AND ANALYZE
ALL OF OUR PRACTICES AND
POLICIES UNDER CROWD CONTROL,
AS YOU KNOW, AND THE MAYOR
MENTIONED, IN 2017, OUR CROWD
CONTROL POLICIES AND PRACTICES
RECEIVED A FLOOR ROW REVIEW IN
FEDERAL COURT.
BUT WE DO KNOW AS WE LOOK FOR
CONTINUE USE IMPROVEMENT AND
INNOVATION AND KEEPING UP WITH
THE TIMES AS THINGS EVOLVE THAT
A CONSISTENT REVIEW IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
SO WE WANT TO ALLOW -- WE DON'T
WANT TO ACT RASHLY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALLOW
THE TIME FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL
OF THOSE PROCESSES AND GIVE US
THE MOST WELL INFORMED ADVICE
ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO GOING
FORWARD.
IN THE MEANTIME, IT IS ONLY
SPECIALIZED TRAINED S.W.A.T.
PERSONNEL AND ONLY IN
SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A
LIFE SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE WILL
CONSIDER THE USE OF A C. S. GAS
AND ONLY THEN IF I APPROVE IT.
SO I'M TAKING FULL OWNERSHIP OF
THAT INTERIM TIME FRAME TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT
THING, BUT OUR MISSION IS
ALWAYS LIFE, SAFETY, MAKING
SURE WE PROTECT PROPERTY AND
INCIDENT STABLE ICE, AND
STATION, AND WE DON'T WANT TO
MOVE IT ACROSS THE WHOLE
ORGANIZATION UNTIL A REVIEW BY
COMPETENT AND PARTNERS.
IN TERMS OF NECK HOLDS AND
CHOKE HOLDS, IN THIS
ORGANIZATION, THAT IS THE E
GIVE LEAPT TO A DEADLY FORCE
SITUATION.
WE ARE ALL, AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, CONTINUALLY REVIEWING
ALL OF OUR POLICIES AND
PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, AND
AS THESE ISSUES ARE RAISED, AND
THESE ISSUES COME TO LIGHT AND
COME TO BEAR IN O'AREAS OF THE
COUNTRY, WE REVIEW OUR POLICIES
AND PRACTICES HERE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU WE WILL BE
REVIEWING THAT AS WELL SO THANK
YOU FOR ASKING.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>>> OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE
FROM JUSTIN CARTER, CAPITOL
HILL SEATLE, FOLLOWED BY
PATRICK QUINN, KOMO 4. JUSTIN,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR THE
MAYOR.
>> MAYOR, I HAVE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT A DECADE AGO AND I AM
PLEASED TO KNOW IF YOU CAN TALK
ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT WILL
BE PUT IN PLACE -- [ AUDIO
DIFFICULTIES ]
>> CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR
QUESTION?
IT GOT LOST.
>> I AM THINKING ABOUT THE
CAMPS.
RESOURCES THAT MITE BE PUT
AROUND THE EAST PRECINCT
BECAUSE THAT MIGHT HELP.
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE BEEN -- OBVIOUSLY CHIEF
BEST AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ARE TAKING THE LEAD ON MAKING
IT SAFE FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND
SECURING THE PRECINCT, BUT THAT
COMMUNITY, EVEN THROUGH THIS
LAST WEEK, HAS BEEN PRETTY
HEAVILY USED AND THERE HAS BEEN
BOTH DAMAGE AND IMPACTS ON THE
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THERE
SO ACROSS THE CITY WE ARE
MOBILIZING ALL OF THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO DO WORK.
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES IS
CLEANING THOSE AREAS ALMOST
EVERY NIGHT AFTER THE PROTEST.
WE'RE WORKING WITH BUSINESSES
TO SEE WHAT SUPPORTS THEY NEED.
WE'RE MANAGING TRASH
COLLECTION.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY GROUPS
TO SEE WHAT ADDITIONAL THINGS
THEY NEED.
