SEATTLE – The King County Sheriff’s Department and Seattle Police Department are putting their officers through new training policies on how to deal with the public following a series of controversial confrontations over the past year.
“The crime rate is at an all time low, but public trust is not at an all time high,” admitted King County Sheriff Sue Rahr as she explained the new method, which will be slowly implemented over the coming months. “It’s clear that public trust is not a function of a low crime rate. It is directly related to people’s perception of how they are treated by police and whether the interaction was fair and just.”
Rahr and Seattle Assistant Police Chief Mike Sanford said verbal de-escalation techniques will now be emphasized. The training will followed a “four-pillar” model for verbal interactions, or L.E.E.D., which stands for “Listen, Explain, Equity and Dignity.”
The agencies admit it will be a culture change for officers who have been trained how to physically de-escalate situations. The hope is the new method can build goodwill and improve overall public safety.
The departments decided to make the move last fall, not long after a series of high-profile confrontations, including the fatal officer-involved shooting of woodcarver John T. Williams.
His brother, Rick Williams, is publicly carving a totem pole in his brother’s honor at Center Square on the Seattle Center grounds. He’s still angry over the split-second decision and fallout, and says he’ll continue to keep a close eye on how the Seattle Police Department operates.
To add a comment, please register or login.