Responding to the August 31 shooting death of John T. Williams, the Seattle Human Rights Commission presented a list of five recommendations to the Seattle City Council to address the Seattle Police Department's internal investigation of William's death by creating a citizen review panel, and how to improve police accountability and restore community trust in SPD.

"The most fundamental human rights concern... is the concept that a person should not suffer because of who he or she is, but only for what he or she does," stated Roslyn Solomon, Chair of the HRC.

The HRC recommends:

—The city council create an independent panel of civilians, including members of the Native American, homeless, and disability community, to review SPD's investigations starting with Williams's shooting and moving forward.

—The HRC conduct an independent review of SPD's policy regarding police shootings (addressing public concern that the Firearms Review Board and the Office of Professional Accountability are both part of SPD and that an outside review board may be needed).

—That more citizen observers be added to the Firearms Review Board (there is currently one).

—That the SPD implement the Race and Social Justice Initiative, and that the department provide a formal assessment of the RSJI on a quarterly basis. SPD should also assign officers to a RSJI Change Team.

—That SPD analyze how its policies affect vulnerable populations—for instance, is lethal force used more often with certain populations than with others?

—Finally, the department should mandate cultural awareness training with the City of Seattle Native American Employees Association (CANOES) for all officers and commanders.

And the HRC wasn't alone—CANOES, Chief Seattle Club, and numerous individuals from Native American civil rights, and disability communities packed into City Council chambers during the council's Energy, Technology, and Civil Right's Committee to present their own list of demands recommendations for SPD.

Instead of conducting the routine meeting with lines of testimonials, Council Member Bruce Harrell smartly invited leaders from these communities to sit with him and other council members for a round table discussion of community concerns and recommendations.

"What we need now is healing and justice," said Pamela Masterman-Stearns, president of CANOES. "We recommend that SPD increase beat walks and use its demographic advisory councils and community groups to address cultural issues."

"There [are] 30,000 Native Americans living in the Greater Seattle Area," stated* Millie Kennedy, representing the Northwest Justice Project. "Twenty five percent of the homeless population are Native Americans. I want to know how many Native Americans are on the police force. I believe that if you're going to have cultural competency within the police force, you have to have Native Americans on the police force."

"We owe an answer there, we'll find out," said Harrell. (It was confirmed later there are 19 Native Americans on the force out of roughly 1300 officers.)

Other recommendations included requiring officers to live in the City of Seattle, "to encourage a stronger connection with the community and also reduce community fear of the police," said Masterman-Stearns. Others called for cultural awareness, such as allowing city employees 10 hours a year to attend cultural events, and for the mayor to reinstate the position of Tribal Liaison to advise the mayor and city officials on Native American issues.

"This is a tragedy for the Williams family, Officer Birk, and the rest of us in Seattle. But it's also an opportunity for change," said Jennifer Shaw, Director of the Seattle branch of the ACLU, capturing the sentiment of the room. "We think that it’s time to carefully look at the training that officers receive—training on how to handle a gun versus never having to unholster a gun to begin with. And as important as training is the mindset of law enforcement officers. That can only be changed by leaders in SPD and you all. They need to make clear what our priorities are. They need to hear that in the city of Seattle, incidents like this are simply not acceptable."

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights, Human Rights Commission, City of Seattle Native Employees CANOES,
Chief Seattle Club President, United Indians of All Tribes & National Indian Urban Coalition,
WA Indian Civil Rights Commission, WA Human Rights Commission, Suquamish Tribal Council, Puyallup Tribe were all represented at the meeting.

* This quote was updated at Kennedy's request to correct inaccurate information in her original statement.