ONE THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED
ABOUT YET IS THE STATE HAS
APPROVED SEATTLE MOVING TO 1.5,
AND SO WE WILL BE SEEING
ADDITIONAL WAYS THAT
RESTAURANTS CAN OPERATE AND
CAPITOL HILL HAS A LOT OF
RESTAURANTS IN THAT AREA.
SO WE'RE REACHING OUT TO OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW,
RESTAURANTS, BOOKSTORES AND THE
LIKE ON CAPITOL HILL, TO SEE
WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEM
THROUGH THIS NEXT STAGE IN THE
PANDEMIC, AND IT IS GOING TO BE
EVEN MORE COMPLICATED GIVEN
THAT THESE DEMONSTRATORS ARE
THERE EVERY NIGHT USING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD VERY HEAVILY.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF
THOSE RESOURCES AND WE'LL TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT IF THERE
IS ANY RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
SEEN PARTICULAR IMPACTS THAT
THEY NEED HELP FROM THE CITY,
PLEASE LET US KNOW.
AND YOU CAN E-MAIL ME DIRECTLY
AT JENNY DOT
DURKAN@SEATTLE.GOV.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE
FROM PATRICK QUINN, KOMO 4.
PATRICK, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> MY QUESTION IS FOR THE MAYOR
OR CHIEF BEST.
I'M SORRY.
THERE IS A POLICE CAR DRIVING
BY.
BUT I KNOW ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS
REQUESTED TO PUT A HOLD ON
THOSE FLASH BANGS FOR SOME OF
THE SAME REASONS, MAYBE BETTER
PROTOCOLS ARE OUTLINED IN THE
HANDBOOKLET ARE USED WHERE
ALLOW THOSE TO CONTINUE OR WAS
THERE TALK TO PUT A STOP ON
FLASH BANGS.
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT REQUEST
AND I'M GOING TO LET CHIEF BEST
ANSWER, BUT I WILL MAKE CLEAR
WHEN I MET WITH THE I.O.
G. AND O. P.A.
FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING, I
ASKED THEM TO REVIEW ALL OF OUR
CROWD CONTROL POLICIES,
PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES.
IN THIS NEXT 30 DAYS THAT IS
WHAT I WANT THEM TO DO.
I WANT TO COLLAR PHI CLARIFY
BASEDDEN CHRIS' QUESTION, IF
THEY COME BACK TO THE CHIEF AND
SAY WE NEED MORE TIME, THEN
THAT PROHIBITION WILL STAY IN
PLACE.
IT WILL NOT BE LIFTED UNTIL WE
GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS AND
THE COURT MONITOR.
CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS
THE FLASH BALLS?
>> YES.
LIKE THE MAYOR MENTIONED, I
HADN'T HEARD THAT, SO I WILL
FELL YOU THIS, THOUGH, FOR
EVERY POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN
OUR ORGANIZATION, WE
CONSISTENTLY REVIEW EVERY
POLICY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
IMPLEMENTS BEST PRACTICES, THAT
WE'RE UTILIZING POLICIES
APPROPRIATELY.
IT IS PART OF OUR MISSION FOR
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT,
EXAMINATION AND INNOVATION AS
WE MOVE FORWARD AS AN
ORGANIZATION SO I CAN ASSURE
YOU THAT THOSE POLICY ALSO BE
REVIEWED, AND CERTAINLY IF
THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK
YOU CHIEF.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM
SOUTH SEATTLE EMERALD FOLLOWED
BY THE SEATTLE "TIMES."
>> CAROLYN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE MAYOR
OR CHIEF BEST.
THERE ARE REPORTS ON THURSDAY
NIGHT THAT OFFICERS NOT ONLY
TURNING OFF BODY CAMERAS, BUT
REMOVING THEIR BADGES
ALTOGETHER.
HAVE YOU HEARD THESE REPORTS
AND, IF SO, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO
ADDRESS THEM.
