Washington (US), September 4 (Kiran News): After 13 years of federal monitoring, a US District Judge has ended oversight of Seattle’s police department, which was originally imposed following allegations of excessive force and racial bias.
Judge James Robart announced on Wednesday that the city had met its obligations under a consent decree — a court-approved agreement aimed at reforming the department. The federal supervision had been in place since concerns were raised that excessive use of force disproportionately affected minority communities.
The US Department of Justice had first proposed ending the monitoring in 2023 during the Biden administration, but the process was delayed due to some pending issues.
According to The New York Times, the Seattle Police Department has since adopted new use-of-force policies, introduced body cameras, revised accountability protocols, and reviewed crowd-management strategies.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell told the court in a written statement: “This department is different from what it was in 2012. We remain committed to continuous improvement.”
The decision comes at a time when, under former President Donald J. Trump, the Justice Department rolled back interventions in several police departments and closed ongoing civil rights investigations nationwide.
The Seattle Community Police Commission noted that federal oversight played a crucial role in reshaping the department but stressed that more work remains to rebuild trust with communities most affected by past practices.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, who led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration, welcomed the move. She said: “With federal oversight ending and full control returning to local law enforcement, we are proud to stand with all members of the Seattle Police Department.”
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
