Seattle loses virtually 20% of police power amid yr of nationwide protests: “We’re not allowed to intercede”

The Seattle Police Department is grappling with the effects of recent police reforms. Washington state passed a dozen police reform laws in almost a year Protests about police brutality.

According to a social justice group, more than $ 840 million was cut from U.S. police budgets in 2020.

This has led to a shortage of police in Seattle. The police chief tells CBS News that 260 officers, nearly 20 percent of the armed forces, have left in the past year and a half.

Officer Clayton Powell served on the streets of Seattle for nearly 27 years. He said his goal was to stay on for 30 years, but despite being three years away from that goal, he’s retiring early.

“The support we had in my generation of police is no longer there,” Powell told CBS News’ Carter Evans.

Last summer’s protests against the murder of George Floyd led to violent clashes with police in Seattle. Powell said the burden on officials was compounded by the city leaders’ decision to leave a police station and leave protesters, some armed. occupy an entire neighborhood for a whole month. As a result, Powell said he and other officers threw rocks, bottles, and in some cases cinder blocks at them, and they had to “stand there and take it”.

“When you see businesses being destroyed and families losing their livelihoods as a result of that destruction and there is nothing we can do about it. We must not intervene,” he said.

City leaders allowed the police-free zone after demonstrators were repeatedly hit by tear gas, but closed it after weeks of violence. Councilor Tammy Morales voted in November to cut the police budget by 13% – and the police department still faces cuts of US $ 5 million.

“We spend about $ 400 million a year on police, and as a city, we don’t spend on things that neighborhoods can really support: affordable housing, neighborhood planning, small business development,” said Morales.

The money that the council cut off from the police is being reallocated through an undefined process that involves parishioners.

“If the crime rate goes up, is that acceptable?” Asked Evans.

“So if we invest in communities the way we should be, we can start,” said Morales.

After the council cut the police budget, the then head of the department, Carmen Best, withdrew prematurely in protest. Interim boss Adrian Diaz took over. He said it was his business to see so many officers leave the department.

“You know, that’s because we’ve seen our shootings go up. We’ve seen our killings go up,” he said.

While Officer Powell objects to the city’s dealings with the police, he says, being an African American, he understands the outrage over the murder of George Floyd and others.

“That could be me. That could be my son. That could be a relative. That could be a friend … there has to be an understanding of how things have to be as they are,” he said.

“But defusing the police, is that the way to do it?” Asked Evans.

“No. If anything, you need more money,” Powell said.