Read on Twitter
The reality is that @SeattlePD has nobody to blame but themselves for being in this position. Even today officers refuse to follow orders from the Chief (covering badge numbers), and they have fought reform for years. /1 https://twitter.com/SeattlePD/status/1281739124668370944
If senior SPD officers actually cared about diversity among the ranks, they'd be the first to quit - either take retirement or go to other agencies. But they would instead rather pretend to care about racial equity in an effort to keep the status quo for policing in Seattle. /2
This is all without considering the wisdom of the underlying policy concept. We're here having this conversation because of the actions of SPD officers and the Chief. And rather than present ways to preserve public safety, the department is creating false narratives. /3
Number 4 choice @CarmenBest has exhibited lack of control of her department, and lack of basic decency - whether lying to the public or shedding tears in public over the death of a child rapist. It's no wonder the department response is rooted in deceit. /4
Now for the bad news: news media that most residents see and read will lazily take the word of the department as gospel, and continue to provide no critical review of the department or its budget. /5
This is thanks to a combo of underfunded news rooms and personalities masquerading as journalists. This means it really is up to people to have conversations with their neighbors and friends and family about what policing should look like /6
And then bring those ideas and concepts to their City Council Members. (I would recommend avoiding social media, which has proven to disallow nuanced conversations about this at the moment). The reality is a 50% cut is dramatic and means a re-imagining of policing /7
And doing it the wrong way, or allowing the department to determine what to do with its budget, is a recipe for disaster and harm to vulnerable persons. All because the senior white officers don't want to give up power. /end
