Seattle Police Commission votes to ask city to reject proposed SPD contract

In a unanimous vote, Seattle’s Community Police Commission has recommended that the Seattle  City Council reject the department’s proposed new contract.

RELATED: Tentative SPD contract now in the hands of Seattle City Council

The commission is recommending city council reject the contract on grounds that it rolls back proposed police reforms, and may even violate the Justice Department’s consent decree from 2012.

The police commission was mandated as part of the department’s consent decree, and includes civilian commissioners whose recommendations are non-binding.

The commission’s 8-0 vote marks a significant roadblock for a contract that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has described as “critical to meeting the public safety needs of every neighborhood and community in our city and continue the important job of reform, while helping ensure Seattle can hire and retain the best police officers.”

“I respectfully disagree with the Community Police Commission. This contract advances both police reform and public safety,” argued Mayor Durkan in a recent statement on the commission’s vote. “Three principles guided the negotiation of this contract: 1) protecting and advancing reform, 2) advancing public safety and 3) treating our officers fairly. This contract does all three.”

Under the proposed six-year deal, police officers would receive a cumulative $12,000 pay bump. Police Chief Carmen Best has been vocal in her support, while the Seattle Police Guild overwhelmingly supports the deal as well.

“I don’t see why we’re even having this conversation to be honest,” said Seattle Police Guild President Kevin Stuckey. “We’ve already done the things we need to do — we should just vote and get this ratified.”

The commission is also considering seeking an injunction to temporarily block the contract, something that would put the approval process in jeopardy moving forward.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest