Phrases matter.
This was by no means so obvious as within the Seattle Police Division’s oblivious response to a declare filed by a number of ladies workers claiming sexual harassment and discrimination.
Mayor Bruce Harrell provided a extra acceptable response, however the query stays: Was SPD’s assertion merely a break in communications protocol or does it sign a extra important rift with the Mayor’s Workplace?
Final week, 4 ladies filed a tort declare for $5 million alleging misconduct by police Chief Adrian Diaz and different division leaders.
The tort declare adopted authorized motion in January by Deanna Nollette, a 27-year veteran of the division claiming gender, wage and job discrimination in opposition to SPD. One other lawsuit in opposition to SPD was filed by Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin alleging she confronted racism and gender discrimination throughout her 43 years with the division.
SPD’s response assertion to the tort declare was breathtaking in its defensiveness: “The division is not going to reply to the non-public assaults rooted in tough estimations of rumour reflecting, at their core, particular person perceptions of victimhood which can be unsupported and — in some cases — belied by the great investigations that can little doubt in the end be of report.”
When confronted with authorized motion, authorities companies usually present a typical response: “We don’t touch upon pending litigation.”
Certainly, Harrell’s personal assertion was a lot tamer, noting that his workplace takes “allegations of this nature severely.”
When requested concerning the discrepancy between his response and that of the division he controls, Harrell instructed the editorial board on Tuesday morning that he noticed the authorized actions as an opportunity to make enhancements. “So I see some nice alternative right here, however actually the assertion that had come out of the division will not be typical of my management fashion,” he mentioned.
“We need to do a deep dive and provide you with suggestions as a result of we take these allegations extraordinarily severely and we don’t blame victims below my administration. … We pay attention and we be taught,” he mentioned.
In a while Tuesday, Harrell’s workplace despatched a letter to Seattle Metropolis Council members stating that he’ll retain an area legislation agency to conduct an unbiased evaluation of SPD.
“It can be crucial for our Metropolis to take allegations of harassment and discrimination severely. We is not going to malign those that come ahead and, on the contrary, will give these claims the shut consideration they deserve,” wrote the mayor.
Harrell pledged to share findings and proposals with council members. Right here’s hoping that the general public can also be introduced in.
These are severe allegations in opposition to the police division. They have to be explored in a relaxed and forthright method. Harrell is making the suitable strikes, however to keep away from future missteps, it’s apparent the police division should be introduced below tighter management.
