The Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) is unique.
A number of U.S. cities are under settlement agreements or consent decrees with the federal government to reform their police departments.
Seattle is the only one with a community-based commission mandated to represent community interests and perspectives in developing recommendations related to reform goals under the settlement agreement. The CPC actively engages the public to obtain community input on its work.
In 2017, the City adopted legislation that made the CPC permanent and broadened the scope of its responsibilities and authority. According to Sam Walker, an authority of police accountability, Seattle is charting new territory in police oversight, and no comparable model yet exists.