Bellevue Pledges To Review Police Use Of Force Policies

BELLEVUE, WA — City leaders in Bellevue have promised to review and reform police use of force.

The move comes amid widespread calls to overhaul police departments across Washington and the country, and shortly after a video of a Bellevue officer forcefully arresting a young woman in 2018 went viral online.

The City Council says their pledge involves a four step process:

1. Review police use of force policies.
2. Engage with the community, taking in a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences.
3. Report the findings of their review to the public.
4. Reform police use of force policies.

City leaders say, it's the right time to make these kinds of reviews.

"The disturbing events of the last two weeks have made it clear that systemic racism and injustice continue to permeate throughout our country, and that Bellevue needs to be a part of the solution,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “I urge the community to stand with us as we examine our actions and embark on this meaningful public safety review. We want all parts of the community to be a part of the conversation as we move forward.”

Other council members have issued similar statements echoing the mayor's call for change.

"We will build on this platform and take a fresh look at what community policing means today and for the future, in light of the many legitimate and thoughtful requests from citizens of all color to do better and make honest and effective real changes to address the needs of the whole community,” said Councilmember John Stokes.

City leaders say its especially important for Bellevue to consider racism and biased policing, because Bellevue is one of Washington's most diverse cities. A 2015 census update found that Bellevue's population was evenly split between white and minority residents.

The review process will likely draw comments from those minority communities. In 2016 Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett formed a series of police advisory councils to represent the city's black, Muslim, Latino, and LGBTQI+ communities.

“The Bellevue Police Department has worked hard to engage with our communities of color, and this is an opportunity for a credible, Eastside-focused framework to go along with the call to action we all feel," said Mylett.