The Community Police Commission (CPC) is concerned by the growing number of deadly police shootings in which Seattle police officers have failed to carry or deploy less-lethal weapons.

Last week, the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) published the results of its investigation into the February 9, 2021 deadly shooting of Gregory Taylor in the Central District. The OPA found one of the officers involved in the shooting was not carrying any of his department-mandated less lethal weapons. The officer was trained to use and required by policy to carry a 40 mm launcher, a less-lethal device that can shoot foam bullets, but was not in possession of it. As discipline, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz issued the officer a written reprimand.

This follows multiple other deadly shootings where the Seattle Police Department failed to carry or deploy less lethal weapons, including the killing of Charleena Lyles. The CPC has contacted the OPA and Chief Diaz. Our hope is to gain information about what they are doing to address the systemic issues at play and understand why more serious disciplinary measures have not been taken to address these policy violations.