Judge approves new rules to stop bias by Seattle Police

A federal judge has signed off on new Seattle Police procedures designed to eliminate bias and discrimination by officers.

The new policies focus on stops and detentions and bias-free policing. They draw a clear distinction between a casual pedestrian encounter and a stop or detention based on reasonable suspicion, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan.

The new rules also require police, for the first time, to collect electronic data on stops that could lead to an arrest. Data will be analyzed to spot trends or concerns, such as whether the department’s practices have a disparate impact on minority communities.

In a news release, Durkan said the policies set “the national standard” about how officers are supposed to handle street encounters that don’t rise to the level of an arrest. The new rules also give cops a clear definition of biased policing. Supervisors will be required to respond to the scene of any complaint about biased policing.

Both policies have been developed under a settlement agreement between Seattle Police and the Justice Department, which found in 2011 that Seattle Police demonstrated a pattern of excessive force.

Officers are being trained on the new policies now, which take effect at the end of January.