The Seattle City Council is working to finalize new policies for how police in Seattle can use crowd control weapons like gas and blast balls. The new rules would replace restrictions put in place after the Seattle Police Department’s flawed response to the 2020 protests.

The council’s public safety committee this week took up debate on the new proposals that would allow the use of the more targeted explosives but require the mayor’s office to sign off on any use of tear gas.

Publicola has details on the new proposals and SPD’s justifications for the new rules.

The use of tear gas during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests brought increased scrutiny on the practice as clouds of gas entered nearby apartment buildings during the clashes between police and demonstrators.

Implementing a new policy on crowd control weaponry is part of the final changes required to fully end federal oversight of the department.

Last year, SPD ended 12 years of federal controls and oversight after a civil rights investigation found evidence of excessive force and biased policing at the department.

A second hearing on the crowd control weapons policy is planned for January.

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