CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION supporting Washington Initiative Measure 940 and urging Seattle voters to vote “Yes” on Initiative 940 on the November 6, 2018, general election ballot.
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WHEREAS, the people have a strong interest in reducing police use of force; and
WHEREAS, de-escalation and crisis intervention training does reduce use of force; and
WHEREAS, the goal of Initiative 940 is to decrease the use of deadly force by police in Washington; and
WHEREAS, on March 8, 2018, the Washington State Legislature adopted this initiative as well as House Bill 3003, which modified the initiative, as a compromise between “De-Escalate Washington,” community leaders, and law enforcement organizations, but the Washington Supreme Court held that the initiative required a vote of the people; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle is committed to racial and social equity; and
WHEREAS, systemic racism implicates all facets of society, and history has shown deep racial disparities in policy and the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, numerous reports reflect that black men aged 15 to 34 are significantly overrepresented in police shootings relative to other demographic and age groups; and
WHEREAS, the current standard under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 9A.16.040 to determine whether a law enforcement officer is criminally liable for using deadly force requires proof of “malice”; and
WHEREAS, Washington is the only state that requires the extremely high “malice” standard for criminal liability in use of deadly force; and
WHEREAS, constitutional, community-based policing should not be confined to Seattle or any one area;
WHEREAS, Washington families deserve improvements to officer training and accountability that will increase community safety;
WHEREAS, Initiative 940 would change the standard for when a law enforcement officer may justifiably use deadly force to a “good faith” standard that has been adopted by other states; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 940 would require completely independent investigations when an officer uses deadly force, which is intended to improve credibility and transparency; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 940 would require investigations to include tribal governments where their members are involved; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 940 would require law enforcement officers to provide first aid to save lives; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 940 would require all law enforcement officers in Washington to take violence de-escalation training, mental health training, and first aid training; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 940 provides modern training to help officers communicate with people from all walks of life and to better understand the people they serve, thereby making everyone safer; and
WHEREAS, should Initiative 940 be enacted, The City of Seattle will work to ensure consistent training and requirements statewide; and
WHEREAS, after notice in accordance with RCW 42.17A.555 and Seattle Municipal Code Section 2.04.300, persons in favor of Initiative 940 and those opposed to it have been given an equal opportunity to share their views in an open public meeting; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The Mayor and Seattle City Council urge Seattle voters to vote “Yes” on Initiative 940 in the November 6, 2018, general election.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2018, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)