Judge approves Seattle police monitoring plan

A federal judge has approved the Seattle Police monitoring plan submitted by the court appointed monitor overseeing reforms ordered by the Department of Justice.

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.

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.

U.S. District Judge James Robart, who is overseeing a settlement agreement reached in July between the city and the Department of Justice, accepted the plan at the urging of the city and federal attorneys.