Program Summary: Jennifer Tippins, Geneva Taylor, and John Barry, Seattle Office of Police Accountability, February 18, 2021

The Office of Police Accountability (OPA) reported the Know Your Rights Campaign–a project developed to help community better understand what to expect during interactions with Seattle Police Department (SPD).

Here is a link to an interview with OPA Director Andrew Myerberg in the aftermath of Tuesday’s police shooting (February 16, 2021).

Presenters included:

  • Jennifer Tippins, Community Engagement Coordinator at OPA
  • Geneva Taylor, Community Engagement Specialist at OPA
  • John Barry, Legislative and Policy Counsel at OPA
  1. Presentation regarding police/citizen interaction and the law as interpreted in Washington State.
  2. Discussion, at times spirited, regarding warrant requirements
  3. Definition of “probable cause”;
    • Witness Statements
    • Visual Evidence
    • Circumstantial Evidence
  4. Legal reasons for stopping a pedestrian
  5. Reasons for arrest
  6. Fingerprint Scanner
  7. Traffic Stop
    • Weapons search
    • Federal Law VS Washington State:

WA State Constitution offers more citizen protection than that afforded by other some states (if you must get arrested, do it here).

  • Follow current controversial crimes on SPD website and “Tweets by Beat”
    • Summary of current investigations
    • Online access for information
    • Investigations of officer action with off-duty – falling within SPD jurisdiction
    • SPD response with lethal force.
  • Discussion on crime scene etiquette.
  • Discussion of officer use of force at demonstrations.