Since a 2012 consent decree with the US Department of Justice Seattle police have been working on use of force and bias policing. Recently the feds, even the president recognized the progress Seattle has made.
Seattle police say they require officers to report when they see bias policing within their own department. They say more of their officers are also out in the community getting to know the people they protect.
“Our diversity is increasing both in our applicant pool and final hiring recruits, I say at this point Seattle is a leader in policing reform,” Chief Operating Officer Brian Maxey said.
COO Brian Maxey says Seattle police is now not only more diverse but better trained to deescalate dangerous situations before using force.
“Instead of doing the classroom settings we`ve gone into scenario based training,” Maxey said.
That means more role playing and simulations of intense situations.
“To see how they will implement that skill in real time,” Maxey said.
SPD says it is above the curve when it comes to police reform