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Seattle City Council seeks federal judge signoff on new proposal to limit SPD crowd control weapons

The Seattle City Council is taking the unusual step of asking a federal judge to review its proposals for limiting police use of crowd control weapons including tear gas, blast balls, and pepper spray.

Tuesday, the council public safety committee voted to put its draft ordinance up for review by U.S. District Court Judge James Robart, the federal judge overseeing the Seattle Police Department consent decree put in place nearly a decade ago after findings of bias and improper use of force.

Over the summer, the council passed a ban on the use of chemical and explosive crowd control weapons. Weeks later, Robart issued a temporary restraining order regarding the council’s ban and last week the judge admonished the council for not turning to the court to review its efforts that could be impacted by the consent decree restrictions.

Kshama Sawant representing Capitol Hill and District 3 was the lone committee member to vote against the review.

The new proposed city policy would give SPD access to “blast balls, pepper spray, 40mm sponge-tipped projectiles” and pepper balls “that emit a chemical irritant when fired” if used by “trained officers” when facing a crowd or protest with a “substantial risk of injuries or substantial harm to property,” KUOW reports.

 

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9 Comments
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The Ghostt Of Capitol Hill
The Ghostt Of Capitol Hill
3 years ago

lets get spd to sign a list of things citizens can use against them

fro
fro
3 years ago

Isn’t it hard to admit that the city council pandered to the protestors, and your lesson in politics cannot be blamed on anyone but yourselves.

James T.
James T.
3 years ago
Reply to  fro

Pandered to the protesters as if “pandering” to the cops is a better idea? The cops are the bad ones here not protesters.

More clarification please!
More clarification please!
3 years ago

I agree with Ghost. I also think there should be a ruling on what you can and can’t do when your car is surrounded by a threatening mob.

James T.
James T.
3 years ago

Cops need chemical weapons and military weapons immediately taken away.

Russ
Russ
3 years ago
Reply to  James T.

Anyone over 18 can walk into a sporting goods store and buy pepper spray / tear gas for self defense in WA. “Chemical weapons” certainly sounds scary but OC/CS spray is pretty widely used for less lethal defense. Should they be banned for everyone or just police?

Mars Saxman
Mars Saxman
3 years ago
Reply to  Russ

It’s only the police who have gassed entire neighborhoods so heavily that people living in second- and third-floor apartments nearby have had to flee their homes. We ought to take their weapons away until they learn to control themselves.

RWK
RWK
3 years ago

This seems like a reasonable proposal. So, typically, Sawant opposed it.

A.Joy
A.Joy
3 years ago
Reply to  RWK

You seem like such a spoiled child who wants mommy and daddy to fire the nanny who told you you were going to have to start sharing what was given to you. Yes given. You might work, but I’m guessing you are one of the overpaid for what you do, had advantage all your life, want so badly to believe you deserve what you have, type of people. Perhaps I’m wrong, maybe just maybe you have an actually important job like janitorial work, are low paid, and just got brainwashed by the “bootstrapping” and “trickle down economics ” that rich people depend on people believing. If that’s the case, my apologies. Unbrainwash yourself asap!