The Seattle City Council’s public safety committee is set to vote Tuesday morning on legislation dictating how police in Seattle can use crowd control weapons including specifics on who can authorize use of the weapons — and, exactly, how a “blast ball” grenade can be thrown. The new rules would replace restrictions put in place after the Seattle Police Department’s flawed response to the 2020 protests after years of the department calling its own shots when it comes to crowd control.

The legislation first introduced in December from committee chair Bob Kettle will be considered Tuesday along with a raft of amendments including a key proposal from newly seated Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck that would “create a private right of action” adding a framework and a $10,000 floor for civil lawsuits “when a person incurs physical injuries proximately caused by the use of less lethal weapons in violation of SPD’s Crowd Management, Intervention, and Control policy.” “Private right of action” clauses have been a growing element in municipal policies as city attorney office’s face the challenge of managing the legal ramifications of an expanding body of regulations and ordinances.

Committee members will also consider competing frameworks for how the use of crowd control weapons can be authorized with SPD maintaining authority at the scene but restricting crowd dispersal orders to higher-ranking officers. Amendments will define restrictions on the use of more serious weaponry. One amendment would require that the city’s mayor issue a proclamation of civil emergency “and provide specific authorization” before blast balls can be used.

Blast-ball use could also be restricted down to the specifics of how an officer can throw the crowd control grenades. An amendment under consideration would restrict the use of the balls so they can be deployed “only when directed away from people, underhand, at a distance of at least 10 yards.”

Last year, a group of 50 plaintiffs harmed by the police response to 2020 Black Lives Matter and CHOP protests including people injured by blast balls won a $10 million settlement with the city.

How SPD works with “mutual aid” agencies sent to the city to assist with crowd control like the Washington State Patrol or the National Guard is also being considered by the council committee. The Community Police Commission had called on the city to address any loopholes with outside agencies.

One proposal would prohibit SPD Incident Commanders from deploying any mutual aid officer “who is unable or unwilling to comply with SPD’s Crowd Management Policies.”

Implementing a new policy on crowd control weaponry is part of final changes required to fully end federal oversight of the department. In 2023, 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.

You can review the proposed council bill, amendments, and documentation here. The public safety committee meets Tuesday beginning at 9:30 AM.

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