Seattle Council president apologizes to police chief over protests

Seattle City Council President Tim Burgess has sent an apology to police chief Kathleen O’Toole after protestors repeatedly disrupted a council briefing on police brutality Monday.

The City Council was forced to temporarily suspend its weekly briefing Monday after the demonstrators interrupted the discussion with O’Toole and other members of her command staff about handling of local protests that followed the decision in Ferguson, Mo. to not indict a white officer in the shooting death of a black man, and a subsequent decision not indict another officer in Staten Island, N.Y. in the choking death of a black man.

“I’m sorry this morning’s meeting got out of hand,” Burgess wrote in an email obtained by KIRO Radio’s Brandi Kruse. “We are used to public testimony that is sometimes loud, direct and even offensive, but we are not used to continued disruptions of our meetings by people shouting insults and disrupting the dialog [sic] Councilmembers are having with witnesses. I regret that I wasn’t better prepared to control all that. My apologies.”

O’Toole told the council her department’s goal was to allow peaceful protests while at the same time protecting the rights of the public and property, including both protestors and officers alike.

Several protestors criticized the department during the public comment period, including the use of bicycles to corral demonstrators.

O’Toole also told the council 11 separate complaints about the police response were made with the Office of Professional Accountability, which oversees internal police investigations. OPA director Pierce Murphy told the Seattle Times following the meeting one investigation is underway involving the use of force.

Here is the full email from Burgess:

Chief O’Toole,

Thank you for appearing before the Council this morning to discuss the Police Department’s response to the recent protests related to police use of deadly force. I found your comments, and those of Chief Best and Chief Metz, to be clear and responsive to our questions. Councilmember Harrell’s committee will continue to discuss these matters going forward.

As you are well aware, the Council fully supports the right of people to peacefully protest government actions, including those of the police, and we are also committed to effective, Constitutional policing. You and your officers are often called upon to police situations where these values intersect and that can sometimes be difficult and stressful. In recent weeks, thousands of people have engaged in peaceful protests in our city. Regrettably, a small number of individuals have gone beyond the bounds of peaceful protest and engaged in violent behavior aimed at our officers and others. About two dozen arrests were made and these cases are being reviewed for prosecution. I understand from your testimony this morning that 11 complaints have been received by the OPA and that six of those required referral to line supervisors or a full OPA investigation. Please keep the Council informed about the results of these complaints.

From what I have read and heard from you and others, it appears the department managed these protests well and Seattle was able to avoid the extreme disruptions, injuries and mass arrests other cities experienced. I am grateful for the work of our police officers and appreciate their service to the people of Seattle.

I’m sorry this morning’s meeting got out of hand. We are used to public testimony that is sometimes loud, direct and even offensive, but we are not used to continued disruptions of our meetings by people shouting insults and disrupting the dialog Councilmembers are having with witnesses. I regret that I wasn’t better prepared to control all that. My apologies.