Seattle police officers appeal dismissal of suit over use-of-force policies

Eighty-nine Seattle police officers who sued the City of Seattle over a new use-of-force policy have filed an appeal challenging dismissal of their suit.

The suit by 89 officers claimed the policy mandated by a consent decree between the City of Seattle and the Department of Justice was impractical and unsafe, putting them in danger.

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman disagreed and tossed out the suit last month. Pechman ruled the policies reasonably balanced officer safety with the need to curtail excessive force.

Athan Tramountanas, an attorney for the officers, says the appeal will focus solely on the city, with the goal of convincing the city to change the policies.

“The City and the Chief continue to ignore concerns of these 89 officers, many of whom are on the line as first responders,” Tramountanas says.

“These officers are not anti-reform and are not opposed to a reasonable use of force policy. They are a decorated and diverse group that represent a significant number of patrol officers and officers that are responsible for training patrol officers.”

Under the policies, “officers are required to hesitate, delay, consider motivations and multiple factors before using any force in fast-developing and dangerous situations.”

The policies, which took effect Jan. 1, were prompted by a U.S. Department of Justice determination that Seattle police officers were too frequently using unnecessary force. The city and Justice Department agreed on the reforms in 2012.

The officers are willing to meet with department leaders and negotiate changes to the policy, Tramountanas says. But he says in the past 30 days there has been “no meaningful dialogue between these officers and the Chief’s office.”