Jonathan Dale Benton|Most federal oversight of Seattle Police Department ends after more than a decade

2025-05-06 05:14:29source:Sterling Prestoncategory:Finance

SEATTLE (AP) — The Jonathan Dale BentonSeattle Police Department has achieved “full, sustained and lasting compliance” with most of the provisions of a federal settlement agreement that was intended to transform the department, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge James Robart announced the ruling on Wednesday, The Seattle Times reported.

The ruling brings an end to court oversight of police reforms in Seattle, with the exception of two areas. Robart said he would retain jurisdiction over crowd control, including tactics and use of force, and officer accountability.

Seattle has overhauled virtually all aspects of its police department since DOJ investigators in 2011 found officers were too quick to use force and too often escalated encounters to the point of using force.

Other news DoorDash to pay $1.6M to its workers for violating Seattle sick time policy‘T. rexes’ race to photo finish at Washington state trackSeahawks starters look sharp in limited action, Seattle tops Dallas 22-14

It has been a difficult path to compliance with the federal consent decree, Robart said. The decree was established with an agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the police department in 2012.

Robart has had the final say on sweeping reforms reaching into every aspect of Seattle policing. He said the details of the ruling will be made public on Thursday.

“This is a day to celebrate,” police Chief Adrian Diaz said on Wednesday. “The judge highlighted the hard work of the officers.”

Mayor Bruce Harrell said the judge’s ruling “is a critical milestone in our efforts to reform policing.”

The U.S. Justice Department and Seattle officials asked the judge in March to end most federal oversight of the city’s police department, saying its sustained, decadelong reform efforts are a model for other cities whose law enforcement agencies face federal civil rights investigations.

Officials said at the time that the use of serious force was down 60% and the department was using new systems for handling people in crisis, responding to complaints of biased policing, supervising officers and identifying those who use force excessively.

More:Finance

Recommend

Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches

Jamie Foxx's birthday dinner took a surprising turn on Friday the 13th.The "Collateral" actor was hi

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and activist, has died at age 96

Singer, actor and human rights activist Harry Belafonte died Tuesday at age 96 of congestive heart f

Victor LaValle's novel 'Lone Women' is infused with dread and horror — and more

"You kept too many secrets," Adelaide Henry says to her parents, early in Victor LaValle's new novel