'Sad day for Seattle': City officials clash as police monitor submits oversight plan

BY Brandi Kruse  on March 5, 2013 @ 1:08 pm (Updated: 3:39 pm - 3/5/13 )

merrick-bobb.jpg
Monitor Merrick Bobb Tuesday submitted his formal oversight plan to reform the Seattle Police Department.(Police Assessment Resource Center photo ) | Zoom
The independent monitor tasked with overseeing Seattle Police Department reforms submitted his proposed plan to a federal judge for approval Tuesday.

Monitor Merrick Bobb said the plan will serve as a roadmap to meaningful reforms stipulated under a settlement agreement between the city and the Department of Justice after a federal investigation found Seattle police officers have a pattern of using excessive force.

Meanwhile, City Attorney Pete Holmes called Tuesday a "sad day for Seattle," and accused Mayor Mike McGinn of preventing the city from moving forward "to achieve lasting reform of our Police Department."

Bobb's plan, which the city will have an opportunity to agree upon, would govern only the first year of reforms. It establishes clear deadlines for implementation of reforms in "priority areas," such as training, supervision, use-of-force and bias-free policing.

Under the plan, the monitor would submit semi-annual reports on the city's progress and would deliver his first formal review in February 2014.

Bobb's proposal comes amid a very public battle between City Attorney Holmes and Mayor McGinn that escalated after KIRO Radio released a pointed email between the two officials last week.

In it, McGinn accused Holmes of undercutting the city's objectives in matters of police reform and breaching attorney-client privilege by sharing confidential information with Bobb.

Due to what he called a "clear conflict of interest," McGinn called on Holmes to agree to an "ethical screen," which would bar him from representing the city in ongoing negotiations with the Department of Justice.

Holmes refused to do so and said Tuesday that McGinn's accusations were counterproductive.

"Now is the time when City leaders should be working together to achieve lasting reform of our Police Department," he said in a statement. "It is especially sad for the women and men of SPD who want us all to move forward, together."

In a memo sent Tuesday, McGinn told Holmes that the city has concerns with Bobb's proposed reform plan, which he claims includes requirements that would lead to unnecessary delays.

"Accordingly, do not represent to the court or the monitor that the city has approved a monitoring plan until you have received written authorization from me that the plan satisfactorily meets our objectives," McGinn wrote.

McGinn also expressed ongoing concerns with the monitor's billing practices.

As KIRO Radio first reported, the city took issue with several items Merrick Bobb and his team expensed, including "alcohol and alcohol-related items."

According to numbers released by the City Budget Office Tuesday, the city has been unable to resolve $11,612 in "undocumented or questioned travel and accommodation charges" submitted from November 2012 to January 2013.

The monitoring team has also declined repeated requests from the city that they provide a breakdown for $167,145 in hours they billed during the same time period.

"That being said, the City Attorney has approved all of these charges for payment," City Budget Office Director Beth Goldberg said in a memo Tuesday.

McGinn has directed Holmes to hold off on approving further bills from the monitoring team without written approval from Goldberg.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (11)


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  • Oly80 wrote...
    not gonna get any heat for all the charges..,.?
    March 5, 2013 12:52 pm
    the ones he and his group piled on during their "monitoring"?

    his suggestions could, and maybe should, be called to question after the way he lashed out when the city of Seattle asked him and his crew to explain all the charges to the taxpayers and such.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    The only oversight their is going to be is ?????
    March 5, 2013 1:27 pm
    Overcharging tax payers, with less being done. Just watch as ALL the money being spent. The one for sure will be is. A lot of good feelings, a lot of money, and less getting done.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Holy smokes!
    March 5, 2013 3:10 pm
    I don't think it is the police department that is messed up in Seattle... It is clearly the elected officials...Could this be any worse???
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • S Y wrote...
    look out
    March 5, 2013 4:49 pm
    Bobb is a crook and Holmes is on the take. Fire them both before they take ya for a lot of money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Annie (1) wrote...
    Can't just be fired!
    March 6, 2013 6:25 am
    Mr.Holmes can't just be fired-- his is an ELECTED position.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    'Sad day for Seattle'
    March 5, 2013 5:39 pm
    if you live there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fisher wrote...
    While there certainly is corruption and incompetence within city hall.
    March 5, 2013 5:50 pm
    Let's not forget that it's the police department's boorish and thuggish behavior that got us into this mess in the first place.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monkeyal wrote...
    News reports regarding the police monitor Merrick Bobb
    March 5, 2013 8:25 pm
    and the Seattle City Attorney Peter Holmes so far indicate that Mr. Merrick Bobb (Boob) requires more training as to the proper do's and don'ts of expense accounts. To wit, alcohol and pillow cases are personal items and not eligible for expense accounts. If necessary, ask the flight attendant to throw you a couple of freebies. And for Mr. Holmes, a refresher, continuing legal education course in "Who's the client and what is confidential?" is a must. Meanwhile, S.P.D. is protecting and serving 24/7/365.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    who oversees..
    March 5, 2013 9:40 pm
    I have one question, with the questionable billing by Merrick Bobb, who actually watches the watcher? Someone in the DOJ has to responsible to settle matters of Egyptian cotton pillows being purchased at tax payers expense or alcohol fueled dinners at tax payers expense. Note: I don't live in Seattle but I do pay taxes in my entertainment monies. The question is...who is watching the watcher? Corruption is corruption regardless whether it's from a government agency or one appointed over them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    "...would govern only the first year of reforms."..."
    March 6, 2013 6:02 am
    So how many years are we going to pay him? This looks like an endless contract (money pit) to me. And by the smile (and his comments) in his picture he knows it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Police Chief David Couper wrote...
    Improving/Reforming Police
    March 6, 2013 7:37 am
    Let's get down to the basics here: the proper policing of a democracy is best undertaken by men and women who are formally educated, carefully selected, well-trained, expected to control their use of force, be honest in their actions, reports and court testimony, courteous to every person regardless of their station in life, led by mature, collaborative leaders, and closely in touch with the communities they serve. For more, follow my blog at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com and peruse my new book on the subject.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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