The Seattle City Council voted 6-3 to eliminate restrictions on the use of “less lethal” weapons, including blast balls, pepper spray, and tear gas, under limited circumstances. These restrictions were originally imposed after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
This action by the Council clears the path to end 12 years of federal court oversight under a 2012 consent decree. The decree was implemented after a U.S. Department of Justice investigation found that Seattle police used excessive force in 20% of arrests.
U.S. District Court Judge James Robards had required the city to implement a policy for using less lethal weapons to maintain crowd control. The city and the Department of Justice’s Civil Right Division are expected to file a joint motion in the near future to dissolve the settlement agreement of the consent decree.
Under the new ordinance, less lethal weapons may only be used when activities “are occurring or about to occur” that pose a risk of imminent physical harm or significant property damage. Tear gas and blast balls are prohibited unless the mayor declares a state of civil emergency. Additionally, the police chief must authorize the use of blast balls after an emergency declaration.
The Seattle Police Department must submit an annual report to the Council detailing its use of these weapons.
