SPD monitor wants body cameras on all officers

SEATTLE — The man in charge of monitoring the Seattle Police Department wants body cameras put on every officer very soon.

He wrote in his most recent report:  “…body cameras should be rolled out to all SPD officers on a permanent basis as rapidly as possible.”

“I think we have a moral obligation to do body cameras,” said Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole. “Police officers are safer.  People in our communities are safer, less likely to have use of force incidents and complaints against police.”

O’Toole and Mayor Ed Murray said the department is already applying for federal funding to expanding a pilot body cam program to the entire East Precinct.

However, Murray warns: “It’s not going to be cheap.  At some point, we’re going to have to have a conversation with people in this city about paying for police reform.”

Overall, the federal monitor’s report on Seattle police progress was mostly positive.  But it raised concerns about the team that investigates use of force incidents.

The report said detectives investigating officers tend to ask too many “leading questions” and sometimes have a “lack of objectivity” when giving presentations about use of force situations.

The chief says the problems are being handled.

“We’re having an expert come in to review all the FIT interviews, the force investigation team interviews, to determine if there’s a different way to proceed with that questioning,” she said.

O’Toole and Murray also insisted Seattle is leading the way with police reform.  They point out that the SPD has been asked to share what has been learned with the embattled Baltimore and New York City Police Departments.

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