Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore has proposed amendments to restrict the use of blast balls by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and strengthen council oversight of crowd management practices, according to a city statement.
The proposed legislation, currently under review by the Public Safety Committee, mandates that SPD adopt a crowd management policy aligned with specific guidelines. If passed, the ordinance could help the city move closer to ending its federal consent decree.
Moore’s amendments would require the Mayor to declare a civil emergency and authorize the use of blast balls, with daily approvals required for continued use.
Blast balls are rubber devices designed to create a loud sound and bright flash but also contain tear gas.
According to the councilmember, they can be unpredictable and have caused serious injuries, including cardiac arrest, during past protests.
In 2024, the city reached a $10 million settlement for injuries related to the use of less-lethal weapons, including blast balls, during the George Floyd protests.
“The deployment of blast balls presents significant risks, including potential fatalities, and should not occur without oversight from the city’s highest office,” said Moore. “Experts have consistently warned about the dangers of these devices. My amendments aim to protect public safety and reduce the physical and legal risks associated with their use.”
The proposed amendments also include strict guidelines for deploying blast balls, requiring them to be thrown underhanded, directed away from people, and launched from a minimum distance of 10 yards.
Additionally, law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions assisting in Seattle must follow the city’s crowd management policies or be reassigned to non-crowd-related duties.
These proposals align with recommendations from the Community Police Commission.
Currently, Seattle lacks specific regulation governing less-lethal weapons for crowd control in the Seattle Municipal Code.
In June 2020, the City Council passed an ordinance banning these weapons, but the federal court overseeing the city’s consent decree overturned the ban.
Since then, crowd control policies have been governed by an interim policy approved by the court.
This interim policy conflicts with a 2021 ordinance passed by the Council.
Councilmember Moore’s amendments will be discussed at the Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m.
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