Seattle Setting New Rules for Police Use of Crowd Control Weapons

Seattle's City Council is set to approve new rules governing the use of crowd control weapons by the Seattle Police Department, including pepper spray and blast balls. This legislation is crucial as it seeks to replace interim policies that arose after a federal judge blocked the city's attempts to ban these controversial weapons in the wake of the 2020 protests. Under the new rules, SPD incident commanders will have the discretion to deploy crowd control measures while necessitating that outside agencies like the Washington State Patrol follow SPD's lead. However, the utilization of tear gas will only be permitted if the mayor declares an official state of emergency. The public safety committee had previously turned down proposed amendments that would have tightened regulations and made it easier for individuals injured by police actions to file lawsuits.

The decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny of SPD's response to the 2020 protests, which resulted in a $10 million settlement for 50 plaintiffs harmed by police actions. Residents continue to express concerns about the long-term health impacts of crowd control measures, particularly in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, where significant clashes occurred. These developments underscore the challenging dynamics between law enforcement practices and community safety in Seattle.