Race and social justice InItiative and the Seattle police department
The Seattle Police Department is committed to achieving justice and fairness in law enforcement, and addressing the important issue of race and social justice is a high priority for the department.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
Our zero tolerance for biased policing, which is a department policy, complements the Race and Social Justice Initiative. The men and women of the Seattle Police Department are determined to increase police accountability and reduce the potential for racial profiling. Accountability for its conduct is an important practice the department takes very seriously.
TRAINING FOR UNBIASED POLICING
To work towards a long-term goal of changing the underlying system that creates race-based disparities in our community and to achieve racial equity, the department, provides unbiased police training as an integral part of the basic law enforcement academy curriculum for all of its new police officers – a theme that is reinforced in every training block. The reinforcement of that goal is later continued and available for all sworn and civilian personnel in the form of formal discussions, in-service and advanced training, and conferences.
RECRUITING EFFORTS
In workforce equity, the department has concentrated its efforts on recruiting officers among underrepresented groups.
| 2009 Racial/Ethnic Composition of Sworn Personnel | |||||
| SPD SWORN PERSONNEL | SEATTLE CITY POPULATION* | ||||
| WHITE | 76% | 70% | |||
| BLACK | 9% | 8% | |||
| ASIAN | 8% | 14% | |||
| HISPANIC/LATINO | 5% | 7% | |||
| AMERICAN INDIAN | 2% | 1% | |||
| TOTALS | 100% | 100% | |||
* Based on 2010 census data, excluding 7% self reporting as 'other' in two or more places. Hispanic/Latino may be of any race.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The department’s public engagement and community outreach is something the department takes pride in as it regularly has the opportunity to meet with members of the African American, East African, Filipino, Korean, Southeast Asian, Latino, Native American, Muslim-Sikh-Arab, and LGBTQ communities. Department members are actively involved in community events and activities.
We offer all members of the community an understanding of the tools and trade of police officers, via the Community Police Academy. Translation and interpretation services are provided upon request, and translated publications for most of the department’s vital programs are also available.
