You're on your own

Seattle police chief to residents and business owners: You’re on your own against violent protesters

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Dr. Eowyn | 47 Comments

Seattle’s Chief of Police Carmen Best has penned a letter to the city’s residents and business owners, informing them that they’re on their own against this Sunday’s anticipate violent protests because her hands are tied by the City Council.

Dated yesterday, July 24, 2020, the letter reads as follows (source: The Magazine):

July 24, 2020

Dear Business Owner and/or Resident:

Please know that the Seattle Police Department is committed to addressing life safety

incidents and calls for service, and responding to ongoing demonstrations and unrest in the city.

Please also know that the City Council Ordinance 119805 Crowd Control Tool goes into effect this weekend on Sunday, July 26, 2020. This ordinance bans Seattle police officers the use of less lethal tools, including pepper spray that is commonly used to disperse crowds that have turned violent. Simply put, the legislation gives officers NOability to safely intercede to preserve property in the midst of a large, violent crowd.

It is important to bring to your attention that yesterday, I sent the City Council a letter ensuring them as the Chief of Police, I have done my due diligence of informing them numerous times of the foreseeable impact of this ordinance on upcoming events. The letter is attached for your reference.

For these reasons, Seattle Police will have an adjusted deployment in response to any demonstration this weekend— as I will never ask our officers to risk their personal safety to protect property without the tools to do so in a safe way.

Sincerely,

Carmen Best
Chief of Police

Here’s a screenshot of the letter.