FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/28/2013
Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell
Councilmember Harrell’s Statement on SPD violating state law
SEATTLE – Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, released the following statement, in response to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) admitting to violating the state’s Public Records Act by withholding an internal May Day 2012 memo. SPD has agreed to pay $20,000 to the Seattle Times and its attorneys to avoid a lawsuit over the issue:
"The action and decision by Police Chief John Diaz to not respond openly to a public records request is completely unacceptable. This is how not to do business. The public expects openness and transparency. Without any hesitation, the department’s senior level officers must adopt a culture of a learning organization – they must own up to mistakes, work collaboratively to identify a solution and then institute the changes. This is the only way for SPD to build trust and confidence with the public."