Hollingsworth Abstains as New SPD Crowd Control Rules Move Forward

During a recent Seattle City Council public safety committee meeting, Joy Hollingsworth abstained from voting on new crowd control rules for the Seattle Police Department, highlighting her focus on increasing patrol officer numbers over crowd control issues. The committee moved forward with legislation despite rejecting amendments that would have imposed stricter regulations on police conduct and made it easier for injured individuals to sue. Hollingsworth noted that crowd control policies are not currently a priority for her, as her office is dedicated to bolstering the SPD's ranks. In a positive turn for the department, SPD reported hiring more officers than it lost for the first time in five years, adding 84 new officers while losing only 83. The new rules allow SPD commanders to use discretion when deploying crowd control measures, such as pepper spray and blast balls, during incidents.

Additionally, outside agencies like the Washington State Patrol will be required to adhere to SPD commands in crowd control situations. This legislative development is part of broader efforts to eliminate federal oversight of the SPD, which has been in place since issues arose during protests in 2020. The ongoing discussion around police policies remains critical for Seattle's communities still reeling from recent unrest.