Like I said, they think you're Serfs, not Citizens.

And they don't think you have Rights, only those boons granted by Corporations and the Rich unto their lowly peons.

Just stick a Sherrif of Rottingham outfit on Diaz.

This is a terrible, terrible response. You officially get an 'F', Chief Diaz. You are a buffoon, a flunky, a craven coward, and a fool.

Oh, and PS -- this greatly increases the odds that there's going to be all-out war between the city and the DOJ on one side and the cops on the other.

Fire Diaz, replace with a new chief, make chief second in command, have a civilian commissioner that is the true boss and command authority in all police matters. The civilian leader (and OPA) should answer ONLY to the City Council.

How about, "SPD has made some mistakes in the past, and we'll be working closely with the DOJ and the citizens of Seattle to ensure these mistakes won't continue going forward."

That would be a good response instead of, "Let me make this clear: The department is not broken," because that's actually precisely what the DOJ said.

@4 for bare minimum response by Mayor and Council.

"We’ve been working for 10 or 12 years on this issue" - Wow. That was an insanely stupid thing to say.

So if Diaz DOESN'T agree with the data used, he won't make any changes?

DENY DENY DENY DENY

He let you in his office after that fiasco of a "public forum" you hosted and he attended downtown when Ian Birk was being slapped on the wrist?

That's probably the most impressive thing he has done as Chief so far.

Why do I feel like Diaz would be pepper-spraying the DoJ right now if he could? Maybe breaking out their taillights?

fnarf@3, I'm not all that sure that the city is going to side with the DOJ on this. The mayor has been rather obsequious to the chief and a total believer in the ability of the cops to reform themselves. Plus the city council, including the so-called social justice spokesmen, have been rather mute throughout the accountability process. As a matter of fact, I think the city will side with the cops in the hope making a contract with the union easier to come by and to prevent punitive financial damages.

@13, the financial damages of ignoring the DOJ report are going to be mindboggling. The next brutality case that comes up? The lawyer's going to say "they knew they had a problem, they ignored it, they decided to pretend it didn't exist, and here we are" and some schmuck is going to OWN the City of Seattle.

interesting that one of the DOJs main points and concerns is that there is insufficient, as in far too little, data from the police run office of accountability;

because, you know, collecting and keeping data is kinda a vital and important component of "accountability", right?

@14, I hope you're right:)

@16 most of us that pay property tax in the city sure as shit hope Fnarf's prediction, while right, doesn't come to pass. These cops like Diaz and O'neill that live outside the city have no chips in the game and little to lose. We're the ones left holding their shit filled drawers.

@17, then the Mayor and the City Council better grow a pair and make the SPD play ball with the DOJ

That's not what "tenants" means.

CHINGA TU MADRE JUANITO!

Every time I see that video of Ian Birk swaggering, with his fucking hips jutting out, hand on his belt right before he murdered a guy, it is very clear to me that the Seattle Police not only tolerate an atmosphere where cops escalate situations, but also they encourage it.

Some people join the military because they hope they get to kill people. Some of those come back and become cops.

Obviously Chief Diaz is in denial as I am in MA and have been thinking of moving. I was warned not to move to Seattle, WA due to the crime rate. Here is what I just googled: http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2012/Cit…

Seattle was beaten out by Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY. Now that surprised me. Yep, definitely need a new Chief of Police.