Oh my god. An SPD officer was searching for a man involved in a hit-and-run in which no one was injured. For "fun", the officer falsely told the suspect's friend someone was in critical condition from the accident... So the driver killed himself. Officer was suspended SIX DAYS. 
The disparity between the cruelty of this ruse and the laughable "punishment", is shocking. And to make things even more disgusting, the department is keeping the officer anonymous.
You should read the full story here: seattletimes.com/seattle-news/s…
You should read the full story here: seattletimes.com/seattle-news/s…
Every day is seems like there's a new example of SPD doing something that flagrantly flies in the face of accountability... I can't think of a single instance in recent memory where a meaningful punishment was handed down. There is no justice to be found in our police department.
We see bike cops on video viciously abusing people downtown without cause, nothing happens.
We see officers using fake names on social media to encourage rightwing violence, nothing happens.
We see officers on video kill a pregnant mother, nothing happens.
We see officers using fake names on social media to encourage rightwing violence, nothing happens.
We see officers on video kill a pregnant mother, nothing happens.
And all of this is happening at the same time that officers, their union, and their NIMBY cheerleaders, constantly whine that Seattle doesn't support its officers, thar officers fear "retribution" for mistakes, thst "we don't let cops do their jobs."
It is absurd and offensive.
It is absurd and offensive.
We're being played by a department who views its community with contempt, and whose only goal is to get itself out from under the federal consent decree handed down for their history of abusive policing. It is time for our political leadership to stand up and put an end to this.
They have exploited this narrative for years, used it win themselves a new contract virtually devoid of accountability measures, which will ultimately exacerbate and accelerate these kinds of incidents. And until now, our political leadership has signed without condition.
SPD leadership needs to go. A new contract needs to be negotiated which honors the consent decree and provides meaningful mechanisms for the community to hold our officers accountable. No longer should we trust SPD to handle these matters internally, they have proven incapable.
And if none of this happens... If SPD leadership doesn't go, if the officers who perpetrate these crimes don't go, if SPD isn't accountable to the community... I promise you, we will force our political leadership out of office and replace them with people who will get it done.