>> HI, CAROLYN, NO, I HAVE NOT
HEARD ANYTHING SUCH AS THAT.
I HAVE BEEN OUT ROUTINELY ON
THE LINE AND WITH THE OFFICERS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT OCCUR, AND
NOR HAVE I HEARD OF ANY
INSTANCE OF THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL ABOUT IS MAKING SURE
THAT AS WE HEAR RUMORS THAT WE
EVALUATE THEM AND MAKE SURE IF
THERE IS ANY SUPPORTING
EVIDENCE OF THAT THAT WE'RE
FOLLOWING UP.
I HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD OF
THAT AT ALL.
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW JUST
BRIEFLY.
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT
QUESTION.
I THINK THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD
THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER
OF ISSUES RAISED BY
DEMONSTRATORS.
AND IF THOSE ARE THE CASE WOULD
URGE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE
O. P.A.
SO IT CAN BE REVIEWED.
WE WILL NOT ALOUR FOR ANY
OFFICER TO BE VIOLATING THE
RULES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
THAT ARE IN PLACE, AT ANY TIME,
BUT PARTICULARLY THIS TIME.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE BODY
WORN VIDEO AS WE'VE DISCUSSED
BEFORE THE BODY WORN VIDEO
POLICY WAS PUT IN PLACE BY THE
PREVIOUS MAYOR AND COWBOY SILL
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH CIVIL
LIBERTY GROUPS AND THE LIKE
THAT DID NOT WANT PEACEFUL
PROTESTS BEING VIDEO RECORDED
BY THE POLICE.
I THINK THOSE CIVIL LIBERTY
CONCERNS ARE STILL VALID, BUT I
THINK THAT WE'VE CHANGED AS A
CITY AND PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS
HAVE CHANGED.
SPD IS READY TO TURN THOSE
CAMERAS ON, BUT I'M GOING TO BE
ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE CPC, OUR
CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS AND
OTHER STAKE HOLDERS TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT POLICY AND
DETERMINE WHETHER IT NEEDS TO
BE UPDATED.
IF THEY DECIDE THAT IT DOES,
WE'RE READY TO TURN THEM ON,
BUT I WANT TO LEAVE THAT WORK
TO THE COMMUNITY, THE VERY,
VERY THOROUGH COMMUNITY WORK
THAT WAS DONE BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF AND THANK
YOU, MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM
SEATTLE TIMES FOLLOWED BY KEVIN
SCHOFIELD.
HEIDI, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> HI.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR CHIEF
BEST.
IS PEPPER SPRAY STILL ALLOWED
UNDER THIS POLICY, AND GIVEN
THE IMPACTS THAT THAT CAN HAVE
ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPRAYED,
CONCERNS ABOUT COVID-19 AND
PEPPER SPRAY, AND WERE PEPPER
SPRAY AND TEAR GAS USED ON
CAPITOL HILL MONDAY NIGHT?
>> YES.
THE WHOLE EVENTS, I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHICH MIGHT OF
EVERYTHING USED.
I'M SORRY I CAN'T ANSWER THAT
DIRECTLY NOW, BUT HAPPY TO TALK
TO YOU OFFLINE ABOUT IT.
WHAT THE SUSPENSION IS OF C. S.
GAS FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT
EVERYTHING WILL BE REVIEWED AND
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT,
AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY
ASPECT OF FORCE AND HOW WE'RE
UTILIZING IT SO WE WILL REVIEW
EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE
UTILIZING.
WE'LL WAIT TO HEAR THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN 30 DAY ORS
SO FROM OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS.
CERTAINLY AS THE MAYOR
MENTIONED, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE
AN EXTENSION, WE'LL CONTINUE
WITH THE SUSPENSION AS IT
STANDS.
THESE ARE ALL ISSUES OF
CONCERN.
