Seattle Police Department Ends 13 Years of Federal Oversight

SEATTLE – The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has been released from 13 years of federal oversight, with U.S. District Judge James Robart formally ending the consent decree on September 3, 2025. This landmark decision returns full control of police practices to the City of Seattle, following a period of extensive reforms aimed at addressing constitutional violations. The decree was initially imposed in 2012 after a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation found the SPD engaged in a pattern of excessive force and biased policing, catalyzed by the 2010 shooting death of John T. Williams.

The consent decree mandated sweeping changes to SPD's policies, training, and accountability systems, including reforms in use-of-force protocols, crisis intervention, and supervision. Mayor Bruce Harrell stated that the department has emerged as a "learning organization," emphasizing cultural competence, community-based approaches, and de-escalation. The city reported a nearly 35% reduction in annual force incidents between 2019 and 2024 compared to the prior five years.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, who served under the Trump administration and has been involved in the process, lauded the achievement. Dhillon, in a social media post, stated: > "CONGRATULATIONS, SEATTLE! Free at last, from an Obama-era consent decree!!!" She further added, "We are proud to stand by the men and women of the Seattle Police Department as federal oversight ends and the court returns full control of local law enforcement to the city."

While city officials and police leadership celebrated the decision as a testament to the department's transformation, not all stakeholders shared the same sentiment. The Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) welcomed the end of the decree, with President Mike Solan calling the process "weaponized financial grift" and claiming it cost taxpayers over $220 million, though city estimates place the cost at over $127 million. Conversely, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) expressed concerns, asserting that racial disparities and use-of-force issues persist, making the lifting of the decree premature.

Despite differing views, city leaders, including Mayor Harrell and Police Chief Shon Barnes, affirmed their commitment to sustaining the reforms and continuous improvement. Barnes noted that the department has become a national model for data collection and oversight. The city has pledged to continue funding independent oversight bodies like the Office of Police Accountability (OPA), the Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Community Police Commission (CPC), ensuring ongoing accountability and community engagement.