MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Accountability group received over 19,000 complaints against SPD from protests in 2020

Apr 19, 2021, 4:52 PM

Seattle police, machine learning, protests, complaints...

Protesters and police in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 2020. (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Seattle’s Office of Police Accountability (OPA) released an expansive report last week, detailing the thousands of complaints the oversight body received in 2020 stemming from protests that took place after the death of George Floyd.

Report rules SPD officer didn’t intentionally pepper-spray child

According to the OPA, there were over 19,000 complaints filed against police action at demonstrations in 2020, resulting in 143 investigations. In total, 40% of all sworn Seattle Police Department employees had at least one complaint filed against them, as well as 12% of civilian employees. Over 600 SPD employees received at least one complaint; 252 employees received more than one complaint, 71 received three, 29 received four, and five received seven or more individual complaints.

Those complaints led to the OPA sustaining one or more allegations in 18% of investigations across 64 cases, comprising 68 separate SPD employees. In total, 22% of the OPA’s findings resulted in recommendations for either additional training or disciplinary action.

That saw the oversight body meting out 25 written reprimands, 15 suspensions, and 12 oral reprimands. Fifteen SPD officers were suspended, while three SPD employees were terminated as a direct result of an OPA investigation. Another four were terminated prior to a disciplinary ruling.

Opinion: OPA reports show Seattle cops get away with despicable behavior

In the wake of those findings, there was a 70% decrease in appeals by officers between 2019 and 2020, with just eight last year, compared to 26 the year prior, and 28 in 2018. That said, the OPA said that it is “unable to opine on the reason for the change or whether it will persist in future years.”

The OPA has yet to complete all of its investigations stemming from last year’s protests, largely due to an unprecedented flood of body camera footage in need of thorough review. It expects to finish those investigations by “the middle of 2021.”

MyNorthwest News

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

1 hour ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

1 hour ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

2 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

5 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone and Bill Kaczaraba

‘Kia Boyz’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

6 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

8 hours ago

Accountability group received over 19,000 complaints against SPD from protests in 2020