ALL OF THEM NEED TO BE LOOKED
AT, AND WE WILL BE DOING SO AND
COMING BACK TO FOLKS.
I CAN NOT CONFIRM WHICH DAYS.
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN USED, YEAH,
EACH HAS BEEN USED.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT
OFFLINE WHEN I CAN CONFIRM IT.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HEIDI, I JUST WANT TO ADD A
FEW THINGS TO THAT BECAUSE I'M
NOT SURE IF IT GOT LOST IN THE
REMARKS.
WE ARE ALSO ASKING KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE PART OF THIS REVIEW ON
ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT ARE USED
FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING
THE O.C.
PEPPER SPRAY, ALSO, UNLIKE THE
USE OF TEAR GAS, THERE IS A
DEPARTMENT WIDE POLICY RELATED
TO WHEN O.C.
SPRAY CAN BE USED, WHAT TYPE
CANS BE USED, HOW THEY'RE
TRAINED.
WHEN I WAS THE U.S. ATTORNEY
DURING THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT,
THERE WAS THE INDISCRIMINANT
USE OF PEPPER SPRAY NATIONWIDE
AND IT WAS THE FIRST LETTER WE
SENT TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THAT THEY
REVIEW THEIR USE OF IT AND
DEVELOP BETTER POLICIES,
PROCEDURES AND TRAINING.
THEY DID THAT.
THAT WAS APPROVED AT THAT TIME.
BUT, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO FIN
USELY IMPROVE, AND HOW WE ACT
AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL CONTACT
BETWEEN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND RESIDENTS OR
BUSINESSES IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT
IS ALSO IMPORTANT HOW WE MANAGE
LARGE CROWDS.
SO IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
WE'RE ASKING THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS WITH THE COURT MONITOR
TO REVIEW WHEN THEY LOOK AT
THESE CROWD MANAGEMENT
POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK
YOU, CHIEF BEST.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM KEVIN SCHOFIELD.
KEVIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS FOR THE MAYOR.
YESTERDAY THE CITY WITHDREW ITS
MOTION TO TERMINATE A PORTION
OF THE CONSENT DECREE.
AND THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO AN
AUGUST 1 DATE FOR DELIVERING A
PLAN FOR THE CITY IS GOING TO
COME IN COMPLIANCE OR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLINARY
PROCEDURES.
IS THERE A PLAN FOR HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO FINISH UP THAT WORK OF
PUTTING TOGETHER THE PLAN OR IS
THERE A PLAN NOW?
>> THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR THAT,
AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE DAY
BEFORE YESTERDAY.
I HAVE LOST TRACK OF DAYS, TOO.
I HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND OTHERS.
I THINK GIVEN ALL THAT WE ARE
SEEING IN THE STREETS AND WHERE
WE ARE AS A CITY AND A COUNTRY
AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
POLICE OFFICERS AND RESIDENTS,
WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
EVERYTHING AND WE CANNOT RUSH
THAT REVIEW.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE COMING
BACK TO THE COURT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS NOT JUST THE FOUR AREAS
THE COURT EYE DEBITS PHID BUT
THE MANY, MANY AREAS I'M
HEARING FROM COMMUNITY EVERY
DAY, THE VOICES THEY'RE RAISING
ON THE STREET AND THE MEETINGS
I'M HAVING.
SO I LOOK FORWARD, I'M HOPING
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR
ACCOUNTN 'T PARTNERS, THE CPC,
O. P.A.
AND OIG AS WELL AS O'COMMUNITY
STAKE HOLDERS AND THE COUNCIL
TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PROCESS WE
CAN PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE GO TO THE COURT, NOT
JUST WITH THOSE FOUR AREAS, BUT
I THINK WE'RE SEEING
SIGNIFICANT OTHER AREAS, SOME
THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TODAY AND
OVER THIS WEEK, CROWD
MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES, THE USE OF
CHOKE HOLDS AND O'THINGS.
