Politics & Government
Seattle Drops Challenge To King County Inquest Process
City Attorney Pete Holmes will withdraw Seattle's challenge to King County's inquest process for police shootings.
SEATTLE, WA — The city of Seattle will drop its legal challenge to the King County inquest process that examines deadly police shootings, according to the city attorney's office.
We have just been informed the @SeaCityAttorney has withdrawn its lawsuit challenging King County inquest reforms. We're proud the work community groups and leaders have done to make this happen. City leaders must work to fully support effective and transparent police oversight. https://t.co/IPMGZ2TLND
— Seattle CPC (@SeaCPC) June 9, 2020
Inquests are a tool for more thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding all deaths resulting from law enforcement actions. All inquests were paused in early 2018 over criticisms that they failed to adequately answer whether the shootings were justified.
Later that year, King County Executive Dow Constantine unveiled new reforms aimed at increasing the system's transparency.
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According to the Seattle Times, a central component of the updated process assured representation for family members of those killed, allowing them to testify before the panel and suggest witnesses. Police chiefs or sheriffs testify about their use of force training, and questions over whether an officer feared for their lives would be replaced with determinations on whether an officer acted according to training and policy.
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