The King County Council has approved sending
seven charter amendments to the November 2020 ballot.
Four of them pertain to Police Accountability.
YES on all:
1, 4, 5 & 6
ACLU People Power
Police Accountability Working Group
recommends voting
Currently in King County, and across the country, there is momentum to reimagine what public safety looks and feels like for ALL residents.
However, the King County Charter has several legislative barriers that prevent our elected officials from acting to make meaningful change.
This November, we have the opportunity to pass four charter amendments that remove some of these barriers so that our Council can act in the public interest, and serve ALL their constituents fairly.
Without these amendments, structural change is virtually impossible, and the public has limited power to advocate for reform and accountability.
Inquests
Currently, the law is unclear about which deaths involving law enforcement require an inquest (a formal fact finding process). During the inquest process, county funded legal representation is provided to the law enforcement officers, but not to the families of the individuals who have died in their care.
Office of Law Enforcement Oversight - Subpoena Authority
Currently, the Sheriff’s office can refuse to share information with the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) - our King County civilian oversight body.
Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position
In 1996 the King County Sheriff became an elected position. This is inconsistent with the other department heads in King County government, who are appointed.
Structure and Duties of the Department of Public Safety
Currently, King County Charter language blocks the Council from being able to make any changes to how policing services are delivered to King County, and has the Sheriff negotiating with their own guild on behalf of public safety.
Sonia Joseph's son, Giovonn Joseph- McDade, was killed by law enforcement in 2017. Listen to Sonia talk about her heartbreaking experience with our current inquest process. She makes an excellent case for voting YES on King County Charter Amendments #1, 4, 5 and 6.
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay explains the importance of passing Charter Amendments 5 & 6. Vote YES on Charter Amendments #1, 4, 5 and 6
Click here for the full King County Police Accountability Town Hall
There is currently no organized opposition to King County Charter Amendments 1 or 4.
As of October 25th, the PAC in opposition of King County Charter Amendments 5 and 6 has raised over $217,000. Law enforcement guilds and associations account for over 90% of all contributions, including $165,000 from King County Police Officers Guild and $10,000 from Seattle Police Guild.
Source: Public Disclosure Commission
NOTE: The ACLU of Washington has not taken a position on any of the amendments.
People Power is the grassroots arm of the ACLU - while we adhere to ACLU principles, we are volunteer-driven and do not work for or officially represent the ACLU. People Power activists work in and from their local communities to further civil rights and liberties for all.
ACLU People Power and the League of Women Voters of Seattle/King County hosted a Town Hall to learn more about the amendments and why we support passing them. Our guests were King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Girmay Zahilay, as well as Sonia Joseph, a local advocate for social justice and police reform. Check out the recording to find out more about how your vote can lay the groundwork for change to our systems of public safety.
October 15th | 7-8:30 PM