WE WANT OTHER THICKS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COME TO
THE COURT WITH THOSE CONCERNS
OR ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.
THERE IS NO DATE YET ANDLY BE
LOOKING AT THE ACCOUNTN 'T
PARTNERS AND THE COMMUNITY TO
HELP SET THAT BECAUSE I THINK
THEY WILL BE VITAL TO THAT
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THE QUESTION WILL BE FROM ERICA
BARNETT, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH
HORRIBLE, KIRO 7. ERICA, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>>> MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED
SEVERAL TIMES WANTING TO HEAR
FROM THE ACCOUNTABILITIES
PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S BEEN -- AND YOUR OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTOR WROTE
A LETTER TODAY CALLING AMONG
MANY OTHER THING FORCE THE USE
OF -- THE END OF THE USE OF
THESE SORT OF MILITARIZED
TACTICS.
AND THE CPC CALLED FOR THE SAME
THING, O. P.A.
CALLED FOR THE END OF TEAR GAS
PERM INNOCENTERLY.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS 30-DAY
PROCESS AND CAN YOU ACCEPT
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IF THEY
DO COME OUT EVEN IF YOU DON'T
PERSONALLY AGREE WITH THEM?
>> SO I THINK THAT IS MULTIPLE
QUESTIONS.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN PARCEL THEM.
THE ANSWER IS THEY NEED TO COME
BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND
ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE THE
FEDERAL COURT THAT DECIDES.
I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IF THE
NATIONAL EXPERTS, COMMUNITY
EXPERTS AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS WORKING WITH A MONITOR
COME BACK WITH A UNIFIED VOICE,
THAT THE CITY WILL BE IN ALIGN
WITH THAT.
I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT
BASED ON THE WORK THAT I DID
WITH THE CONSENT DECREE 10
YEARS AGO, THAT WAS THE PROCESS
WE HAD IN PLACE.
IT WORKED VERY WELL, AND I
THINK HAVING THIS KIND OF
SAFETY VALVE IN PLACE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE AREN'T JUST
STATIC, BUT THAT WE'RE SHOW TAG
WE IMPROVE.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS THAT I
THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
PEOPLE TO SEE AND REMEMBER IS
THIS IS A NEW AND DIFFERENT
ROLE FOR O. P.A., FOR CPC, AND
FOR THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
THEY ARE AN HOUR WILL WANT
QUASI TAKING OVER THAT ROLE
THAT THE FEDERAL MONITOR
PROVIDED BEFORE, AND THEY ARE
GOING TO BE THE ACCOUNTSABILITY
PARTNERS ON THE LONG TERM THAT
ARE GOING TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY
THE CONFIDENCE THEY NEED THAT
THERE CAN BE EFFECTIVE
OVERSIGHT OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
OUR NEXT AND FINAL QUESTION
WILL COME FROM DEBORAH HORN,
KIRO 7. DEBORAH, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> AND TO THE MAYOR AND THE
POLICE CHIEF AS WELL AS THE
FIRE CHIEF, I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE
QUESTION, MAYBE THIS QUESTION
IS FOR YOU, MAYOR.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE DONE,
NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN, BUT ALSO
SOME DAMAGE ON CAPITOL HILL,
AND DAMAGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICTS, CHINATOWN, AND IT
HAPPENED TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE
SMALL, THAT HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING DURING A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME.
WHAT CAN THE CITY, WHAT IS THE
CITY PLANNING TO DO OR THINKING
OF DOING TO TRY TO HELP THOSE
BUSINESSES GET BACK ON THEIR
FEET DURING THIS TERRIBLE,
DIFFICULT TIME OF COVID-19.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
DEBORAH, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ACROSS
CITY DEPARTMENTS TO SEE HOW WE
CAN HELP THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES, CAPITOL HILL,
DOWNTOWN AND CHINATOWN, OUR
NATIONAL DISTRICT.
