The City of Seattle regained full control of its police department after a federal judge granted a motion to end the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) consent decree that has been in place for 13 years.
The ruling, issued on Wednesday by Judge James Robart of the Western District of Washington, marks the end of federal monitoring that began in 2012 after a DOJ investigation found that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) engaged in “a pattern of excessive force” and unconstitutional practices.
The city initially disputed those findings, but ultimately agreed to reform areas the DOJ said contributed to excessive force, including the police department’s policies, procedures, training, and oversight….