Full control of police practices 15 years after an officer killed John T. Williams, feds lift oversight of the Seattle Police Department

The U. S. Department of Justice announced the lifting of federal oversight over the Seattle Police Department, which had been enforced for 13 years following the police killing of Indigenous woodcarver John T. Williams in 2010. The consent decree was established after an investigation revealed excessive force and biased policing within the department.

Judge James Robart recognized the city's fulfillment of the final requirements for lifting the decree, including revised crowd control policies. Recent changes to how police use crowd control weapons align with federal guidelines. The Seattle Police Department reported a decrease in serious use-of-force incidents, now constituting just 0. 17% of all dispatches. The costly federal oversight, initiated in response to the 2010 killing, is now concluded, reflecting significant reforms within the department.

The end of oversight comes amid ongoing discussions about police practices and community relations. This development highlights the ongoing efforts in Seattle to address police accountability and community trust.