WE HAVE HELPED THOSE
COMMUNITIES BOARD UP WINDOWS TO
PROTECT FROM FURTHER DAMAGE.
DOZENS AND DOZENS OF
BUSINESSES, WE'RE HELPING THEM
REMOVE GRAFFITI, CLEAN UP THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND MY OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOGETHER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS SPECIAL LOOKING
AT WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT
THOSE BUSINESSES AS WE MOVE TO
THE NEXT PHASE OF REOPENING.
THESE SMALL BUSINESSES,
PARTICULARLY IN CHINATOWN AND
OUR INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT WERE
ALREADY HANGING ON BY A THREAD.
AND CHINATOWN, THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT WAS THE
FIRST AREA OF THE CITY HIT BY
COVID-19, LARGELY BECAUSE OF
THE WRONGFUL DISCRIMINATION AND
STIGMAATION OF THE ASIAN
COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AND
THEY ARE A FRAGILE AND
CULTURALLY IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR CITY, SO WE WILL BE WORKING
WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO
TO OFFSET THE IMPACTS OF NOT
JUST THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND
COVID-19, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE THEY STAY AND COME BACK
FROM THIS BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE
BUSINESSES, AS YOU KNOW VBEEN
OWNED BY GENERATIONS, BUT IT
HAS BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT
TIME FOR THEM.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK
YOU FOR ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
THAT CONCLUDED THE Q&A PORTION
OF TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE
SHOWN THAT YOU CAN HAVE VERY
LARGE PROTESTS AND MARCHS IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND
THAT THEY CAN BE CONDUCTED IN
PEACE AND WITHOUT ANY
CONFRONTATIONS WITH POLICE.
I'M THANKFUL THAT THE EARLY
MORNING HOUR, WHEN THERE WAS AN
INCENDIARY DEVICE PUT OFF AND
IT LOOKED LIKE A GARBAGE CAN
NEAR THE CROWD AND THAT CAUSED
THE CROWD TO BELIEVE IT WAS THE
POLICE THAT DID IT AND STARTED
THROWING PROJECTILES THAT THE
POLICE DID NOT RESPOND OR KAES
LATE AND IT QUICKLY DIMINISHED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO FIND WAYS THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS CAN EFFECTIVELY
COMMUNICATE WHERE THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DEMONSTRATING SO THEY
KNOW THEY ARE SAFE TO RAISE
THEIR VOICES AND EXERCISE THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND AT
THE SAME TIME THEY ARE THE
FIRST LINE OF ACCOUNTSABILITY
TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T
TAKE THOSE PROTESTS AND TURN
THEM INTO SOMETHING THAT IS
VERY DIFFERENT.
WE SAW MARCHES IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE CITY YESTERDAY.
WE SAW PARTS OF THE CROWD SPLIT
OFF FROM CAPITOL HILL TO MARCH
DOWN TO THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE JOIN THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
AND THEY'VE REMAINED PEACEFUL.
SO I WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE
CHIEF FOR EVERY DAY TRYING TO
THINK OF NEW WAYS TO DEESCALATE
THEIR TACTICS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE UNFLINCHING IN OUR
WILLINGNESS TO HAVE ACCOUNTS
BILITYD LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT
AND ITS TECHNIQUES.
WE HAVE TO REGAIN THE TRUST OF
THE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT IS
POSSIBLE IS IF BY INTERACTION
BY INTERACTION AND IF PEOPLE
HAVE TRUST IN THOSE
ACCOUNTSABILITY SYSTEMS.
I WANT TO THANK THE CPC, THE O.
P.A.
AROUND THE OIG FOR SO QUICKLY
DOING THEIR FIRST INITIAL
REVIEW AT MY REQUEST AND THE
REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL, COMING
BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND
THANK THEM FOR THEIR ONGOING
WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN BE AS
ACCOUNTABLE AS POSSIBLE TO THE
PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.