SEATTLE — The City of Seattle and its Police Department were released today from 13 years of federal oversight when Federal Judge James Robart of the Western District of Washington granted the City’s motion to terminate the consent decree.

Judge Robart’s ruling that the City had met the terms of the consent decree marks a significant milestone in the police department’s transformation into a stronger, more transparent, more data-driven, and more accountable agency.

“Over the past 13 years under the consent decree, the Seattle Police Department has undergone a comprehensive transformation, building one of the strongest accountability systems in the country and fundamentally changing how we approach policing. While reform and continuous improvement will always be part of SPD’s mission, thi

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