Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Nick Licata
Seattle City Council requests City Attorney present SPD monitor candidate to court
Seattle – The Seattle City Council passed Resolution 31414 this afternoon, continuing the City’s progress in meeting the terms of the consent decree agreed to in August with the United States Department of Justice. The resolution (adopted 8-1) provides guidance to City Attorney Pete Holmes in filing the City’s recommendation for a consent decree monitor, a condition required to be met by Fri., Oct. 26.
The resolution identifies police monitoring expert Merrick Bobb, a veteran of police reform efforts in King County, Los Angeles, Oakland, Milwaukee, Albuquerque and elsewhere, as the City of Seattle’s preferred monitor. Bobb founded the Police Assessment Resource Center and led the development of National Guidelines for Police Monitors.
Bobb was one of 23 applicants for the monitor position in Seattle. A staff team forwarded five names for interviews. The Mayor, City Attorney, police chief and command staff, city policy and budget staff and a sub-group of City Councilmembers interviewed four candidates after the fifth removed himself from consideration.
"Mr. Bobb is a leading expert in this field and is the most qualified to be the Monitor," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. "I am confident Mr. Bobb will build an unprecedented and long-lasting relationship between the community and the police department."
"I believe Merrick Bobb will prove to be a strong and balanced monitor," Council President Sally J. Clark said. "Our officers and our community deserve an expert monitor who will be present, who will listen and who will help Seattle make the gains in effectiveness and accountability I know we all want."
Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council’s website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.